School Leaders Edition, Week 7, Term 1, 2025
On behalf of the Director of Schools, I wish to announce the following:
Deborah Manche has been seconded to the temporary position of Project Officer – Enrolments with the Strategy and Communication service area for the remainder of 2025, commencing 10 March 2025.
This short-term position will manage the transition of the Funnel online enrolment project from implementation to business as usual, and provide vital support to schools and CEO teams regarding enrolment processes. In addition, this role will gather and analyse the necessary data to inform the Leadership Team’s consideration of whether an ongoing position with responsibility for enrolments is required (in response to the endorsed recommendation from the 2024 Review into CEO Accountabilities).
Yvonne Keary will continue in the position of Acting Manager – Administrative Services (Marian Centre and Keira Street) for the duration of the secondment and retain responsibility for coordinating the relocation from our Market Street premises.
Natasha O’Donoghue
Assistant Director – People and Culture
Naming, Blessing and Opening of a CEDoW Facility Policy
For: Principals
Due: 11 March 2025
Contact: Matt Baxter (baxterm04@dow.catholic.edu.au), or Josephine Cooks (cooksj01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
First Notice
The Naming, Blessing and Opening of a CEDoW Facility Policy (NBO Policy) and supporting Naming Procedure are a revision of the previous Blessing and Opening of School Buildings Policy, last reviewed 11 March 2020. The approach to naming, blessing and opening CEDoW facilities has evolved since then, and this review was driven by a need to align our documents with current practice.
The purpose of the NBO Policy and Naming Procedure is to set out the principles and processes that apply when naming (or rescinding the name of) a CEDoW facility and when planning and conducting a blessing and opening ceremony in respect of a new or refurbished CEDoW facility.
As the revised policy is a codification of existing processes, there is no anticipated change to current practice. The Director’s Office, as well as the Strategy and Communications, Finance, Facilities and Planning, and Catholic Life, Education and Mission service areas will continue to support schools as they plan for namings, blessings and openings.
The policy has been approved by the Director of Schools, and will come into effect on 11 March 2025.
Action: For staff involved with namings, blessings and openings, please take the time to familiarise yourself with the updated policy and its supporting procedure.
If you have any questions about the NBO Policy or Naming Procedure, please contact Matt Baxter, Assistant Director - Strategy and Communications (baxterm04@dow.catholic.edu.au), or Josephine Cooks, Senior Strategy and Communications Officer (cooksj01@dow.catholic.edu.au).
Diocesan Leadership Professional Development Program 2025
For: Principals
Due: Now
Contact: Linden Conkey (conkeyl01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
First Notice
The Office of the Bishop, Office of Professional Standards and Safeguarding has released the Diocesan Leadership Professional Development Program for 2025.
Action: If you are required to complete this PD program, you will have already received an email from Linden Conkey on Friday 7 March 2025. Participants are required to select course/s they wish to undertake, register online and complete a minimum of 10 units (ie. 7 hours) of the Diocesan Leadership PD per calendar year. If unable to attend the provided course/s you may be able apply for recognition of prior learning for other relevant PD you have completed in the calendar year.
For further information please contact Linden Conkey at conkeyl01@dow.catholic.edu.au or 4250 9556.
CatholicCare School Student and Family Program (SSFP) – Updated Practice Manual (February 2025)
For: Principals
Due: Now
Contact: Rebecca Hill (hillr01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
First Notice
CatholicCare has released an updated version of the School Student and Family Program (SSFP) Practice Manual developed to support a consistent and effective approach to the delivery of school counselling services across schools.
This updated manual outlines key processes, service expectations, referral pathways, and best practices to ensure that our school counsellors can provide high-quality support to students, families, and school staff. It has been designed to enhance collaboration between schools and the counselling team while ensuring clarity around roles, responsibilities, and procedures.
The development of this updated manual is the result of a collaborative process between CatholicCare and the CEDoW Wellbeing & Student Support and Child Safety and Professional Services teams. The expertise and contributions of all have been instrumental in ensuring the manual aligns with both school and system-wide priorities.
The latest version has now been shared with all school counsellors, and school leadership are asked to familiarise themselves with it.
Action: To assist with this process, principals, assistant principals, pastoral care leaders, and any key staff members who interact with the program are invited to attend a Zoom briefing.
It is important that each school is represented, either by attending the live session or by requesting a recording to view at a more convenient time.
Following this briefing, principals will be required by CatholicCare to formally acknowledge their understanding of the 2025 Practice Manual.
Details
Date: Friday 21 March 2025
Time: 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Via Zoom: Zoom link
Please indicate your attendance online via the calendar invitation already sent. Please request a recording of the Zoom by contacting Rebecca Hill at hillr01@dow.catholic.edu.au.
