Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong eNewsletter

Spiritual Reflection

Pilgrims of Hope: Raising Our Eyes and Hearts for the Planet

As we mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, we find ourselves at a sacred threshold—a moment to pause, reflect, and reawaken our shared calling to be stewards of God’s creation. Pope Francis’ prophetic encyclical, released in 2015, was never merely a document. It was, and continues to be, a summons—a spiritual and ecological invitation to “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” Pope Francis’ profound legacy has inspired millions to respond to this call with renewed urgency, but now, in 2025, his passing reminds us of the fragility of life and the enduring nature of his message.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis lived out the very ideals he championed in Laudato Si’, advocating for an ecological conversion that touches the deepest aspects of our faith and our way of living. As we continue to reflect on his life and papacy, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to the planet and its people, and we are encouraged to continue his work, honouring his legacy by actively engaging in the care of our common home.

As the Church embraces the Jubilee Year with the guiding theme Pilgrims of Hope, we are invited to journey together—not as passive observers but as active participants in God’s ongoing creation. This pilgrimage is not simply about movement across time or place; it is about a deep interior conversion, a transformation of heart and mind, that challenges us to live more attentively, more gently, and more hopefully in relationship with the Earth and with each other.

The Laudato Si’ Movement’s theme for this anniversary year—Raising Hope—calls us to move beyond despair and into prophetic action. As educators, we are uniquely placed to nurture this hope. Every lesson, every classroom conversation, and every moment of stillness in school gardens or under sun-dappled trees becomes an opportunity to plant seeds of awareness, compassion, and courage in the hearts of our students.

Hope is not naïve optimism. It is the courageous belief that our efforts, however small, matter in God’s vision for the world. In a time marked by climate anxiety, conflict, false truths, and disconnection, we are reminded that our God is not distant. The Spirit is present in the rustle of leaves, in the cry of the newborn, in the healing hands of a neighbour, and yes, in our very breath. We are not alone. We walk this pilgrimage together—educators, families, students, and communities—carrying the light of hope forward, even when the path seems uncertain.

Let us also be gentle with ourselves. Pilgrimages are demanding, and hope requires nurturing. As we journey through this Jubilee Year, may we be renewed in prayer, grounded in gratitude, and stirred to action. May we teach with hearts full of wonder and eyes wide open to the sacredness of all creation, following in the footsteps of Pope Francis, whose legacy calls us to a more compassionate and just world.

For reflection:

How am I being invited to see the sacred in all of creation, and how does this awareness shape the way I act in the world?
How might I nurture a deeper sense of hope for the planet within my classroom and wider school community?

CEDoW Employee Engagement Survey

Two Days Left – Don’t Miss Your Chance to Share Your Voice

We're now in the final days of the 2025 CEDoW Engagement Survey. A big thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to complete it. If you haven’t yet, there’s still time—just two days left to share your thoughts!

Permanent, temporary, and eligible* casual CEDoW staff have been invited to complete the survey via an initial email and periodic reminder emails directly from Xref Engage.

This is your opportunity to provide open, honest feedback about your experience at work. Whether things are going well or there are areas for improvement, your input helps paint a clear picture of what it’s like to be part of the CEDoW community.

The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and will remain open until midnight tomorrow, Friday 23 May 2025.

No one knows our schools and offices better than you. Your Voice Matters—thank you for being part of this important process.

For more information, check out the 2025 CEDoW Engagement Survey FAQs. If you still have questions, please contact Rochelle Borg or Susan Phillipson from the Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Team at whs@dow.catholic.edu.au. To explore CEDoW’s full range of workplace safety and wellbeing resources, please visit the Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Hub on Gateway.

*Casuals who have worked 60 days since November 2023.

Positions Vacant

All vacant positions are available on Employee Self Service (ESS) each Wednesday morning before being uploaded to the public website, giving CEDoW staff first priority to view them.

