School Leaders Edition, Week 5, Term 1, 2025

Resignation of Bede Ritchie - Assistant Director - Information, Communication and Learning Technologies

After a period of reflection and prayerful discernment Bede Ritchie has decided to resign from his role as Assistant Director - Information, Communication and Learning Technologies with Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW). Bede’s final operational day in this role will be 10 October 2025. 

Throughout the course of his career, Bede has made  an extensive contribution to CEDoW.  He commenced working in the diocese as a Secondary Teacher at Holy Spirit College, Bellambi in 1991 and since then has held the significant leadership positions of Head of Service - Finance & Administrative Services (2013-2017), Head of Finance, Facilities, Planning, Information, Communication and Learning Technologies (2017 - 2022), and Assistant Director - Information, Communication and Learning Technologies (2022 - present). He has also had extensive experience in  teaching and leadership roles across Sydney Catholic Schools. Bede also served as the founding General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of CEnet from 2005 - 2012, leading the creation and growth of an organisation that supports Catholic education across Australia. 

I trust that Bede will reflect on his career with great pride and satisfaction. The significant impact he has had upon CEDoW has been characterised by a drive to innovate and to lead high quality professional services to Catholic schools, staff and the young people we are all privileged to serve. 

There will be many opportunities in the coming months to appropriately acknowledge  and celebrate Bede’s contribution to Catholic education, recognising and thanking him for his many professional achievements.

On behalf of Bishop Brian Mascord and CEDoW staff, I wish Bede and his family every best wish and blessing and pray that Bede continues to find joy and fulfilment in all his future  endeavours.

Sincerely

Peter Hill
Director of Schools
Diocese of Wollongong

Assistant Director - Strategy and Communications

Following recommendations from review processes and consultation, the role of Strategy and Communications will report to the Director of Schools and  be represented on the CEDoW  leadership team, effective 24 February 2025. Matt Baxter will continue his leadership of this important function as Assistant Director - Strategy and Communications.

This appointment reflects the recommendations of an independent organisational and structural review, conducted in 2022. This structural change emphasises the importance of the Strategy and Communications function to the organisation, recognising its impact and influence in aligning messaging and strategy to foster coherence and organisational alignment. 

Matt joined CEDoW in 2020 and in his current role of Head of Strategy and Communications has worked closely with the Leadership Team to guide the development and implementation of strategy across our 38 Catholic schools and the Catholic Education Office. He is an active member of the St Joseph’s, Bulli Catholic parish and is committed to supporting the mission of the Catholic Church in education by leveraging his expertise to enhance outcomes for all students. With experience in the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors, and a background spanning education, communications, and management consulting, Matt brings a demonstrated ability to the Leadership Team to align stakeholders, build strategic capability, and deliver tangible results. 

Please join me in congratulating Matt on his appointment. 

Sincerely

Peter Hill
Director of Schools
Diocese of Wollongong

Counselling at CatholicCare

For: Principals 
Due: Now, as relevant
Contact: CatholicCare Wollongong (enquiries@catholiccare.dow.org.au)
First notice

Optional action: Please consider including the information below in your school newsletter and/or other communications to parents and carers.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like you need some more support with parenting?

CatholicCare Wollongong offer professional counselling services to support you through life's challenges. Their counsellors provide a listening and independent ear and will equip you with strategies and tools for coping with stress and major life changes.

Counselling is available in-person in Nowra, Wollongong and Campbelltown or via phone or online.

Visit our website to learn more: https://catholiccare.dow.org.au/services-and-programs/family/family-care/counselling/

CEDoW Return to Work Program

For: All Staff
Due: Now, as relevant
Contact: Susan Phillipson - 0438528360 (phillipsons01@dow.catholic.edu.au)

First notice 

Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion 2025

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

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.

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.

A Course for Aspiring Leaders

Expressions of Interest are sought from suitable applicants to enrol in A Course for Aspiring Leaders, a CEDoW professional development opportunity focused on developing and supporting future leaders within the CEDoW system of schools.

The course is for those teachers who do not currently hold a formal leadership role within their school but would like to aspire to a leadership role in the future.

A Course for Aspiring Leaders will be conducted over 12 months in 2025 during Terms 1-3 with an opt-in session in Term 4.

There will be two cohorts for this course. An Illawarra cohort and a Macarthur cohort. Please register interest on LMS.

View the course flyer here.

Blended Online Learning

Short courses are self paced (approx 2hrs) and include;

• The Needs of Students with EAL/D
• Culturally Inclusive Teaching and Learning
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder
• Learning Theory
• Working in Partnership with Parents

Parent courses are also available and can be offered to SSO and families requiring information/support around Understanding ADHD & Autism through the OLT website.

For more information about the available courses, including short courses and parent offerings, please refer to our flyer or visit the OLT website.

Note: Certificates will only be issued when registering with @dow.catholic.edu.au email address. Requests from alternative email addresses will incur a fee.

Navigating HSC Disability Provisions: Key Insights and Practical Steps (Ref: 19/25)

Contact: Eleah Aidulis - 4253 0800 (aidulise01@dow.catholic.edu.au)

CatholicCare - School, Student and Family Program

Curriculum Implementation Support - Professional Learning 2025

As we move into the second (Years 3-6) and third (Kinder-Year 2) years of implementation of K-10 English and Mathematics, ongoing support in professional learning and collaboration will assist schools in sustaining a culture of evidence-based reflective teaching and ongoing improvement of curriculum implementation. 

To ensure new practices are strengthened to generate improvement in student learning outcomes, ILW Learning K-12 will continue its ongoing support of schools throughout the ‘Embed’ phase of implementation in English and Mathematics. Schools can access optional system-wide professional learning and in situ support for effective curriculum implementation throughout 2025.

English 

*All courses are optional to schools. Funding for release is available from CEO for each of these courses

Mathematics

*This course is optional to schools. Release funding for this course is available from CEO