School Leaders Edition, Week 3, Term 1, 2025

Education Mass – Indication of Numbers Attending

Action: To support the preparation and logistics for the CEDoW Education Mass on Tuesday 25 February 2025, followed by catering, please provide an estimate of the number of staff attending from your school or CEO Service Area. This information should be submitted via this form no later than Tuesday 18 February.

As noted in the invitation (circulated in both editions of Gateway News last week), attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

We kindly ask that staff who arrive early refrain from reserving seats or pews for colleagues, allowing them to be filled naturally as attendees arrive.

Annual Evacuation and Lockdown Drills

For: Principals and SSSOs
Due: 11 April 2025
Contact: Shinto Sebastian, Paula Vera or John Barrington (governance@dow.catholic.edu.au) 
First notice

Action: CEDoW has mandated that all schools conduct their annual Evacuation and Lockdown Drills by the end of Term 1 each year. Principals are reminded to provide email confirmation via governance@dow.catholic.edu.au that their school has conducted their drills for 2025 by Friday 11 April 2025.

Draft for consultation – External Sports Competitions Procedure

For: Principals. Feedback from other staff (CEO and school) is also welcomed.
Due: Now
Contact: John Sparks (sparksj01@dow.catholic.edu.au), Kath Preece (preeceK01@dow.catholic.edu.au) or Rebecca Wakeling (policy@dow.catholic.edu.au) 
First notice

We’re seeking feedback from principals, sports coordinators and other interested staff on the draft External Sports Competitions Procedure.

The Diocesan Sport team is aware that increasingly, requests are made of schools to endorse student participation in sports competitions that operate outside the offerings of the Diocesan Sports Council, CSNSW or state and national level events (via the NSW Department of Education). Examples include Regional Mountain Biking (secondary) and Paul Kelly Cup (Primary).

The purpose of the draft document is to establish a procedure for schools to use when considering and responding to such requests. The intention is to provide consistency, whilst maintaining flexibility for schools to make decisions according to their local needs and context.  

We value your input and want to listen to your thoughts, concerns and ideas about the draft Procedure. You can indicate your interest in this consultation process by completing this form.

Upon submitting an expression of interest, you will be provided with a copy of the draft Procedure, for review and feedback by 4 March 2025.

Action: Please share this item with your Sports Coordinator and any other interested staff.

Questions? Contact John Sparks at sparksj01@dow.catholic.edu.au, Kath Preece at preeceK01@dow.catholic.edu.au or Rebecca Wakeling at policy@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Follow Up – Injury Notification Timeframe

For: Principals
Due: Now
Contact: Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Team (whs@dow.catholic.edu.au)
First notice

As a follow-up to communication in Week 3, Term 4 last year, Workplace Safety and Wellbeing would like to reinforce some important updates regarding workplace injury reporting. These updates are essential to maintain a safe and compliant environment for all staff.

Action:

Timely Reporting of Injuries

Under the Workplace Injury Management and Workplace Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), Section 44(2) Early notification - Any workplace injury must be reported to the insurer within 48 hours of becoming aware of the incident.

Note: The 48-hour timeframe begins from the moment the employer is made aware of the injury/illness—not when the injury/illness occurred.

What is Expected of Schools?

1. Communicate the Importance of Injury/Illness Reporting:
   • Remind all staff that work-related injuries/illnesses are required to be reported. This includes minor injuries/illnesses that may not seem significant at first.
   • Encourage staff to report injuries/illnesses immediately after they occur, to ensure timely action to aid with faster recovery.
     
     
2. Adhere to the 48-Hour reporting requirement:
   • Under the Workplace Injury Management and Workplace Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) section 44(2), schools must report workplace injuries/illnesses to the insurer within 48 hours of becoming aware of them. This timeline is critical, and failing to comply could result in penalties.
   • If the injured/ill staff member cannot report the injury due to its severity, a notification form should be completed on their behalf. It is crucial to submit the form within the 48-hour window, even if all details are not yet available. Additional information can be provided later.
     
     
3. Follow up:
   • Follow up on the completion and submission of the Staff Injury Notification Form where necessary to avoid delays.

