Best wishes to Queensland Catholic school students and staff who are busy preparing for NAPLAN testing which begins next week.

There will be 128 additional schools from the Catholic sector transitioning to NAPLAN Online in 2021 bringing the total to 295 schools (95 per cent). The final 13 schools will transition in 2022 and new schools in the future will participate in online testing. 

I thank all principals and school staff for their hard work to ensure students are well prepared and the tests are appropriately and professionally administered. 

I recently attended the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority’s partner briefing alongside QCEC’s Director Education, Yvonne Ries, regarding the release of proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum. 

The revisions are yet to be finalised and are open to public consultation until 8 July before they are reviewed further by Education Ministers.  

The public consultation process provides various opportunities for Catholic School Authorities, individual teachers and individual schools to provide input. The National Catholic Education Commission has also been invited to provide a response.  

Full details of the public consultation process are available in Circular 2021/046. 

The revisions are particularly important for Queensland as the only state that fully implements the Australian Curriculum without alteration. 

To read more about the proposals and provide your feedback click here. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to briefly meet Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge face-to-face, along with Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth, during a visit to St Flannan’s Primary School, Zillmere, followed by a tour of the site for Brisbane Catholic Education’s new Holy Spirit College at nearby Fitzgibbon. 

Engaging with our elected representatives from all sides of politics continues to be a vital task for QCEC as we keep our focus on policy and legislative changes and also look to the next federal election.  

Over the last few weeks, I’ve met with Senators Anthony Chisholm (ALP), Susan McDonald (LNP) and Murray Watt (ALP) to discuss key government and opposition policies affecting Catholic schools including capital and recurrent funding, education policy and the potential employment impacts of any changes to anti-discrimination legislation in the context of religious freedom. 

I also met last week with Queensland’s Minister for Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development, Di Farmer, to discuss VET related issues.

Photo L-R: Foundation Principal Holy Spirit College Stephan le Roux, QCEC Executive Director Dr Lee-Anne Perry AM, Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge, BCE Executive Director Pam Betts and Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth.

The recruitment and development of a qualified and engaged workforce is an issue that has become more important than ever as Catholic schools grapple with an ageing workforce heading towards retirement at the same time enrolments are growing. 

Recently I attended the Queensland Council of Deans of Education and the Department of Education Partnership Forum which includes representatives from all school sectors, universities and the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT).  

The Federal Government’s review of Initial Teacher Education and teacher recruitment were topics for discussion with the Department of Education sharing some of its current recruitment strategies.  

QCT also provided an update on the Queensland Professional Experience Reporting Framework. 

Teachers from RI/PJP Catholic Schools across Queensland gathered at the ACU Leadership Centre in Brisbane last week to commence the Using and Interpreting Data in Schools course. 

Hosted by the Australian Council for Educational Research, and supported by QCEC, the face-to-face session gave teachers from nine different schools the opportunity to network and engage in the training modules.   

The course is designed for teachers and school leaders who wish to build on their knowledge about the different kinds of data used in schools, how it can be represented, and what it can tell teachers about student learning. 

This activity is supported by funding from the Australian’s Non-Government Reform Support Fund (NGRSF).

Hannah Orchard (QCEC) and Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy (ACER)

Congratulations to all students recognised as high achievers in the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) Awards, including the seven students from Catholic schools who were recently commended for their efforts.

Matthew Cho, Patrick Gleeson, Joshua Long and Yang Zhang of St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace and Declan Cabot of St Joseph’s Nudgee College; Lucia Rega of All Hallows’ School and Georgy Ushakov of Unity College, Caloundra were all recognised.

Find out more about the successful students here.

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC's) is now underway and it is important that all schools participate to build a more complete picture of the health, wellbeing and development of children in the community.

The data collection started on 4 May and closes on 25 June.  In previous data collections, Catholic schools have a record 100 per cent participation rate with survey instruments completed for all prep children.  To find out more about the data collection click here.

I would like to welcome Ashleigh Lau to the Secretariat in her new role as a Senior Data Analyst.

Ashleigh has previously worked within the data and accounting sectors and has replaced former staff member Glovian Chu.

I would also like to thank Glovian for her time spent with the Secretariat and wish her all the best in her future role at the Australian Taxation Office.

Ashleigh Lau

There is still time to register for the upcoming online Future Thrive VET in Schools Forum on Thursday, 20 May.

Hosted by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, and designed for VET school staff, the forum will feature a range of presentations outlining how students can build their skills and qualifications through VET and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.

During the full day program, a variety of VET related topics will be covered including skills policy reform and funding, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, innovation and the future job market, high quality balanced career advice and career education, industry engagement, current research and school showcases.

Watch the video below to find out more and to register click here. 

Applications for the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) are now open for Semester 1 and must be submitted by 31 May, 2021.

The NSSTAS provides financial assistance for families transporting students to non-state schools in Queensland.

To find out more about the initiative and eligibility requirements click here.

This week will be the last opportunity to submit nominations for the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, including the Aunty Joan Hendriks Spirit of Catholic Education Award.

The awards aim to recognise those who make an outstanding contribution within their Catholic school communities.

Find out more and submit your nomination here before applications close on Sunday, 9 May.

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

2021 Circulars 

045     Consent Education and Reporting Review – Catholic sector RRE resources

046     Australian Curriculum Public Consultation

047    Share the Dignity

048     Teacher Suspensions and Cancellations