As this is the last Communique before the school holidays, I would like to wish all Catholic school communities a happy and holy Easter. 

Already our students and staff are busy preparing for the Easter celebrations to come. 

All indications are that we will be able to celebrate in more traditional ways this year than we were able to in 2020 as the pandemic was rapidly unfolding and schools and churches were forced to close their doors.

The Easter message of hope is one we take forward with us always in our mission to educate young people so they can make a difference in the world.

For those who are planning to travel over the Easter break, I wish you a safe journey and look forward to seeing you refreshed for Term 2. 

The QCEC Secretariat will be closed from 12noon on Holy Thursday, 1 April, and will re-open at 8am on Tuesday, 6 April. 

Photo source: Facebook - Holy Family Primary School, Indooroopilly

As mentioned in the previous edition of Communique, Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace has initiated a review of how issues of consent are taught in Queensland schools across all sectors.  

Since then, I have met with the Minister, the Director-General of the Department of Education and Independent Schools Queensland to discuss the review.  

While the details are still being finalised, there will be consultation with all sectors on current curriculum and programs to ensure they are relevant, explicit, age appropriate and evidence based. Principals Associations, parent groups and the Ministerial Student Advisory Council will also be consulted.  

Work on this important issue is also being undertaken at a federal level and it is likely we will see some review to ensure that issues of consent are adequately covered in the Australian Curriculum. 

Last Friday I attended the Queensland Catholic Education Directors’ Forum alongside the five Diocesan Catholic Education Executive Directors for the quarterly gathering. 

I had the opportunity to discuss the review of QCEC position statements related to employment, teaching in a Catholic school, teaching RE in a Catholic school, formation for teachers and senior leadership positions. 

We also met with the newly appointed Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) Head of Education, Donna King, to discuss her role at ACU. 

The Principals of RI/PJP schools met on Monday for the first time this year.

It was an opportunity to discuss current issues including the review of respectful relationships education, COVID-19 restrictions and compliance, NSSAB compliance reviews, changes to internship arrangements in schools, NGRSF activities and school enrolment trends. 

I thank Principals for making the time to attend these meetings which occur each Term. The next meeting is scheduled for 31 May 2021. 

Today, the Political Advisory Committee met to cover matters of prominence spanning the State and Federal government arenas.

At the commencement of this meeting, I was pleased to introduce our newest committee member, Kate Jones, who comes to us from a background of more than 14 years in State politics, including three years as Education Minister. 

The committee has an important role in helping to form QCEC’s political advocacy strategies.

As part of our continued advocacy, yesterday I met with the Leader of the Queensland Opposition, David Crisafulli and Shadow Education Minister Christian Rowan.

It was a constructive meeting which we hope will lead to regular consultation with the Catholic sector as the Opposition develops future education policy.

Thank you to the 188 Queensland Catholic schools who have already taken part in the NAPLAN Coordinated Practice Test this week. 

This year 95 per cent of Queensland Catholic schools will take the test online. This is the largest participation rate of any sector in Queensland.

QCEC welcomed participants from Queensland Catholic schools to a two-day workshop in Brisbane recently to kick-start the 2021 Research Partnership Schools Program (RPSP). 

Attendees represented the nine schools selected to join the RPSP which is a collaboration between QCEC, the University of Queensland’s Science of Learning Research Centre and Evidence for Learning. 

The RPSP provides schools with access to academic experts to research and instigate evidence-informed change that will have a positive impact on student learning within their own school context.  

I was pleased to present on sustaining and governing a high-quality Catholic education sector at the Leading with Integrity for Excellence (LWIE) Program for RI/PJP school staff last week. 

Participants came from schools and colleges in Brisbane, Noosa, Townsville, Yeppoon, Toowoomba, Gympie and Ipswich.  

The LWIE program, which seeks to strengthen Catholic school governance, is funded through the Australian Government’s Non-Government Reform Support Fund and is run in conjunction with The Brown Collective.  

It includes modules covering governance, ethics, thinking strategically, responsible stewardship; safety and wellbeing and building a culture of performance. 

The Queensland Catholic Education Commission will provide face-to-face workshops throughout Term 2 for teachers who have completed an in-school moderation and are relatively new to NCCD moderation.

Registration is open for 21 moderation workshops which are set to take place across all Queensland dioceses and online until 20 May.

Places are limited - to find out more and register for a session please click here. Alternatively, if you require further information email jeanineg@qcec.catholic.edu.au.

A National Mass to celebrate 200 years of Australian Catholic Education is planned for the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on 24 May.

The Mass will be celebrated across all dioceses around the country.

Further details will be provided closer to the event via the NCEC website, however, QCEC will also provide updates to Catholic School Authorities as this information becomes available.

QCEC is collating details of Queensland Masses being held on this day. Please provide details of local Masses to QCECCommunications@qcec.catholic.edu.au.

I would like to welcome Anita Ferrari to the Secretariat in her new role as a Finance Officer. 
 
Anita will support the Finance Manager and handle a variety of finance and accounting tasks such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and reporting. 

Anita has previously worked within the education sector and has recently replaced former finance officer Irene Hussain. 
 
I would also like to thank Irene for her time spent with the Secretariat and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Photo: Anita Ferrari

A reminder that online nominations are now open for the 2021 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

Catholic school communities and Catholic School Authorities in Queensland are encouraged to nominate individuals or teams (staff members, parents/carers or volunteers) who are making an outstanding contribution to the life of their school community. For more information click here.

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

2021 Circulars

026     Consultation on Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme
027     Review of Respectful Relationships Education
028     Mapping of Activities Supporting Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy
029     NCCD Cross-School Moderation
030     QPERF Feedback Survey and Focus Groups
031     PISA for Schools
032     Influenza Information from Queensland Health
033     Review of Position Statements 2021
034     Information on electronic signatures