It is not the SSSOs responsibility to complete the Staff Injury Notification Form. It is however important that they follow up with the injured/ill staff member to ensure the submission of the notification within 48 hours, to comply with legislation.  

If nearing 48 hours and the form has not been completed, then a notification must be submitted by an appropriate delegate of the school with as much detail as possible.

By staying proactive and adhering to these steps, schools can ensure workplace safety and legal compliance.

CEDoW’s Staff Injury Notification Form can be located via the My Workplace Safety and Wellbeing site, located on Gateway’s home page under notification forms.

If you have any questions regarding injuries at work or Worker's Compensation Insurance contact the Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Team at whs@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

For CEDoW’s full range of workplace, safety, and wellbeing resources visit the Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Hub on Gateway.

2025 Wollongong ANZAC Day in Schools Program – Invitation to Participate

For: Principals
Due: 7 March 2025
Contact: Wayne Gregory, City of Wollongong RSL sub-Branch (wgregory@aussiebb.com.au)
First notice

Please see the letter here from John Sperring, President of the City of Wollongong RSL sub-Branch, inviting local primary and secondary schools to take part in this year’s Wollongong ANZAC Day in Schools Program.

The program offers two opportunities for schools to commemorate ANZAC with the support of the RSL sub-Branch:

• A Combined Schools’ Assembly at the Cenotaph in MacCabe Park, Wollongong, on Friday 2 May 2025
• A visit from an RSL sub-Branch member to your school’s ANZAC assembly (if your school is hosting one)

The letter provides further details and requests feedback on your school’s participation in all or part of the program.

Action (optional): Review the letter and confirm your school’s participation.

K-12 REC/Leaders of Mission Meeting 2025

For: Principals, RECs, and Leaders of Mission
Due: 20 February 2025
Contact: Matt Turner – 0448 802 739 | (turnerm12@dow.catholic.edu)
Second notice

A reminder that the K-12 REC/Leaders of Mission Meeting will take place on Thursday 6 March 2025 at the Xavier Centre, 38 Harbour St Wollongong, commencing at 8.45 am and concluding at 3.00 pm. Hospitality will be available from 8.30 am. Please plan to arrive at or after this time, as early access may not be possible.

Note: Secondary RECs/Leaders of Mission will relocate to a venue within walking distance before lunch.

Visitor parking is available in the grassed overflow area at the Xavier Centre. Please avoid parking in designated spaces.

Action: Please register your attendance by completing this form no later than Thursday 20 February 2025.

Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion 2025

For: Principals and SSSOs 
Due: 24 February 2025
Contact: Helen Moon (moonh01@dow.catholic.edu.au)  
Third notice

The Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion will take place on Tuesday 4 March 2025 at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish Primary School, 95 Flagstaff Road, Warrawong.

Action: Please read the invitation below and RSVP by Monday 24 February 2025.

View the invitation including a link to RSVP here.

The RSVP form can also be accessed directly here.

*Please limit to two students per school.

2025 Annual Letter of Delegation and Responsible Person’s Declarations

For: Principals
Contact: Shinto Sebastian, Paula Vera or John Barrington (governance@dow.catholic.edu.au) 
First Notice

The 2025 Annual Letter of Delegation and Responsible Persons's Declarations are currently under review.

The distribution of the letter and associated documents will be emailed to you as soon as practical.

Computer Virus Protection: “Sophos” to “SentinalOne”

We're excited to announce that, commencing on 19 February, CEDoW will be transitioning our Endpoint Protection Software (antivirus), which is currently installed on every staff member's managed computing device (Apple Mac/PC Laptops and workstations), from ‘Sophos’ to ‘SentinelOne’.

This change will happen seamlessly in the background, with no action required from end users. Rest assured, all systems will be updated automatically, and your device protection will continue without disruption. 

As always, if you have any questions or experience any issues during the transition, please don't hesitate to reach out to the service desk 1800 DOW HELP | help@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

Arrive to Thrive: Resources

The updated Attendance Policy and Procedure are in effect as of 31 January 2025. As part of the system support provided to schools, several fact sheets and an attendance flowchart have been produced as resources for use in your school communities.

