Weekly Newsletter #28 - 8 Sep 2021
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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From the Bishop
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DOBCEL Policy Implementation Update
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Catholic Identity and Mission Team Updates
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System Improvement Updates
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People and Development Updates
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
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From Around the Diocese
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From Other Dioceses and Beyond
Reflection
This week is National Child Protection Week. It is an opportunity for all Australians to reflect upon child protection. What has gone before us in this diocese, relating to child protection, is devastating. There have been serious failures over the past decades. Words such as mishandling and catastrophic have been used to describe this story.
During National Child Protection Week we acknowledge the past with broken hearts and continue to reach out to survivors in solidarity and compassion. We also recommit ourselves to always working for the protection of all children.
At the culmination of this week, The Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday on Sunday 12 September. Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. The Church in Australia, makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. It invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.
Let us pray
Gracious God, you love and care for all of your children, especially the smallest and most vulnerable.
We entrust to you the lives of children and adults at risk who have been sexually abused, and whose trust and innocence have been destroyed.
Help us to hear their cries of pain and to take responsibility for those whose lives have been broken.
Help us to recognise the hurt felt by those wounded by abuse, and the failure to be heard. We pray that with the help of your grace communities and families will find understanding and support, so that now and in the future their wounds may be healed and they may find lasting peace.
Let your grace and love fall gently now upon our children and adults at risk, giving them the inner strength, peace and resilience to seek out assistance when required.
We ask this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
Amen
From the Executive Director
Last week Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist Neil Coventry addressed rising community concern over the impact of the state’s extended lockdowns on child mental health. I believe the information that Dr Coventry provided is very useful in our work in Catholic education.
In part, Dr Coventry said that: “It is a very uncertain situation that we find ourselves living within and I think, I want to make sure that we think about the impact that this is having for all of us.
“It impacts our own sense of well-being, and anxiety, stress level, we all feel, to some extent, confused and very uncertain about the future. I want to emphasise that this is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation that we are currently experiencing.
“The good news I want to share is that, fortunately, most of us will be able to cope with this challenge. We will use our normal resources, our strengths, our sense of resilience in the support that we have around us from our family, loved ones and friends. However, we also need to acknowledge that some people will really struggle.
“I want to give a few specific messages that I would like you to take note of. The first message is that we need to feel positive that people will be able to cope with this, that children and families are resilient, they will have the capacity to use their strength to get through this challenging situation, for the majority.
“I also want to stress that there are a few simple things that parents can do to try and help their children in recovery. Basic simple things such as maintaining normal routines. It is particularly important when you have a situation of homeschooling at the moment, to get that balance between study, relaxation, chillout time, certainly exercise and meal plans but also, more importantly, around the sleep patterns, particularly for vulnerable teenagers.
“The thing I would most like to stress is that we need to be talking to our children about how they are coping. Please, reach out to your kids. Don't be anxious and afraid to have a conversation about how your kids are coping. What are their challenges and confusions about what is going on? I stress, this is a series of conversations. Not a one-off single intense conversation.”
Watch Dr Coventry’s presentation and read the full transcript.
Appointment of Education Consultant – Secondary
I am delighted to announce that Mr Tim O’Farrell has accepted the position of Education Consultant – Secondary (see official announcement).
Tim is currently the Manager, Safeguarding and Standard at Catholic Education Ballarat and, previous to his current appointment, was Principal of Trinity College Colac for 10 years. Prior to that he was Deputy Principal of Monivae College, Hamilton.
Tim has a wealth of experience as a leader within the Ballarat Diocese and he knows and understands the context of our secondary colleges. His work in both DOBCEL and MPJP Colleges ensure that he is very well placed to serve the needs of all secondary colleges within the diocese.
The interview panel were very impressed with Tim’s passion for Catholic education and the desire to be of service to our secondary schools. Tim’s knowledge of school improvement, learning and teaching, wellbeing and governance is outstanding and will ensure the best advice and support for our principals. Tim’s experience as Manager, Safeguarding and Standards will be invaluable in his new role.
Tim will commence his new position at the beginning of next year. I offer our congratulations to Tim on his appointment.
