Last week marked another positive step forward in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations. It appears we are closing in on an agreement and hope to do so by 15 November. When finalised, this deal will deliver the largest pay rise for staff in Catholic schools in Victoria in living memory, recognising the dedication, professionalism and commitment of our teachers and support staff across the state. While there is still work to be done, I am encouraged by the progress that has been made and thank everyone involved in the process.
I would also like to thank school communities for their support of our ongoing advocacy efforts regarding future state funding arrangements. In particular, thank you to everyone who took the time to complete and submit petitions in support of Catholic education. Advocacy remains a critical priority, and in the coming weeks the Victorian Catholic Education Authority will release a scorecard outlining where the major political parties stand against our five key priorities for Catholic education. This will provide valuable information for school communities as we continue to advocate for fair and sustainable funding to keep Catholic education an accessible choice for families.
Today, I have been fortunate to be out visiting schools across the Diocese, spending time with staff and students and seeing first hand the outstanding work taking place in our communities. I visited St Brigid's Primary School, Ballan, St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East, and St James' Primary School, Sebastopol.
A particular highlight was joining Dr Jean Stiles and Julia Petrov at St Brigid's Primary School, Ballan, to discuss the school's student agency work and learn more about the progress being made in empowering students to be agents of change. It was also a privilege to join the school community at the local Remembrance Day ceremony, providing an opportunity to pause, reflect and honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served our nation.
These visits are always a reminder of the strength of our school communities and the commitment of staff to ensuring every student is known, valued and supported to flourish.
With best wishes,
Tom Sexton
Executive Director