Weekly Newsletter #60 - 25 June 2025

Reflection: A Prayer for Peace

It is easy to think of peace as something that is needed in places far away, especially as we see the unfolding crisis this week in the Middle East. The seed of peace is in every human heart. The following prayer by the late Pope Francis, invites Christians to reflect that the creation of peace actually begins with every person and every community. Peace is not a distant concept, needed somewhere else, its possibility is in our own hands to create.

Lord God of Peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of all humanity.

 Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. 

Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!

Amen.

Pope Francis

From the Executive Director

Last week, we launched the DOBCEL 2035 Survey – a vital step in shaping the future of Catholic education across our Diocese. Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to complete it.

If you haven’t yet had the chance to complete the survey, I want to take a moment to stress how important your voice is in this process. The survey will establish our 2025 baseline and provide the foundation for tracking progress as we pursue the aspirations of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035.

Your responses will directly inform action and reflection across our five strategic pillars:

•  Collaborative Cultures
•  Engagement and Belonging
•  School as Community
•  Rich Pedagogical Practices for Deeper Learning and Wellbeing
•  Sustainable Stewardship

It takes around 20 minutes to complete and is open to all staff – whether you’re in a teaching role or an education support role, every perspective matters.

To make it easy to participate, this newsletter includes:

• A short video message
• A printable flyer to display in staff areas
• A direct link to the survey

Please take this opportunity to share your insights – they will help shape our shared future.

Last week, Pope Leo delivered a powerful speech about the negative effects that artificial intelligence (AI) can have on the “intellectual and neurological development” of rising generations, along with a call to confront the “loss of the sense of the human” that societies are experiencing. Pope Leo went on to say, “that while never before has a generation had such quick access to the amount of information now available through AI, this should not be confused with the ability to understand the workings of the world”. Joe Ewing and Coby Reynolds have been leading a working party comprising representatives from CEB, principals, and school staff on an AI Framework for DOBCEL schools. This framework will provide guidance on the use of AI in our schools. We plan to release a draft version of this framework in the near future.

With best wishes,

Tom Sexton, Executive Director  

DOBCEL 2035 Survey – Our 2025 Baseline

Last week, we launched the DOBCEL 2035 Survey, marking an important milestone in our shared journey towards the future of Catholic education across our Diocese. 

Important note: The survey will be open until the end of Week 1 in Term 3.

This survey will form our 2025 baseline. It will give us a clear picture of the current landscape across our schools and help us measure our progress in relation to the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy.

What you need to know:

• It will take about 20 minutes to complete. We understand that this is a commitment, but the insight you provide is vital to our long-term planning. Your considered responses are deeply valued.
• The survey will be open until the end of Week 1 in Term 3
• The survey can be accessed via the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25-DS2035
• All teaching staff and education support roles are encouraged to respond.
  
• Principals of RI/MP JP schools are invited to share the link with their staff and encourage them to complete the survey.
• The survey uses four response options: strongly disagree, disagree, agree, and strongly agree. There are no neutral choices, and each question requires a response. Please answer as honestly and thoughtfully as you can.
• All responses will remain confidential.

A flyer is available to help promote the survey within your school:

Please print and display it in staff areas to help spread the word and encourage participation.

Thank you for your contribution. Your input matters and is deeply valued. The data gathered through this survey will help shape our direction and evaluate our success in the years ahead.

Important Health Update: Increased Number of Respiratory Cases In The Community

There is an increased number of respiratory cases in the community at the moment, including influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). All of these conditions have vaccination programs available which should be considered by those eligible within the school community, especially by staff and students with underlying susceptibilities.

Key preventative health actions for school settings include:

• Ensuring adequate ventilation in classrooms, staffrooms and other common areas by opening windows and doors and holding meetings in large spaces or outdoors when safe to do so
• Ensure regular cleaning, sanitising and disinfection of high touch surfaces and objects such as desks, doorknobs, keyboards and toys
• Promoting hand washing and respiratory etiquette to limit the spread of disease
• Promoting vaccination to the school community
• Advising that people with symptoms should stay home while unwell. This is a mandated requirement for COVID-19 and influenza cases in primary schools and children service centres under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.

