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Weekly Newsletter #20 - 26 June 2024

Reflection

Christ in All...

Our reflection this week is a homily written by Fr Barry Ryan. As we come to terms with Fr Barry’s passing, we are once again reminded of his amazing vision of what each one of us is called to be and do.

Homily (excerpt) for the First Sunday of Advent Year A (Gospel-Matthew 24:37-44) -Barry T. Ryan

I would like to draw on a story written by the famous 19th century Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Famous for writing War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Tolstoy had a moral crisis in his life. He had a profound spiritual awakening through reading the ethical teachings of Jesus, especially Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. This prompted him to express his new-found belief in another work, The Kingdom of God is Within You.

Much of what Tolstoy came to accept is encapsulated in his little story of Martin the Cobbler. It is the story of a lonely shoemaker who learns one night in a dream that the Christ will come to visit his shop the following day. The morning after the dream, Martin gets up early, tidies his shop, prepares a meal and waits for the coming of the Christ. The only one who shows up in the morning is a tired beggar who asks for somewhere to rest. Martin gives him the room he has prepared for his divine guest. This beggar is the only visitor on that morning. In the afternoon, an old woman carrying a heavy load of wood appears. She is hungry and asks for some food. Martin gives her the food he has prepared for the Christ who has not yet appeared. Evening comes and a lost child wanders in. Martin guides him to his home, all the time afraid that he will miss his heavenly guest. That night Martin prays and, in his prayer, he asks, “Where were you? I have waited all day long for your coming?” Martin then hears the response of his divine guest, “Three times I came to your friendly door. Three times my shadow was on your floor. I was a beggar with bruised feet. I was the woman you gave to eat. I was the homeless child on the street.”

Christ is within us and within those whom we encounter. We are called to recognise the presence of Christ in our world and to make Christ present in ways that will repair or at least mitigate the damage that has been done through lack of human awareness… I pray that we, as a community of faith, hope and love, will always look for ways to be conscious and awake to the world around us, which show up in the people and events we encounter each day.

From the Executive Director

As I reflect on another busy term, I am struck by the breadth and depth of high-quality learning opportunities our schools are offering, along with the ability of Principals, teachers and staff to manage the sheer complexity of school life and education delivery in the modern world.

Please know that your dedication, talents and professionalism are seen, known, and deeply valued.

This week we have been saddened to learn of the passing of two fine Church and education leaders within our Diocese - Fr Barry Ryan and Sr Louise Ritchard IBVM.

Fr Barry ministered in the diocese for 59 years as Assistant Priest in a number of parishes and as Parish Priest at Redan, Terang & Mortlake, and Ballarat North. Fr Barry had an amazing vision of what The Church is called to be, and he shared this vision, wisdom and intellect with generosity, bringing the presence of God to all he encountered. Fr Barry was both a brilliant educator in his own right, as well as an inspiring figure, walking with us as an education community throughout his priestly ministry.

Loreto Sr Louise Ritchard leaves a deep mark on Catholic education as an inspiring teacher and principal with a passion for theatre and performance, and a leader in the use of computers and learning technologies in schools. Sr Louise was principal of St Joseph’s Primary School, Lyons St, Ballarat from 1978-1988 and also led the development of the foundation principles, planning and building of St Thomas More Primary School, Alfredton, among many career achievements.

The passing of these figures provides a salient reminder of the calibre and courage of those who have gone before us, and challenges us all to be true custodians and enacters of the ministry of Catholic education, as they were. I encourage you to read more about the wonderful contributions and lives of Sr Louise and Fr Barry, along with funeral arrangement details, later in this newsletter.

I would like to particularly thank Principals and school communities in the north of the Diocese who hosted Professor Pasi Sahlberg, Dave Runge, and myself as part of our strategic plan co-design last week. Pasi and Dave have been very impressed by the depth of insight provided, and the quality of work happening in our school communities, throughout this process. The DOBCEL Board will meet on 30/31 July to bring the planning phase of this project to fruition.

