New Actions
2025 Assurance Testing Program
For: Principals and SSSOs
Due: Various dates for individual schools
Contact: Shinto Sebastian (sebastians03@dow.catholic.edu.au)
First notice
The evaluation of the 2024 Assurance Testing Program confirmed high levels of compliance across all schools. It also recommended that the test schedule should be on a risk-based three year cycle (i.e. the assurance program will be held annually, however, each item will be tested once in three years).
The 2025 testing program will consist of three sections:
- Year 1 (2025) Test Items
- NESA Schools Selected for Short Notice Inspections Inventory
- Non-compliant items identified in 2024 (for individual schools)
The Assurance framework provides the full list of compliance requirements as well as embedded links to relevant policies, procedures and resources.
Click the links below to access the testing details:
- Assurance Testing Selected items for 3 years (2025, 2026, 2027)
3 Years Testing Tool - Assurance testing selected items - 2025 Assurance Testing – selected items (Primary)
2025 Assurance Testing Selected items - Primary - 2025 Assurance Testing – selected items (Secondary)
2025 Assurance Testing Selected items - Secondary / K-12
Two weeks prior to your visit you will receive a reminder email.
Action: In preparation for the onsite testing visit, please familiarise yourself with the 2025 Assurance Testing.
If you have any concerns or require further information, please contact Shinto Sebastian on 0426 581 143.
Advanced Notice for 2026 Testing:
A new item for assurance testing in 2026 will be Parent and Friends (P&F) financial accounts.
Throughout 2025 schools will be supported by the FFP team to ensure that all P&F accounts are compliant. Areas to be addressed will include:
- Has the P&F fund been registered with the ACNC?
- Has the P&F lodged its most recent Annual Information Statement to ACNC?
- Has the P&F fund applied to NSW Fair Trading for an authority to fundraise?
- Has the P&F fund had their annual accounts audited and submitted to the CEO?
- Has the P&F fund kept accounting records relating to fundraising for at least seven years?
Protecht – Risk Review
For: Principals
Due: 1 March 2025
Contact: John Barrington (barringtonj01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
First notice
During Term 4, 2024 John Barrington met with each principal and assisted them in identifying and recording their school based highest risks into Protecht, the CEDoW Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) database tool.
Principals subsequently confirmed the information by reviewing the data and ‘Submitting for Assessment’. The entry then becomes an ‘Active’ risk which is reviewed twice yearly (by 1 March and 1 September). Thank you to those who have already updated their risks this year.
Action: Principals are requested to complete the review by 1 March 2025. The Protecht system will also send an automated reminder on 21 February 2025.
Please review Controls prior to reviewing the Risks.
Please remember to change the date to 1/9/2025 as an indication that you have completed the review.
For controls – please change Next Test Date (located on the right side near the top of the page)
For risks – please change Review Due Date (located at the bottom of the page).
Finally, ensure that you SAVE your changes (located at the top right of the page).
Please be aware that Review Comments field (located below the Review Due Date) is the place to enter summative comments about the latest circumstances or changes about this risk.
NB In many cases there may not have been any changes to the information. If this is the case, simply update the Review Due Date and Save.
Urgent Safety Alert – Tractor Operations
For: Secondary and K–12 Principals
Due: Now
Contact: Workplace Safety and Wellbeing whs@dow.catholic.edu.au
First notice
Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) has been informed of a recent incident at a NSW Department of Education school involving a tractor-related injury. SafeWork NSW is currently investigating the safe systems of work and the use of tractors by individuals under 16 years of age.
Action: While the investigation is ongoing, SafeWork NSW has directed that secondary students under the age of 16 are not permitted to operate tractors. Schools and workplaces must immediately cease tractor use for all students under 16 until further notice.
This restriction applies to students engaged in:
- Agricultural activities at school
- Work placement within the Primary Industries Industry Curriculum Framework course
- Work experience on farms
CSNSW asks that this important safety alert be communicated to all relevant personnel today.
If you have any questions, please contact Mary-Clare Turnbull (CSNSW senior manager, Vocational Education and Training) at maryclare.turnbull@csnsw.catholic.edu.au or on 0419 979 831.
Alternatively, please contact Workplace Safety and Wellbeing 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.
Catholic Business Connections – March Luncheon
For: Principals
Due: Now
Contact: Debbie Gates (debbie.gates@dow.org.au)
First notice
We’re excited to share information about the upcoming Catholic Business Connections (CBC) luncheon.
Date: Wednesday 26 March 2025
Optional Action: Please consider sharing this information in your school newsletters and communications, and invite parents and carers to consider joining CBC.
CBC offers an opportunity for professional and business women and men in our diocese (both active and retired) who share common values, to network and engage with each other and leaders representing the diocese. CBC gathers three times a year for lunch and to listen to guest speakers chosen to inspire with their unique stories and share how they relate their work and spiritual life experience to the context of living in a modern world.
