Weekly Newsletter #2 - 9 February 2022
Reflection
2022 - What is important?
As our new school year starts, it is an opportune time for us to reflect upon what is important for each of our communities this year. What does the experience of the last two years offer us, as we work to bring about The Reign or Dream of God to our world?
According to Dr. Jacqui Lewis from The Centre for Action and Contemplation;
“We have a choice to make. We can answer this question with diminished imagination, by closing ranks with our tribe and hiding from our human responsibility to heal the world. Or we can answer the question of who we are to be another way: We can answer it in the spirit of ubuntu. The concept comes from the Zulu phrase Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, which literally means that a person is a person through other people. Another translation is, “I am who I am because we are who we are.”
With this in mind, who I will be is deeply related to who you are. In other words, we are each impacted by the circumstances that impact those around us. What hurts you hurts me. What heals you heals me. What causes you joy causes me to rejoice, and what makes you sad also causes me to weep.
By channelling the ancient wisdom of ubuntu, we can engineer a badly needed love revolution to rise up out of the ashes of our current reality.... The empathy that grows from listening to others, from connecting with our neighbours, and from loving our neighbours as we love ourselves can define the courses of action we take.”
Pope Francis shares with us the following wisdom:
“We can recognise the way we live together in order better to choose what matters. We can work together to achieve it. We can learn what takes us forward, and what sets us back. We can choose.”
Both these pieces of wisdom offer us insight into ways we can be, individually, in our school communities and as a greater community of schools united in spreading the Good News of Jesus to all we encounter during 2022.
From the Executive Director
I have recently been reading Pasi Sahlberg’s newest book, "Finnish Lessons 3.0 - What can the world learn from educational change in Finland?" In the 1980’s and 1990’s Finland introduced significant changes to their education system. Finland rose to the top of the PISA rankings in 2000 and subsequently has stayed at or near the top since. While Sahlsberg, and I, don’t advocate replicating the Finnish way as there are many contextual differences between our countries, there are some very important ideas, lessons and examples we can take on board in our diocese as food for thought and to stimulate our thinking. I would like to draw attention to two specific, but very different ideas from Finland.
The first is that in theory and practice in Finland all subjects are equal including literacy and numeracy. The Finns believe all children must have equal opportunities to experience a wide range of learning, the curriculum has equal emphasis on academic and nonacademic aspects of children’s development.
The second, in my experience and based on Sahlberg’s writings, the Finns seem to have a healthier attitude to nature and risk. On my trip to Finland in 2017 I learnt the Finnish saying, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. (I made a few bad clothing choices on that trip!). I observed schools that had big rocks in the playground for kids to play on, some schools opened out onto nature reserves & forests - often without fences for easy access, there are ski jumps in primary school playgrounds, all children in schools and early childhood settings must spend time outside each day.
Recently on twitter, William Doyle - who co wrote the book, Let the Children Play, with Salhberg, tweeted the following:
What thoughts do these two ideas provoke in your mind? I’d be interested to hear them.
Yesterday afternoon we sent out the Agenda for the Leadership Gathering Video Conference on 17th February from 9am - 2pm, we will be able to address all agenda items during this time. Therefore there will be no need for a Video Conference on 18th February.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Staff Announcements
Cathy Dunbar
It is with mixed emotion that we announce the impending retirement of Cathy Dunbar as EA to the Executive Director of Catholic Education, after 37.5 years of dedicated service to CEB. Cathy intends to finish work at the beginning of Term 2 and then take extended LSL and other leave entitlements beyond that period. Cathy’s employment with CEB commenced in January 1978. She began as a Junior Secretary and worked for 6 years prior to starting her family. Returning in 1991, Cathy undertook various administrative roles before taking on the position of EA to the Executive Director in 2010. To say that she has seen it all is an understatement! Her professionalism and ability to build collaborative and caring relationships with all stakeholders have been outstanding, and her organizational knowledge of the history of CEB will be greatly missed. Cathy has shown great dedication to CEB, including selflessly delaying her retirement plans to assist with the smooth transition to a new Executive Director and the change in governance.