Thank you once again for your work this term and I wish you and your families a restful, safe and happy holiday break.

With best wishes

Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat

Sincere thanks to the Principals, staff, and communities of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Merbein), St Paul’s (Mildura), St Mary’s (Robinvale), St Mary MacKillop College (Swan Hill), St Mary’s, (Swan Hill), St Mary’s (Sea Lake) and St Joseph’s (Red Cliffs), who generously gave of their time and insights to engage with Professor Pasi Sahlberg, Dave Runge and Executive Director Tom Sexton, as part of the DOBCEL Strategic Plan co-design process last week.

Vale Fr Barry Thomas Ryan

Bishop Paul Bird CSsR, Bishop Emeritus Peter Connors, the priests and people of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat are saddened by the passing of their brother and friend, Fr Barry Ryan, aged 86 who died peacefully on Saturday, June 22, at Nazareth House, Ballarat.

Fr Barry was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ballarat on July 21, 1965 at St Joseph’s Church Warrnambool.

He served as Assistant Priest in a number of parishes throughout the Diocese as well as being Parish Priest at Redan, Terang & Mortlake and Ballarat North.

During his 59 years of Ministry, Fr Barry held various roles including Vicar General, Director of Priestly Life & Ministry, Diocesan Director of the Religious Education Centre, Head of Religious Education at Aquinas College Ballarat, Diocesan Director for Radio & Television as well as a member of the College of Consultors.

The Funeral will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat at 10.30am on July 1 and will be live streamed. The livestream link is available here.

May Fr Barry now enter into the fullness of life promised to all who preach the Gospel and may he rest in peace.

Read an address by Sr Veronica Lawson rsm on the occasion of Fr Barry’s Golden Jubilee in 2015

Vale Sr Louise Ritchard IBVM

(8/11/1937 – 16/6/24)

Sr Louise Ritchard was a principal of St Joseph’s Primary School, Lyons St Ballarat from 1978 – 1988. During that time Sr Louise was responsible for developing the aims and nature of St Thomas More Primary School and planning and building the new school in Alfredton.

During the late 1970’s, due to the close proximity of two schools in the Cathedral Parish it became apparent that there were not enough children in the area to support both schools. Sr Louise was responsible for guiding the school communities of St Joseph’s and St Patrick’s Christian Brothers Primary School, Drummond St, through their amalgamation in 1982 and was the foundation Principal of the new St Patrick’s Parish Primary School. Her forward-thinking and love of computers made the new school at Drummond St one of the first Primary schools in the region to have a computer laboratory.

Sr Louise’s family connections in the performing arts also developed in her a love for the theatre. Past students from both St Joseph’s and St Patrick’s have many happy memories of school performances at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat.

Students and parents of the St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish give thanks for the wonderful education opportunities and the growth and development of each child offered by Sr Louise Ritchard.

Sr Louise will be laid to rest at 10.00am tomorrow (27^th June) at the Loreto Normanhurst Chapel, Sydney.

May she rest in peace.

Professional Learning Program

Please click the 'Download Here' button below to open the flyer.

Download Here

Deputy and Assistant Principal and Senior Leaders Forum

20 & 21 August

The two-day Forum is open for both primary and secondary Deputy and Assistant Principals and Senior Leaders.

There will be a variety of presenters across the two days with interactive sessions on the school improvement framework, leadership formation (developing psychological safety and empathy) and developing trust to have crucial conversations.

Time: Day 1 – 10:00 – 4:00pm and Day 2 9:00 -2:00pm
Date: Tuesday 20 August and Wednesday 21 August
Location: St Brigid’s College Horsham VCAL room – 97 Robinsons St, Horsham
Cost: $150 - includes
- Day 1 – morning tea, lunch and evening dinner
- Day 2 - morning tea and lunch
Try booking registration

Schools will be expected to organise and pay for any necessary travel and accommodation costs of participating staff.

