News and Media
Schools benefit from IT infrastructure
Benefiting from a decentralised, efficient IT infrastructure with he implementation of Paessler’s PRTG Network Monitor
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat $1000 Choral Scholarships – 2025 Applications Now Open!
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat is inviting applications from Years 3 – 6 students with musical interest and aptitude, for a Cathedral Choral Scholarship for 2025. The Choral Scholarships are modelled on similar approaches operating in…
Diocese of Ballarat Catholic schools well-advanced on structured approach to teaching literacy
Executive Director of Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education (DOBCEL), Tom Sexton, says Catholic primary schools in the Diocese have been moving towards an explicit instruction, phonics-based approach to teaching reading, as part of a structured…
Improving literacy in the secondary years (ILSY) an ongoing focus for Diocese of Ballarat Catholic schools
A focus on improving the literacy and learning outcomes of secondary school students across the diocese of Ballarat continued today with professional development led by project partner the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education. Initiated…
St Patrick’s, Port Fairy named Sustainability Victoria’s Community Leadership School of the Year
Huge congratulations to St Patrick’s, Port Fairy on receiving Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart Schools award for “Community Leadership School of the Year,” alongside Tecoma Primary School. St Patrick’s Principal, Olga Lyons said the award was wonderful…
Grandparents share stories of life and learning at St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat
More than 60 grandparents visited St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat today to share their stories as part of a school-wide focus on ‘story’ and recognition of the school’s centenary on its Drummond St site. ‘Today…
St Columba’s leads the way with STEM resourcing initiative
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…
Reconciliation an ongoing commitment for Catholic education
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…
Embedding Child Safe Standards Workshops
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…
Maths teachers upskill with Michael Ymer
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…
State Budget: Catholic school families miss out on blatantly unfair support package
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…
Message Sticks begin their journeys
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…
Outstanding contributors to Catholic education recognised
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…
St Alipius students and teachers benefit from new learning spaces and facilities
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…
Catholic schools prepare to celebrate
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,…
New facilities blessed and opened at St Mary’s, Robinvale
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…
DOBCEL launches advertising campaign
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…
Teaching excellence runs in the Dwyer family
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…
Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC), Wendouree teacher and author launches creative writing guide for children
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…
Catholic school teachers gather for conference as Auslan grows in prominence
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…
Calling all student teachers
Any student teachers enjoying the term break and thinking about where to begin their teaching career next year might want to take a look at the opportunities on offer in the Diocese of Ballarat. From…
DOBCEL achieves ST4S security and privacy certification for school data system
DOBCEL has now been awarded Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) certification recognising the high-level of safety and security standard of its SIMON platform. ‘The security of data across all 58 of our DOBCEL schools and…
More families choosing a Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat
February school census data has revealed more families in the Diocese of Ballarat are choosing a Catholic education with 2024 enrolments across 63 primary and secondary schools increasing by 273 students or 1.5%, representing more…
Early Career Teacher Induction
Around 30 beginning teachers from around the Diocese gathered today for the first of our early career teacher program days – a three-year integrated program designed to support early career teacher induction into the diocese…
2024 Spirit of Catholic Education Award Nominees Announced
The Spirit of Catholic Education Award is aimed at continuing to recognise the outstanding service and leadership within Catholic education throughout our Diocesan school communities, and Catholic Education Office. It is with great pleasure that…
DOBCEL schools committed to supporting students with diverse learning requirements
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat are committed to delivering best practice approaches to supporting students with diverse requirements to fully flourish across their learning and wellbeing. Key among these commitments is having a…
NAPLAN – GUIDE FOR PARENTS
NAPLAN tests start next week on 13 March and run until 25 March. An information guide for parents, families and carers of students participating in NAPLAN is now available and includes frequently asked questions. The…
Teacher and author brings love of writing to students every day
It’s not often that children have the opportunity to develop their reading and writing skills with guidance from a published children’s author. But at Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) Primary School in Wendouree, this…
Spirit of Catholic Education Awards
One of the highlights of Catholic Education Week (29 April – 3 May) in the diocese is the presentation of the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards. These awards aim to recognise outstanding service and leadership…
Catholic education confirms purchase of land in Mildura
Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Ltd (DOBCEL) has confirmed the purchase of a 7.3 ha parcel of land at 720 Deakin Avenue, Mildura, adjacent to the Mildura South Sporting Complex. Executive Director, Tom Sexton, says…
Globally recognised education innovators guide plan for Ballarat Diocese Catholic schools
Globally recognised Finnish educator Professor Pasi Sahlberg and Director of Future Schools Australia Dave Runge will work with Catholic Education Ballarat to advise and guide development of a strategic plan to shape directions for the…
Ballarat Diocese Catholic schools proactively supporting students and families with new wellbeing initiative
All 58 Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) primary and secondary schools now have access to a leading online mental health and wellbeing platform designed to proactively support families and students and strengthen parent-school partnerships. SchoolTV is…
Exciting year ahead as 18,000 students and 2,200 staff return to Ballarat Diocese Catholic schools
More than 18,000 students and 2,200 teachers and staff this week return to 52 Catholic primary schools and 11 secondary colleges across the Diocese of Ballarat, from Mildura in the north, Portland in the south,…
Catholic School Fee Relief Available as Cost of Living Pressures Rise
Cost-of-living pressures are front of mind for Catholic school principals as children return to school next week, with Catholic Education Ballarat moving to re-assure families experiencing genuine hardship that fee relief is available. ‘Catholic schools…