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I would like to thank and commend the Queensland Catholic school communities who volunteered their time to assist with the clean-up after recent storms and floods across the south-east region.
Many of our schools were affected by the severe weather events, but due to the support of staff and the community, most schools have been able to return to normal operations fairly quickly.
It has been heartening to see Catholic school communities not only cleaning up around their own campuses but volunteering extensively in the broader community to help those in need. There have been some wonderful examples of a lived faith in action in these extremely trying times.
View the Queensland Catholic school flood volunteer's gallery below. 
The federal government recently released Next Steps: Report of the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review.
The report addresses issues of attraction and selection of students for teaching programs, the quality of those programs and how graduate teachers can be supported through the early years of their career to try to improve retention rates in the profession.
The report supports the delivery of quality teaching to ensure students receive a high-quality education by building on the strength of current programs and initiatives.
Catholic education has also been working in partnership with the tertiary sector to develop strategies to support quality initial teacher education and ongoing support for educators.
The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has launched national initiatives to build teacher capacity and support teaching workforce challenges in Catholic schools, particularly in rural, remote and regional areas.
One program, a partnership with Australian Catholic University and the University of Notre Dame Australia, sees teacher education students employed in Catholic schools as paraprofessionals to address localised shortages of teachers and provide paid, in-the-classroom experience. It enables teaching students to find employment and extend their experience in Catholic schools where they are most needed.
Read more about the program here.
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Catholic school communities are encouraged to nominate in the 2022 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.
The awards recognise individuals or teams (staff members, parents/carers or volunteers) who are making an outstanding contribution to the life of their school community through:
- Showing outstanding integrity in leading a school community or program
- Implementing change that improves teaching and learning and supports greater equity in education
- Building Catholic education identity and ethos in ways that support exceptionally life-giving relationships and build hope in school communities or Catholic education agencies
- Demonstrating excellence in teamwork that supports and builds Catholic education
- Demonstrating outstanding service to others in the school education community and beyond.
Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award
- Creating positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff and/or developing improved understanding of Indigenous cultural heritage in Catholic school communities.
All Spirit of Catholic Education Award nominees will receive a certificate of recognition and this year’s recipients will be presented with their awards during Catholic Education Week which will be celebrated from 24-30 July 2022.
Nominations should be submitted online through the Catholic Education Week website by 5pm on Sunday 8 May 2022. To nominate click here.
The National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence will be held on Friday, 18 March.
This year Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative recognises 12 years of action with the theme Kindness Culture.
Queensland Catholic school communities have always strongly supported this event and there will be many of our schools taking part in the campaign again this year.
Find out how you can participate and what resources are available for schools on the website here.
Nominations are now open for the 19th annual Peter Doherty Awards.
Queensland Catholic school communities are encouraged to nominate students, teachers and support officers who deserve recognition for their outstanding achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
There are 8 categories and 28 prizes of $5000 each for individuals, education partnerships and one outstanding school.
Nominations close 5pm Wednesday 23 March and the awards ceremony will be held on Friday 12 August to kick off National Science Week. Find out more here.
