School Leaders Edition, Week 4, Term 2, 2025
2025 System-Wide Strategic Professional Learning
For: Principals
Due: Registrations close 6 June 2025
Contact: Anna Jones at annalouise.jones@dow.catholic.edu.au
First notice
Link: System-Wide Strategic Professional Learning site.
Action: Registrations are now open for the 2025 System-Wide Strategic Professional Learning.
The two dynamic days of collaborative professional learning will be held on Monday 16 June and Monday 11 August 2025 at St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Albion Park.
The days will focus on instructional leadership, complex collaborative problem solving, and will be led by guest facilitator Dr Jacqui Patuawa.
For more information and to register, please go to the System-Wide Strategic Professional Learning site linked above. For any inquiries, contact Anna Jones, Team Leader – Leadership and Professional Growth.
2023/2024 P&F Audit Reports
For: Principals
Due: Monday 30 June 2025
Contact: Mark Rix at rixm02@dow.catholic.edu.au
First notice
At the beginning of each new school year, schools are required to submit to the Catholic Education Office an Independent Auditor’s Report for the previous calendar year for their school’s P&F. This report should contain a full and independent audit of the P&F finances.
Action: There are a number of schools who have not yet provided their P&F Report for the 2024 calendar year. Schools are asked to liaise with their P&Fs to ensure this report is commissioned and completed as soon as practicable and a copy sent to pandf@dow.catholic.edu.au.
The auditing of P&F accounts has been identified as a component of assurance testing for 2026. With this in mind, schools are asked to ensure that their 2024 Audited Report, as well as the 2023 Report, if that has not been completed, is emailed to the address above by Monday 30 June 2025.
If you have any questions about this request, or if you need to check if your P&F has a report outstanding, please contact Mark Rix, Manager Improvement, Learning at rixm02@dow.catholic.edu.au or phone 0417 922 518.
2025 CEDoW Employee Engagement Survey – FOUR DAYS LEFT
For: Principals and CEO Leadership Team
Due: Now
Contact: Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Team at whs@dow.catholic.edu.au
Third notice
A big thank you to everyone for actively promoting the survey within your school or service area. You play a critical role in encouraging participation and promoting the importance of staff voice.
The feedback received from this survey will help shape future improvements in staff engagement, wellbeing, organisational culture, and overall performance.
The 2025 CEDoW Employee Engagement Survey has now been open for just over two weeks, following its launch on Monday 5 May 2025. Eligible* staff have received an email invitation and 2 reminders to complete the survey from Xref Engage.
This research and evidence-based survey was developed in collaboration with Xref Engage and takes around 20 minutes to complete. It remains open for another 2 weeks and will close on Friday 23 May 2025.
Action: KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. The current response rate is 54%.We ask for your support over the next four days in encouraging all staff to complete the survey.
Your support makes a difference. By actively promoting the survey and encouraging participation, you help ensure that every voice is heard and that the insights we gather genuinely reflect the experiences of our staff.
To help you promote participation and answer any questions, the following resources are available:
- 2025 Engagement Survey: Leaders Talking Points
- 2025 Engagement Survey: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
- 2025 Engagement Survey: Poster 1
- 2025 Engagement Survey: Poster 2
*Eligible staff: *Permanent, temporary, and eligible casual (casuals who have worked 60 days since November 2023).
If you have any questions regarding the Engagement Survey, please contact Rochelle Borg or Susan Phillipson, Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Team, at 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.
Preparation for Clergy and Principal Day
For: Principals and CEDoW Leadership Team
Due: Friday 16 May 2025
Contact: Tim Gilmour at gilmourt01@dow.catholic.edu.au or Jo Kenny at kennyj02@dow.catholic.edu.au
Fourth notice
Action: A reminder that the presenter, Professor Richard Rymarz, has provided two readings (see here) that Clergy, Principals and the CEDoW Leadership are requested to read as preparation for the day.
Parable of the Lost Sheep: A book reading by Bishop Brian Mascord
For: System leaders and SSSOs
Due: Tuesday 27 May 2025
Contact: Mark Rix - Manager, Improvement, Learning and Wellbeing at rixm02@dow.catholic.edu.au
Second notice
A reminder that Bishop Brian Mascord will host a very special online reading of the classic Bible story ‘The Parable of the Lost Sheep’. This unique online event, organised by the Council of Catholic Schools Parents (CCSP) is part of the Jubilee Year of Hope celebrations and will take place on Tuesday 27 May from 7.00 pm to 7.30 pm.
A flyer promoting the event is linked here.
Action: Schools are asked to remind parents and carers of this upcoming event via your usual channels.
The first 100 registrations for the reading will receive a free copy of the book to read along with Bishop Brian!
Reminder: 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 change of date.
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 by completing the RSVP form.
Catholicity STUFF (Spending Time Unpacking Faith Foundations) – for Secondary
Attention: Secondary RECs/ Leaders of Mission and Secondary Principals
Contact: Beth Riolo at riolob01@dow.catholic.edu.au
Professional Learning Opportunity for Middle Leaders (KLA Coordinators/Pastoral Care Coordinators and RE Teachers)
Targeting 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.
- Thursday 19 June 2025 (9 am – 3 pm)
- Emmaus Centre – 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia, 2560
- Funding is available for 3 participants per school
Please consider who on your staff may benefit from this one-day professional learning experience. For more information and registration details, click here.
