New video resources are now available for school leaders and teachers to support the delivery of Religious Education in Catholic schools across Australia.

The series of professional learning videos are designed to encourage discussion among Catholic educators through the unpacking of the Framing Paper on Religious education in Australian Catholic Schools (2018).

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Catholic schools across Australia will celebrate Family Week from 8 – 14 August, to recognise the significant contribution parents, carers and families have made to the foundation, growth and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years.Catholic schools across Australia will celebrate Family Week from 8 – 14 August, to recognise the significant contribution parents, carers and families have made to the foundation, growth and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years.

Family Week coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Catholic students from across the country have joined together in a video performance of the national song ‘Faith in the Future’, to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, which marks the anniversary of the first official Catholic school opened in Parramatta in October 1820.

The ‘Faith in the Future Australian Catholic Schools Version’ features 370 students from 29 Catholic schools across Australia including remote, regional and rural communities such as: Our Lady Sacred Heart School Waiben (Thursday Island), St John's Catholic School Richmond in Tasmania, Sacred Heart College Sorrento in Western Australia, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

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A National Mass will be celebrated simultaneously across Australia on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on Monday 24 May 2021 to mark the occasion.

National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said the National Mass would be a highlight of the bicentenary year.

"As a faith community, our National Mass to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education holds significant meaning, particularly on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians - the Patroness of Australia," Ms Collins said. 

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The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has welcomed $1.6 billion funding for Early Childhood learning and $63.5 million to support gender equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls announced in the 2021-22 Budget, saying it responds to areas of significant educational need.

National Catholic Education Executive Director Jacinta Collins said the continuation of universal access to 15 hours of preschool will enable children to build critical foundations in the year before commencing school.

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The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) said the recommendations from the Review of Disability Standards for Education 2005 are a positive step forward and place the needs of students and their families at the centre of education.

“The report’s focus on empowering families, strengthening standards and service quality, and increasing accountability will help support an ever-increasing number of students with disability in school communities,” said National Catholic education executive director Jacinta Collins.

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The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) said the Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge’s MP speech to the Menzies Research Centre today, which outlines his focus on improving Australia’s educational performance, is on target.

NCEC executive director Jacinta Collins said the Catholic sector has developed its own set of national priorities to support the continual improvement of educational outcomes for all students in its 1,751 schools. In Australia, Catholic schools educate one in five (768,000) students.

“We are heavily focused on working with government and other educational bodies, like ACARA, to identify evidence-based practice to support quality learning and teaching across our schools,” Jacinta said.

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Download a copy of 200 Years Young - a Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of Australia to the leaders, staff, students and families of Catholic education in Australia

In 2021, Australian Catholic education celebrates 200 years of Catholic schooling in this country. A virtual launch of the bicentennial celebrations will be streamed for Catholic school communities across Australia on Thursday 18 February 2021 at 10am and 2pm AEDT.

National Catholic education Executive Director Jacinta Collins said the bicentennial celebrations recognise the enormous contribution of Catholic schools in Australia.

“Over 200 years Catholic schools have educated millions of Australian students,” Ms Collins said. “We have grown alongside the government sector in ensuring the education of generations of young people, and have contributed to the development of individuals, local communities, and the economic and social fabric of this nation.”

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PASTORAL LETTER ON CATHOLIC EDUCATION - 200 YEARS YOUNG 

The Catholic Bishops have written a pastoral letter to school leaders, staff, students and families to mark the 200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia which will be launched on Thursday 18th February 2021 at 10am (AEDT).

The letter, 200 Years Young, recognises the contribution of religious, clergy and lay people to the foundation of Catholic education, and the distinctive role Catholic schools play in educating and forming young people of faith and service in their communities.  Read media release

DOWNLOAD PASTORAL LETTER 

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has appointed Sally Egan to the role of Deputy Director commencing Thursday 28 January 2021.

Executive Director Jacinta Collins, who announced the appointment today, said Sally comes to the NCEC with 30 years’ broad-ranging experience across all sectors of schooling, most recently in executive leadership roles within the NSW Department of Education.

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The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) is looking forward to working with the new Minister for Education and Youth, Alan Tudge MP, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison today, and thanks outgoing Minister Dan Tehan MP for his work in the education portfolio.

NCEC executive director Jacinta Collins said the Catholic sector has had a productive working relationship with Minister Tehan over the past few years.

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This Friday is World Teachers Day and Catholic Education is hosting its first Virtual Symposium on school improvement and supporting disadvantaged students in a COVID world.

Around 1,000 educators across Australia are expected to join the three-hour symposium, as well as participants from New Zealand and overseas.

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The establishment of a not-for-profit company to oversee Melbourne’s 293 Catholic schools responds to the needs of the future, says National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins.

“The decision by Archbishop Peter Comensoli to restructure the management of Melbourne’s Catholic schools is in line with the direction of other Catholic dioceses and state bodies across the country,” Ms Collins said.

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The Faith in the Future Virtual Symposium will be held on Friday 30 October 2020 11:30am-2:30pm (AEDT).

“With the 2020 National Catholic Education Conference postponed until 4-7 September 2022, the virtual symposium offers an opportunity for the Catholic educational community to gather and participate in professional learning and engagement,” said National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins.

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