Updated DOBCEL Directory and Organisational Chart
An updated DOBCEL Directory and Organisational Chart are now available.
New staff commencing in Term 4
If your school has any new staff commencing in Term 4, please contact Emma Newman to add their email address to the Weekly Newsletter mailing list.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
From the Bishop
DOBCEL Board Membership Announcement
Hello Everyone,
I write with news regarding membership of our Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Board.
Fr Andrew Hayes has advised me of his decision to resign as a DOBCEL Director. I thank Fr Andrew for the contributions he has made to Catholic education in our diocese, especially in the discernment and implementation of DOBCEL and in his earlier years of service as a member of the Ballarat Diocesan Schools Advisory Council. Throughout these years, he has been particularly involved in the Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity project. While recognising the service Fr Andrew has given in these ways, I also thank him for his ongoing commitment to supporting the work of our diocesan education community in the years ahead.
Following Fr Andrew’s resignation from the DOBCEL Board, I have asked Fr Kevin Maloney to become a DOBCEL Director and he has accepted this appointment. He will bring to this role his skill as a governor of schools, both primary and secondary, as well as the experience of his time as Director of Religious Education for our diocese. Read more about Fr Kevin here.
May the Holy Spirit guide us day by day in our service of Catholic education throughout our diocesan community.
God bless you all.
Bishop Paul
Paul Bird CSsR
Bishop of the Diocese of Ballarat
DOBCEL Policy Implementation Update
Risk Management Summary for Schools
The DOBCEL Risk Management Policy and Framework has been updated and schools are required to implement the new version. Please refer to this Risk Management Summary for details on the required actions and suggested timelines.
Catholic Identity and Mission Team Updates
Australian Catholics offers online formation opportunity for Catholic educators
Bringing faith to life – an online conversation with Dr Richard Rymarz
Australian Catholics, in association with Broken Bay Institute, presents an exclusive Q&A session with Richard Rymarz, Head of Religious Education and Director of Research at BBI – The Australian Institute of Theological Education. The conversation will be open to all Education Hub members.
Dr Rymarz’s general area of interest is how religious groups pass on beliefs, values, practises and culture. A large, but not exclusive, part of this interest is in religious education in formal settings such as schools and colleges. He has had extensive experience in curriculum development and also producing educational materials in religious, moral and ethics education. Read more about Dr Rymarz here.
Attendees will be able to post questions and topics for discussion prior to the event via the Teacher Forum on the Australian Catholics website. Attendees will need to register in order to be provided with a link.
The session will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 13 October from 4:30 – 5:30pm (AEDT) and is an ideal formation opportunity for RE staff.
See further details here and for any enquiries please email editor@australiancatholics.com.au
2021 Young Voices Award
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Young Voices Award, brought to you by Australian Catholics magazine in conjunction with Australian Catholic University.
The winners of the 2021 Australian Catholics Young Voices have been selected from more than 700 entries across the Junior (Years 5 and 6), Intermediate (Years 7 to 9) and Senior (Years 10 to 12) sections. Students were able to enter written, photographic or digital projects.
The winner of the Junior Section was Lucia Minto, St Joseph’s Primary School, The Junction, NSW for her video entry ‘The cover is not the book’. The entry looked at discrimination from both a personal and an objective perspective. Junior Runner-up was Madison O’Brien, St Anthony’s Catholic College, Deeragun, Queensland, whose video entry was an interview with an Indigenous Support Officer about racism and being Indigenous in Australia today.
Intermediate winner was Molly Himsworth, Cabra Dominican College, Cumberland Park, SA. Her video entry explored issues of race in a personal and objective context. Intermediate Runner-up was Sebastian Higham, also of Cabra Dominican College. Sebastian wrote about living as an autistic teenager.
Phoebe Sheridan, St Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford, NSW was the Senior Section Winner with her podcast about vaping and how e-cigarettes are marketed to younger people. Senior Runner-up Zoe McGee, Saint Aloysius College, North Melbourne, gave voice to the issue homelessness and sleeping rough.
A full list of winners is available here.
System Improvement Updates
Wellbeing Updates
ReConnectEd Art Project
In times where social distancing, isolation and separation have been necessary, let us take time to pause, reflect and look towards the future possibilities with hope. Sharing our experiences and feelings, to know we are not alone and gather strength and wisdom from each other.
