St Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat is one of the first schools in Victoria to better support student engagement with the Digital Technologies curriculum by utilising a range of learning tools available for borrowing from the Computer Science Education Research Group (CSER), based at the University of Adelaide. The CSER National Lending Library program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, provides schools with access to the latest equipment for the classroom. In Term 1, St Columba’s worked with the ‘Kai’s Clan Kits’, a collaborative, all-in-one coding platform that encompasses several technologies including robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Melissa Wood, Digital Education Leader and STEM Teacher at St Columba’s,…

National Reconciliation Week 2024 – Now More Than Ever Catholic school communities across the diocese of Ballarat will next week join all Australians in marking National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) and recommitting to learning more about shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and how we can all contribute to achieving reconciliation with First Nations peoples in Australia. The Diocese of Ballarat stretches across land on which children have been educated for tens of thousands of years, and today, our 63 Catholic schools educate 520 (309 primary and 211 secondary) First Nations students. Catholic Education Ballarat Acting Executive Director Matthew Byrne says Catholic education in the diocese has an…

This week leadership team members from schools across the diocese are participating in Child Safe Standards Workshops delivered by expert consultant in the field, Sarah Morgante. The full-day workshop, delivered in each of the four diocesan school zones, is tailored for the education sector, covering all aspects of professional standards and legislative requirements to ensure the safety of students in schools. DOBCEL Manager Child Safety, Jacinta Cook, said the commitment of the DOBCEL diocesan system and its schools to best practice in child safety, is unwavering. ‘It is vital all our staff continually grow their knowledge and practice in child safety, and ongoing professional development is key to this. ‘Sarah…

Internationally recognised mathematics teaching practitioner Michael Ymer has this week led professional learning for teachers from across the Diocese. Michael explored the challenges of mathematics classrooms, managing a range of abilities, and modelled practical ways to support teachers and students to enjoy the teaching of mathematics through engaging learning experiences. Special thanks to St James’, Sebastopol, and St Patrick’s Koroit for hosting these events. Our teachers said: Another BRILLIANT day of Professional Development presented by Michael. There are always things to take away immediately and use in the classroom as well as ideas around teaching practices and considerations for students with diverse learning needs. Very engaging, informative, and practical professional…

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…