All Staff Edition, Week 5, Term 3, 2025
Signs of Hope on the Edge:
Serving People Living in
Homelessness and Mental Ill-Health
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Social Justice Statement 2025-26
Homeless Jesus – sculpture by Ontario based Timothy Schmalz
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25: 37-40
We have all experienced it.
As we walk along a city street we can see in the distance a homeless person sitting on the edge of our path.
Our heartbeat increases, we are suddenly anxious, we quickly plan a detour….or not.
We are good people, we feel empathy, compassion.
We decide to keep our path, our anxiety increases, why?
As we pass, what do we do?
What do we say?
Do we give them money or even better, go and buy them a warm drink or a small meal?
I have no time, I'm running late.
Maybe they are drug affected.
Better to look the other way, or even better, I'll check my phone as I walk past.
I'm a good person, but what do I do?
What would you do if, as you approached the homeless person on the street, you received a text from God saying this person was Jesus?
What would you feel, think, say and do?
Social Justice Sunday in 2025 will be observed on 31 August 2025. This annual event, a tradition in the Australian Catholic Church since 1940, is when the Catholic Bishops release a statement addressing a key social justice issue. This year’s statement focuses on the experiences of people living with homelessness and mental ill-health.
“The people on the edges have much to teach us. In their difficulties, they know the suffering Christ. We need to let ourselves be evangelised by them. The new evangelisation is an invitation to put them at the centre of the Church’s pilgrim way. We are called to find Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them."
Pope Francis.
Evangelii Gaudium, No. 198
“This year’s Social Justice Statement calls us to follow the example of Jesus, who always noticed, listened to, and cared for those on the edge of society. Just as Jesus healed the blind man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–52), we are called to see and respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers living in hardship.”
Points to Ponder
In this year of Jubilee, how will we be people of hope for the homeless and those with mental ill-health?
What does hope look like for those who need our compassion?
How can we notice, know and serve our homeless in our communities?
How do we love our neighbour as ourselves when our neighbour is homeless or with mental ill-health?
If a home is a place of refuge, safety, nourishment and growth, how can we be a ‘home’ to others in our community?
Bringing our mission to life
When leaders can lead, teachers can teach, and we work together, good things happen!
As well as our best NAPLAN and HSC results in three years, we’ve seen improvements in a range of key indicators.
- Attendance rate +3%
- Student belonging +3%
- Staff wellbeing +11%
- Teacher engagement +3%
- Enrolment growth +1.9%
Lighting The Way - 12-Month Progress Update
In this Jubilee Year, there is much to be hopeful about at Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW). Here's a quick look at what our amazing school leaders, teachers, support staff, and students have achieved in the last 12 months.
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Learn more:
Our Lighting The Way strategic plan
Our statement on the core work of teaching
On behalf of the Executive Director of Schools, I wish to announce the following:
Following a recruitment and discernment process, I am pleased to announce that Jennifer Lowe has been appointed to the substantive position of Assistant Principal at St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park. Jennifer will commence in the role at the beginning of the 2026 school year.
Jennifer brings extensive school leadership experience to the role, having led in schools with Sydney Catholic Schools and in the Diocese of Wollongong. Jennifer’s leadership experience includes a number of positions of note, including Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning (K-12), and Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care (K-12) at St Francis Catholic College, Edmondson Park, Acting Assistant Principal at Mary Mackillop Catholic College, Wakeley, and Campus Director (Assistant Principal) at Trinity Catholic College, Auburn/Regents Park.
Jennifer’s qualifications include a Master of Educational Leadership (ACU), Certificate of Religious Education (Sydney Catholic Schools), a Bachelor of Human Movement and a Graduate Diploma of Education (UTS).
Please join me in congratulating Jennifer on her appointment to this position.
A recruitment process for the substantive position of Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care (K-12) at St Francis Catholic College, Edmondson Park, will commence shortly.
Natasha O’Donoghue
Director – People and Culture
All vacant positions are available on Employee Self Service (ESS) as they are uploaded.
