Welcome back from what I hope was a rejuvenating Easter and holiday break. The term ahead is shaping up to be a very busy one with some significant events taking place.

My thoughts are with Bishop James Foley at this time as he embarks on his transition to retirement, owing to his health concerns. Bishop James has been a significant contributor to the church and its work in many ways over many decades, including with the Commission. I am sure you will all keep Bishop James in your prayers.

I also ask for prayers for the people of Sri Lanka after the horrific blasts that occurred in their churches and hotels on Easter Sunday. For all those who were killed, those who are still suffering, the emergency services personnel affected and for the Sri Lankan families all over the world, we pray for peace.

The federal election campaign is well underway and advocacy on behalf of Catholic schools is taking place at various levels. QCEC has been active in talking to the Government and Opposition about key issues in Catholic education.  In particular, we have been focused on early learning opportunities. QCEC has written to both the Government and Opposition advocating for assistance with capital funding to increase kindergarten infrastructure. This would support both major parties’ commitment to increasing participation in pre-school education.

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) is also arranging a number of meetings with key players in the political landscape to ensure the voice of the Catholic education sector is heard in this election.  Next Tuesday, 30 April, Opposition Education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek will address a forum in Sydney to discuss issues pertaining to Catholic schools.  Education Minister Dan Tehan was also invited to the forum but is unable to attend due to other commitments.  The forum will be webcast and we will make details available as soon as they are known.

NCEC will be issuing an election newsletter each week during the campaign.  The first edition was issued last week and the next one is due out Friday.  Please circulate this newsletter to your schools and networks to ensure all those with an interest in Catholic education are kept up to date.

Work has begun on EB9 and we look forward to the negotiations being positive and productive when formal discussions begin next month.  To assist with keeping staff and school communities informed about the negotiations an EB9 website has been launched. You can find the site at eb.qcec.catholic.edu.au.

Regular staff updates will be provided through Catholic School Authorities and via the EB9 website.  The first of these updates has been circulated to staff and is also available on the website here.

A series of EB9 branded materials including web banners, email headers and PowerPoint templates have been designed and are available for use on EB9 communications by contacting the Communications team at QCEC.

A Leading with Integrity for Excellence – Governance for Catholic schools program was recently conducted for administrators from RI and PJP Schools.

The 2019 program was again delivered by Dr Stephen Brown, Director of The Brown Collective and followed the successful program delivered last year to participants from RI and PJP schools from across the State.

This year 20 participants came from schools and colleges in Townsville, Yeppoon, Toowoomba and Brisbane and participated in a series of face to face workshops at the CITEL Centre at Lourdes Hill College in Hawthorne.

The Leading with Integrity for Excellence (LWIE) program seeks to enhance executive leadership and develop the strategic and operational capability of participants to ensure and assure high-quality Catholic schooling delivery and positive outcomes for all stakeholders

The LWIE program comprises modules based on six elements which are core issues for school leadership.  The modules covered in the program include Governance, Ethics, Thinking Strategically, Responsible stewardship; Safety and wellbeing, and Building a culture of Performance.

Each of these modules is interrelated to the participants contemporary work, the schooling context, and Catholic identity.

Participants rated the program very highly and provided feedback for the program which they indicated inspired and challenged them through the various modules of work.

The 2019 QCEC cohort joins a growing LWIE Alumni of some 400 plus participants in leadership positions in Catholic Education from Dioceses in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.

The Brown Collective and QCEC have commenced planning for program opportunities in 2020.

(Pictured: participants in the 2019 LWIE RI/PJP program)

Catholic education will again be strongly represented as the ANZAC Queensland tradition continues to be honoured through a range of special ceremonies and events taking place this week.

I would like to offer my best wishes to all Premier’s ANZAC Prize recipients who are undertaking an amazing journey in 2019.  In particular the following students will be representing Catholic education:

• Atticus Solomon, Ambrose Treacy College, Indooroopilly
• Claudia Maher, Brigidine College, Indooroopilly

The students and chaperones are travelling to London and the Western Front to visit key sites important to Australian war history. They will also have the opportunity to attend the  dawn service at the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France, on Anzac Day.

(Pictured: Atticus Solomon and Claudia Maher with John Percy, QCEC Executive Officer-Education)

Executive Director EREA Wayne Tinsey recently announced that after 15 years of dedicated service, Michael Senior will retire as Principal of Ambrose Treacy College (formerly Nudgee Junior) at the end of the current school year.

On behalf of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, I would like to congratulate Michael on his many achievements and sound leadership of the College over the past 15 years. I would also like to thank him for his generous support of the work of the Commission.

Edmund Rice Education Australia has begun the process of advertising for the new Principal. Further details about the process can be found here.

(Pictured: Michael Senior with student leaders)  

My congratulations to Mark Grant who has been announced as the new CEO of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

Mark commences in his role in mid-April, and joins AITSL from the Department of Education in NSW where he previously held the position of Executive Director, Leadership and High Performance. 

I look forward to working with Mark on national education reforms and through AITSL’s work supporting teachers and school leaders.

In the past weeks two new staff members have joined the Secretariat:

• Kate O’Neill – Executive Officer, Education. Kate has worked in various roles within the Brisbane and Toowoomba dioceses and is a former APRE, Deputy Principal and Acting Principal at St Agnes, Mount Gravatt.
• Chris Byrne – has returned in a contract role to assist the Finance team. Chris has previously assisted QCEC in capital audits.

I take this opportunity to welcome Kate and Chris.

A reminder that nominations are open for the 2019 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

Nominations should be submitted online by 5.00pm on Friday 10 May 2019. Recipients will be presented with their awards at the official launch of Catholic Education Week in Rockhampton on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

Thank you for again supporting this worthwhile process.

Day for Daniel Date Claimer – Friday 25 October 2019

Missed a Circular? Below is a list of Circulars that have been issued recently. Use your login to access them.

031         Circular Reporting Timetable 2^nd Quarter 2019 Update

032         Federal Budget 2019

033         AICD Workshop Expression of Interest

034         Monitoring the Australian Curriculum

035         Teacher Suspensions and Cancellations

036         Change of 2019 Federal Census Bulk Upload Format

037         Teacher Practice Reference Group