DOBCEL’s 2025 Network Collaboration Days are off to a powerful start, with two energising sessions already held in the Central and Southern Zones — marking a significant milestone in our journey toward DOBCEL 2035. Last Thursday, nearly 500 staff gathered at the Mercure Ballarat for the first session in the Central Zone. Just days later, staff from across the Southern Zone came together at St Joseph’s Primary School in Warrnambool. Both events centred around the themes of connection, collaboration, and reimagining the future of education through the bold vision of the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy. Participants were inspired by the insights of educational leaders and thought partners — Professor Pasi Sahlberg…

Three local schools have been named as finalists in the prestigious 2025 ResourceSmart Schools Awards, recognising their outstanding contributions to sustainability. Siena Catholic Primary School (Lucas), St James’ Parish School (Sebastopol), and St Patrick’s Primary School (Port Fairy) are among the inspiring finalists announced across eight award categories. DOBCEL School Names and the Award Categories below: Siena Catholic Primary School (Lucas) – Emerging school of the year Siena Catholic Primary School has made significant strides in sustainability through its EarthCare program, introduced in 2024. St James’ Parish School (Sebastopol) – Primary school finalist At St James’ Parish School, sustainability is woven into the curriculum. This 3 Star school draws on storyboard…

This week we join together in heartfelt remembrance and deep gratitude for the life and legacy of Pope Francis. His unwavering commitment to compassion, justice, and the transformative power of education has inspired countless lives across the globe. With humility and love, he called upon each of us – students, educators, and leaders alike, to walk gently with one another and with God. Pope Francis reminded us that education is not only about knowledge, but about forming hearts capable of understanding, peace, and empathy. His messages to young people were always filled with hope and encouragement, urging them to be builders of bridges, not walls. His life was a living testimony…

The DOBCEL Board gathered this week at St Mary’s School in Robinvale for an important meeting focused on key areas such as risk management, the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy, policy development, child safety, and Catholic culture. These discussions are essential in guiding the future direction of Catholic education across our Diocese. As part of their visit, Board members also had the opportunity to connect with school communities across the region, visiting schools in Merbein, Mildura, Red Cliffs, Donald, Charlton, Hopetoun, Swan Hill, and St Arnaud. These visits provided valuable insights into the great work happening in our schools and reinforce the Board’s commitment to supporting schools in delivering high-quality Catholic education.…

Last week, the Pedagogical Coaching Program took place in the Catholic Education Ballarat Conference Room and at Red Lion, Sovereign Park Ballarat. Aligned with “Teach Like a Champion,” this program focused on empowering Middle Leaders, Deputy Principals, Assistant Principals, and Principals to enhance their coaching skills so they can review, reflect, and plan for sustained improvement in teacher capability and student learning. Coaching skills were developed through the essential elements of coaching (affiliative, instructional, and didactic), feedback, emotional intelligence, and professional conversations. Huge thanks to DOBCEL Strategy Implementation Manager, Julia Petrov, for orchestrating this impactful experience.

101 years after it first opened, St Patrick’s Primary School has been enhanced with a $2.1M upgrade from the Albanese Government’s Capital Grants Program. Last Friday, Catherine King officially unveiled the new facilities, including a redesigned reception, improved classrooms, and The Madden Hall, named in honour of beloved teacher Clare Madden, whose kindness and passion for music left a lasting legacy. Bishop Paul Bird blessed the school, while DOBCEL Executive Director Tom Sexton thanked the community for their support. Special recognition was given to Deputy Director of Stewardship, Megan Ioannou, Principal Ben Shields, former Principal Mark Hogbin, and Business Manager Michelle Cushing for their tireless work in bringing this project to life.…

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…