Post traumatic growth theory suggests that children and adolescents have a great deal of resilience and can learn from adversity. They can discover and develop their abilities and learn how to manage difficult events by reflecting on the character strengths they have used during the previous challenging times, such as lockdowns last year.
Art in all mediums provides the opportunity for students to explore and express some of their feelings, worries and fears in a powerful and engaging way. It also acts as a mindful and relaxation activity.
Students are invited to participate by sending in a drawing, photo, poem, short stories, song, painting, or small clip inspired by the last 18 months and/or looking towards the future. A selection of the works will be displayed via an online art exhibition for Mental Health week later in the year and a booklet available for download.
See further details on the ReConnectEd Art Project.
Learning and Teaching Updates
Final Opportunity to Register – Schools Responding to COVID Webinar
“Now is the time for us to build on the lessons of the pandemic, to reconfigure the people, spaces, time and technology to devise more effective and efficient educational environments.”
~ OECD, The State of School Education: One Year into the COVID Pandemic April 2021 Report
You are warmly invited to join a diocesan conversation on Monday 13 September between 4pm-5pm.
During the webinar you will be given a tour of the updated ‘Responding to COVID’ section of The HIVE and introduced to a summary of the latest research about how schools can best respond to the unprecedented needs of learners in 2021 and beyond.
We are looking forward to hearing from several of our own diocesan educators, who have bravely accepted the invitation to share their successes and their challenges. It would be great to hear from you, too.
Please register here. If more than one person from your school will be attending, one school registration will suffice. Registrations close on Thursday 9 September.
A link to the webinar will be sent to participants prior to Monday 13 September. Please note that, due to its conversational nature, the live webinar will not be recorded.
Postponement of Learner Agency in Action – Partnering to Co-create an Educational Landscape Professional Learning
In dialogue with our schools over the past few weeks, and conscious of the demands on schools with the return to face to face learning in Term 4, we have reached the understanding that we need to extend the timeline for completing the Education Landscape into 2022.
This will mean that the planned Professional Learning days, previously advertised for dates in October across the diocese, will now take place in Term 1, 2022.
We will continue to capture stories of innovation and Learner Agency as we connect with schools in Term 4.
Please feel free to contact Marg McDonald or Sue Paulka if you would like to know more about this project.
People and Development Updates
R U OK? Day – 9 September 2021
In response to living through a pandemic and its social and relational impact, the theme for 2021 is “Staying Connected”. To feel connected through relationships with our colleagues and the support experienced is powerful. Meaningful connection with our workmates and feeling supported by them is invaluable. We are pleased to offer an online event with Converge in recognition of RU OK? Day.
There is no need to register in advance. Simply join the meeting by clicking the link below, and please share with your team. A recorded version of the webinar will be made available for a short time after the event.
When: Thursday 9 September from 4.00 to 5.00pm
Where: Via MS Team - Click here to join the webinar
Handout: Download the handout prior to the session
There are some terrific resources available on the RU OK? website including specific resources for educators.
The recordings and handouts from our recent Converge International Wellbeing Webinars are available, including the recording from our final session on 31 August.
Staff wellbeing support through Converge International
Catholic Education Ballarat, on behalf of the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL), has contracted services with Converge International to support staff wellbeing.
The contract provides a range of services under an Employee Assist Program, commonly referred to as the EAP. For information about these services and how to access them, please review Staff Wellbeing Converge International Services. Please make a copy of this available to your staff.
For school leadership, there are options to support you in your leadership and caring for the wellbeing of your staff. These services may be beneficial in addition to the other services and support available in partnership with Catholic Education Ballarat. We encourage you to access the services as they may be helpful. For information about these services, costs and how to access them, please review Converge International Additional Services.
A reminder, if would like to access additional EAP brochures or wallet/business cards for your school, please submit your request by the end of Term 3, via this form (one request per school). Note you can also provide an email address for digital resources.