This week, you will find advertised positions for the following schools:
Primary
St Joseph’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Bulli
Senior School Support Officer
St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School, Ruse
Classroom Teacher (F.T.E 0.4)
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish Primary School, Warrawong
Classroom Teacher (F.T.E 0.6)
Secondary
Holy Spirit College, Bellambi
Mathematics Teacher
School Support Officer – Library Assistant
Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan
Middle Leader (2pt) – CAPA – Leader of Learning
Mathematics Teacher
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
Classroom Teacher (2 positions)
St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park
Mathematics Teacher
Middle Leaver (3pt) – Director of Wellbeing
K-12
St Francis Catholic College, Edmondson Park
Deputy Principal (K-12)
Sacred Sparks – Beacons of Hope
On 26 June 2025, four Northern Illawarra primary schools—Good Samaritan, Fairy Meadow; St Columbkille's, Corrimal; St Michael's, Thirroul; and St Joseph's, Bulli—celebrated the incredible talents of their gifted and high-potential students at the Sacred Sparks – Beacons of Hope event. This mini Da Vinci-style competition provided a dynamic platform for these bright minds to showcase their skills. Teams collaborated and competed across eight challenging disciplines, including Religious Education, Mathematics, English, Science, Engineering, Dramatic Interpretation, Cartography, and Code Breaking, illuminating their potential and demonstrating their diverse abilities.
Minor amendments to the Corporate Travel Procedure and Information Sheet: Responsible Stewardship of Educational Funds and Resources
Minor amendments have been made to the Corporate Travel Procedure and Information Sheet: Responsible Stewardship of Educational Funds and Resources. The documents were updated in line with ATO Taxation Determination 2025/4 and concern reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance expense amounts (Corporate Travel Procedure) and catering standards (Information Sheet: Responsible Stewardship of Educational Funds and Resources).
These amendments have been applied to Appendix A of the Corporate Travel Procedure and the ‘Provision of Gifts, Benefits, Gratuities and Hospitality Tables’ in the Information Sheet: Responsible Stewardship of Educational Funds and Resources.
The updated documents will come into effect on 26 August 2025.
2025 Ready Set School Bag
Transition to School (Kindergarten) Information
For children and their families, transitioning to school is a significant time that can have a considerable impact on a child’s longer-term academic, social and wellbeing outcomes.
The Transition to School (Kindergarten) Information is designed to support principals and their staff, including Kindergarten teachers and Senior School Support Officers (SSSOs), in planning their school's Transition to School processes in collaboration with their respective Heads of CCSI.
Within the document, schools have access to a range of optional resources, including templates, to support the administration involved in planning transition events and activities. SSSOs may contact Kylie Hawke at hawkek04@dow.catholic.edu.au or Lisa Burton at burtonl01@dow.catholic.edu.au if they have any questions or require additional support.
Ready Set School Bag
The Ready Set School Bag is a resource designed to support both parents and children as they play, explore, and learn together. Each bag is given directly to the child during School Orientation to help prepare them for a positive start to school.
For 2025, CEDoW will provide the following items to be included in the bag. Schools are also welcome to include any additional items at their discretion.
- Ready Set School Bag
- Ready Set School Booklet
- Picture Book
- Totem Card
Arrangements will be made with the SSSO’s working on site during the student vacation period and all remaining bags will be delivered to schools by the first week of Term 4.
Thank you for your continued support in helping children and families feel confident and connected as they begin their school journey.
NSW K–12 Curriculum Implementation Survey
K–12 teachers are invited to share feedback on curriculum implementation, including the new syllabuses and the use of AI in classrooms. Your input will guide the support we provide through resources, materials and professional learning, and teachers and curriculum leaders can also express interest in a focus group on syllabus preparation or AI in teaching and learning. Click here to complete the survey.
Explicit Teaching: Resources from the NSW Department of Education
The Department of Education has released several resources on explicit teaching. Explicit teaching is one of the eight themes that What Works Best 2025 regards as the most valuable and powerful practices that make an impact.