CatholicCare School, Student and Family Program – School Counselling
For: Principals
Due: Optional
Contact: CatholicCare Wollongong – (02) 4227 1122
First Notice
The video below highlights the work of CatholicCare Wollongong's school counsellors in partnership with Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. Find out more about the program here.
Action: You may wish to share this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference – Archbishop Francis Carroll Bursary Program
The 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference will be held from 20-22 August 2025. We are pleased to inform you about the Archbishop Francis Carroll Bursary Program, which supports educators and emerging leaders from rural, regional, and remote areas in attending the event.
In recognition of the challenges faced by educators and emerging leaders in remote areas, the Archbishop Francis Carroll Bursary Program aims to make this conference accessible. Established in honour of Archbishop Francis Carroll, founding Chair of the National Catholic Education Commission, this program offers bursaries to help cover the costs of attending the conference.
A limited number of bursaries of up to $5,000 each will be awarded based on need and availability. These bursaries can contribute towards conference registration, accommodation, return travel to Cairns, and transfers if required.
For eligibility criteria and the application form, which requires Diocese endorsement, visit the website.
Key Dates:
- Applications close: 30 April 2025
- Applicants notified by: 31 May 2025
For more information, including the conference details and application instructions, visit www.2025acec.edu.au.
Australian Catholics: Online Media Internship Program for Students
For: Secondary Principals and RECs/Leaders of Mission
Please share with relevant teaching staff.
Jesuit Communications, the publisher of Australian Catholics, offers an annual online media internship program for students in Years 10, 11, and 12 across Australia.
This program provides an exciting introduction to careers in media.
This week-long internship, which will take place via Zoom from 6 to 9 May 2025 (9:00 am—3:30 pm AEST), is a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the media industry while contributing to an edition of Australia's largest-circulating Catholic print publication. Additionally, a two-hour introductory session will be held on Monday, 30 April 2025 (4:00 – 6:00 pm).
Applications for the 2025 program close at 5:00 pm on Friday 21 March 2025.
Jubilee Year: Soul of Ireland and Italy Pilgrimage, 26 September – 19 October 2025
For: All Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong Staff
In the 2025 Jubilee Year, the Church celebrates the theme Pilgrims of Hope, encouraging us all to live with hope in God and to share that hope with others.
To celebrate and mark this significant event for our international Catholic community, CEDoW invites staff to participate in a special Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Ireland and Italy, led by Bishop Brian Mascord.
For more information about the pilgrimage, including how to submit an Expression of Interest, please refer to the link here.
Note: Expressions of Interest close on 13 March 2025.
Questions? Please contact Claire Cooney at cooneyc02@dow.catholic.edu.au.
Called to Serve – Liturgical Ministries Training Day
Reminder: Due Friday 14 March
For: Secondary RECs/Leaders of Mission
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.
Contact: John Coppola – 0477 446 431 | coppolag01@dow.catholic.edu.au.
Laudato Si’ Lenten Prayer and Reflection Resources
For: Primary and Secondary RECs/Leaders of Mission
Please share with your schools.
During Lent, we are invited to embark upon a journey of ecological conversion through reflection, repentance, and renewal.
By committing to concrete changes through fasting and lifestyle changes, we can live more in solidarity with our Earth and each other, reduce our ecological footprint and inspire our sisters and brothers to join this conversion process.
Click here for resources that may assist you in exploring a Laudato Si' Lent with your school community.
The 2025 Lenten Program: Metanoia
The 2025 Diocesan Lenten Program, Metanoia, now available in SORA here.
The Metanoia booklet comes with a 76-page (full-colour) booklet. It contains short daily reflections (from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday), perfect for individual devotional reading, in addition to longer-form Sunday Scripture readings, reflections, prayers, questions and visio divina (divine seeing) which is traditionally part of Lenten group gatherings.
Please contact Anne Russell, CEDoW Resource Centre Manager at russella01@dow.catholic.edu.au for further information.
NCCD Update: Revised Date for Adjustments to Be in Place
Please note that there has been an amendment in the CEDoW 2025 Timeline for Personalised Planning and the NCCD. The date by which adjustments need to be in place to ensure that students receive 10 weeks of adjustments in order to be included in the 2025 NCCD is Friday 9 May 2025.
This amendment should be communicated with all teachers engaged in Personalised Planning.
CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead
Is your CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead up to date?
Accreditation to WTL Level/s and any additional requirements are outlined on your contract.
If you still require more information or have any questions, please email: wtlaccreditation@dow.catholic.edu.au.
For general information on CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead please visit the following website: https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/employment/accreditation-cedow/.
CEDoW Scholarship Support
For some areas of Accreditation to Work Teach and Lead, CEDoW offers Scholarship Support.
Please visit the following website for more information and to apply: https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/employment/cedow-scholarships/.
