With best wishes,
Tom Sexton
Executive Director

We encourage schools to celebrate Catholic Education Week within their own school communities by utilising the range of resources available to support engagement and reflection throughout the week.

These include liturgical resources to support prayer and celebration in schools, a video that can be shared with your community and customisable social media graphics for Facebook and Instagram.

The social media template is easy to personalise – simply open it in Canva, upload your chosen photo, and drag it into the image frame where it will automatically align with the design. Once you’re happy with the result, select ‘Share’ and then ‘Download’ in the top right-hand corner.

We’ve also included an example to show how the finished graphic might look. If you prefer not to customise the design, a ready-to-use version without an image is also available for download. If you need any support, please contact comms@dobcel.catholic.edu.au.

Access the resources here.

Catholic Education Week 2026 is being celebrated across the Diocese of Ballarat from the Murray to the sea, with schools and communities marking the week through prayer, learning and special events. One highlight was a Mass at Sovereign Hill on 26 May – the first event of its kind held there since before COVID. The gathering brought Catholic school communities together in the recreated St Alipius Tent Church for a moving celebration of faith, history and community. Damascus College RE Leader and Director of Faith Stephen East was instrumental in reviving the tradition, while Fr Justin Driscoll’s homily drew on this year’s theme, “Peace be with you all” (Romans 15:33), encouraging students to reflect on the enduring legacy of Catholic education across the region.

A special Catholic Education Week episode of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Podcast – Towards 2035 launches today, celebrating the people, stories and communities that make Catholic education such an important part of life across the Diocese of Ballarat.

Hosted by DOBCEL Marketing and Communications Manager Ruth Appleyard, the episode, titled Catholic Education Week: What Catholic Education Means to Us, features Deputy Director: Catholic Education Matt Byrne and Deputy Director: Stewardship Megan Ioannou in conversation about the significance of Catholic Education Week and the impact Catholic schools have across our communities.

The discussion reflects on the many ways Catholic schools support young people to flourish through learning, belonging, faith, service and opportunity, while also recognising the dedication of staff, families and communities across the Diocese. 

Recorded as part of Catholic Education Week 2026, the episode highlights the vital role Catholic education continues to play from the Murray to the Sea. Tune in and celebrate the impact of Catholic education across DOBCEL schools and communities.

Celebrating 70 Years of St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol

St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol is celebrating 70 years of Catholic education, marking a significant milestone in its proud history.

Established in 1956 to serve a growing local community, the school was initially staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, whose values of care, compassion and understanding continue to shape its identity today. 

Over the past seven decades, St James’ has grown into a vibrant and welcoming learning community, grounded in Gospel values of relationships, service and excellence.

As the school celebrates this milestone, it honours the contributions of generations of students, staff and families, and looks ahead with hope to continuing its strong tradition of faith and learning.

Source: Our School - St James' Parish School Sebastopol

[Pictures sourced from Instagram posts of St James Parish School Sebastopol]

Celebrating Laudato Si' Week at DOBCEL Schools

Last week, schools across our diocese celebrated Laudato Si’ Week, focusing on the theme "From Hope to Action". This global celebration marked the anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on ‘care for our common home’, encouraging Catholics to engage in prayer, reflection, and action to address the climate crisis.

Here are a few stories from across the diocese:

In continuing our work from the Student Agency Forums, today we hosted separate Student Agency Check-ins for our Primary and Secondary schools. Facilitated by Dr Jean Stiles, this session marked an important opportunity for students to reflect on their learning journeys, refine their thinking, and plan meaningful next steps in their Action Research Projects.

Primary students and their Student Agency Facilitators (SAFs) joined in school-based groups. Jean guided students through activities where they became ‘Change Detectives’. Students worked to refine their Action Research questions and began mapping out clear, actionable next steps.

Secondary students and SAFs joined the forum individually using their own devices. Jean modelled a real-life example of action research, demonstrating how to sharpen and refine a research question. Collaborative discussions within breakout rooms further enabled students to share ideas, challenge thinking, and strengthen their planning.

Jean was thrilled with the participation in both sessions and was really impressed with the quality of the questions and the insight our young people showed in their responses to activities. Across both Primary and Secondary sessions, there was a strong sense of engagement and purpose.

We look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to grow as students take their next steps in leading meaningful change in their schools.

Access resources for the Check-in through Canvas.

Bringing Mighty Heroes to life at St James 

The case study highlights how educators at St James have embedded Mighty Heroes into everyday teaching and learning, creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful conversations about digital citizenship and online behaviour from an early age. 

Through play-based approaches and intentional classroom experiences, students are encouraged to explore ideas, ask questions and develop practical strategies they can apply beyond the classroom. 

Importantly, the work at St James demonstrates that online safety education does not need to be separate from broader learning. Instead, it can become part of a school culture that supports student wellbeing, critical thinking and positive relationships. 

By participating in the case study, St James is helping demonstrate what effective online safety education can look like in practice and contributing to broader conversations across education about preparing children for life in a connected world. 

Watch the video below to see Mighty Heroes in action at St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol. 

Staff from St Brigid’s Primary School, Ballan, St Aloysius’ Primary School, Redan, and St Alipius Parish School recently came together for the first time as part of a Collaborative Innovation Research Prototype (CIRP), marking the beginning of an exciting shared journey in leadership development. 