Designed to help teachers sequence the learning process for children, explicit teaching puts learning into a clear sequence: getting students to understand why they are learning something, what their goals are, how it connects to what they already know, the expectations, how to do it, and what success looks like.
Explicit teaching matters because it is heavily backed by research in cognitive science as well as practical classroom experiences of students who have been taught using explicit teaching, compared to those who haven't experienced it. It sets high expectations yet manages to engage students across a number of year levels and ability levels, improving their understanding and overall success.
Download the What Works Best explicit teaching resources:
- What Works Best 2025 – Evidence Guide for Excellent Schools (pages 20-28)
- What Works Best 2025 Practical Guide – Explicit Teaching
- What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Explicit Teaching at Doonside Technology High School.
To find out more, visit the NSW Department of Education's website.
Boost Engagement with Powerful Paddock to Plate Education
Australian Good Meat Education offers free, curriculum-aligned resources for Kindergarden to Year 12. Lessons save teachers time while connecting students to real-world food production, sustainability, technology and nutrition.
What’s Inside
- Cross-curricular content for Design and Technologies, Science, Maths, English and HASS
- Ready-to-use lesson guides, student worksheets and engaging supplementary materials
- Senior secondary case studies building research and analysis skills
- Teacher tutorials for confident delivery
Teachers love it because it’s free to download, print, or use digitally, curated by educators and adaptable for all classrooms, usable as activities, full lessons or custom units, and features relatable content that connects students to Australian practice.
Leading Life to the Full: A Student Round Table
Campion College Study Camp
From 8–10 October 2025, Campion College Australia will host its first Study Camp for Year 11 and 12 students preparing for final exams.
The three-day camp combines:
- 6–8 hours of supervised study each day
- Mini-seminars to strengthen exam preparation
- Social activities and sports to recharge
- A formal hall dinner with faculty and a guest speaker
Only 30 places are available. The $400 fee covers two nights’ accommodation, meals and activities.
Date: 8–10 October 2025
Open to: Year 11 and 12 students
Venue: Campion College, Toongabbie, NSW
Cost: $400 per student
Register now: Study Camp – Campion College
Enquiries: (02) 9896 9303 | study@campion.edu.au
UniSuper – Interactive Webcast
Join UniSuper's interactive webcast on Tuesday 2 September 2025 at 12:30 pm (AEST) to learn how your super is invested and how it impacts your retirement balance. Open to all, including non-members, the session covers investment fundamentals, long-term strategies, UniSuper's options, including sustainable and environmentally focused options, and available support. The webcast allows questions, opens early for resources, and personalised guidance is available through UniSuper consultants on 1800 823 842. Register here.
This Week’s CEDoW Library Resources
ACEN eBook
This week’s Sora eBook edition is Map Out Your Adventure.
Use the link here to explore eBook titles for primary, secondary, and staff through the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN). To sign in to Sora, select “ACEN” as your school.
ClickView Highlight
This week’s ClickView highlight for primary is Coding and Programming, and for secondary is Hardware and Software. You can view it here.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Jim Gallagher, Library Services Manager, at gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au.
Connect and Collaborate: Primary Programming Workshops for Teachers
Are you a primary teacher looking for an excellent opportunity to network and collaborate with colleagues from other CEDoW schools?
The Learning K–12 team is excited to offer a series of voluntary programming workshops designed specifically for you! Imagine working alongside fellow educators to plan and refine your English and Mathematics units, sharing your best ideas, practices, pedagogy, and quality resources from across the Diocese.
Workshop Options
We've designed flexible scheduling to suit your availability, with workshops held across various dates and venues during the second half of Term 3 and throughout the September pupil vacation period.
You can choose from:
- Afternoon Workshops: Four 1.5-hour, one-off sessions available in:
- Macarthur
- Southern Highlands
- Wollongong
- Far South Coast
- Full-Day Workshop Session: Two sessions, delivered over two separate weeks (one day per week) during the September pupil vacation period.