For more information about the EAP or Converge International, contact Ange Jones via email or on 0400 831 040.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Principal Vacancies
- St Brigid’s Primary School, Ballan – commencing January 2022 (closes 27 September)
- St Alipius Parish School, Ballarat East – commencing January 2022 (closes 27 September)
- St Mary’s Primary School, Warracknabeal – commencing January 2022 (closes 27 September)
CEB Vacancies
- Manager: Safeguarding and Standards – fixed-term, full-time contract commencing January 2022 (closes 24 September)
School Vacancies
- Boarding Housemaster – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – contract position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 September)
- Director of Boarding – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – contract position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 September)
- Counsellor – St Mary’s School, Swan Hill – 12 month fixed-term position from October 2021 at 0.2 FTE (closes 10 September)
- Director of Faith and Mission (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 10 September)
- School Officer (Reception/Administration) – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – ongoing between 0.6 and 0.8 FTE (closes 10 September)
- 2022 Classroom Teachers x 2 – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 13 September)
- Health & Physical Education Teacher / PE Co-ordinator – St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term 1.0 FTE (closes 14 September)
- Generalist Classroom Teacher – St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term 0.4 FTE (closes 14 September)
- Generalist Classroom Teacher – St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term 1.0 FTE (closes 14 September)
- College Social Worker/Counsellor/Psychologist – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 September)
- Drama/Production Coordinator – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing and part-time (closes 21 September)
- Drama Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing 1.0 FTE (closes 20 September)
- Daily Organiser/Teacher – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 21 September)
- Teacher of Design & Technology – Marian College, Ararat – fixed term at 1.0 FTE (closes 21 September)
- Classroom Teacher – St John’s School, Dennington – fixed-term at 1.0 FTE (closes 24 September)
- Classroom Teachers – St Mary’s School, Colac - fixed-term for 2022 at 1.0 FTE (closes 1 October)
- Head of Science Secondary Teacher – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 1 October)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East (closes 10 December)
From Around the Diocese
Our Lady Help of Christians School, Wendouree – 60th Birthday Celebration Update
From Leigh Bradshaw, Principal –
It is a sense of disappointment that I announce that there will be significant changes to our planned celebrations for our school’s 60 year anniversary on 15 October.
Our planning team have worked across the past months with a keen eye on the Government restrictions to create a plan A, B and C. I am very grateful for the time this has taken and for the flexibility in their approach to the possibilities. It appears just as we are about to announce our agenda for the day the goal posts have shifted and we have then taken time to review all of our planning in alignment with current and possible restrictions.
Therefore we have decided to share our memories and movies through our school Facebook page in the week beginning 11 October. Our planned concert will be available on our facebook page on 15 October.
We hope to have an Open Day for our past staff, students, families and community to enjoy a belated celebration later in the year. We'll keep you informed!
I invite our former staff, students and families to create video messages to share with our community. Please email your videos to principal@olhcwendouree.catholic.edu.au
I thank you for your contribution to our school community, it is a privilege to be part of the Our Lady Help of Christians School story.
Our Diocesan Community – Issue 3, 2021
Planning for the final issue of Our Diocesan Community (ODC) 2021 is underway and we invite your contributions. We will continue the 2021 themes of Plenary Council / Year of St Joseph / Year of the Family. We are hoping to gather stories and experiences in the Catholic community – schools, parishes and agencies from all around the diocese. We also invite you to share significant events that may have taken place over the last few months in your parish, school community and agency.
The timeline for the final issue has been changed to allow for the inclusion of reports from the upcoming Plenary Council, therefore the latest date for submissions to this issue is Friday 1 October. Articles should be approximately 250 words maximum in length and accompanied by photos where possible. Photos should be sent as separate JPEG files (not inserted into a Word document). Material can be sent to odc@ballarat.catholic.org.au. We anticipate distribution of this edition to commence in early November.
A reminder that when sending in photos, permission should be sought from those in the pictures. From time-to-time, these photos will also be used in other diocesan publications.
Plenary Council – request from the Diocese of Ballarat Pastoral Ministry Office
The last twelve or so months of our Plenary Council Journey has required many unplanned changes because of the impact of COVID-19 and it is still difficult to gather as we had hoped due to restrictions. With the Plenary Council agenda having been published, we can however reflect and pray with the sixteen questions that form the agenda. With this in mind, we extend to people in the diocese an invitation, another opportunity, to engage in the process and to listen deeply to the voice of the Spirit. Please see handout for details.