This week, you will find advertised positions for the following schools:

Primary

St Joseph’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Bulli
Indentured Casual Teacher

Secondary

St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park
CAPA Teacher
HSIE Teacher

John Therry Catholic College, Rosemeadow
School Support Officer – Maintenance and Outdoor

Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville
HSIE/Business Studies Teacher

Catholic Education Office

Aboriginal Education Assistant – Macarthur Region (Secondary) – Two Positions
School Infrastructure Program Coordinator

To view all advertised vacancies, visit CEDoW's Employment Portal here

To view positions vacant in other dioceses, see here

Gifted Awareness Week

Gifted Awareness Week will be held from 24 May to 1 June 2025.

Gifted students range from mildly to profoundly gifted and reflect socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic diversity. They also include students with disabilities whose giftedness may be masked.

The theme for Gifted Awareness Week 2025 is "Policy to Practice." This theme encourages schools to translate their understanding of gifted education policies into practical, everyday classroom practices. It highlights the need to implement and refine policies, offer professional development for teachers, and increase awareness of the unique academic and wellbeing needs of gifted students, as well as how best to support their development.

The purpose of Gifted Awareness Week is to raise awareness about the identification of gifted students and to educate the community on the importance of supporting their learning needs.

Gifted students are often recognised by their natural abilities, characteristics and quick learning that are quite different from other children of the same age.

Some of these characteristics may include: a strong sense of curiosity; reading before school age; advanced reading ability and comprehension; understanding subject content beyond their age peers; ability to manipulate numbers from an early age; fewer repetitions needed for mastery; greater capability in abstract reasoning; knowledgeable in areas of passion; thrives on complexity and can see many points of view; mature sense of humour; and acutely aware of social justice issues.

Spotlight on Schools

Over the past twelve months, awareness and practice in the High Potential Gifted Education (HPGE) space has shifted and developed significantly, with system-level changes including: the drafting and publishing of the interim Position Paper on HPGE; review of all policy and procedure documents related to HPGE, including identification and acceleration; funding to support schools in their HPGE improvement journey; and supported places in the Mini-COGE course for primary and secondary teachers.

The truly exciting work is happening in our schools—here are a few success stories from the HPGE space.

Regional success for St Francis Edmondson Park in the DaVinci Decathlon

On Thursday 26 June (Week 9, Term 2), four of our Northern Illawarra primary schools—Good Samaritan, Fairy Meadow; St Columbkille’s, Corrimal; St Michael’s, Thirroul; and St Joseph’s, Bulli—will host a mini Da Vinci-style event titled Sacred Sparks – Beacons of Hope.

The event will involve teams competing across eight disciplines: Religious Education, Mathematics, English, Science, Engineering, Dramatic Interpretation, Cartography, and Code Breaking. We can’t wait to see what our fabulous primary schools create on the day!

Now it’s over to you! If you have examples of wonderful things happening in the HPGE space at your school, we’d love to hear about them and celebrate these successes across our Diocese.

Send us your brilliance by completing this short form.

Updates

Ageing with Confidence – A CatholicCare Initiative

Friday 13 June 2025, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow

Schools may wish to share this information with their parents and carers.

Join Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner, as he explores the critical issues facing older Australians today—including elder abuse and ageism—while offering practical insights and strategies for ageing with dignity, purpose and positivity.

To register for this free community event (including morning tea), scan the QR code below, call 02 4227 1122, or click here.

For further information, please contact Jane Hollier on 0417 018 152 or at janeh@catholiccare.dow.org.au.

Reminder: Salary Packaging Explained – Presented by Smart

If you would like to learn more about salary packaging, please join us for a virtual information session on Monday 26 May 2025 at 3:30 pm, presented by Smart, our salary packaging provider.

Join here: Smart – Virtual Information Session.

New K-12 Curriculum Reform Material

More than 20 new resources are now available to support teachers delivering reformed syllabuses:

K–10: English and Classical Languages
7–10: Visual Arts, History, Engineering Technology, Aquatic Technology, Commerce, PDHPE and Science
11–12: Ancient History and English Life Skills.

Resources include sample scopes and sequences, sample units, outcomes worksheets, teaching advice and sample formal assessment tasks.

Available here.