Recruitment for an EA to the Executive Director will commence shortly.
Jesse McCluskey
Jesse McCluskey has tendered her resignation as a Speech Pathologist, effective 23 February. Jesse began with CEB in January 2013 and has worked in both a full-time and part-time capacity as both a Speech Pathologist and Learning Diversity Education Officer during this period. We are very grateful to Jesse for her contribution to the wellbeing of students and families in our schools, and we wish her well as she embarks on a new journey and has time with her young family.
A plan to support those schools Jesse had been assigned to in 2022 is currently being addressed.
Learning and Teaching Updates
Professional Learning
Learner Agency as Living Ecology – a way of being and becoming
Learner Agency has been identified as a priority area for attention within our Catholic school communities and this has generated considerable interest in how we might create the conditions where all young people and adults have a strong sense of agency. This professional learning invites us to understand learner agency as a living ecology and to go beyond the confines of our current contexts, structures and mindsets. Our Catholic school contexts, along with contemporary agency research, offers some powerful and alternative perspectives that strengthen the possibilities of realising agency as human endeavour for all people.
This professional learning will be facilitated by Dr Jane-Louise Collins from Partnerships. Further details can be found here.
Education Landscape
This professional learning brings together school teams across the Diocese to share stories of learner agency and school innovation to contribute to the co-creation of an educational landscape for Catholic Education communities.
The process of co-creation will be informed by the shared and high aspirations of young people and their communities, together with contemporary educational research.
Participants will guide the co-creation of the Education Landscape by:
- Sharing and collaboratively analysing the learning conversations with young people
- Reviewing current research with particular attention to the fields of learner agency and the ECSI context
- Crafting and sharing narratives of school-based innovation to strengthen future possibilities
There will be 4 days held across the diocese. Further details can be found here.
Student Opportunities
Emergency Management Australia - LARGE AIR TANKER NAMING COMPETITION
Look to the skies and keep your eyes on the prize!
The Australian Government has funded the provision of a National Large Air Tanker (LAT) and your school could have the chance to name it.
Class groups from years 5 – 8 in rural/regional/ non-metro schools, are invited to tell us in 300 words or less what we should name the Large Air Tanker and why.
The winning class will have their nominated name displayed on the LAT and a chance to contribute to the signage design! Your school will also receive a visit from the Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie to celebrate the success and the school and class will be included in an article in the Australian Journal of Emergency Management (April 2022 edition).
Entries are open (Monday 7 February) and close on Friday 11 March 2022.
School approval must be obtained before any entry is submitted. Stay tuned for more information on how to enter.
Further information can be found at the following sites:
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/emergency/Pages/national-large-air-tanker.aspx and
National LAT Naming Competition (aidr.org.au)
2022 National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Local Grants Round
The Australian Government is inviting applications for funding under the 2022 NAIDOC Local Grants Round. The grants provide funding to Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations (including schools) to contribute to the costs of local and regional NAIDOC activities across Australia. Please note that applications close at 9p.m. on 22 February, activities must align with the 2022 theme ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ and the majority of grants range between $200 and $1,000. More detailed information relating to program objectives and the application process can be found at 2022 NAIDOC Grants.
Wellbeing Update
Emerging Priorities Program Submission Date Extension
Schools may have received information about the Emerging Priorities Program (EPP) – Open Competitive Grant Opportunity, the Australian Government is pleased to announce that the closing date for applications has been extended until Thursday 17 February (formerly Thursday 9 February). CEB is seeking to make a grant to support wellbeing across the diocese, this does not preclude individual schools making their own application. More information can be found at here.
People & Development Update
COVIDSafe Schools - information for employees
To clarify the requirements for a COVIDSafe workplace/school we have prepared several overview documents. Including:
- Checklist for COVID Cases, Contacts, and Exempted Workers
- Leave types for people who need to isolate and not attend work due to a positive result for COVID-19 or being classified as a household contact
Under new pandemic orders that came into effect on 12 January 2022, workers in key sectors, including Education, who are already required to be fully vaccinated with two doses must get their third dose to continue to be permitted to work on site. The Vaccination requirements and FAQ documents provides more information on this requirement.