Some links which may assist in educating your staff and community:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Better Health Channel

Immunisation and pregnancy | Better Health Channel

Influenza (flu) | Better Health Channel

Influenza (flu) – immunisation | Better Health Channel

COVID-19 vaccination | Better Health Channel

School exclusion table for primary schools and children's services | health.vic.gov.au

Be a Soapy Hero! | Better Health Channel

Periodically Grampians Public Health Unit send health communications to individual school office emails. They are designed to support education providers in promoting flu prevention and winter wellness, and include posters and social media materials that can be adapted and shared across platforms. The latest communication sent was ‘Influenza Communications Resources for Schools - May 2025’, link here: https://my.gh.org.au/flucommunicationspack25-education. Consider signing up to their distribution list.

If you need any further information or support you can speak with one of the Public Health Officers through the following channels: Website: bhs.org.au/gphu, Email:  phu@gh.org.au, Phone: 1300 988 908

Showcasing our Catholic Schools in Action

Swing into Learning: Emmaus Playground Ignites Outdoor Joy!

Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of the Emmaus Catholic Primary School community, our new play equipment has been installed, enhancing our outdoor spaces in a way that underscores the power of true school–home partnership.

Students are already enjoying the benefits daily, with laughter, energy, and connection flowing freely through this joyful, inclusive space.

This initiative beautifully reflects DOBCEL’s vision of “pursuing fullness of life for all,” embodying our commitment to holistic, faith‑centred education where community and wellbeing flourish together.

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Embracing the Joy of Helping Others!

Pope Francis said:  ‘Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other.’

Last Friday, our school community came together to raise over $1000 for a number of worthy causes, including the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute and The Blue Tree Project. 

Inspired by the message from Guide Dogs Victoria promoting inclusive practices and fullness of life for all, our Year 3 students added to their already sizeable fundraising for this worthy cause, now in excess of $3000. 

Many students gave up their own time to bake a variety of sweet treats which were a big hit with students and staff alike.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to families for their generosity, students who organised a stall and parents and carers who assisted on the day.

Story and image provided by St Michael's Primary School, Daylesford Principal, Tim Hogan.

Congratulations to Harmony & Neti on Receiving Their First Communion!

Last Sunday at 10 am, St Joseph's Primary School - Red Cliffs students, Harmony and Neti, joyfully received their First Communion - a sacred milestone in their faith journey and a beautiful celebration for our school communities.

We congratulate Harmony and Neti on this special day and thank their families, parish, and school staff for supporting them in this important step of spiritual formation. May the grace they received enrich their hearts always.

Empathy in Action: St. Patrick's Commemorates World Refugee Day

Last week encompassed both Refugee Week and World Refugee Day.

To honour World Refugee Day, Year 3–6 students at St. Patrick's Koroit gathered as a middle-senior cohort to read What is a Refugee? by Elise Gravel. The book helped the students to explore important questions such as: Who are refugees? Why do they leave their countries? What challenges might they face?

After the reading, students engaged in a rich discussion reflecting on how it might feel to be forced to flee your home, what emotions you might experience, what you would bring with you, and what is truly most important in life. Students thoughtfully considered the value of family, pets, treasured items, homes, safety, food, friends, and school, prompting a deep sense of empathy and gratitude.

Each student then created their own paper 'suitcase', illustrating what they would take with them if they had to leave suddenly. These were heartfelt and personal, capturing what they cherish most.

Although it was a challenging and emotional topic, it was an important one. Well done to everyone involved. 

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Sharing Culture and Community at Trinity College Colac

As part of Refugee Week, Trinity College Colac hosted a heartwarming celebration of culture and community. With the support of students, a group of local refugee mums prepared a delicious Sudanese lunch for staff to enjoy.

This beautiful act of hospitality not only showcased the rich cultural heritage of our local families but also reminded us of the power of food to bring people together. It was a moving example of welcome, collaboration, and connection in action.

We extend our warm thanks to everyone at Trinity College Colac who helped make this celebration such a meaningful part of Refugee Week.

St James Primary School Celebrates Collaborative Research on Digital Play

In celebration of the collaboration St James has with Deakin University, ACMI, and the Australian Research Council , the amazing work we have done in Digital Technology has now been  published. Please see the Digital Play Report here. 

