Welcome back. I hope you all had a wonderful break and are feeling refreshed and eager to tackle Term 4 which is always an extremely busy time in our school communities.

In a year filled with challenges and triumphs we never could have anticipated, our Catholic schools have continued to rise to the occasion, having learned how amazingly adaptable we can be when faced with the most unexpected situations.

This year in Term 4 we will see the first cohort of Queensland Year 12s undertake external examinations as part of the new QCE system. We wish students and staff well as they make final preparations.

I would like to again thank all teachers, staff, students and families for their remarkable responsiveness, commitment and resilience throughout the 2020 schooling year and I wish you all the best for your endeavours throughout Term 4. 

The Queensland Parliament was dissolved yesterday, putting the state officially on election footing.

While we have not seen any indication that education will be a contentious issue in the campaign, it is nevertheless an important time for us to ensure all candidates are aware of the key issues facing Catholic schools.  

QCEC and Catholic School Parents Queensland continue to advocate with sitting members and candidates on the issues of: 

• Recurrent funding 
• Capital funding 
• Access to kindergarten
• Parent engagement strategies
• Position of authority offences.  

We will be adding information supplied by the major parties in response to these issues to an election page on the QCEC website.

Last night's Federal Budget focused heavily on economic recovery following the pandemic.

Given the high levels of debt being incurred to support the economy, it was pleasing to see there was not any reduction in recurrent spending in the non-government schools sector.

In fact, owing to the introduction of the Direct Measure of Income into the funding calculation for each school, the government expects to increase recurrent funding by an additional $41.2 million over the next five years.

I was also pleased to see the Student Support Package announced in the Budget which aims to support vulnerable and disadvantaged students over the next five years. A portion of the package is also devoted to enhancing STEM skills.

We have provided Catholic School Authorities with a Budget overview today and a breakdown of the education-related announcements. All the details are available in Circular 2020/103.

I would like to welcome Bishop of Rockhampton, the Most Reverend Michael McCarthy, as the Representative of the Bishops of Queensland on the Queensland Catholic Education Commission.

Bishop Michael replaces Bishop James Foley who has retired from his role on the Commission.  

I take this opportunity to thank Bishop James for his contributions to QCEC and to Catholic education nationally over many years.  

We wish Bishop James well for the future and look forward to working with Bishop Michael. 

Bishop Michael McCarthy

The 2021 round for the Australian Government Capital Grants Program and Queensland Government Capital Assistance Scheme will open on 26 October 2020.

Catholic School Authorities are encouraged to apply for Capital grants via the Queensland Catholic Education Commission’s (QCEC) Microsoft Office Group platform.

To further assist CSA’s throughout the application process, the Secretariat will be conducting information sessions on the following dates:

• Townsville 27 October 2020 (Townsville Catholic Education Office 1:00pm)
• Cairns 28 October 2020 (Cairns Catholic Education Services Office 9:00am)
• Rockhampton 29 October 2020 (Rockhampton Catholic Education Office 12:00pm)
• Toowoomba 4 November 2020 (Toowoomba Catholic Education Office 10:30am)
• Brisbane 9 November 2020 (2 sessions - ACU Centre Elizabeth Street Brisbane Session 1 - 9:00am, Session 2 - 1:00pm)

Due to COVID 19 health directions restricting capacity of meeting rooms, it is important to book your preferred session before the 23 October 2020.

For a copy of the agenda and to register, contact QCEC staff member Bernadette Casey at bernadettec@qcec.catholic.edu.au or via phone on 3316 5822.

Applications for the 2021 Capital round will close on 31 March 2021.

Expressions of interest for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Assessors are now open online.  

Anyone interested in becoming an assessor for 2021 can find out more about the role, eligibility and conditions and key dates on the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Certification website. 

Expressions of interest for these roles will close on Thursday 22 October.  

Successful applicants will then be notified by Thursday 29 October. 

In the lead up to the celebration of 200 years of Catholic education, the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) will host a virtual symposium on Friday, 30 October from 11am – 3pm.

The full program and speakers will be announced soon, however, the symposium will cover topics including:

• School improvement in a post-COVID world
• Faith & Mission
• Leadership
• Community engagement

This free event will be ticketed so be sure to save the date in your diary. Enquiries are being accepted via email here.

Congratulations to all the finalists shortlisted for this year’s QCT TEACHX Awards.

There are nine Queensland Catholic school finalists across six categories which commend the efforts of outstanding teachers and leaders who have gone above and beyond to contribute to their school communities:

Excellence in Beginning to Teach

• Annan Whittington, Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale

Outstanding Contribution to School Community

• Ron Armstrong, The Cathedral College, Rockhampton

Outstanding Contribution to Teaching

• John Alloway, Ignatius Park College, Cranbrook
• Elizabeth Kriesch, St Columba’s Primary School, Wilston

Excellence in Teaching

• Matthew Lourigan, Loreto College, Coorparoo
• Sam O’Leary, St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, Carina

Innovation in Teaching

• Christopher Pacey, St Patrick’s College, Townsville
• Jason Sepetauc, St Joseph’s Nudgee College

Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning

• Christine Beckmann, All Hallows’ School, Brisbane.

Winners will be announced on Queensland World Teachers’ Day, 30^th October.

Congratulations also to the finalists and winners of the 2020 Queensland Training Awards.

Among the winners was Environmental Support Officer Ngaire Trigg from St Benedict’s Catholic School, Shaw, in Townsville, who was named as Vocational Student of the Year in the State category following her studies through TAFE Queensland.

The awards celebrate the top achievers in Vocational Education and Training (VET) across the state.

For more information and to view the full list of finalists click here.

Ngaire Trigg, Vocational Student of the Year (Source: Queensland Training Awards)

Semester Two 2020 online applications are open, for the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme.

Schools are encouraged to remind parents to apply for assistance via the School Transport website, as applications for this round will close on 31 October 2020.

The Bus or Ferry Assistance (BFAP) rebate assists families whose student catch bus/ferry transport to attend a non-state school outside the Brisbane City Council boundary, within Queensland.

The Students With Disability (SWD) rebate assists families whose child/children are driven or catch public transport to attend a non-state school, within Queensland.

To find out if you are eligible to apply visit the School Transport website here.

SAVE THE DATE

Held in week 3 of term 3, Catholic Education Week will be celebrated from 25-31 July 2021.

Visit the Catholic Education Week website here to stay up to date with all the latest information.

Keep up to date with all the latest news distributed by QCEC via our social media pages.

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

2020 Circulars

093    Capital Application Opening of Round

094    AITSL Indigenous Cultural Competency Information Paper

095    Non-Government Reform Support Fund Work Plan

096    ICT Procurement

097    Review Regional Schooling Resource Standards Loadings

098    Microsoft Account Management

099    QCEC Nominee to QCAA Ratification Committee

100    Reporting Timetable 4^th Quarter2020 Update