Since joining CSPV I have been involved in many changes in a very short time. Late in 2018 we completed a strategic planning review of the organisation which was endorsed at our CSPV AGM in November where I was also elected as new Chair. In my new role our Executive Officer, Rachel Saliba and I have been busy meeting with the various Diocesan Directors and school system representatives across Victoria to present our new 5-year strategic plan. The plan includes new Vision and Mission statements:

Catholic School Parents Victoria Vision:
Parents* of children throughout Victorian Catholic education, engaged as valued partners in supporting children's learning, providing leadership and shared decision making alongside educators.
(*Parent includes natural, adopted or foster parents, guardians or care givers of young people attending Catholic Schools.)

Catholic School Parents Victoria Mission:
To empower parent perspective and leadership in Catholic education through partnerships, communication and advocacy.

There are several changes to the CSPV advocacy campaigns this year with the development of a new strategic advocacy plan.

CSPV Advocacy is now delivered under two pillars of Parent Engagement and Parent Leadership. Under each of these will be the various campaigns CSPV will be working on over the next five years including:

Parent Engagement in:
• Curriculum
• Child Safety
• Wellbeing
• Catholic Community

Parent Leadership in:
• Parent Engagement
• School Funding
• National Issues (CSPA)

The new strategic plan will be available on our website soon along with a new CSPV prospectus. Visit www.cspv.catholic.edu.au for further information about CSPV.

Parent perspective is enabled through CSPV participation in various events and forums, providing feedback and writing submissions including the following CSPV have already been involved in this year:

• Naplan Reporting Review
• VCE Studies Review
• Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) Parent Engagement Project
• Catholic Education Melbourne Parents as Partners Policy Review
• National Catholic Education Commission - NCEC 2020 Conference Organising Committee

With the upcoming NCEC 2020 Conference being held in Melbourne from 6 – 9 September next year, we are excited to be invited to participate in various organising committees to provide parent perspective across four established key streams of Catholic Identity, Leadership and Governance, Communication and Community Engagement and School Improvement.  

There is no doubt the past few weeks have been some of the most challenging in the lives of many Catholic families throughout the country, and indeed the world with the conviction of one of the highest ranked members of the Catholic Clergy. It is times like these that we may be tested in our beliefs in God and in the Church. In this newsletter, we reflect in an article, our own experiences as parents of children in Catholic schools when our sense of who we are as Catholics is challenged, we explore the culture of child safety in our schools to protect children from harm and what our role is as families to ensure all children are safe, not only in our schools but in the broader community.

CSPV are deeply committed to parent engagement in child safety advocacy in various ways including the implementation of the child safe standards and policies that are now legally mandated in Victoria. Victorian Catholic schools are not only legally obligated to implement the 7 child safe standards, they strive to create a whole school culture of child safety that includes student voice in being aware of their own personal safety.

Learning to trust others is an essential life skill as is understanding when something is not right, to have the courage to speak up and develop protective and preventive behaviours. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and friends whose courageous actions will ensure children will be more protected from harm.

The recent Plenary Listening and Dialogue phase of the Plenary 2020 resulted in over 68,000 Australians contributing their thoughts and feelings about the future of the Catholic Church. Reformation by one definition is “The action or process of reforming an institution or practice”. Listening to the people and where Catholic identity now fits in the contemporary world is critical in the reformation of the Catholic Church.

With the Listening and Dialogue phase now complete, the National Centre for Pastoral Research will continue the deep listening process, conducting a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the submissions received and, using best-practice research methods, will identify key themes that have emerged. Further information can be found at http://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/frequently-asked-questions/

Catholic School Parents Victoria is made up of a team of current parents of children who attend Catholic schools in Victoria and our council members are all volunteers who are passionate about education and advocating for issues that impact parents and children.

If you feel you could contribute by joining CSPV and representing parent perspective in Catholic education across various advocacy areas, visit the CSPV website where you will find further information (http://cspv.catholic.edu.au/join-us/www.cspv.catholic.edu.au/joinus) along with a prospectus for download or you may call 03 9267 0458.

CSPV are currently seeking members in the Eastern and Northern regions of Melbourne and the diocese of Sale, Sandhurst and Ballarat. We would value your contribution to the development of CSPV in providing parent perspective in Catholic education at a diocesan and State level.

Until next time,
Rod Lewis
Chairperson, CSPV.