New 2025-2026 Statement of Expectations

In May 2025, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, attended the NESA Board meeting and presented her Statement of Expectations (the Statement).

The expectations are designed to support teachers in ensuring that all students in NSW, regardless of their location, have access to quality schools, teaching, syllabuses and assessment. NESA's progress on each of the areas identified in the Statement will be evaluated in the first half of 2027.

In summary, the expectations focus NESA's efforts on:

Lead a statewide approach to anti-bullying for all schools in NSW
Continue to deliver the Curriculum Reform rollout as scheduled
Successfully deliver and improve the Higher School Certificate (HSC)
Implement changes to the regulation of Section 83C of the Education Act
Action recommendations from the Teacher Education Expert Panel
Commitment to Aboriginal Education

The key directions in each Statement of Expectations inform the Board's strategic priorities and policies. The Board, in turn, sets the strategic direction for NESA, guides it in fulfilling its functions, and delivers policy directions set by the Board and the Minister.

A copy of the Statement is available here.

2025 National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Attention: Principals, school leaders and teachers

The 2025 National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) are now open for nominations. The National Excellence in Teaching Awards is a community-centred awards program, started by NEiTA Foundation in 1994. Supported by Futurity Investment Group, the awards honour exemplary teaching in Australia and New Zealand.

Parents, students, principals and teachers are encouraged to nominate CEDoW’s exceptional educators who are deserving of this recognition – see award categories below. Schools are encouraged to share this information with their school community and promote the awards program.

How do I nominate? Follow the link here and register. It takes 3-4 minutes to complete your nomination form. Nominations close on 27 June 2025.

Explore Sustainable Food Production: From Paddock to Plate

Australian Good Meat Education offers free access to engaging, cross-curricular resources for Kindergarten to Year 12. These materials connect classrooms with Australia’s cattle, sheep and goat industries, supporting real-world learning about innovative and sustainable meat production.

Students from Kindergarten to Year 10 can explore sustainable supply chains, technology and innovation, food security, nutrition, and marketing. Senior secondary students can access elective-style resources based on real-world research case studies, building skills in analysing, interpreting and communicating evidence-based investigations.

Curated by teachers for teachers, these high-quality resources align with all dimensions of the Australian Curriculum—supporting key learning areas, general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities. They include lesson plans, student activities and classroom materials.

To learn more and access your free resources, click here.

CEDoW Library

ACEN eBook of the Week

This week’s Sora eBook edition is Sora Sweet Reads – Reading Program.

See the link here to explore the eBook titles through the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN). Click on each image or use the QR code to access further information. To sign in to Sora, select "ACEN" as your school.

ClickView Highlight

This week’s ClickView highlight is Reading Australia Resources – curriculum-mapped units of work. You can view it here.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Gallagher, Library Services Manager, at gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

This week from the CEDoW Resource Centre

Please click here to access a range of resources to support the Social Emotional Learning classroom.

For further details, please contact Anne Russell, CEDoW Resource Centre Manager, at russella01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Professional Learning

Combined Pastoral Care & Wellbeing / Learning Support Secondary Leading Learning Network (SLLN) Meeting

Secondary Pastoral Care and Wellbeing and Learning Support (Diverse Learning) Coordinators are invited to attend a full-day combined network event on Tuesday 3 June 2025 at St Francis Xavier Cathedral Meeting Rooms, 36 Harbour Street, Wollongong. *Please note the date change.

Please arrive at the venue at 8.45 am for a prompt 9.00 am start to the first session. The day will conclude at 3.00 pm.

The agenda will include items relevant to both networks, including Case Collaboration implementation, Attendance Procedures, Life to the Full Review and NCCD Collaborative processes. There will also be a final session for the discrete networks to discuss issues pertinent to their participants.

Please register for this event using the linked RSVP form.

Australian Early Development Census NSW 2025 Research Symposium Livestream

Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) NSW is pleased to invite you to the livestream of its 2025 Research Symposium.

It is expected that the AEDC 2024 data will be published ahead of the symposium.