This research project builds from the existing long-term partnership between Deakin University and St James Primary School, Sebastopol, where researchers, teachers and students continue to explore and extend understandings of digital play. St James has a long-standing commitment to implementing a play-based learning approach through all year levels within the school. More recently, the school has participated in workshops and reflective practices with the researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child to generate new constructs of digital play that include both theories of play and of technology.

Little was known about how children experience and engage with digital technologies in museums and galleries, how these experiences extend beyond school, and how such learnings may be integrated into the classroom. Without greater insight into children’s experiences and engagement with digital technologies in situ, it is difficult for both teachers in schools as well as education teams and creators of exhibitions within these public spaces to support children’s learning from these digital technology experiences. The current study presented in this report aims to address this gap in the research.

Thank you to Deputy Principal/Learning Diversity Leader, Viv McLoughlin, for submitting this wonderful story!

 Congratulations to St Michael's Daylesford Student, Archie Pearce!

We’re excited to share that a St Michael's Daylesford student, Archie Pearce, recently represented the Ballarat District Soccer Association U11 team at the Championship in Albury/Wodonga. We’re thrilled to announce that the team went on to win the Championship - an outstanding achievement! 

Congratulations, Archie! We’re so proud of your success and the way you’ve represented our school community. 

Ballarat Diocesan Secondary Principal network

The Ballarat Diocesan Secondary Principal network met last week at Damascus College, Mt Clear. Travelling from across the Diocese, the principals enjoyed a tour of the College including the new Xavier Flood Senior Learning Centre, as well as spending time exploring the DOBCEL Strategy 2035. 

Respectful Relationships in Catholic Education

Following our recent professional learning session on Respectful Relationships for new partner and lead schools in Ballarat, we extend our thanks to all participants for their thoughtful engagement and contributions. The session highlighted the importance of Respectful Relationships education in promoting safety, dignity, and equity in our school communities.

As many schools begin to explore the refreshed Respectful Relationships Curriculum, it is vital to consider how these updated resources can be meaningfully contextualised within the unique environment of each Catholic school. Catholic Identity remains a foundational pillar in our whole-school approach, empowering teachers to engage students in age-appropriate conversations that challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours, while always engaging with the teachings of the Catholic tradition.

This professional learning also offered valuable opportunities for networking, resource-sharing, and collaborative planning.

We encourage schools to continue the conversation:

• Review your existing planning documents and scope and sequence
• Reflect on how the Catholic tradition informs your approach to respectful relationships
• Share ideas and strategies across your networks

Thank you for your continued commitment to this vital work.

Together, we can build an approach that strengthens respectful, inclusive, and just communities across our Catholic schools that allows for the flourishing and fullness of life for all.

For further information or support please contact the Student Wellbeing Team or your Education Officer: RE at Catholic Education Ballarat.

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Damascus College, Ballarat - 2026 Careers Open Morning

Damascus College Ballarat is excited to announce its 2026 Careers Open Morning, taking place on Tuesday, 8 July, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. This event offers an opportunity to hear about the College's strategic direction, meet College leaders, tour the campus, including brand-new learning facilities and enjoy a networking morning tea. 

Please note, registration is essential and please scan the QR Code below for further details. RSVP by 4 July. 

Student Involvement - Speaking to Country and Art submissions

Catholic school students from all across Australia are invited to contribute to the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference through contributions through Speaking to Country recordings and Art submissions.

1. Speaking to Country recorded submissions

Schools are invited to create a short (less than 15 seconds) Speaking to Country in collaboration with their local Traditional Owners. These contributions will be edited into a film that may be included in the Welcome to Country led by Yidinji Elders.

Recordings must be submitted by 25 July 2025.
Access criteria, submission form and media consent form here.

2. Student Art Submissions on our theme ‘hope, anchored in faith’

School communities are encouraged to support student participation in an artistic reflection on our conference theme, ‘hope, anchored in faith’. Students can submit creative works—visual art, photography, sculpture, music, or film—that explore our conference theme and key areas of focus - Faith, Excellence and Access. Selected artworks will be displayed in the conference Chapel.

Submissions must be received by 25 July 2025.
For more information download the full criteria and entry form.

Download teacher preparation/student reflection powerpoint

2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference

The Countdown Is On!