For further information on the forum, please contact Janet Claassen or Fiona Murphy.

St Patrick’s Cathedral $1000 Choral Scholarships - 2025 Applications Now Open!

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat is inviting applications from Years 3 – 6 students with musical interest and aptitude, for a Cathedral Choral Scholarship for 2025.

The Choral Scholarships are modelled on similar approaches operating in the Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth Cathedrals.

Children who are successful will join the Cathedral’s Cantato Domino Choir, which is currently made up of 20 adults and children.

The Choir covers a broad and exciting range of repertoire, including traditional styles of sacred music and contemporary church hymns, along with providing opportunities for musical, vocal and personal development in a safe, fun environment.

Successful applicants are required to participate in weekly rehearsals and sing at two Masses per month during term time.

The Cathedral Choral Scholarships provide an annual contribution of $1,000 towards the children’s education and/or musical tuition.

Auditions will be held late in Term 3, 2024.

For more information and/or to request an application form, please contact the Cantate Domino Choir Director, Mr Vincent Sully at vincenzo101923@gmail.com or 0407 310 115.

People and Development Update

Federation University students need your feedback!

The DOBCEL People and Development team is working with students at Federation University who are currently undertaking an industry-based project as part of the Work Integrated Learning Unit.

The work-integrated learning unit allows students to work with organisations on real-life work scenarios, where the students are required to research and deliver suggested outcomes. Fed Uni is working with DOBCEL to help us better understand why people choose to come and work in DOBCEL schools or offices and how we can best ‘attract and compete’ in a competitive job market. By better understanding the reasons people choose to work and stay with DOBCEL, we can focus our efforts on delivering more of the things that are important to our people.

Together with the P&D team, Fed Uni students have devised a short survey to gather your feedback and we encourage as many people as possible to share their thoughts and experiences. Your feedback will help the students devise suggestions and present findings designed to enhance our unique offerings and create an employee experience tailored to what our people want.

The survey has 14 questions and will take around 5 minutes to complete; and can be accessed here. Survey responses are anonymous.

The survey is open now and will remain open until Friday 28 June 2024.

If you have any questions regarding the project please contact Sarah Hanley, Talent Acquisition Partner.

Crucial Conversations – Swan Hill 3 & 4 September 2024

Time: 9:00-4:00 (both days)
Location: Swan Hill (Murray Downs Resort, Swan Hill)
Cost $500 (inclusive of learning materials (3 x books), morning tea and lunch)
Try booking registration

Crucial Conversations teaches a model for effective communication, that can be applied to any situation, but particularly difficult or high-stakes situations. It focuses on fostering dialogue, managing emotions, and achieving mutual understanding. The model helps to navigate high-stakes discussions with openness, respect, and skill, enhancing relationships and driving positive outcomes.

This program is designed for anyone who would like to develop skills in providing effective feedback and fostering open dialogue. The skills can be transferred across a range of situations including providing feedback and fostering open dialogue with colleagues, parents/carers and the community. It is relevant for people working in schools as well as the CEB office.

Future workshop dates:

Crucial Conversations will also be run on 12 & 13 Nov in Ballarat.
Try booking links will be supplied for bookings soon.

If you have any queries about the program please contact Fiona Murphy on fmurphy@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Catholic Identity and Mission Update

NAIDOC Week

The 2024 NAIDOC theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.’ The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held across the country from 7-14 July 2024, NAIDOC Week will celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As we head into NAIDOC Week, let us be reminded that in the Gospel, Jesus compels us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Welcome in this context involves both an attitude and an action. It is our attitude which constantly needs to be assessed in light of the Gospel to ensure that we are carrying out the Lord’s commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Pope Francis reminds us that we have much to learn from indigenous people across the world:

"They are the living cry of hope. They know what it is to listen to (the) Earth, to see (the) Earth, to touch (the) Earth. They remind us that we human beings have a shared responsibility to care for our common home."
Pope Francis, Indigenous Peoples Forum, Rome February 2019.

