DOBCEL Strategy 2035
Pursuing fullness of life for all
From the Murray to the Sea, DOBCEL aims to realise a vision of the ‘fullness of life for all’ for more than 18,600 students across a community of 63 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
While data shows our Diocesan system of schools is performing quite well, standing still as an education system is not an option in our ever-changing world. In addition, research shows there continues to be inherent and unacceptable educational disadvantage for students outside metropolitan areas.
The DOBCEL Board and community have now co-designed a new strategy - Pursuing fullness of life for all - presenting a bold and brave, but not reckless approach to driving high performance across our system of schools over the next decade and beyond.
View this short video introducing DOBCEL Strategy 2035
From good to great
‘We are blessed to have a good system of Catholic schools led by highly skilled and dedicated Principals, teachers and staff, working in partnership with families, parishes and communities.
‘But as the world changes, we are challenged to think differently about how to best meet the needs of our students and families.
‘Building on strong foundations and a rich heritage, this DOBCEL Strategy 2035 sets the sails towards a new tomorrow for our system - to move from good to great.’
Terry Harney (Chair, DOBCEL Board)
Our Catholic Identity underpins all we do
- A high performing system of Catholic schools emphasises compassion, service, and respect for human dignity, embedded in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- In formulating the DOBCEL Strategy 2035, we have examined school systems around the world which have improved academic standards, while also fostering student faith and holistic development, excellent well-being, and a strong sense of belonging.
- This is the type of schooling system we aim to be.
Underpinned by our Catholic Identity, DOBCEL 2035 defines a high performing system of Catholic schools as one where:
- Everyone is engaged in learning and teaching and has a positive sense of belonging in their school and community.
- Everyone feels safe, valued, respected, and their wellbeing and health enhanced as foundations of productive learning and teaching.
- Educational research informs contemporary practice.
- The quality of student learning outcomes across the curriculum exceeds expectations.
- Student outcomes across different equity groups have similar distributions and averages and where all students have equal access to excellent learning and wellbeing opportunities.
- All human resources, financial resources, time and natural resources invested in education benefit students, schools, community and society in optimal ways.
To become this high-performing system of Catholic schools DOBCEL 2035 will build on the foundation of our Catholic identity and focus on five key pillars:
- Collaborative Cultures
- Engagement and Belonging
- School as Community
- Rich Pedagogical Practices for Deep Learning and Well-being
- Sustainable Stewardship
Guided by our vision, we will move towards our goal through three practical principles:
- Deeper collaboration: Systematic efforts to enable deeper cooperation in and between schools combined with building social capital across the DOBCEL system.
- Networked ground-up innovation: Purposeful investments initiating local innovation and renewal of learning and teaching through co-designed school improvement.
- Collective autonomy and agency: Schools understand that they are trusted to make the best decisions for those in their care and understand their mutual obligation to the Governing Authority and the responsibilities that they carry. Schools are more connected to one another, and that student voice, agency and active engagement in school is prioritised.
Unleashing the greatness in all of us
‘To realise our aspiration, it is imperative that the greatness existing in every person aligned with DOBCEL is unleashed.
‘It is by investing spiritually, emotionally, personally and financially in the social and human capital across our system that greatness will be enabled.
‘This strategy compels us to build a DOBCEL culture that is faithful to our Catholic identity and promotes both collaboration and innovation, actively seeking out and learning from existing examples of excellence within our diocese, nationally, and globally.’
Tom Sexton, Executive Director
Our Strategy on a Page
Initial steps on the journey - 2025
2025 is primarily a year for staff and school communities to ‘make sense’ of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035 and what it means for them moving forward.
Potential activities for schools include:
- Participate in ‘sense making’ conversations both internally and through system level opportunities
- Consider existing alignments with DOBCEL 2035 Strategic pillars
- Collect more baseline data on current performance
- Begin collaborating with another school(s)
- Identify and reflect on research literature for future directions
- Disseminate learnings across the system and beyond
- Participate in the range of professional learning activities planned at system level to begin activating the new plan from early 2025.
Supporting articles and publications
Articles and Publications
Teacher Power Can Be the Force for Education. What Would That Look Like?
Michael Fullan and Joanna Rizzotto, Teacher Power Can Be the Force for Education. What Would That Look Like?
Reinventing Australian Schools
Pasi's publications, Reinventing Australian Schools
Why We Can't Escape the Status Quo in Education
Michael Fullan’s article, Why We Can’t Escape the Status Quo in Education: 200 years of doing the same thing just won’t cut it
Respect our Teachers
Pasi’s recent blog post, Respect our Teachers
Choosing the wrong drivers for whole system reform
The right drivers for whole system success
A global reset of education
Sir Ken Robinson’s final reflections: A global reset of education
"Big Tent" Strategy for System-Wide Transformation
“Big Tent” Strategy for System-Wide Transformation
Reform Challenges in School Education
Reform Challenges in School Education (full paper)
An Excerpt from Spark & Sustain
For the love of learning
Andy Hargreaves on transforming education in Alberta
Prof David Hopkins, Unleashing Greatness – A Strategy for School Improvement.
Podcast Resources
Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle: Authors of "Let the Children Play"
The Future of Schools, how we can think about systemic change, adaptive cultures and more
Podcast featuring Dave Runge.
Education leadership equity
Podcast by Professor Michael Fullan and consider the question: What do you/we continue to do because that’s the way it’s always been done?
If Yong Zhao was Minister for Education
A podcast featuring Prof Yong Zhao and school system reform.
Pasi Sahlberg on reinventing schooling