We're counting down to the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference, from 20–22 August at the Cairns Convention Centre! With the theme ‘Hope, Anchored in Faith’, the conference will explore Catholic education through the pillars of Faith, Excellence, and Access.

The program features inspiring keynote speakers, including Sr Nathalie Becquart, Prof Dylan Wiliam, Dr Steve Constantino, Dr Simon Breakspear, and Dr Jordana Hunter, with Philippa McDonald as MC. Sessions will cover Catholic identity, teaching, leadership, community engagement, and resourcing. We look forward to welcoming you to this national celebration of Catholic education and leadership!

Watch the video message from Executive Director, National Catholic Education Commission Jacinta Collins, Bishop of Cairns, Joseph Caddy AM and Executive Director, Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns Durm O’Riordan.

Click here to register!

People and Development Updates

People and Development - Professional Learning Opportunities 

The following people and development professional learning opportunities are available for staff to attend. 

Wellbeing Updates

Student Wellbeing and SIMON Teams Data Day 

Thank you to our Primary and Secondary schools who joined the Data Day in Ballarat last Wednesday! 

The collaboration between Student Wellbeing and SIMON teams is helping to strengthen our Social Behaviour Platform, supporting schools to use data more effectively in planning for student needs. 

Key takeaways from the day included: 

• Understanding the importance of behaviour data
• Exploring tools like the TFI and individual/cohort data
• Learning how to analyse and apply data for planning
• Building effective data templates
• Looking closely at attendance data

A great step forward in using data to support wellbeing, engagement and learning across our system.

Out of Home Care Notification 

Upcoming surveys in Term 3  

Students in Out-of-Home Care (OoHC) are a priority cohort across our Diocese. We are committed to ensuring that all available supports are in place to foster a strong sense of belonging, promote engagement, and enhance learning outcomes.  

Schools will be contacted to complete an online data survey. This is a twice-yearly collection of data relating to the education status of students in formal statutory OoHC, conducted externally of CEB. The data is collected via an online survey. Data collection occurs in Term 1 and Term 3, looking back on the previous semester.  

Schools are verified through data matching and are emailed via the school email address with a personalised link to a web-based home page with a list of student IDs for their school. Each student ID is linked to a survey. There is a feature for schools to report on additional students that were notified about as being in formal statutory OoHC or believed to be in OoHC.  

Data collection will include  

• enrolment at the school or Flexible Learning Option 
• attendance 
• First Nations status and Cultural Plan 
• Learning Mentor 
• Student/Program Support Group 
• Education Needs Analysis 
• Individual/Personal Education Plan 
• DHHS notification 
• suspensions 

To support schools to monitor your own student OoHC data, a template has been developed to utilise and adapt as required.    

For further information, checklists, and resources, please visit our OoHC SharePoint. Note: Please see your Learning Diversity Leader for your school’s SharePoint username and password  

To assist schools in adopting a whole-school approach to supporting students in OoHC, a checklist has been developed and can be adapted to meet your school's specific needs and is available here 

OoHC School Student Monitoring TEMPLATE 

OoHC Whole School Approach Checklist TEMPLATE 

Out-of-Home-Care (OoHC School Reference Guide (2025)

Please reach out to the student wellbeing team if you have any clarifying questions or seek further information: 

Anne Ruddell (Senior) aruddell@dobcel.catholic.edu.au  

Brooke Nestor  bnestor@dobcel.catholic.edu.au  

Jane Bennett jbennett@dobcel.catholic.edu.au 

Monique Ryan monryan@dobcel.catholic.edu.au 

Term 3 Professional Learning/Network Opportunities 

CENTRAL STUDENT WELLBEING/MHWL LEADERS NETWORK Monday, August 4th 8:30am-3pm St James’ P.S. 252-258 Albert St.,  Sebastopol. Register here 

Southern Student Wellbeing/MHWL Leaders Network 

Monday, August 18th 9:30am-2:30pm St. Colman’s P.S. 28 Dunlop St., Mortlake. Register here 

MID-North Student Wellbeing/MHWL Leaders Network 

Thursday, August 21st 10am-2pm Horsham CEB Office 6A McLachlan Street   Register here 

North Student Wellbeing/MHWL Leaders Network 

Tuesday, September 16th 9am-2pm Our Lady of the Sacred Heart P.S. 18 Box St, Merbein Register here 