The event will incorporate AEDC 2024 data at the community, state and national levels. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the evidence and engage with the AEDC data alongside other key datasets.

The symposium aims to inspire your work in connecting evidence to the planning of children’s learning, development and wellbeing. Presenters will highlight how AEDC data can inform planning and practice in educational settings.

Symposium livestream details

Date and time: Wednesday 18 June 2025, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Agenda: Visit the AEDC NSW Research Symposium 2025 webpage for the full agenda and list of presenters
Cost: Free to attend
Theme: Shaping Futures – The Impact of the AEDC on Early Years Education
Who should attend: School leaders and teachers with oversight of, or interest in, AEDC data
How to register: Complete the livestream registration
Recording: A recording of each speaker’s presentation will be made available after the event

If you have any questions, please email aedc@det.nsw.edu.au .

Catholicity STUFF (Spending Time Unpacking Faith Foundations) – for Secondary

Professional Learning Opportunity for Middle Leaders (KLA Coordinators/Pastoral Care Coordinators and RE Teachers)

Targeted at Secondary Middle Leaders and RE Teachers, this course aims to build foundational knowledge and skills in the area of Catholicity, specifically prayer and liturgy, for application across secondary school celebrations, gatherings and events.

Date: Thursday 19 June 2025
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Venue: Emmaus Centre, 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia, 2560
Funding: Funding is available for 3 participants per school

If you would like to attend this one-day professional learning experience, please discuss this with your Principal and REC. For more information and registration details, click here.

Blended Online Learning

Upcoming Term 3 Courses – Flyer Link Here.

The following professional learning courses will be offered in Term 3:

Understanding and Supporting Behaviour [Zoom]
Speech, Language and Communication Needs [Zoom]
Understanding Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [Zoom]
Supporting Student Wellbeing and Mental Health [Face-to-Face]
Attachment and Trauma Theory [Face-to-Face]

Please note: Enrolment is limited to one course at a time.

Courses will be available on the Learning Management System (LMS) soon.

Reminder
Participants who undertook Semester 1 courses — Understanding Autism, Understanding Behaviour, and Dyslexia & Significant Difficulties in Reading — are reminded that the completion date is 3 July 2025.

Spiritual Formation

Another Cup of Our Life

The Staff Spiritual Formation team would like to inform you of an upcoming personal formation opportunity which is being offered to School Support Officers and CEO Administration Staff.

The retreat is entitled “Another Cup of Our Life” and seeks to provide staff with an opportunity to slow down and reflect on different aspects of their lives. Please note that staff are not required to have attended the previous Cup of Our Life Retreat and that for those who have, it will be a unique experience from the last.

We will explore some ways to ensure that our cups are replenished and how our loving God longs to walk with us in all that we face. The day will include personal reflection, interactive discussions and meditation. All staff attending the retreat are asked to bring a cup that holds significance for them as this symbol will be central to the day.

“Another Cup of Our Life” is a one day retreat and will be held in the beautiful grounds of The Hermitage in Mittagong on Tuesday 24 or Wednesday 25 June 2025 (Term 3, Week 9). We are offering it twice to provide schools with the opportunity to send staff on different days if necessary. All meals, facilitation and venue expenses will be covered by the CEO. Schools are required to cover the cost for release. Registration is through LMS by Friday 6 June 2025.

Due to the nature of this retreat numbers are limited so we would encourage interested staff to register as soon as possible. All of the details regarding the retreat are on the flyer here.

Staff Spiritual Formation Programs

We encourage you to explore additional personal formation opportunities through our Staff Spiritual Formation Programs, available on the Catholic Life and Mission page on Gateway.

CEDoW Curriculum Reform News – Primary

K-6 Curriculum Support

This page includes:

Important links to external and internal sites
Professional learning
Planning and programming support
Assessment and reporting
Professional reading

For enquiries, please contact:
learningk-12support@dow.catholic.edu.au.

New: NESA K-6 Professional Learning for Syllabus Implementation

NESA has released five new online professional learning courses to support teachers and school leaders in familiarising themselves with the new CHIPS syllabuses, for their implementation from 2026 and 2027.