READ/VIEW

Social Justice Education Officer, Sarah Page, encourage you during NAIDOC week you could take time to read, listen to and reflect on one of the following:

“Listen” written by Australian Aboriginal man (from Wiradjuri Nation) Duncan Smith AO and Nicole Godwin, with paintings by (Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warung descendant) Jandamarra Cadd.
'Listen' by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin and Jandamarra Cadd | #readaloud by @helloreaders.
A book from the KooriCurriculumn’s NAIDOC Week 2024 Reading List, NAIDOC Week 2024 | Koori Curriculum, or share books you have read by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors with friends and colleagues.
An episode from the SBS documentary series, The Australian Wars. In Season 1, Rachel Perkins journeys across the country to explore the bloody battles fought on Australian soil and the war that established the Australian nation, seeking to change the narrative of the nation.
Watch The Australian Wars | Stream free on SBS On Demand

REFLECT

After exploring your chosen reading or viewing your chosen documentary, consider; What does it mean to listen? What does the word truth mean? How can telling truths lead to healing? What does “laying bare the deep scars of the past” mean? Who was the stranger when you began your reading or episode, and who are they now that you have heard their story? Consider, how might you authentically and respectfully welcome this stranger into your own daily life?

Let this reading/documentary/picture story book be an inspiration and moral compass to embark on this journey of Reconciliation together.

ACT

“Keep the Fire Burning.”

Attend a NAIDOC Week event - Plenty of events will be taking place nationwide. By participating, you can learn from and engage with Indigenous Elders, listen to their stories, and reflect on their challenges and resilience. Attending a local NAIDOC Week event, workshop, or gathering is a commitment to human rights, social justice, and intergenerational equity. Check out social media for local events.
Commit to practicing genuine allyship - Being a genuine ally involves a lot of self-reflection, education and listening. It means knowing you’re often coming into a space from a position of power and privilege. Genuine allyship is important in any fight against injustice, but it’s crucial to understand how your presence impacts the people and communities that you want to support.
Further your learning by listening to Indigenous voices - Consume and enjoy the wide range of Indigenous-led content available to you this week.
Check out SBS and NITV's extensive line-up to celebrate NAIDOC Week this year.

Upcoming significant Ecological Events:

July 2024 Plastic Free July - Explore the resources on the Plastic Free July website
Sunday 7 July to Sunday 14 July 2024 - NAIDOC Week
Monday 15 July 2024 - World Youth Skills Day | United Nations
Monday 26 July 2024 Schools Tree Day
- Get Involved As A School - National Tree Day

The Catholic Institute of Western Australia (CIWA) has expanded its course offerings to encompass a distinctive Professional Certificate of Catholic Social Ecology.

Please see information below: Professional Certificate of Catholic Social Ecology

Caritas Australia - CIWA catholic social ecology certification

Article submitted by Sarah Page.

Learning and Teaching Update

SECONDARY NEWS

Thank you to all of our participants in the ECP this term. We’ve explored lots of ideas in the two seminars and the forum session.

Writing was a key focus this term with our first seminar on developing student writing with writing frames. The second seminar focused on strategies for engagement in lessons and the ways in which we can carefully structure new ideas in order to maximise student understanding and participation.

Our forum exploring the new Victorian Curriculum last week was perfectly timed, with the launch of the new website and more resources from the VCAA coming the following day (they must have been listening to us!).

We really appreciate the contributions of teachers and leaders to our sessions. Regular feedback to this project ensures it addresses identified areas of interest for teachers of English.

As with all of our sessions, there is a recording and a ‘classroom ready’ resource available on the Canvas. You can access these here.

For further details, please contact Julia Petrov, Learning and Teaching Education Officer (Secondary) on jpetrov@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 0432 499 683.

ILSY Professional Learning

The ILSY professional learning suit uses a disciplinary literacy approach to guide and support secondary teachers and leaders in the Diocese of Ballarat to explicitly and systematically lead school improvement.

