Following consultation with the priests and many involved in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Ballarat, Bishop Paul Bird recently announced a new approach to the governance of parish primary and secondary schools in the Ballarat diocese.

The new model for school governance emerged from a long-term project undertaken by a governance working party of the Ballarat Diocesan Schools Advisory Council (BDSAC). The working party, which commenced in 2012, has developed a model of school governance that will provide consistency and professionalism of governance for parish schools. It will also enable the continued pastoral ministry of priests in parish schools, without them being employers of staff. This latter point was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

A new company has been established called Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL), and a board of directors has been appointed to govern parish schools where no priest is available for active governance and those parish schools where the parish priest elects (on behalf of the parish) to transfer responsibility for governance to the company.

CSPV would like to congratulate all board members on their respective appointments, particularly Tracey O'Neill, a previous Chair of Catholic School Parents Victoria and parent of children in the diocese of Ballarat, to the position of inaugural chair of the DOBCEL board. We would like to wish Tracey, the board members and working parties all the best for their important work on their journey ahead. CSPV look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the new board.

Parent Engagement in Catholic Community - Awakenings curriculum

Are you aware of how Religious Education is taught at your child's school?
The Diocese of Ballarat has developed a video and brochure for parents of children in Ballarat diocesan schools to build understanding of the RE Curriculum. This enables your engagement in Catholic Community and in the education of your child.

The new Awakenings curriculum in the Diocese of Ballarat provides materials and resources to support deep learning and enquiry in Religious Education. It responds to the current landscape in which families live and in which Catholic schools operate. Watch the video below to see how parents can enrich their child's religious education journey.