Don't miss this chance to connect, create, and experience the power of shared expertise!
Complete the Google Form here to register your interest.
Who Am I? Scriptural Foundations for Our Search for Meaning and Purpose
Date: 19 September 2025
Venue: The Emmaus Centre, 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown
Are you a secondary Religious Education teacher, or a Pastoral Care or Wellbeing leader, seeking to deepen your understanding of meaning and purpose within a scriptural framework?
This professional learning day, Who Am I? Scriptural Foundations for Our Search for Meaning and Purpose is designed for you.
We'll explore how foundational scriptures can empower you to:
- Enrich your Religious Education curriculum: Discover new ways to connect biblical narratives with students' personal journeys of self-discovery.
- Enhance pastoral care and wellbeing initiatives: Equip yourself with scripturally-grounded insights to guide students through life's big questions.
- Foster a deeper sense of identity and belonging in your students: Learn how to help students explore their unique purpose through the lens of faith.
Join us for a day of insightful discussion, practical strategies, and renewed inspiration as we explore together the profound question, "Who am I?" and its scriptural answers.
Click here to register.
Blended Online Learning – Semester 2
Audience: All staff
How can Blended Online Learning be used as a response to Literacy Data?
If you are interested in a bespoke course, delivered on-site at a time that suits you, please email wssadmin@dow.catholic.edu.au. You might also consider partnering with neighbouring schools that have similar interests or needs.
All courses can be offered as bespoke courses with a minimum participant cohort of eight.
Upcoming courses in Term 3 – Flyer link here.
- 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]
Enrolment in only one course at a time.
See the flyer above for registration links.
Explore Generative AI
Join the Catholic Learning Online team to explore Generative AI. With the rapid development of AI, you may be feeling overwhelmed. These two sessions aim to develop your understanding of AI and its impact in the classroom.
Generative AI Basics
28 August 2025 | 3:30 pm
Get up to speed on the Generative AI explosion. Discover what AI is, how it has developed, its implications, and explore positive integration into teaching and learning. By the end of this session, you'll be able to define Generative AI, identify key historical developments, and articulate its potential positive applications in education.
Advancing your AI Success
4 September 2025 | 3:30 pm
Take your understanding beyond the basics. This session delves into effective prompt creation, Agent/Gem creation, and shares current tools for classroom use. You'll learn to create effective AI prompts, understand Agent/Gem concepts, and identify practical Generative AI tools and their applications in the classroom.
Click here to register.
Australian Early Development Census report and upcoming webinars
Reports at school, community, state and national levels show the number and percentage of children considered developmentally vulnerable, at risk, or on track across the five developmental domains.
The AEDC 2024 NSW data report provides a summary of state findings and explains outcomes for children from various equity backgrounds. Families, stakeholders and communities can use this report to plan, develop initiatives and measure their impact on developmental outcomes.
You are invited to engage with the 2024 AEDC data through the following webinars:
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26 August 2025 – New findings from the AEDC: Implications for policy and practice in NSW presented by Mary Taiwo, Toni Kember and Lauren Anderson. Click here to register now.
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3 September 2025 – Responding to the 2024 Australian Early Development Census: Planning your next steps presented by Nathan Wallis (neuroscience educator), who will share research-based, effective, low-cost techniques that can be implemented immediately in response to the AEDC 2024 data. Click here to register now.
Centre for Independent Studies Event: Beyond Phonics: Building Knowledge-Rich Literacy
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) invites you to a breakfast event featuring an engaging talk and discussion with Natalie Wexler and Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond on the science of learning.
At a time when literacy rates are declining and many students continue to struggle with reading comprehension, it is critical to reassess current approaches. American education journalist and senior contributor at Forbes, Natalie Wexler, challenges prevailing methods of literacy instruction, arguing that reading and writing should not be taught as isolated skills, but as powerful tools to deepen understanding and strengthen memory across all areas of learning.