Disciplinary literacy is an approach that harnesses subject specific support to improve literacy across the curriculum. With this in mind, ILSY seeks to assist schools in supporting their teachers to understand how to teach students to read, write and communicate effectively in their specific subject area.

All three 2024 programs are based on the need to ground literacy in the teaching of each subject rather than seeing it as a general skill.

Over the four years of the program, the ILSY PL has presented strategies for school leaders to ensure school-based literacy approaches prioritise subject specificity over general approaches. The diverse content of this term’s ILSY PL has certainly covered a range of areas for consideration. The thinking has been impressive while the sharing of ideas and strategies highlights the benefit of collaborating in a diocesan wide, ongoing professional learning network.

For further details, please contact Julia Petrov, Learning and Teaching Education Officer (Secondary) on jpetrov@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 0432 499 683.

PRIMARY NEWS

Primary Leaders of Learning - Save the date

ALL Primary Leaders - (Mathematics, Literacy, Instructional, Curriculum)
When: Term 3, Week 4 - Wednesday 7 August, 1:30pm - 3:00pm.

Please keep your eye out for the full agenda, coming soon.

Expressions of Interest for Face-to-Face Sounds-Write Training

One of our Central Zone schools has been offered the opportunity for Face-to-Face training in the ‘Sounds-Write’ systematic synthetic phonics program, provided there is sufficient interest for feasibility purposes. We are currently seeking expressions of interest from schools in our diocese wishing to partner in this training. The four-day course will be held in Ballarat from Monday August 26 to Thursday August 29.

Course fees are approximately $1000 per participant, with a small additional percentage of the facilitator's overall fee to be paid by participating schools. The course will cover all theoretical and practical aspects of the ‘Sounds-Write’ approach, with the addition of tailored advice for implementation in Grades 3-6. Further information on course content can be found by following the link to the Sounds-Write webpage.

Please contact Julie Cooper (jcooper@dobcel.catholic.edu.au) or Susan Vowles (svowles@scballarat.catholic.edu.au) to express your interest NOW.

Maths Bites - Unpacking The Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0

Throughout Term 1 some primary learning leaders took part in familiarisation workshops on the revised Victorian Mathematics Curriculum. During Term 3 we will provide another opportunity for Primary Leaders of Mathematics and classroom teachers to engage in introductory workshops on the F - Year 6 Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0 in preparation for full implementation in 2025.

These ONLINE sessions will be facilitated by Teresa Hadden and Sarah McKnight, Primary Education Officers from CEB.

Please note: The content presented will be an online version of the face to face days offered in Term 1.

The online sessions will take place on:

Tuesday 30th July, 2pm - 3pm
Tuesday 6th August, 2pm - 3pm
Tuesday 13th August, 2pm - 3pm

The content will include:

The structure and introductory documents for the Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0
The similarities and differences between V1.0 and V2.0
The connections between the Achievement Standard, Content Descriptions and Elaborations
New reporting requirements
Mapping a Scope and Sequence for the year demonstrating the interconnectedness of concepts.

Register here

Structured Literacy Project

Level 1A Day Two - Please register before the end of Term 2.

Cluster 1: St Brigid's Ballan & St Mary's Clarkes Hill	Thu 22 August 10 - 3	Sovereign Park Ballarat	Register here
Cluster 2: St Joseph's Warrnambool & St Patrick's Port Fairy	Wed 21 August 10 - 3	Deakin Uni Warrnambool	Register here
Cluster 3: St Patrick's Koroit & St Pius X, Warrn. West	Tue 20 August 10 - 3	Deakin Uni Warrnambool	Register here
Cluster 4: All Saints Portland & St Mary's Colac	Tue 20 August 10 - 3	Deakin Uni Warrnambool	Register here
Cluster 5: Western Trinity Schools	Thu 22 August 10 - 3	Sacred Heart Casterton	Register here

Michael Ymer Yearly Overview Documents

Michael Ymer’s yearly overviews have been thoughtfully designed to align with the Victorian Mathematics Curriculum version 2.0, which reflects the educational priorities and standards set for Victoria. The content for each term has been divided into distinct content strands. There are direct connections made between the strands to enable for deeper learning experiences.

