Terms of reference

  • The National Catholic Education Commission (hereinafter referred to as "the NCEC") is commissioned by and responsible to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (hereinafter referred to as "the Conference") for developing, enunciating and acting upon policy at the national level for the Church's work in education. 
  • The NCEC shall accept as a premise that the Church has and must be seen to have a deep and systematic concern for the quality of education available to all Australians. It shall maintain the Church's traditional special regard for the spiritually, culturally, physically, and financially disadvantaged or deprived.  
  • Education in Catholic schools shall be one major focus of the NCEC's thought and work. Other focuses shall include the religious education of Catholic students not in Catholic schools, tertiary and post-secondary education, the continuing education in faith of young persons and adults (but not seminary/religious/theological education). These concerns may be exercised by the NCEC through appropriate committees and sub-committees. 
  • In fulfilment of the commission it receives from the Conference, the NCEC shall: 
    • give systematic witness to its commitment to Christ and the truths and values of His Gospel and His Church within its ecclesiastical, educational, social and political milieux; 
    • complement and support State/Territory Catholic Education Commissions, Diocesan and Order structures and services in education, recognising at all times their proper authority in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity; 
    • work towards developing such policy consensus, both short-term and long-term, as will promote the most effective application and use of resources devoted to Catholic education in Australia with regard to, for example, curriculum emphases, funding policies, industrial relations: 
    • monitor trends in educational theory and practice, national and international, and ensure that a Catholic position is declared on issues which are raised or should be raised in the public forum: 
    • negotiate on behalf of Catholic education with national political authorities and government instrumentalities: 
    • collaborate with other national bodies associated with education; for example, parent bodies, National Council of Independent Schools, research organisations; 
    • support at the national level the legitimate educational aspirations of those sections of society which are least able to argue their own cause, and pursue national policies which best serve those aspirations; 
    • act as an organ of communication at the national level on matters pertaining to Catholic education; 
    •  assemble, maintain and disseminate data relevant to Catholic education; 
    • undertake, support or commission educational research; 
    • establish liaison with international educational bodies, Catholic and other, and with experts in education and related fields of potential value to Australian Catholic education; 
    • perform other tasks implicit in the commission received from the Conference.