21 October 2020
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.
The program will feature two keynote speakers:
Dr Carol Campbell – Associate professor of Leadership and Educational Change at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, who will focus on school improvement in a COVID world.
Professor John Haldane – Professor of Philosophy of Education at Australian Catholic University, who will explore Faith in the Future: the challenges and opportunities for Catholic education.
The Minister for Education Dan Tehan and Shadow Minister for Education and Training Tanya Plibersek will speak at the symposium.
There will be a fun and informative Bicentennial Games on the 200-year history of Catholic education led by quizmaster Dr Frank Malloy, national director Marist Schools Australia, Troy Hayter, principal of Clontarf Aboriginal College (WA); Loretta Wholley, principal of Merici College Canberra (ACT) and president of the Catholic Secondary Principals Association; Phoebe Surman, Year 12 student Gleeson College, Golden Grove (SA) and Chloe Coomb, Year 11 student Cathedral College Rockhampton (QLD).
A panel discussion, moderated by Australian journalist and broadcaster, Geraldine Doogue AO, will focus on school improvement, student wellbeing, faith formation and parent engagement.
Panelists:
Julie Sonnemann, program director of School Education at Grattan Institute.
Carmel Nash OAM, deputy chair of Catholic School Parents Australia.
Matthew Brennan, principal of St Augustine’s College in Cairns (Qld).
Sam Wright, vice principal – students of Padua College, Mornington Peninsula (Vic).
This is a free ticketed event for educators and leaders in Catholic schools, education offices and universities. The symposium will be recorded and made available to school communities.