Joining the discussion, Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond, a leading expert in evidence-based instruction and literacy coaching, will share practical insights on how teachers and school leaders can apply research to classroom practice.
Date/Time: Thursday 30 October 2025, 7:30 am–9:00 am AEDT
Location: Centre for Independent Studies, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Men's Retreat
An opportunity for men to gather together to reflect on life and make sense through faith.
Register now through LMS.Location: A walking trail within the Diocese.
Date: Monday 17 November 2025 (Term 4, Week 6).
Faith Walks – see the flyer here.
A Day of Quiet and Contemplation – Listening to Life
The Staff Spiritual Formation team is pleased to announce an upcoming personal formation opportunity available to all staff within our system. The day, titled “Listening to Life,” is a Day of Quiet and Contemplation designed to offer staff a chance to pause, refuel and replenish the Spirit.
This one-day retreat will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2025 (Week 7, Term 4) in the beautiful grounds of The Hermitage in Mittagong. The program includes opportunities for reflection, prayer, conversation and silence, with a special emphasis on the practice of Christian Meditation.
All meals and facilitation for the day will be covered by the CEO, however, please note that release funding is not available. Due to the nature of this retreat, spaces are limited. Interested staff are encouraged to seek approval from their Principal, Assistant Director or Team Leader before registering on LMS. Registration closes on Friday 7 November 2025.
See the flyer here.
Preparing for Implementation of the K–6 PDHPE, Science and Technology Syllabuses
School instructional leaders and teachers are invited to engage in professional learning: Introduction to the syllabus and support material (via face-to-face or Zoom), which will provide an introduction to the syllabus, NESA support material and CEDoW support material.
Please complete this form to register your interest in the PDHPE and Science and Technology introductory sessions by 27 August 2025, Week 6, Term 3.
Schools can also request in-situ support in collaboration with the CEDoW Learning team in preparation for implementation of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, and Science and Technology through professional learning opportunities in 2025 and 2026. To register your interest, please complete this form.
Science and Technology Working Party
On Friday 15 August 2025, members of the K-6 Science and Technology working party met to continue their work in deepening their knowledge of the Science and Technology (2024) syllabus and design units of work to support teachers in the implementation of the syllabus in 2026.
The day started with a presentation from Danielle Grados, who shared valuable knowledge to support teachers in ensuring units of work continue to build all students' knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Thank you to the working party for your time and commitment in creating these valuable resources for our teachers. These resources will be shared with schools in Term 4.
Effective Pedagogical Practices in the Mathematics Classroom K–6 Mathematics Day 3 – Reflection and Feedback
On Wednesday 13 August 2025, educators and leaders from 17 primary schools across the Diocese came together for K-6 Mathematics Day 3 Professional Learning, focused on Effective Pedagogical Practices in the Mathematics Classroom. The day was facilitated by the CEDoW K–12 Learning team alongside Dr Christine Mae and provided a rich opportunity for deep learning, collaboration, and reflection.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in targeted sessions designed to:
- Deepen understanding of syllabus content, its connections, and the continuum of learning
- Build a collective understanding of how effective learning intentions and success criteria drive teaching and learning (observed through a modelled lesson)
- Practise, reflect on, and refine learning intentions and success criteria for greater impact on student outcomes
- Collaborate with knowledgeable others to explore how this learning supports the ‘embed’ phase of the NSW Mathematics Syllabus
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. They found the continuum of learning and modelled lesson highly effective in demonstrating how learning intentions and success criteria enhance quality Mathematics instruction. This affirmed the value of seeing theory in action. They also reported a strong understanding of how to craft and use learning intentions and success criteria effectively.
Improvement, Learning and Wellbeing, Learning K-12 is committed to providing targeted and impactful professional learning experiences that empower our teachers to confidently implement the NSW K-10 Mathematics Syllabus.
The way in which participants engaged in the day highlighted the value of ongoing collaboration and reflection in achieving professional growth.
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