The five learning courses include:

Primary Curriculum Overview (1 hour)
Creative Arts K-6 (1 hour)
HSIE K-6 (1 hour)
PDHPE K-6 (1 hour)
Science and Technology K-6 (1 hour)

The Primary Curriculum Overview course explores:

The structure and evidence base of the K–6 syllabuses
The importance of vocabulary and language development
NESA’s Statement of Equity Principles, capabilities and priorities.

The Primary Curriculum Overview course must be completed first to unlock the four additional subject-specific courses that can be completed in any order.

The Creative Arts K–6, HSIE K–6, PDHPE K–6 and Science and Technology K–6 courses explore:

Key syllabus features, their intent and the evidence base behind them
The rationale, aim and structure of each syllabus
How content is organised and connected across learning areas
Where to find guidance and support on the NSW Curriculum website.

Each course contributes 1 hour of professional development. These professional learning courses are available now via the NESA Learning Catalogue and then accessed in NESA Learning.

To support the phased implementation of the new syllabuses, schools are encouraged to engage with these courses as part of their professional learning plan.

Schools may choose to:

Complete the Primary Curriculum Overview, PDHPE K-6 and Science and Technology K-6 courses during Semester 2 2025, in readiness for implementation in 2026
Complete the Creative Arts K-6 and HSIE K-6 courses during Semester 2 2026, in preparation for implementation in 2027.

This approach aligns with the CEDoW CHPS implementation plan, which prioritises the implementation of PDHPE and Science and Technology from 2026.

Additional Support From CEDoW

To complement the NESA courses, syllabus teaching advice and additional syllabus support materials, CEDoW will release supplementary resources in Semester 2, 2025, developed by PDHPE and Science and Technology working parties, including:

Sample K-6 scope and sequence
Sample units of work
Additional support materials.

Support in professional learning, in addition to that provided by NESA, will be available to schools.

Further resources for K-6 Creative Arts and K-6 HSIE syllabuses will be developed and shared throughout 2026.

For further information, please contact learningk-12support@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Expression of Interest – Development of Sample Units of Work for K–6 Mathematics

The ILW Learning K-12 team is seeking passionate and experienced leaders/teachers to contribute their knowledge and expertise toward creating Term 3 sample units of work to support the ongoing implementation of the NSW Mathematics Syllabus.

Following a quality assurance process, these sample units and support documents will be made available to all CEDoW Primary and K-12 schools via The Numeracy Toolbox as an optional resource for use in Term 3.

Participants’ engagement in the process will involve two meetings in Term 2, 2025 with funding available for candidates to attend the working party planning meetings during school hours. The dates for these meetings are as follows:

Day 1: Monday 2 June, Marian Centre, Keira St, Wollongong
Day 2: Thursday 12 June, Marian Centre, Keira St, Wollongong

Participation in this working party offers the opportunity to:

Engage in professional learning on the intended purpose and development of these units
Create sample units of work for Term 3
Review the units to ensure syllabus alignment and NESA compliance, and
work alongside knowledgeable others and build professional networks with colleagues from across the diocese

If you are interested in joining this working party, please register your interest by completing this form by Tuesday 27 May 2025*. Those who express interest will be contacted via email on Wednesday, 28 May to confirm if they will be part of the group.

*Nominees must speak with their principal prior to registering their interest.

For more information, contact Kate Thomas at thomask04@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Submit Feedback

If you have feedback on Gateway News, we want to know.

Submit your feedback here

This newsletter (including any attachments) is for the intended recipient's use only. It contains information that may be confidential and/or protected by copyright. Any personal information in this newsletter must be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). If you have received this newsletter by mistake, please notify us as soon as possible and permanently delete the newsletter. Any confidentiality is not waived or lost because this newsletter has been sent to you by mistake.


Facebook	Instagram	YouTube	LinkedIn

PDF Details

Pilgrims of Hope: Raising Our Eyes and Hearts for the Planet

Two Days Left – Don’t Miss Your Chance to Share Your Voice

Primary

Secondary