Updates

2025 Australian School Leader Health and Wellbeing Survey

The Australian Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey is confidential and independent of all employer groups, professional associations, and unions. This research informs state departments, evaluates existing policies, and drives new initiatives.

• Participants receive an individualised report on their job-related health and wellbeing upon completion.
• Global results provide a system-level view of principal health and wellbeing, with recommendations for action.

Register here. 

IPPE Health and Wellbeing Team
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University

New Guides to Support First Nations Children and Families Staying Safe Online

eSafety has launched Safer Together! and Leaving Deadly Digital Footprints!- two online safety guides for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their carers.

Co-designed with First Nations kids, parents, and carers, the guides use storytelling, case studies and interactive activities to help kids learn safe and positive online behaviours.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the guides recognise the creativity and innovation of First Nations young people online, while addressing unique risks like racism and digital exclusion.

“First Nations children and teenagers are embracing the internet and technology in wonderful and creative ways; however, they are more likely to be exposed to a range of online harms*, including hate speech, discrimination, and bullying.

“These guides were built by and for First Nations people. They’re about learning together, building trust, and giving children the tools to enjoy the digital world safely and confidently,” Ms Inman Grant said.

eSafety’s new resources will help parents and carers to have conversations with First Nations children and young people about how to be safe, have fun and learn about online safety together.

These new resources complement the range of tailored online safety resources eSafety has developed with First Nations organisations, including advice to empower mob of all ages with tools and knowledge to protect themselves on the internet.

For more information, please contact: 0439 519 684 or media@esafety.gov.au

*eSafety’s Cool, beautiful, strange and scary report found that First Nations children and teenagers face a higher rate of exposure to harmful content.

Opportunity for Early Career Teachers: Mentoring and Coaching Development Program

As part of CEDoW’s partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), we are inviting Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in their 2nd to 5th year of teaching to take part in a unique research program: The Impact of Online Mentoring and Coaching Training on Retention of Early Career Teachers in Australian Schools.

This is a free, online program designed to provide you with personalised support from an expert coach while contributing to research that will shape the future of teacher retention in Australia.

We are seeking to recruit 15–20 ECTs in their 2nd to 5th year of teaching and currently employed with CEDoW, with priority given to teachers in regional schools.

Why get involved?

• Personalised support: Receive coaching from a trained mentor to strengthen your professional practice.
• Flexible and accessible: Online and manageable alongside your teaching role. 
• Part of something bigger: Your participation will help address Australia’s teacher retention challenge.
• Regional focus: Priority will be given to ECTs in regional schools, and ideally those in their 2nd–5th year of teaching.
  

How to Apply

Expressions of interest should be submitted as soon as possible and will close on Friday 26 September (Term 3, Week 10). Submit here: Expression of Interest Form.

For more information, please see the flyer or contact Vanessa Taylor, Professional Officer – Early Career Teacher Support at vanessa.taylor@dow.catholic.edu.au.  

Numeracy Toolbox Updates

Mathematics Term 4 Sample Units of Work

In an effort to support the core work of teachers, CEDoW sample Mathematics units of work have been developed to align with the sample scope and sequences of learning developed by Dr Christine Mae, currently in use in a number of schools.

The sample units of work serve as a scaffold to support teachers in programming clear sequences of learning aligned to the syllabus. Teachers are encouraged to use these sample units alongside the teaching advice and examples provided in the NSW K-10 Mathematics Syllabus to contextualise the learning for their students. These units of work can also be directly accessed here.

Adjustments to Term Four Sample Units

Following reflection and feedback from schools, and building upon the revisions made to the Term Three Mathematics units, further refinements have been implemented for the Term Four sample units of work. These adjustments include:

• Clear Learning Intentions and Success Criteria: The learning intention and differentiated success criteria for each learning sequence drive the teaching and learning within the sequence. The success criteria can be contextualised for different cohorts to ensure that students are both challenged and able to demonstrate success regardless of their starting point.
  
  
• Embedded Formative Assessment opportunities: ‘Check for understanding’ guides teachers to engage in ongoing formative assessment, reflecting on how well students are able to demonstrate success in relation to the success criteria.
  
  
• Suggested Activities: These are examples of ‘what’ teachers can plan in order for students to demonstrate their understanding. The teacher will utilise High Impact Strategies to ensure consideration of the essential elements Agency, Environment, Equity, Relevance and Rigour when contextualising the learning sequences for the needs of their class.
  
  
• Additional Rich Task: At the end of each of the first units K-6 a rich, open-ended task has been added. This is an example of a task that could be used as a summative assessment to support the ongoing formative assessment opportunities embedded within the daily teaching and learning. During the pupil vacation period, ALL units of work will be updated so that each unit has an example of a rich task.

A number of teachers from our diocese engaged in the process of ‘quality assurance’ prior to these units being released onto the toolbox. This is an important process to ensure that the sample units of work reflect the intent of the syllabus and align to the scope and sequence of learning.

The CEDoW K-12 Learning team would like to thank the following teachers for their role in this important process: Belinda Evans, Shirley Jancetic, Melissa Allen, Chantelle Zuza, Grace Sullivan, and Dominique Hogarth.