You could use this as a basis for school staff meetings. Another option could be to email to all staff members for comment. Thirdly, you could print off in A3 and put on boards in staff rooms with space so staff can comment.
Any comments can be emailed to pastoralministry@ballarat.catholic.org.au. Submissions will then be forwarded to the Diocesan Members to the Plenary Council.
Safeguarding Sunday – 12 September
The Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday this Sunday – the conclusion of National Child Protection Week. Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. It invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly. Resources, including for liturgical celebrations, are created to support local recognition are available here.
From Other Dioceses and Beyond
200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia Update
The September Bicentenary of Catholic Education in Australia Update is now available. Upcoming events and opportunities include:
- Edmund Rice Education Australia in conversation with Director Jacinta Collins
- Faith in the Future – Virtual Symposium
- From Humble Beginnings: Commemorating 200 years of Catholic education in Australia – commemorative book pre-sales
Faith in the Future – Virtual Symposium
To mark World Teachers Day and the Bicentenary of Catholic Education, the Faith in the Future Virtual Symposium will be held on Wednesday 27 October from 3:00pm-4:15pm (AEDT).
This is a free ticketed event for educators and leaders in Catholic schools, education offices and universities, which offers an opportunity for the Catholic educational community to gather and participate in professional learning and engagement.
The program will feature keynote speaker Dr Lyn Sharratt, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Australian broadcaster Geraldine Doogue.
Register for Virtual Symposium here.
The following resources are available to share:
- Virtual Symposium Flyer (PDF)
- Website & Social media banners (GIF)
- Virtual Symposium banners (JPEG)
- Social media square tile (JPEG)
Please note all files are saved in the 200 Years Branding file - Virtual Symposium folder.
Australian Catholic Education News
The latest edition of Australian Catholic Education News (2 September) is now available.
Online Primary Schools’ Parliamentary Convention (Years 5 & 6 students)
Registrations are now open for the inaugural Online Primary Schools’ Parliamentary Convention (Years 5 & 6 students) offered as part of the Victorian Students Parliamentary Program (VSPP).
VSPP is a Victorian Department of Education and Training initiative that consists of a series of student conventions, which provide students in Years 5 & 6 with opportunities to learn about Australia's constitution and systems of government.
Students learn through participation in informed, parliamentary style debates on a range of topics affecting Australia's democracy. Schools from all sectors can opt-into the program to support the teaching of civics and citizenship education in their school.
All Victorian Primary Schools are invited to register their interest in participating in the Online Primary Schools’ Parliamentary Convention. The convention will be hosted by National Curriculum Services and supported by presentations from keynote speakers.
It will be streamed live on Zoom in three half-day-sessions over two school weeks.
See further details on the program, dates and registrations.
Free Headspace Webinar for Parents and Carers
Headspace National and Headspace Geelong are hosting a webinar for parents and carers of young people to support their mental health. The webinar will help you build your knowledge on mental health literacy, learn skills to start the conversation with your daughter about their mental health, and help guide and support them to the most appropriate help and support.
This free webinar will be held on Tuesday 14 September at 6:30pm – register your attendance via Eventbrite.
Please note that there will be an additional webinar held on Monday 27 September at 6:30pm if you are unable to attend this event – see details here.
For further information contact programsupport@headspace.org.au.
International Ignatian EcoSpiritual Conference
Online Global Conference: 25-30 April 2022
The Australian Jesuit Province is hosting the International Ignatian Ecospiritual Conference online from 25 – 30 April 2022 as part of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Conversion of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Recently the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference released its Social Justice statement for 2021/22 – Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor. It invites all members of the Australian Catholic Church to embrace the aims of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home. The theme of the International Ignatian Ecospiritual Conference is Living with Earth: Our Ecological Conversion through being with God in Nature. Participants at the online conference will hear from keynote speakers as well as spending time out in Nature each day. They will be encouraged to consider how they will contribute to reconciliation with Creation in their lives.This will be an opportunity to share with others who have a commitment to caring for our common home.
See further details about the conference and register here.