Secondary STUDENT WELLBEING LEADERS NETWORK 

September the 18th Online  - further details to follow 

Primary  STUDENT WELLBEING LEADERS NETWORK 

September the 11h Online - further details to follow 

Respectful Relationships 

We invite all Student Wellbeing Leaders and Religious Education Leaders to explore and build capacity to deliver Fullness of Life for All: Relationships & Sexuality Education AND Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) in your school. Wednesday 6 August 10am - 3pm Location: TBC Register here 

Nexus Rollout – Training for Finance, Payroll & HR Systems

As we prepare for the rollout of the Nexus platform, we want to ensure you are well informed about the training and support that will accompany this transition.

Nexus brings together three core Finance, Payroll and HR systems—Business Central (Finance), Aurion (Payroll), and PageUp (HR)—each designed to enhance functionality, streamline processes, and support operational excellence within its domain.

Please note that each of these systems will have its own dedicated training. The processes and interfaces differ across platforms, and training will be tailored to the unique features and requirements of each product area:

• Business Central – Training will focus on finance operations such as debtors, creditors, bank reconciliation, asset management, BAS preparation, budgeting and reporting.
• Aurion – Sessions will cover payroll processing, timesheets, leave management, employee self-service and related employee data.
• PageUp – Training will support recruitment, preparing job advertisements, onboarding and talent management workflows.

You will be invited to attend sessions that are relevant to your role, and we encourage full participation to ensure a smooth transition and successful adoption of these new systems.

More information on the PageUp and Business Central implementations are included below. Thank you for your support as we move into this exciting new chapter.

Project Nexus- PageUp Rollout: What You Need to Know

As part of the Nexus Project, the People and Development Team has been working closely with four pilot schools to introduce PageUp, our new, streamlined recruitment platform.

What is PageUp?

PageUp is an applicant tracking system that brings every step of the recruitment journey into one place. From advertising a job to reviewing applications, sending out offers, and onboarding new staff, PageUp will simplify and strengthen how we recruit across all DOBCEL schools.

What’s Next?

A full rollout to all schools will happen gradually, with every school expected to be using PageUp by the end of Term 2, 2026. A series of showcase sessions and training opportunities are being presented to help schools prepare.

Who’s Involved?

• Principals will attend a showcase session to see PageUp in action.
• Staff involved in recruitment and admin will be trained in the day-to-day use of the platform, including how to manage job ads, applicant shortlisting, and employment offers.

As more schools come onboard with PageUp, you may notice some changes to the DOBCEL Careers page and aspects of the recruitment process if you are applying for Positions of Leadership opportunities or other vacancies. These updates are part of our effort to create a more consistent, efficient, and user-friendly experience for both schools and applicants. We appreciate your patience and engagement as we roll out this exciting new system across our network.

Project Nexus - Business Central Update
Following the recent request for schools to review their BC rollout group and training timing we can now confirm the final rollout schedule:

We will be sending out ledger extractions from SAS/SchoolEdge shortly for schools to make any required data corrections (e.g. missing ABNs) ahead of the data uploads into Business Central.

Pilot Training commences

This week we are well underway with training for the Pilot Group including St Patricks Ballarat and the CEB office.
The shift to Business Central brings some changes to the language commonly used in the finance area, for instance:
• Debtors are known as “Customers”
• Creditors are known as “Vendors”
• Fee or Income Items are known as “Resources”

Following completion of the pilot group training, a review of the training approach and refinements to guides will be undertaken ahead of training for Group 1 commencing 28 July.

Given Principal involvement will largely be in providing approvals (e.g bank reconciliations, creditor payments etc) we are considering running these as group online sessions. More information to come.

Learning and Teaching Updates

Early Career Teacher Professional Learning - Term 3 2025

*SAVE THE DATE*

EARLY CAREER TEACHER RETREAT - Halls Gap

Wednesday 13^th - Thursday 14^th August

This retreat experience is designed for all teachers in their first, second and third year of their career. Content is organised on a three-year cycle ensuring participants are offered formation in a sequential and systematic way.

