Mother and daughter teachers, Sharon, and Eliza Dwyer, are among the 17 nominees for this year’s Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, recognising outstanding contribution to Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat.

Sharon, who teaches Prep at Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC), Warrnambool and daughter Eliza, who is Religious Education Leader at St Patrick’s, Port Fairy, are nominated for the awards in the categories of ‘Empowering all to flourish’ and ‘Building Inclusive Catholic Learning Communities’, respectively.

Described by Principal Steve Madden as a ‘true legend of teaching’, Sharon commenced teaching at OLHC in 1980, fresh out of Aquinas Teachers College.

Reflecting on her approach to teaching, Sharon says while educating is obviously very important, kids also need to be comfortable with their teacher to learn effectively – they need to feel supported and have good self-confidence.

‘I try to instil in the children that they are all special and bring their own strengths and talents,’ she says.

‘In recent years it has been wonderful to have children in my class whose parents I also taught at OLHC.

‘Over the years I have taken on various leadership roles including in Wellbeing and Religious Education, but these days I’m happy to leave those to the younger ones coming through.

‘It’s very special to be recognised alongside Eliza in this way. I am proud of the teacher and woman she has become.’

Eliza Dwyer, who is in her 7th year of teaching, and 4th at St Patrick’s in the role of Year 2 teacher and Religious Education Leader, says she loves her job because ‘I get to work across the school, parish and wider communities, and every day is different.’

‘Working as I do with students and families from all different backgrounds, it’s vital they all feel welcomed and included in everything we do,’ she said.

‘I attended OLHC as a student and worked there as a young teacher with Mum for three years.

‘It was wonderful to see Mum in her element, and inspiring to see how she cared for each child, treating them like her own. That is something I have tried to instil in my own approach to teaching,’ Eliza said.

Executive Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Ballarat, Tom Sexton, said the Diocese is blessed to have teachers of the calibre of Sharon and Eliza working in its schools.

‘We want every student to have the opportunity to flourish fully in their learning in schools that are safe, caring, commited to excellence, and live out the Catholic faith, in partnership with families.

‘Sharon and Eliza exemplify the approach to teaching and genuine care for their students that allows our schools to live out these values.

‘I thank them for their wonderful work and congratulate them on their nominations for the awards this year,’ Mr Sexton said.

Click here to see the list of the 17 outstanding contributors to Catholic education nominated by their school or office communities for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award this year.

Award recipients will be announced during the Catholic Education Week Dinner in Ballarat on Friday 3 May.

There are 52 Catholic primary schools and 11 secondary colleges across the Diocese of Ballarat, from Mildura in the north, Portland in the south, and west to Edenhope and Nhill, educating more than 18,500 students and employing over 2,500 teachers and support staff.