These resources will also be linked via Quicklinks in Gateway for schools to access when required. Please see links below for resources you may want to access now:

• Flowchart
• Fact sheets

Youth Ministry Leader (YML) School Planning Day

For: Secondary RECs/Leaders of Mission
Due: Friday 14 February 2025
Contact: Matt Turner – 0448 802 739 | turnerm12@dow.catholic.edu.au

Note: Secondary RECs/ Leaders of Mission please share with your Youth Ministry Coordinators.

The Youth Ministry Leader (YML) Cluster Days are established for Youth Ministry Coordinators (YMCs) and their students to set their goals and strategies as they plan for their 2025 School Year. YMCs are invited to attend with their YMLs who attended the 2024 CEDoW Diocesan Commissioning Day. Youth Ministry Coordinators will be responsible for leading their students in the planning of programs/events and experiences for their school year in 2025.

Macarthur Cluster

• Monday 17 February 2025
• Emmaus Centre Conference Room, 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown
• 9.30 am - 2.15 pm

Illawarra Cluster

• Friday 21 February 2025
• The Xavier Centre, 38 Harbour Street, Wollongong
• 9.30 am - 2.15 pm 

Further information can be found here.

Register using this form no later than Friday 14 February 2025.

Year 8 Student Catholic Leadership Cluster Days

For: Secondary RECs/ Leaders of Mission
Due: Monday 24 February 2025
Contact: Matt Turner – 0448 802 739 | turnerm12@dow.catholic.edu.au

The Student Leadership Formation Program will be extended this year to include Year 8 students. Participants are selected based on their commitment to their school’s mission statement, as well as their demonstrated relational qualities, such as teamwork and leadership potential. Attendance is not limited to members of a Student Representative Council.

A teacher or year coordinator from each school, who works most closely with the Year 8 cohort, is invited to attend the day with 6–8 student representatives. The event will challenge students to create and plan a project that will benefit their year group at their school or contribute to a broader Macarthur/Illawarra initiative launched on the day. One example of such a project is a "digital discipleship" initiative.

Macarthur Cluster

• Monday 3 March 2025
• Emmaus Centre Conference Room, 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown
• 9.30 am - 2.15 pm

Illawarra Cluster

• Friday 14 March 2025
• The Xavier Centre, 38 Harbour Street, Wollongong
• 9.30 am - 2.15 pm

Further information can be found here.

Register using this form no later than Monday 24 February 2025.

Called to Serve – Liturgical Ministries Training Day

For: Secondary RECs/Leaders of Mission
Due: Friday 14 March
Contact: John Coppola – 0477 446 431 | coppolag01@dow.catholic.edu.au

This Training Program, a joint collaboration between the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and the Catholic Life, Education & Mission (CLEM) team, is offered to students in Years 10 and 11 in Catholic Secondary Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.

It is an opportunity for students to learn more about what it means to gather as a Eucharistic community at Mass and develop an understanding of some of the ministries of service that they can be engaged in.

The program will focus on the following three ministries:

• Proclaimer of the Word
• Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
• Music Ministry: Cantor

Six students from each school are to be nominated by their REC/ Leader of Mission, with two students then being nominated for each of the three ministries.

When: Tuesday 25 March 2025

Where: Xavier Centre and St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, 38 Harbour St, Wollongong

Register using this form.

Please read here for further information.

Catholicity STUFF (Spending Time Unpacking Faith Foundations)

K-6 Professional Learning opportunity
For: Primary Principals and RECs
Contact: Helen Moon (moonh01@dow.catholic.edu.au)

Targeting K-6 early career and beginning teachers, this course aims to build foundational knowledge and skills in the area of Catholicity for application in the K-6 Classroom and across the Primary School.

• Tuesday 11 March 2025 (9 am - 3 pm)

Funding available as follows (1 stream school = 1 place, 2 stream school = 2 places, 3 stream school = 3 places, 4 stream school = 4 places).

Casual Release code: C01.

Please consider who on your staff may benefit from this one day professional learning experience. For more information and registration details please click here.