The event is designed to nurture and nourish the spirituality and wellbeing of our early career teachers. There will also be a formation component to the experience as participants will explore themes related to the Jubilee Year theme, Pilgrims of Hope such as pilgrimage, hope, journey and transformation. The retreat is invitational.

As part of the retreat, investigation will also take place regarding the deep connection between The DOBCEL Strategy 2035 and how the strategy is underpinned by the Catholic story and vision.

Venue: Country Plaza Halls Gap, 141 Grampians Road, Halls Gap Vic 3381
      -    Catering will be provided.

• Accommodation at the venue to be organised by the school.

Booking Link:  https://www.trybooking.com/DASUR

ACER is pleased to offer a series of webinars targeted to schools using, or about to use, the PAT Progressive Achievement suite online.   

For further information refer to ACERS’s School Engagement Events Brochure. Link here

Webinars Term 3:

1. PAT interviews: ACER leaders discuss PAT. Wednesday 23 July 4pm AEST (30 minutes) Registration link http://acer.ac/leaders25
2. Understanding PAT Norms Wednesday 20 August 4pm AEST (30 minutes) Registration link https://acer.ac/patnorms25
3. New assessment: PAT Maths 5th Edition Thursday 28 August 4pm AEST (30 minutes) Registration link ac/newmaths
4. Analysing and interpreting ACER’s reports for linear assessments Wednesday 3 September 4pm AEST (45 minutes) Registration link ac/linear25
5. Analysing and interpreting ACER’s reports for adaptive assessments Thursday 4 September 4pm AEST (45 minutes) Registration link ac/adaptive25
6. What’s new in the PAT Teaching Resources Centre: resources, navigation and more! Wednesday 10 September 4pm AEST (45 minutes)

 Registration link acer.ac/newpattrc25

Expression of Interest - UFLI Professional Learning 

Following the recent Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) Forum, a number of schools have expressed interest in participating in UFLI professional learning. If there is sufficient interest across the diocese, we have the opportunity to host regional workshop/s with a certified UFLI trainer.

To help us gauge demand and plan accordingly, please complete the Expression of Interest form via the link below:

👉 Click here to complete the form

For further information please email Julie Cooper jcooper@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Story Shelf is now LIVE!

Click here to access Story Shelf (and be sure to bookmark the page!)

It's not too late to get involved!

Just take a very quick minute to fill in the form below. We’ll follow up with next steps!

🔗 REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL'S INTEREST HERE

For further details please reach out to

Belinda Chiswell – Education Officer: Learning & Teaching

✉️ bchiswell@dobcel.catholic.edu.au | 📱0484 641 997

English Curriculum Project – Forum Two

Date: Thursday 26 June
Time: 3:30 – 4:30pm
Theme: Professional Conversations and Sharing of Resources and Ideas

ECP Forum Two will take place this Thursday. As it is a Forum, there will be a few areas to look at, but the main focus will be on exchanging ideas, questions, and comments. Based on the work covered this term, the conversation will focus on explicit instruction in classrooms—where participants are currently at, what you want to know, what questions you have, what the limits might be, and where to next.

In addition to rich discussion, a range of articles will be shared—ideal for deeper reflection over the holiday break.

🔗 Register here for the Zoom session

This session will not be recorded—it’s designed for live participation only.

For questions or contributions, contact Kirstin directly at kirstin@kirstinbourne.com or Ingrid May (DOBCEL) imay@dobcel.catholic.edu.au



Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2025

Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) - Melbourne 2025

ACYF will take place in Melbourne from Sunday, November 30 - Tuesday, December 2, 2025. This national event brings together young Catholics (Year 9–25 years) for three days of faith, fun, and community. The Festival includes prayer, Mass, talks, concerts, workshops, games, and more.  Watch this video of invitation from Archbishop Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evbj5eFg3HM.  There is an opportunity of sponsorship from the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Foundation for pilgrims attending the Festival.  If you’re interested in going, please contact your school or local parish office.  Learn more at www.ballarat.catholic.org.au or scan the QR code below.

ACYF Resources to assist schools

Home - Australian Catholic Youth Festival Melbourne 2025

Resources - Australian Catholic Youth Festival Melbourne 2025

An invitation to the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival - YouTube

2025 NATSICC Assembly “Pilgrims of Hope”:  September 29 - to October 3 in the Hunter Valley, NSW

This will be a gathering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics from across the country, brought together by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC). It will be a sacred and Spirit-led Assembly that offers a rare opportunity for deep listening, cultural exchange and shared faith.   

