Congratulations and best wishes to almost 11,000 Year 12 students in Queensland Catholic schools who will officially complete their schooling this week and continue on their journey.

These students have completed their senior years of school through some of the most unsettled times we have known.

After a disrupted start to their final year, it has been good to see students return to some form of normality as the year has progressed.

We wish all Year 12 students every blessing as they embark on their next chapter.

QCEC has put together a gallery to capture the special moments shared by Year 12 Queensland Catholic school students below. 

The Commission held its final meeting for the year on Tuesday. The meeting was also my final Commission meeting before my departure from QCEC early next year.

The Commission received a briefing on NAPLAN outcomes for the Catholic sector and a report on the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability program.

Commission members were also briefed on a survey conducted by Australian Catholic University to help Catholic schools evaluate their Student Protection processes. 

The Commission considered a number of appointments to both internal and external committees.  

I take this opportunity to record my thanks to Janine Walker who recently retired from her role as independent chair of QCEC’s Workplace Relations Committee. Janine brought a great depth of experience to the committee, and we thank her for her generous service to QCEC. 

QCEC welcomed 15 Queensland Catholic school teachers from several dioceses this week as they began the first stage of the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Certification Assessor Training Program, facilitated by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). 

Assessors play an integral role in the certification process which is linked to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). The understanding that the APST are key to staff development and improved student outcomes has increased in recent years, resulting in greater interest in assessor training as candidates seek to refine and develop expert knowledge of the APST.  

These assessors in training will return to their schools with deeper understanding of the certification process, the APST and the roles and responsibilities of the assessor.  

Candidates will continue online training modules and will meet again in February 2023. They will then be ready to undertake assessor duties from June 2023 and reinforce the growing assessor workforce for the Queensland Catholic school sector. 

The 2023 Capital Assistance Round Information Sessions commence across all dioceses next week. 

QCEC is the approved agent to administer capital grants on behalf of the Australian Government Block Grant Authority and Queensland Government Capital Assistance Authorities.

QCEC’s role is to receive and assess applications for capital assistance from affiliated schools and make recommendations to the Minister for Education (Australian and State Governments). 

Catholic School Authorities (CSAs) may apply for capital assistance for the planning, construction, alteration, extension, renovation, relocation or upgrading of educational facilities for students; boarding facilities for students (and supervisors); and residential accommodation for teachers in remote areas (subject to Ministerial approval).  

To assist CSA’s who would like to apply, QCEC will conduct information sessions which will cover: 

• the capital assistance program, program guidelines and criteria for capital expenditure 
• application eligibility and the application process 
• role of the Capital Assistance Assessment Committee (CAAC) and Capital Assistance Reference Group (CARG) 
• assessment and ranking of applications by the CAAC 
• cost review process undertaken by the CARG 
• appeal mechanisms open to unsuccessful applicants 
• ongoing Conditions of Compliance that apply to successful applicants 
• post-occupancy compliance audits and ongoing compliance requirements post-project completion. 

To register to attend or for more information click here. 

Expressions of Interest are being sought from those interested in taking part in the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Supervising Teacher Training in 2023.

The training is guided by the Queensland Professional Experience Reporting Framework (QPERF) which assesses preservice teachers against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

QCEC has advocated for the training which will be provided via a series of interactive online workshops. The sessions will take place on 27 February, 6 March and 13 March from 3.30pm-5pm.

To secure a spot contact QCT’s Manager – Accreditation and Professional Standards, Tony Pelusi, via email at Tony.Pelusi@qct.edu.au. Within the email you will need to provide the name of the teacher, their email address and postal address.

Congratulations to the winning students and teacher chaperones of the Premier’s 2023 Anzac Prize. 

Among the eight winning students and two teacher chaperones, four students and one teacher were from Queensland Catholic schools. The winners will visit some of Australia’s most important and historical war sites in Europe and have been listed below by category: 
 
Students: 

• Claire Gattera - St Monica’s College, Cairns 
• Thomas Eccleston and Dashiell Solomon - Ambrose Treacy College, Indooroopilly 
• Sarah Ellis - St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 

Teacher: 

• Alexandra Cashin - Saint Mary’s Catholic College, Kingaroy (pictured below)
  
  

The 2023 Premier’s Anzac Prize is presented in partnership with RSL Queensland. For more information click here. 

I would like to congratulate three principals who will commence their new roles in 2023. 

Benedict Campbell has been appointed Principal of St Mary of the Cross Primary School, Windsor, Wayne Chapman will commence as Principal of Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt, and Sally Smith has been appointed Principal of Mary Immaculate Primary School, Annerley.

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

2022 Circulars 

136     Review of Accreditation Framework for Non-State Schools 
137     Inquiry into the National Trend of School Refusal and Related Matters 
138     State Recurrent Funding Rates 2023 
139     Extension of the Non-Government Reform Support Fund 
140     Teacher Suspensions and Cancellations 
141     Consultation on Draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan 
142     Feedback on Review of Regional Schooling Resource Standard Loadings 
143     Federal Anti-Discrimination Law Reform Update 
144     QCAA Advisory Panel for the Drama General syllabus - live performance list 
145     QCT Supervising Teacher Training 2023 
146     QCT response to request to review HALT certification processes