CIRPs are a key initiative of DOBCEL Strategy 2035, designed to foster deeper collaboration, networked local innovation, and collective autonomy and agency across our school communities. Grounded in evidence, research and action inquiry, CIRPs bring schools together to investigate real educational challenges, prototype new approaches, and share learnings across the system to strengthen outcomes for all students and staff. 

This CIRP, Nurturing Leadership from Within, is exploring the question: How can our schools build more inclusive and strategic succession plans to enable a broader range of staff to lead? 

The afternoon brought staff together in a spirit of faith, learning and possibility. Beginning with prayer and reflection, participants considered the idea that leadership is not reserved for a few, but something that can be nurtured, developed and shared across a community. Inspired by the words of Pope Francis, who described the Church as “the orchestra of God”, staff reflected on the unique gifts each person brings and the important role we all play in creating something greater together. 

The prototype seeks to remove traditional barriers to leadership by creating low-risk, supported opportunities for staff to explore leadership through mentorship, distributed leadership experiences and practical leadership apprenticeships. Staff completed a pre-survey reflection and selected workshops aligned to their interests and aspirations, focusing on areas such as leading self, leading others, learning diversity, and the organisational demands of leadership. The group also began exploring the DOBCEL Leadership Competency Framework. 

What made the gathering especially meaningful was the sense of collective energy and connection between three school communities united by a common purpose. By working together to identify, nurture and support emerging leaders, the project aims to strengthen leadership capacity across Catholic education and ensure future leadership pathways are more inclusive and accessible. 

Coinciding with this important milestone, the latest episode of the DS2035 Podcast – Towards 2035, released today, shines a spotlight on the Nurturing Leadership from Within CIRP. The episode features a conversation with leaders involved in the project, exploring the thinking behind the prototype, the opportunities it seeks to create for staff, and the role collaboration plays in building leadership capacity across our system. The podcast episode offers a valuable insight into how innovation and shared learning are helping shape the future of Catholic education across the Diocese. 

While this first gathering marked the beginning of the journey, it also demonstrated the power of collaboration and innovation in action. 

CEB Professional Learning Online Term 2 2026 

Catholic Education Ballarat is once again offering one hour online professional learning sessions for those who work in our schools. They are intended to give short, but in depth, dips into various topics of interest across theology and scripture.

Thursday 11th June 7:00 - 8:00pm AEST Register Here
Pope Leo XIV and Just War Theory in the Catholic Tradition Webinar

How should Catholics think about war, peace, and moral responsibility in an age of global conflict and human suffering?

This webinar will explore Pope Leo’s contribution to Catholic social thought and the development of Just War theory within the Catholic tradition. Drawing on Scripture, theology, and contemporary realities, it will reflect on the Church’s evolving understanding of violence, justice, conscience, and the pursuit of peace.

Speaking from his area of expertise will be Professor Darius von Güttner Sporzyński, with a response from Robert Fitzgerald AM.

Andrea Dean will moderate the event.

For more info, visit this link

Early Career Teacher Optional VIT Check-In

Following feedback from our ECT sessions earlier this term we have committed to offering two VIT support sessions ONLINE.

These informal online check-ins are designed to provide an opportunity to discuss your VIT journey, ask questions, and receive feedback, guidance or advice on your progress, regardless of where you are in the process.

We would like to emphasise that there is no expectation or urgency to complete your VIT inquiry within your first year of teaching. However, some schools encourage graduate teachers to begin the process early to take advantage of the support structures available within their school. These sessions may support you in preparation for beginning this process when the time is right.

We are currently offering two online check-in sessions and may schedule additional sessions if there is further interest.

NOTE: This does not negate the support you will already be receiving from your mentor in your school setting.

ECT VIT Online Check-in #1
🗓️ Term 2, Week 10 – Thursday 25 June
🔗 No registration required – simply join via this Teams link.

ECT VIT Online Check-in #2
🗓️ Term 3, Week 1 – Thursday 16 July
🔗 No registration required – simply join via this Teams link.

Please note: These sessions are intended to complement, not replace, the support you receive from your mentor and colleagues within your school setting.

Should neither of these dates suit please reach out and we will make other arrangements.  
Email: jcooper@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

We look forward to supporting you throughout your VIT journey.

Invitation to VCEA/VCAA Webinar: Understanding the Victorian Curriculum F-10 EAL Version 2.0

Professional Learning Opportunity-Term 3

The Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) invites Catholic schools to participate in an online professional learning webinar focussed on the Victorian Curriculum F-10 EAL Version 2.0, scheduled for implementation in Catholic schools in 2027.

For more information, see flyer below

Writing samples collected through this process may be annotated and used to develop resources to further support moderation processes within our schools. These resources will aim to assist teachers to build a strong understanding of writing achievement and strengthen consistency when making judgements about student learning.

Any writing samples shared beyond the contributing school will be fully de-identified prior to use. No student names or identifying school information will be included in any diocesan resources, professional learning, or moderation materials.

Thank you for your continued support. We really do appreciate contributions that benefit many schools across our Diocese.

Please reach out to Belinda Chiswell or your Education Officer: Learning & Teaching if any further information or support is required - ✉️ bchiswell@dobcel.catholic.edu.au | 📱0484 641 997.