We encourage staff to read these overview documents and discuss with your Principal or Team Leader, any questions they may have.
OHS online workshops
DOBCEL has secured a limited number of places for the DOBCEL Principals, or their delegate, to enrol in the CECV OHS for school leaders and WorkCover 101 training courses for 2022.
Principals are asked to view the Semester 1 calendar and consider what training sessions may be beneficial to them and their staff. Please follow the link to the calendar view the course details.
To register for any of these courses, please email Grant Victor-Gordon directly at gvictor-gordon@ceob.edu.au. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to call Grant on
Mandatory Reporting eLearning Module
“Our common mission of safeguarding God’s children.” (Pope Francis, 19-22 Sept. 2021)
All school and CEB staff employed in the Diocese of Ballarat are required to complete the Mandatory Reporting eLearning module by the end of Term One each year, including those who are mandated and those who are not mandated.
As advised in previous 2021 CECV Circulars (01 July 2021) the updated version of the eLearning module ‘Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations’ became available.
The eLearning module can be accessed through the Department of Education and Training (DET) Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System. Staff who already have an account with the DET’s online learning system should use their existing details to log in. Staff without an account can sign up by going to the online learning system homepage. Click here for instructions on how to create an account.
Schools and CEB must keep local records to track staff completion of the module. A copy of the certificate of completion should be submitted to the principal or delegated school representative. CEB staff should submit their certificate to Jacqui Righetti.
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Impending new Ministerial Order- Child Safe Standards
The Child Safe Standards (CSS) are changing this year. Upon the release of the new Ministerial Order and the new CSS (any day now) school and CEB staff will be introduced to a Guidance and resources (including updated templates). These resources are currently being developed to support transition to the new Standards and will be made available to schools in Term 1, 2022. All school and CEB staff will be required to be compliant with the new Child Safe Standards by 1 July 2022. If you want to learn more about the new Child Safe Standards, visit Commission for Children and Young People.
Prior to July 1st, school and CEB staff employed in the Diocese of Ballarat are required to adhere to the current Child Safe Standards.
Please feel free to contact Jacqui Righetti (CEB) via email or on
Catholic Education Week Dinner and 30 Year Awards night
The 2022 Thirty Year Service Awards will be celebrated and acknowledged at the Diocesan Catholic Education Week dinner on Friday 27 May at the Damascus Events Centre (DEC).
To enable DOBCEL to plan for the awards, we need to identify staff members who have become eligible this year for their 30 Years of Service recognition. Please note that any staff member who has been recognised in previous years will not be included, and that any maternity leave or leave without pay taken by staff throughout their career is not included when calculating years of service.
Could you please take the time to identify your staff members who may qualify for recognition in 2022, then follow the link and complete the form by Friday 11 March.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies
- Education Consultant – Central Zone – full-time, fixed-term position (closes 25 February)
- Education Consultant – Mid-North Zone – full-time, fixed-term position (closes 25 February)
- Speech Pathologist – Ballarat Office – full-time or part-time position (closes 21 February)
School Vacancies
- Part-time Teaching Positions – St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat – part-time, fixed-term positions (closes 11 February)
- School Finance Officer – St Augustine’s School, Creswick – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 February)
- School Administration Officer – St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East – fixed-term at 0.6 FTE (closes 14 February)
- Principal Assistant – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 February)
- Classroom English Teacher/Tutor – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 February)
- School Finance Officer – Emmaus Catholic Primary School, Mt Clear – fixed-term position at 0.7 FTE (closes 18 February)
- Casual Relieving Teachers – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat (closes 28 February)
- Mathematics Teacher – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – fixed-term position at 0.75 FTE (closes 2 March)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Alipius’ Parish School, Ballarat East (closes 30 June)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East (closes 9 December)