Registrations close Friday 28 February 2025.

The Gospel of Luke (Year C)

For: Principals, RECs and Leaders of Mission
Due: Friday 7 March 2025
Contact: John Coppola - 0477 446 431 (coppolag01@dow.catholic.edu.au) 

Stage 2, 3 and 5 Religious Education teachers have the opportunity to engage in professional learning on The Gospel of Luke (Year C).

This professional learning will equip primary and secondary teachers of Religious Education to:

• Appreciate the nature of the scriptures and the consequent implications for understanding them and teaching them
• Examine the community behind the Gospel of Luke, and reflect on how that is a key to understanding the Gospel text
• Reflect on a series of key texts in the Gospel of Luke and unpack the energy and relevance within these texts
• Generate some initial teaching strategies
• Build a community of practice with an ability to share strategies, teacher background information, and student resources: learners utilising the workshop

When: Tuesday 18 March 2025

Where: Emmaus Centre Conference

Registration: Via LMS by Friday 7 March 2025

The CEO will fund up to two staff members per school.

Please consider who on your staff would benefit from this professional learning opportunity facilitated by BBI-The Australian Institute of Theological Education, and have them register in LMS prior to Friday 7 March.

Return to Work Program Professional Learning Module

The Workplace Safety and Wellbeing team has introduced a new Learning Management System (LMS) module, ‘Return to Work Program Module’, e-learning training, aimed at educating and creating awareness around CEDoWs  Return to Work (RTW) Program.

This new LMS module provides education and training on the key aspects of the RTW Program and takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

This includes:

1. Early Intervention
2. Injury Management Plan
3. Recover at Work Plan
4. Workplace Support
5. Consultation and Communication
6. Monitoring and Review
7. Compliance with Legal Requirements.

All staff are required to complete this new LMS module.  

An email notification will be received by all staff stating that a mandatory learning activity has been added to their development plan, the week beginning 10 February 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the resources, please contact Workplace Safety and Wellbeing on whs@dow.catholic.edu.au.

For CEDoW’s full range of workplace, safety, and wellbeing resources please visit the Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Hub on Gateway.

Wellbeing Webinar with Dr Helen Street – Educating with Resilience

One of the most fundamentally important drivers of student wellbeing, positive behaviour and learning engagement, is the quality of staff: student relationships. The more effectively and meaningfully teachers connect with their students, the more their students feel well, behave well and learn well. Dr Helen Street will deliver this online webinar on Wednesday 12 March from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm ADST.

It is, however, undeniably difficult for teachers to invest in healthy relationships with their students, if their own wellbeing and capacity for resilience is constantly challenged.

In this online presentation, Helen will explore the notion of what it means to be a resilient educator in Catholic schools, in 2025. In so doing she will offer ideas and strategies to help educators build both their capacity for resilience and their ongoing wellbeing.

Most notably, Helen will propose four key approaches to day-to-day educator life.

These approaches will focus on:

1. Developing inner calm and a strong sense of ‘who you are’ as an educator.
2. Learning to differentiate daily classroom goals from long-term measures of success.
3. Understanding healthy staff: student relationships with boundaries.
4. Trusting your ability to teach well in an uncertain world.

Click here to register for this webinar.

K-6 Curriculum Support

The K-6 Curriculum Support page contains:

• 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 Teaching Resources to Support K-10 Curriculum Implementation

NESA has released new resources to support learning of capabilities and priorities across the curriculum. Capabilities and priorities are developed through the relevant subject-specific content. They emerge authentically from the content of the new syllabuses and are not an additional layer on the curriculum.

The new resources provide guidance on the significance of capabilities and priorities within the curriculum, outline where they are embedded within the K-10 syllabuses, and offer additional materials to enhance teaching and learning.

The newly released resources include:

• Civics and citizenship in the NSW K-10 curriculum
• Financial literacy in the NSW K-10 curriculum
• Creating written texts in the NSW K-10 curriculum
• Respectful relationships and consent: PDHPE

NESA will continue to develop and release further resources to support educators. These materials can be accessed here.