Please register by Tuesday 10 June 2025.
Save the Date – VET Awards 2025
The 2025 VET Award nominations are now open.
The awards will be held on Thursday 28 August 2025 at the Xavier Centre (Harbour Street, Wollongong).
See the flyer here.
Nomination forms for VET Student of the Year, VET Trainer of the Year, and SBAT Student of the Year are available here.
For further information, please contact Jennifer Callaghan at the CEDoW RTO: callaghanJ01@dow.catholic.edu.au.
The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey – Now Halfway
For: Principals and School Coordinators
The TTFM® survey window for CEDoW has now reached the halfway point.
Your school community can participate in the survey until Friday 30 May 2025 at 4.30 pm (AEST).
1. Monitoring your survey progress in TTFM
If you would like to view the number of participants who have completed the survey for your school, please access the Monitor Progress dashboard within the TTFM platform.
2. Survey Window Resources in the TTFM Platform
To support your school, survey resources can be accessed from our Knowledge Base within the TTFM platform, including Survey Taker Response Rate and Closing Surveys.
3. Webinar Training
The Learning Bar invites you to join our Module 2 Webinar to assist with accessing, analysing and interpreting your TTFM® Reports. The session provides an overview of the reports that will be available once the surveys are closed, including Trend Reports and provides ideas on how to evaluate and communicate your findings to assist with your school’s strategic planning.
Please select below for your preferred session.
Module 2 Session 1: Thursday 29 May 2025 – 8:30 am
Module 2 Session 2: Tuesday 10 June 2025 – 3:30 pm
Support – The Learning Bar
Toll-free: 1800 823 621
Email: support@thelearningbar.com.
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2025
Attention: Principals and RECs
This year National Sorry Day falls on Monday 26 May and is a day when we pause to remember the Stolen Generations of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It leads us into the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week which is held each year between 27 May and 3 June.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025 is, Bridging Now to Next.
See here for a liturgy resource that you might find useful to help your school community acknowledge National Reconciliation Week.
Other helpful resources relating to National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week can be found at the following websites:
Raising Hope – Laudato Si' Week 2025
Attention: Principals and RECs/Leaders of Mission
Join the global Catholic community in celebrating Laudato Si’ Week, marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ which Pope Francis signed on the day of Pentecost, 24 May, 2015.
This special week commemorates Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on climate change and care for our common home—rooted in centuries of Church teaching on creation. With this year’s theme "Raising Hope", we come together in faith and action, continuing the legacy of Pope Francis and renewing our commitment to ecological justice and a sustainable future for all.
Please note the global celebration is 24–31 May, but in Australia, many choose to acknowledge Laudato Si’ Week from 16–24 May, so as not to clash with Reconciliation Week.
The following resources may be helpful for you in marking Laudato Si’ Week with your school communities:
- Laudato Si’ Movement Laudato Si’ Week 2025
- Catholic Earthcare Caritas Australia Laudato Si' Week 2025 Resources
- Liturgy for Celebrating Laudato Si’ Week 2025 Word doc and PDF doc.
- Laudato Si’ Week Bookmark and Daily Reflection Posts
- Pope Francis’ Ecological Legacy.
“Let us sing as we go.
May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.”
Laudato Si’ n244
Corpus Christi Formation Day at Our Lady Help of Christians
Attention: Secondary Principals and RECs (or equivalent)
We, Joel and Elise Duval, are writing on behalf of Fr Sarkis and the parish of Our Lady Help of Christians Rosemeadow to invite you as well as ask for your support in advertising this year's Corpus Christi Event to your school and wider community. We are hoping to build this feast day across the diocese, bringing everyone together to celebrate our God in all His Glory!
For more information on the day, please see the registration page here.
We have provided some advertising material for you to use below (all resources can be accessed from a shared Google Folder, which you can access here).
The resources include:
Corpus Christi 2025 Email: An email to be forwarded to all students in Year 9 and above, to staff and parents in your school.
Corpus Christi Poster: A poster which can be printed in A3 or A4, if you would be happy to put up on your school office thoroughfare doors.
Corpus Christi Newsletter Image: If you would be happy to include the image in your school newsletters with the following blurb:
The Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians invites you to join us for the Corpus Christi Event! If you're seeking a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, the origins of the Mass or want to deepen your faith then this day is for you! You will never celebrate Mass again the same way! Join us Sunday 22 June (10 am to 3:30 pm) at Our Lady Help of Christian's St. Joachim Hall (adjacent to the Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School) (80A Demetrius Rd, Rosemeadow). Please note: We welcome all adults over 18. Any person under the age of 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian. Due to content and nature of material the minimum age of attendees is 14 years. For more information on the day and to register, please use the QR code provided.
Social Media Image: Please see the social media image and blurb below to be used for a social media post on your school's social media pages.
The Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians invites you to join us for the Corpus Christi Event! If you're seeking a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, the origins of the Mass or want to deepen your faith then this day is for you! You will never celebrate Mass again the same way! Join us Sunday 22 June (10 am to 3:30 pm) at Our Lady Help of Christian's St. Joachim Hall (adjacent to the Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School) (80A Demetrius Rd, Rosemeadow). Please note: We welcome all adults over 18. Any person under the age of 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian. Due to content and nature of material the minimum age of attendees is 14 years. For more information on the day and to register, please use the QR code provided.
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.