These documents align with the new Mathematics Reporting Guidelines. Schools who attended the recent Professional Learning with Michael received these planners.

If you didn’t attend and would like to access the planners the cost is $150 for the set and involves a PLT on how to use them effectively.

To order the planners and book a PLT please contact Julie Cooper or Teresa Hadden.

2024 reporting advice for primary language specialist programs

2024 reporting advice for primary language specialist programs is now available here. Reporting examples and wording are provided on pages 2 & 3.. Two of the most frequently asked questions are:

Does my school need to report on F - 6 Languages?
Yes. All schools registered in Victoria must ensure they:

monitor and report on students’ performance, in accordance with the minimum standards for school registration; and
implement and report against the Victorian Curriculum’s achievement standards for Languages

Does my language teacher need to provide a progression point for Languages reporting?
No. Schools are not expected to report against age expected levels in the Victorian Curriculum for Languages. However, schools are required to display student achievement using a five point scale.

Note: Teachers as Co-Learners schools have been provided with separate reporting advice.

GENERAL NEWS

New industry and regional profiles for students and learners

The Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) has launched a new, free online resource for job seekers, career changers, students, teachers and career advisers.

The website pages provide insights into training and skills for high-demand industries across Victoria, future skills needs, career success stories and connections to support services.

The pages also include interactive maps showing the locations of training providers and Skills and Jobs Centres in each region of Victoria, along with localised job market data and case studies.

Written in plain language and designed to be accessible, the profiles make it easy for users to navigate through the wealth of information available.

Data from the VSA’s employment forecast dashboard and links to the Victorian Skills Gateway make the industry and regional profiles a one-stop location to access localised training information, career opportunities and future industry demands.

Explore the industry and regional profiles:

Industry profiles
Featuring detailed information on 15 high-demand industries in Victoria, highlighting key occupations and providing a glimpse into the vocational landscape.
Training and career stories
Showcasing the inspiring stories of 25 Victorians who have taken a vocational education and training pathway to build or advance their careers.
Job market insights
Offering valuable information on immediate employment opportunities, future job trends, and the vocational training pathways to pursue them.
Melbourne profiles and Regional Victoria profiles
Includes dedicated sections for 13 regions across Melbourne and regional Victoria, offering localised information to help users make informed decisions based on their area.
Regional profiles in the Ballarat Diocese:
Ballarat and surrounds regional profile
Geelong, Colac and surrounds
Horsham and surrounds
Mildura, Swan Hill and surrounds
Warrnambool, Hamilton and surrounds

Visit Training and careers in Victoria’s growing industries on the VSA website for more details.

If you have feedback on the industry and regional profiles, please email the VSA’s Digital Engagement team at victorian.skills.gateway@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Early Career Teachers Retreat – years 1, 2 and 3 and any pre-service teachers.

"There Where You Are" - August 14 and 15 2024

The 2024 Early Career Teacher Retreat in Halls Gap is back in term 3. The retreat is run on a three-year cycle and this year is titled “There where you are.” The two-day retreat will provide content and experience on –

Nurturing your own spirituality
Caring for my spirit
Making connections with other early career teachers in The Diocese of Ballarat.
Why be ecological?
Sacred Ground
Caring for our common home.

There will be the opportunity to explore nature as a component of the retreat, reflecting on scripture and Tradition in the process.

Click here to view a little more on the retreat.

Additional details –

When: Wednesday August 14 and Thursday August 15 2024
Time: August 14 - 9:30 to 4:00pm and August 15 - 9:00 – 1:00pm
Venue: The Country Plaza, Halls Gap,
141 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap VIC 3381
Cost: $200 per person
meals provided include –
- Day 1 – morning tea, lunch and dinner
- Day 2 - morning tea and take-away lunch.
Try Booking link

Travel and accommodation are to be organised by participants. A limited number of rooms have been reserved for participants to book at the Country Plaza.