Minor Capital Request Process
Since 2021, the School Properties Office has been calling for minor capital works projects from schools annually.
We have listened to feedback and implemented the following updates:
- Simplified Request Process: The request process has been streamlined using the TechOne ALM Work Request Form. You no longer are required to submit the Project Justification form.
- Work Request Form Modifications: The Work Request form now includes items for identifying different types of work and requested funding sources.
All other process steps remain the same.
Important Dates
- Closing Date for Requests: 30 April 2025
- Decision communicated by Director of Schools: Prior to 30 November 2025
- Work Commencement: From January 2026 onwards.
If you have any questions, you can email properties@dow.catholic.edu.au.
Attendance Updates
Compulsory Schooling Conferences: The fortnightly spreadsheet may automatically populate the words 'conference required' in the column, however, you need to have implemented attendance improvement planning processes at a school level prior to progressing to this step.
This is supported by section 5.16 of the new Attendance Procedure which states that system referrals should be made when a student’s attendance falls below 70%. However, this section shouldn’t be read in isolation—the steps for targeted intervention 5.8 to 5.14 need to be completed by the school first.
Principal Consideration – Application for Exemption from Attendance: A reminder not to press the green approve button for the leave when first saving the template, only press save. All supporting documents should be uploaded to this section as a PDF and schools need to ensure that families have completed the documents correctly.
Curriculum Implementation Support – Professional Learning 2025
To ensure new practices are strengthened and sustained with the aim of improving student learning outcomes, Improvement, Learning
and Wellbeing (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.
Details of professional learning designed to support the ‘Embed’ phase of curriculum implementation in English and Mathematics are situated under ‘Professional Learning’ within this newsletter.
New syllabuses for better learning
NESA continues to work closely with teachers and the school sectors to ensure that new K–12 NSW syllabus structure and content are based on evidence of what we know works best, and reflects feedback from teachers, stakeholders and industry professionals.
Digital curriculum
The Review and NESA’s user research also revealed a need to move away from syllabus PDFs and print-outs, and towards a purpose-built digital curriculum providing one-stop access to syllabuses, resources, support materials, links, teaching advice and evidence.
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.
Primary Curriculum Implementation Support: K-6 Mathematics Professional Learning
Contact: Kate Thomas (thomask04@dow.catholic.edu.au).
Targeting Instructional Leaders supporting teachers in planning teaching and learning (including Principals, Assistant Principals, Middle Leaders and/or Instructional Coaches)
Week 8, Term 1 – Tuesday 18 March 2025
Day 1: Foundational Day – Strengthening Curriculum Connections and Quality Assessment Practices
Building on prior knowledge and professional learning, participants will:
- Explore strategies for making connections within the curriculum to build deep knowledge of the K-10 Mathematics syllabus
- Identify the crucial "Big Ideas" that represent key progress points in the Mathematics syllabus, and
- Refine formative assessment strategies to inform the next steps in learning.
*Additional participants to be funded by the school
Click here to register your attendance. Registrations close Tuesday 11 March 2025.
Primary Curriculum Implementation Support: English K-6 English Professional Learning
Contact: Alexandra (Lexie) Hingston (hingstona01@dow.catholic.edu.au).
Targeting Instructional Leaders supporting teachers in planning and programming (including Principals, Assistant Principals, Middle Leaders and/or Instructional Coaches).
Week 10, Term 1 – Friday 4 April 2025
Day 1 will focus on developing metacognitive processes through reading comprehension.
Participants will deepen their understanding of the ‘Understanding and Responding to Literature’ outcome and the importance of using the learning processes to develop metacognition and connect reading and writing.
*Additional participants to be funded by the school
Click here to register your attendance. Registrations close Monday 24 March 2025.
ACER PAT Workshops
ACER has compiled a fantastic assortment of workshops and webinars to suit a range of needs in their School Engagement 2025 Events Brochure! Download your copy and plan your school's training and development needs for the year.
Whole School Professional Development Opportunities and Blended Online Learning for All Staff
Our Blended Online Learning team is seeking your interest regarding whole school professional development opportunities for educators in the 2025 academic year.
Please complete an Expression of Interest form, and we will be in touch to discuss your request.
Additionally, staff members have the option to pursue professional development individually and are encouraged to fill out this Expression of Interest to help us prepare schedules. These opportunities are offered in a variety of formats.
Short courses are self paced (approximately 2 hours).
Topics 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 school support officers and families requiring information/support around Understanding ADHD and Autism through the OLT website.
For more information about the available courses, including short courses and parent offerings, please refer to the flyer here, or visit the OLT website.
Note: Certificates will only be issued when registering with your @dow.catholic.edu.au email address. Requests from alternative email addresses will incur a fee.