Last week, the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) hosted a Catholic Education Leaders Forum and Parliament House reception in Canberra. It was our second year of welcoming chairs and directors from our state and territory bodies, diocesan and Religious Institutes and Ministerial Public Juridic Person (RI & MPJP) school authorities, along with principal and parent association representatives to reflect on our shared mission and our national strategic priorities – Faith, Excellence and Access.
We took the opportunity to celebrate our 50th anniversary since the NCEC was established in July 1974 and our work today is still very much on par with our original purpose including research and data analysis, developing policy consensus to ensure effective use of resources, supporting other groups and structures involved in Catholic education, negotiating with national bodies and with national political authorities and collaborating with other national and international bodies.
What has strengthened over this time, has been a greater focus on national coordination and cooperation with our state and territory, diocesan, other Catholic school authorities and associations. This was clearly evident in the level of camaraderie and active participation over the three days.
The Parliament House Reception hosted by Senator Deborah O’Neill was a wonderful opportunity for our leaders to meet with Members of Parliament and Senators, as well as representatives from other school sectors. We were very fortunate to have the Minister for Education Jason Clare MP and Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson address us briefly at the reception and then in more detail during the two days of our forum. We were blessed to have Archbishop of Canberra & Goulburn Christopher Prowse attend, as well as students from Merici College, Braddon lead us in the Acknowledgment of Country and Prayer, and St Mary MacKillop College, Canberra students and staff perform in a string ensemble and choral performance during the reception.
Our keynote presentations and sessions included Prof Renee Kohler-Ryan from the University of Notre Dame Australia, Jordana Hunter from the Grattan Institute, Susan Pascoe AM and Tony Cook, Meg Brighton and Fabian Harding from the Department of Education over the two days, as well as showcases from our leaders and opportunities to discuss a range of issues including mission and formation, governance, and teacher workforce and initial education challenges. The rural, regional and remote Catholic education leaders also had the opportunity to meet ahead of the forum and engaged with both the government and opposition.
Overall, it was a very successful few days and I thank NCEC chair Nicholas Moore AO and all involved in creating and contributing to a very fruitful and jam-packed agenda to lead our shared work of Catholic education.
Main image: NCEC executive director Jacinta Collins & Minister for Education Jason Clare MP. Photos: Ryan Madalandag and Jude Coen.
