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, and west to Edenhope and Nhill.

‘On behalf of Catholic education in the Diocese, I extend a warm welcome to all students, staff, and families, particularly those joining our school communities for the first time,’ Executive Director of Catholic Education, Tom Sexton said.

‘We look forward to an exciting and productive year ahead, where every student has opportunities to flourish fully in their learning in schools that are safe, caring, committed to excellence, and live out the Catholic faith, in partnership with families.

‘We also remind families experiencing genuine financial hardship that school fee relief and other support mechanisms are available,’ he said.

Four new Principals will take up positions in the Diocese this year. Welcome and best wishes to Clare Scanlon (St Mary’s Primary School, Clarkes Hill), Tegan McDonald (St Patrick’s Primary School, Koroit), Louise Chesterfield (Saints Michael & John’s, Horsham) and Bettina Bird (St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Stawell).

A new campus of St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre, operated by Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), opens in Ballarat to cater for young people aged 12-25 who are disengaged from mainstream education. This is a significant addition to the opportunities available to meet the specialised needs of young people in our region.

In an important initiative, Catholic education Ballarat has secured the services of internationally renowned Finnish educator Professor Pasi Sahlberg, to work with its system of schools.

Professor Sahlberg is a former Director-General of the high-performing Finland education system. He has advised schools and education system leaders around the world and been a visiting Professor of Practice at Harvard University.

Professor Sahlberg will work with Catholic Education Ballarat schools, leadership, and Board to drive the development of a new DOBCEL strategic plan. He will be assisted by another prominent education leader Dave Runge, CEO of Future Schools Australia.

‘In keeping with our Diocesan culture of continuous improvement, the opportunity to have someone of Pasi’s calibre work alongside us over an extended period is a significant one,’ Mr Sexton said.
Mr Sexton said the Diocese continues to plan for new schools to meet growth in demand for Catholic education in the region with a site recently secured in Ballarat and ongoing investigation of potential sites in Mildura and Warrnambool.

He said the diocese is thrilled to welcome Irish secondary school teachers Jimmy and Fiona McGovern and their three children to the Swan Hill community this year. The McGovern’s will teach at St Mary MacKillop College.

‘We extend a warm regional Victorian welcome to the McGovern family and trust their time with us will be both personally and professionally rewarding, and that more international teachers will join us in the future.’

The Catholic education community will come together from 29 April – 3 May this year to celebrate Catholic Education Week, as well as share in a range of activities to mark the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat.