The Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) Speech Pathology team is trialling a different approach to support students’ communication skills through the AllReady Project. The project focuses on speech pathologists and classroom teachers working together collaboratively to respond to whole-cohort speech and language screening data. This project, lead by Miranda Pearse and Rebecca Free, will continue throughout 2025. This year, St Augustine’s, Creswick and Our Lady Help of Christians, Warrnambool are the schools participating in the AllReady Project. Initial screening of 81 Foundation students has been completed, with results aligning with national and international trends of increased communication difficulties in cohorts significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Zuniga Montanez et al., 2025). Research shows…

As part of DOBCEL’s commitment to supporting the professional growth of early career teachers, a session titled ‘Who We Are and How We Are’ was held this week for first-year Early Career Teachers (ECTs). Facilitators from the Catholic Identity and Mission, Learning and Teaching, and Wellbeing Teams led informative sessions on student engagement, understanding learners, inclusive practices, teacher wellbeing and also a session titled “What Makes Our Schools Catholic?,” which sparked meaningful discussions among participants. Matthew Byrne, DOBCEL Deputy Director of Catholic Education, welcomed the new teachers and provided an insightful overview of the Diocese’s operations. Matt Woodley, from the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), introduced participants to the VIT…

Innovative research using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey has revealed significant lifelong benefits for individuals who attended Catholic schools. The study, conducted by the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES) at Victoria University, found that Catholic school graduates are more likely to experience advantages in employment, income, health, and overall life satisfaction. Key Findings The research highlights both personal and community benefits of Catholic education. On average, individuals who attended Catholic schools are more likely to be employed and earn higher wages than those who attended government schools, with wage differences ranging from 4 to 11 per cent. Additionally, Catholic school…

International Women’s Day will be recognised on Saturday 8 March, 2025. We all have the power to inspire inclusion by educating early, seeking out content which supports and celebrates women, and advocating for change where change is needed. Collectively, we can all Accelerate Action. School Resources for International Women’s Day The International Women’s Day site has informative videos, educator resources, and activities to engage all ages A Prayer for International Women’s Day Twenty Women Saints Who Made a Mark on the Catholic World Lean In Girls is hosting a special IWD virtual event FOR GIRLS [11-15] on March 12 10:00am-11:00am. More information here Some other suggested resources to read, listen…

New Principals in the Diocese of Ballarat in 2025 were welcomed and Commissioned by Monsignor Glynn Murphy and DOBCEL Executive Director, Tom Sexton at a Diocesan Leadership Gathering (DLG) Mass at Sts Michael’s and St John’s Church in Horsham last Thursday 20 February. Welcome and best wishes to Lisa McDonald (Interim – St Joseph’s, Penshurst), Danny Franc (Interim – St Joseph’s, Coleraine), Chris Prockter (Acting – St Mary’s, Sea Lake), Jaci Commons (Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree), Catherine Howison (Marian College, Ararat), Melissa Sutherland (St Paul’s, Mildura), Julie Leonard (St Mary’s, Warracknabeal), Greg Kluske (St Joseph’s, Mildura).

Yesterday, 90 Principals and school leaders from Catholic schools across DOBCEL collaborated with the esteemed Professor David Hopkins, who delivered an inspiring keynote presentation titled “Unleashing Greatness: A Strategy for School Improvement” as part of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035. Participants engaged in an interactive workshop that sparked innovative ideas and collaboration. 👏 David Hopkins is the Chair of Educational Leadership at the University of Bolton, as well as Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Education, University College London and the University of Nottingham.

More than 400 teachers from DOBCEL Catholic primary schools across the diocese have participated in professional learning this week in Ballarat, Camperdown, and Horsham, as part of the FLARE Literacy Improvement Strategy. This Phase A professional learning is intended to guide teachers and schools to improve literacy outcomes through an explicit instruction, phonics-based approach to teaching reading, as part of Structured Literacy. The professional learning, led by the Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) FLARE Executive Team of Holly Southwell, Breeana Wade and Emma Rutherford has been described by participants as: “The best PD I’ve been to in years. So informative and so relevant! Gives me great hope for the future of…

Starting in Term 1, 2025, Foundation students across 47 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat will undergo speech screening as part of an initiative by the Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) Speech Pathology Team. Based on research showing the importance of early speech screening for students, the initiative aims to address speech issues early in a student’s education, as untreated problems can lead to long-term challenges in reading, writing, mental health and employability. The team recognises that- ‘Children with speech problems can have long‐term difficulties that persist into adolescence and beyond with some 30% to 60% experiencing continuing problems in reading and spelling. This can then lead to longer term…

The roll-out of the new DOBCEL Finance, Payroll and HR Systems (NEXUS Project) is continuing apace! The finance component of the new package has been launched this week with Business managers and key finance personnel from DOBCEL schools gathering for user acceptance testing (UAT) at Creswick. With useability for schools at the forefront of thinking, the new platforms represent the best technology, people, and ethical standards that align with DOBCEL’s current and future needs and vision. Project Microsoft Partner ‘Professional Advantage’ is on site to lead the training.  

This week we were delighted to welcome our talented and committed group of new Principals to the DOBCEL office as they prepare to take up their roles bringing the ‘fullness of life’ to students and school communities across the diocese. Image below. Pictured with Executive Director Tom Sexton (from left) are Jaci Commons (Our Lady Help of Christians School, Wendouree), Melissa Sutherland (St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura), Lisa McDonald (Interim Principal St Joseph’s Primary School, Penshurst), Julie Leonard (St Mary’s School Warracknabeal) and Danny Franc (Interim Principal St Joseph’s Primary School, Coleraine).