Progression of Mathematical Vocabulary

The toolbox has been updated to include a ‘Progression of Vocabulary’ from ES1 to Stage 3 for each focus area in the NSW K–10 Mathematics Syllabus. These documents sequence the progression of vocabulary from Early Stage 1 to Stage 3. The intent is that teachers may use these documents as a tool to support the development of carefully sequenced and differentiated teaching and learning programs.

Students should be provided with opportunities to develop confidence in using some or all of the vocabulary identified in the Teaching Advice in the Mathematics Syllabus and in these documents to communicate their mathematical thinking.

NESA News

New Science 11–12 Syllabuses

The new Science 11–12 syllabuses and support materials are now available on the NSW Curriculum website.

Schools can begin planning and preparing to teach the new syllabuses.

Biology, Biology Life Skills, Physics, and Physical World Science Life Skills 11–12 will be implemented in NSW schools in 2027.

Chemistry, Chemical World Science Life Skills, Earth and Environmental Science, and Earth and Environmental Science Life Skills 11–12 will be implemented in NSW schools in 2028.

Access the new Science 11–12 syllabuses here.

New Design and Technology 7–10 & Work Education 7–10 Syllabuses

The new Design and Technology 7–10 and Work Education 7–10 syllabuses and support materials are now available on the NSW Curriculum website.

Schools can now plan and prepare to teach these syllabuses ahead of their implementation in 2028.

Access the syllabuses here.

ENCORE and SHAPE Nominations This Week

HSC Music and Technological and Applied Studies students across NSW will find out if they’re nominated for ENCORE and SHAPE this week.

A nomination recognises outstanding work that meets syllabus outcomes and HSC exam requirements.

The HSC Showcase Hub has all the information on the upcoming HSC Showcase Season, including key dates, performance and exhibition details, and social media assets to celebrate students’ achievements.

Visit the HSC Showcase Hub here.

Apply Now: 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations – Committee Member (Investigating Science)

The Head of Curriculum and Assessment is seeking expressions of interest for the role of:

• Committee Member – 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examination for Investigating Science

The letter outlining the Expression of Interest requirements and application process can be found here.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and current curriculum vitae to Monica O’Brien, Head of Curriculum and Assessment, at cssa.exams@csnsw.catholic.edu.au by 9am, Friday 26 September 2025.

Notes of Hope – Class of 2025

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20

As our Year 12 students come to the end of their Catholic education in our schools, Matthew’s gospel reminds us that the Holy Spirit is in our midst when we gather in community and between the lines when we communicate in writing.

Our senior students will be facing the challenge of final exams early next term, having navigated a range of disruptions and pressures throughout their high school years. As a school community and broader diocesan community, we stand with them in solidarity as they approach this important milestone in their learning journey. They remain in our thoughts and prayers.

The HSC starts on 16 October 2025 (Week 1, Term 4).

As a Catholic community THE7 Miles to Emmaus Outreach Challenge is to create a Note of Hope for a Year 12 student.

This challenge is being offered to school students and staff and the broader CEDoW community.

This Note of Hope is designed to remind our senior students that we are a broad and diverse community, even if at times our connections have been shaped by distance, changing circumstances, and new ways of learning. It is also intended to motivate and encourage them as they begin their HSC and prepare to graduate in Term 4.

“To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.”
Pope Francis, 2017

Our beloved Pope Francis’ message in 2017 is still relevant today for our current Year 12 students. If he were with us today, the same message would include a slight addition –

“The future does have a name, and its name is hope”… and its name is the class of 2025. Instructions regarding involvement in the outreach to the class of 2025 are provided in the links below:

• Primary – The Class of 2025: Notes of Hope
• Secondary – The Class of 2025: Notes of Hope

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Questions: Contact David Gearin, Education Officer, Mission Formation and Integration at gearind01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Conference for Parents and Carers of Children in Catholic Schools – Jubilee Year of Hope

Schools are asked to share this information via your communication channels with your parents and carers, as well as with your P&F groups.

On 25 October 2025, the Council for Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is hosting a special anniversary celebration conference for all NSW/ACT parents and carers with children in Catholic schools! The day will offer expert advice, practical strategies, and opportunities for connection and collaboration.

Dr Justin Coulson: Co-host, parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance, founder of happyfamilies.com.au

Michelle Mitchell: Sought-after author and speaker on parenting tweens and teens

Daniel Principe: A passionate youth advocate and educator, and nominee for Australian of the Year.

Topics include: managing technology, consent and respectful relationships, cybersafety, resilience, sleep, anxiety, brain development, and supporting learning at home and school.

Date: Saturday 25 October 2025
Time: 8.30 am – 3.30 pm (doors open at 8.00 am)
Location: Novotel, 350 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150

Available at Novotel Parramatta (day rate). For hotel parking and special conference rates, call 02 9890 0850 or email novotel@nmsp.com.au. Other options include Eat Street Parking. Rates valid until 9 October 2025, subject to availability.

Find out more information here.

CEDoW Library 

ACEN eBook

This week’s Sora eBook edition is From Page to Screen. Use the link here to explore eBook titles for primary, secondary, and staff through the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN). To sign in to Sora, select ACEN as your school.

ClickView Highlight

This week’s ClickView highlight has a Literature theme. You can view it here.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Jim Gallagher, Library Services Manager, at gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au.