If you are an Early Career Teacher and have not had an opportunity to attend any of the ECT days this year, we have content and resources available online through CANVAS. Register for ECT Canvas access here.

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 (F-10)

All Victorian schools were contacted this week to advise of the further release of 2.0 curriculum materials, including:

6 learning areas: The Arts, Health and Physical Education; Humanities, Languages (Chinese, French, Italian and Japanese), Science and Technologies
4 capabilities: Ethical, Critical and Creative, Intercultural, and Personal and Social
3 cross-curriculum priorities
3 foundational skills (Digital Literacy, Literacy and Numeracy).

All published Victorian Curriculum V2.0 materials with supporting resources can be accessed at www.F10.vcaa.vic.edu.au

Timeline for Implementation
All schools are advised to begin a period of familiarisation with the new curriculum materials. Further information will follow in regard to a timeline for the implementation of these most recently published elements.

Mathematics V2.0
Most schools will be on track for full implementation of the Mathematics V2.0 curriculum in Semester 1 2025, with a small number having implemented the new curriculum and reporting in the current semester.

Primary Mathematics Education Officer Teresa Hadden has prepared a roadmap for schools who will be engaging in further familiarisation ahead of a 2025 start. Access here.

The purpose of this roadmap is to provide you with a series of steps in preparation for full implementation of V2.0 Mathematics from the start of the 2025 school year. If you require any support with the familiarisation phase please contact Sarah McKnight, Julie Cooper or Teresa Hadden.

English V2.0
Schools are reminded of the English V2.0 implementation advice:

2024: Orientation
2025: Familiarisation (Implementation Optional)
2026: Full Implementation

In the first semester of 2026 it will be expected that all schools report to the revised English Curriculum. Reporting procedures will continue to require teachers to report against the three English modes.

VCAA Updates
All Diocesan staff can register for curriculum updates by using the links:
Register for F–10 newsletter update.
Subscribe to VCAA Bulletin, Early Years update and Senior Secondary update.

Micro-credentials in Higher Education Courses for Primary and Secondary teacher professional development and leadership upskilling.

10 fully sponsored places available to CEB teachers for 2024 from low SES, Rural, Regional and Remote schools for semester 2 commencing July 29 .

Applications for Semester 2 close on July 15.

This learning is online and primarily asynchronous with synchronous non-mandatory course engagement sessions.

Course outlines

Applications close on July 12th so if you are interested please contact Teresa Hadden thadden@dobcel.catholic.edu.au ASAP.

Teaching The Australian Wars: A conversation with Rachel Perkins and Culture is Life

Reconciliation Australia is hosting a webinar on “Teaching The Australian Wars”, with Director Rachel Perkins and Culture is Life General Manager – Programs, Thara Brown, discussing the award-winning documentary series and the accompanying education resources.

In recognition of the documentary’s immense educational value, Blackfella Films and SBS Learn have collaborated with Culture is Life to publish curriculum-aligned education resources about the Frontier Wars. This webinar will make connections between First Nations oral histories as a fundamental part of Australia’s reconciliation journey, and reconciliation in education. During the webinar, you will learn about The Australian Wars education resources and how they are aligned to the Australian Curriculum, as well as explore the learning opportunities the resources provide for students in years 9 to 12.

When: Wednesday 26 June 4.00pm - 5.00pm (AEST)
Where: Online Register now to save your spot

Please note that spots are limited and that when registering, attendees can submit a question about the series. It is recommended that, if possible, participants watch The Australian Wars documentary series before attending.

ACER PAT Professional Learning

ACER is pleased to offer a series of webinars targeted to schools using, or about to use, the PAT Progressive Achievement suite online. Here's the schedule for terms 2 & 3.