Running alongside the Assembly is a dedicated Youth Assembly, where young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics will come together to build faith, leadership and form a National Youth Ambassador Network to feed into NATSICC’s important work. 

Everyone is welcome - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics and those walking alongside Australia’s First Peoples in our Church. 

Click here for more information. 

Diocese of Ballarat Quick Contact Guide

Click here for a list for reference of enquiry types and contacts in the Diocesan Offices.

Support Gemma in ‘Dancing With Our Stars’!

We are incredibly proud to share again that our very own Miss Johnson has bravely stepped up to take part in this year’s ‘Dancing With Our Stars’ - a wonderful fundraising event run by the Ballarat Foundation. 

This community initiative raises vital funds to support those experiencing hardship across our region. Every dollar raised goes toward creating brighter futures through local food programs, education support, mental health services and more.

To help Gemma reach her fundraising goal, she’s running an exciting Raffle - and she’d love your help!

🎟️Tickets are just $5 each or 3 for $10

🧊First Prize: 6 premium tickets in a Superbox to a spectacular live ice performance at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 20th July at 2:00 PM (please note: food and drinks are not included)

🧊Second Prize: 4 premium tickets in a Superbox to a spectacular live ice performance at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 20th July at 2:00 PM (please note: food and drinks are not included)

👗Third Prize: A $200 voucher for Jericho Road Clothing

This is a fantastic opportunity to support a great cause and go in the running to win some incredible prizes. 

Scan the QR code on our posters around the school or visit the link below to purchase your tickets today! 

https://rafflelink.com.au/dwos-gemma 

Let’s rally behind Miss Johnson as she takes to the stage and helps make a lasting difference in our community. 

Thank you for your generous support! 

Lost Ring Found at Catholic Education Ballarat

We’re pleased to share that a white gold ring with diamonds was recently found in the Catholic Education Ballarat office car park.

If you or someone you know may have lost this ring, please contact us on 03 4344 4350 to confirm ownership. We’re hoping to reunite it with its rightful owner soon.

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancy

• Speech Pathologist – fixed-term position at 0.5 FTE (closes 13 July)
  

Principal Vacancy

• Principal – St Patrick’s, Port Fairy at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 July)

• Principal – St Joseph’s, Coleraine – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closing 1 July)

• Principal – St Joseph’s, Penshurst – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closing 1 July)

• Principal – St Malachy’s, Edenhope at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 July)

School Vacancies

• Generalist Teacher – St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term position at 0.48 FTE (closes 27 June)
• Teaching Positions Term 3, 2025 – Damascus College, Mount Clear – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 27 June)
• ICT Support Officer – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 29 June)
• Canteen Assistant - St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 0.6 FTE (closes 29 June)
• Primary Teacher – St Joseph’s, Hopetoun – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 30 June)
  
• Classroom Teacher – Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 2 July)
• Business Manager – St Brigid’s College, Horsham – ongoing position at 1.0FTE (closes 4 July)
• 2025 Casual Relief Teachers – Siena Primary School, Lucas – casual position (closes 4 July)
• Performing Arts/Music Teacher - St Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat North – fixed term position at 0.67 FTE (closes 4 July)
• Teaching Opportunities and Positions of Leadership 2026 – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing teaching positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 10 July)
• Classroom Teacher – St Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat North – fixed term position at 0.8 FTE (closes 14 July)
• Grounds & Maintenance Assistant – St Joseph’s, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 July)
• Maintenance & Facilities Manager - St Joseph’s, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 July)
• Casual Relief Teacher – St Augustine’s, Creswick – casual position (closes 18 July)
• Instrument Tutor – Piano – Damascus College, Mount Clear – fixed-term position at 0.4 FTE (closes 18 July)
  
• Classroom Teacher- Foundation - St Joseph’s, Warrnambool – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 1 August)
• Classroom Teacher – Year 5 - St Joseph’s, Warrnambool – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 1 August)
• 2025 Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat North – casual positions (closes 25 November)
• Classroom Teacher 2026 – St Mary’s, Warracknabeal – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 5 December)