The Allan Labor Government has excluded the vast majority of Catholic school families from the $400 School Savings Bonus announced in today’s State Budget in a move described by Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education as blatantly unfair. Executive Director Tom Sexton says it is deeply disappointing that 87% of families across its 63 Catholic schools with 18,500 (1 in 5) students will miss out on the much-needed support, while 100% of government school families will benefit from the program. ‘Our Catholic school families are feeling cost-of-living pressures too, yet only those who are healthcare card holders (around 13%) are eligible for the program. ‘Like government schools, the vast majority of…

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of Ballarat, and in recognition of, and sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sisters and brothers, four Message Sticks will simultaneously journey to each Catholic school across the four education zones of the Diocese. A Mother Stick will remain in the central Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) Office to which the four travelling Message Sticks are indelibly linked. The Message Sticks were crafted by Trevor Clark and Vicki Clark OAM, a DOBCEL Board Director and founder of The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry of Victoria (ACMV). They were blessed by Fr Marcello Colasante and presented to representatives of the four diocesan education zones during…

Outstanding contributors to Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat were recognised with Spirit of Catholic Education Awards and 30 Year Service Awards at a Catholic Education Week Mass and dinner in Ballarat on Friday (3 May). Three outstanding educators received the Spirit of Catholic Education Award, chosen from 17 wonderful nominees from across the diocese. They are: Tony Haintz – Damascus College, Ballarat for Building Inclusive Catholic Learning Communities. Cynthia Maiden – St Joseph’s Primary School, Hopetoun for Enhancing Family Engagement, Governance and Stewardship. Cathy Prunty – Damascus College, Ballarat for Empowering all to Flourish. Executive Director, Tom Sexton, said the Diocese is blessed to have teachers and leaders of the calibre of Tony,…

Students and teachers at St Alipius Catholic Primary School, Ballarat East are benefitting from recently completed building works and refurbishments that were officially opened and blessed today (Friday 3 May). The building project at the school has included: extension to the multi-purpose hall, compromising a new acoustically designed specialist general learning area utilised for the music and Japanese language programs. alterations and additions to the multi-purpose hall including installation of large glass doors and glazing enabling more natural light into the hall and enhancing connection between the hall and the school yard from indoors to outdoors. covered areas to facilitate greater connection between buildings and to enhance outdoor learning opportunities.…

Catholic Education Week (29 April – 3 May) is an annual opportunity for Catholic schools across the Diocese of Ballarat to celebrate their distinctive ethos and mission with their school and wider communities. In 2024, 52 primary schools and 11 secondary Colleges, educate more than 18,500 students and employ over 2,500 teachers and staff, from Mildura in the north, Portland in the south, and west to Edenhope and Nhill. ‘Catholic schools offer a high-quality, faith-based, holistic education choice for families across Western Victoria, and currently educate around 25% of all students,’ Executive Director, Tom Sexton said. ‘There is a wonderful array of school and community activities planned across the diocese,…

Congratulations to the St Mary’s, Robinvale school community on the official blessing and opening of its wonderful new facilities today. The significant project includes refurbishment of four classrooms, a new classroom, outdoor learning areas, and student toilets, as well as a new Administration building incorporating reception, sick-bay, staff offices and preparation areas, staffroom, and staff amenities. Special guests at the opening included Dr Anne Webster MP (Federal Member for Mallee and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health), Mrs Gaelle Broad MP (Member for Northern Victoria), Ms Jade Benham MP (Member for Mildura), Cr Chris Jeffery (Swan Hill Rural City Council), Fr Shaiju Mathew (Parish Priest, Robinvale), and Mrs Megan Ioannou…

From 22 April – 19 May, Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat is running a diocesan-wide TV and radio advertising campaign to let more families know about the wonderful opportunities a Catholic education can offer for their children. The campaign invites prospective families, including those who may not have previously felt they could/would consider a Catholic education, to take a closer look at our Catholic schools, and ‘discover affordable, contemporary Catholic education’. Watch out for the ‘ad’ across regional Ch 7, 10, WIN TV, and FM radio. Big thanks to the talented students, teachers, and parents who participated in the production! Check it out below!

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…

Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) School, Wendouree teacher and author, Jodi Toering, is passionate about inspiring children to write creatively and has collaborated with fellow author, Sue Lawson, to publish a practical guide for teachers and students. ‘Titled ‘Inside Story’, the guide aims to introduce young writers to the different approaches to storytelling and help them gain the confidence to put pen to paper. ‘The idea came from a combination of hearing of the challenges experienced by teachers and wanting to support them, as well as nurture young writers,’ Jodi and Sue said. ‘We wanted to create an accessible, fun, but most of all, practical guide.’ Jodi says in…

With Auslan becoming an increasingly popular choice of second language for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat, more than 200 teachers and Deaf community members will come together today (Monday 15th April) for professional learning focusing on promoting inclusion through the Auslan Teachers as Co-Learners (TCL) program. Auslan TCL provides an innovative pedagogical approach to language learning in Victorian Catholic schools which is underpinned by research in best-practice languages programs and inclusive education programs. Catholic Education Ballarat Leader of Teaching and Learning, Joe Ewing says 17 Catholic primary schools across the Diocese of Ballarat now offer Auslan as their language program. ‘Learning both English and Auslan – one auditory…