Term 3 2024

PAT CEB Webinar Recording

The recording of the recent CEB PAT Webinar PAT Assessment to Support Mid-Year Reporting has been uploaded and can be found on the DOBCEL Schools’ Hub’s PAT Assessments & Resources site, under the newly-added Recordings banner. On this site you will also find the Reporting Alignment Tool discussed in the webinar, under the new drop down heading Reporting.

Please contact the PAT Team (Breeana Wade, Teresa Hadden and Lisa Templar) with any questions.

CEP Winter Series

The Winter Series, CEP’s PD Online have commenced.

Specifically designed by educators for all educators, this season consists of 4 interactive sessions: Sign up here to join a current webinar of to access recordings.

Retention of Staff: 26th June 2024, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Stay informed on the latest industry trends and research, hear inspiring leadership stories, acquire strategies to help balance demanding workloads, learn how to manage AI technology in the education space and gain an understanding of how to retain and engage your team.

Each session is highly interactive, providing participants with the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback from educational industry experts. Sign up now and take a significant step towards advancing your career and personal well-being.

Country Education Partnerships - Small Schools Forum

Last week DOBCEL representatives attended the long-awaited Small Schools Forum organised by Country Education Partnerships (CEP)!

Over 150 attendees gathered on site at Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership centres across the state.

There were some fantastic discussions taking place and we heard from several engaging speakers.

We are looking forward to the networking and opportunities to learn across the sectors about the great things happening in small schools - and looking to build better futures for all our young people in remote, regional and rural locations.

Richmond Emerging Aboriginal Leadership (REAL) Program - Expression of Interest

REAL Schools is a school-based program that introduces Indigenous students to the work of the Korin Gamadji Institute.

Within this program, students will learn about the Richmond Emerging Aboriginal Leadership (REAL) program, including an introduction to the three key pillars of the program: Leadership, Social and Emotional Wellbeing, and Culture.

This interactive program includes cultural games, content from Richmond Football Club Indigenous players and practical social and emotional wellbeing exercises, governed by subject matter experts by our Indigenous psychologist employed by KGI. At the end of the session, students will find out how to enrol in the REAL programs and stay connected with the KGI Team.

About REAL Program
REAL journey is designed in three stages.

First stage is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Year 7 & 8.
Second stage is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Year 9 & 10.
Third stage is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Year 11 & 12.

Where from here?
If you or a support staff, who are in contact with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, are interested or wanting to know more about the 2 hour FREE workshop, please email Brady Cooper, Programs Manager - bcooper@richmondfc.com.au to organise a date and time.

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Principal Vacancies:

St Mary's Primary School, Warracknabeal (closes 4 August)

School Vacancies:

Casual Relief Teachers – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat (closes 28 June)
Learning Area Leader- Religious Education – Damascus College, Mount Clear – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 1 July)
2025 Teaching Expressions of Interest – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 5 July)
Deputy Principal - Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes July 8) 
2025 Learning Support Officers Expressions of Interest - Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 0.75 FTE (closes July 8)  
2025 Teaching Expressions of Interest - Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 July)  
College Counsellor - Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 0.8 FTE (closes 8 July)
Casual Relief Teachers – St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura  (closes 12 July)
Classroom Teacher - Junior - Leave Replacement Position – St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat – fixed term position at 0.40 FTE (closes 15 July)
Rowing Coaches (Volunteer) – Damascus College, Mount Clear (closes 15 July)
Expressions of Interest for all Subject Areas commencing 2025 – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 July)  
Spanish Teacher - Expressions of Interest for 2025 – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 July)
Classroom Teacher- Maternity Leave Position - St Thomas More School, Alfredton – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 July)
Classroom Teacher - Maternity Leave Position – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 24 July)  
Classroom Teacher (Leadership Positions Available) – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 24 July)
Teachers – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 7 August)   
Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North  (closes 30 August)  
Casual Relief Teachers – St Aloysius’ School, Redan  (closes 30 November)

Article submitted by Sarah Hanley.

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