With sincere admiration and deep gratitude for her significant service to Catholic education, we
write to inform you that Jacinta Collins has decided that this chapter of her contribution to public life
and her leadership of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) will come to an end in
early 2026.
Jacinta commenced her leadership of the NCEC in February 2019, a mere 2 days after her
remarkable quarter of a century in parliamentary service. During her political career Jacinta held
many leadership roles including in education as assistant minister for school education and
workplace relations, shadow minister for children and youth, shadow assistant minister for early
childhood and nine times a member, sometimes chair, of education-related Senate committees.
This built upon Jacinta’s earlier chapter in the Labor movement representing Australian workers at
both a national and international level. Within her various political roles, Jacinta was a strong
advocate for choice in education, fair funding for all schools, and played an important part in the
Gonski reforms. At the time of leaving Parliament, she was one of the longest-ever serving Labor
women politicians and was unquestionably a trailblazer for women in politics.
Jacinta’s dedication as a Senator in the Australian parliament and the high regard in which she
was held by colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, was a reflection of Jacinta’s work ethic, integrity
and unfailing commitment to service of others which continued seamlessly in her leadership of the
NCEC.
After such a distinguished political career, the NCEC has been blessed to have Jacinta at the helm
of our peak national body for the past 7 years, representing our now 1,751 primary and secondary
schools and 700 early childhood centres.
Jacinta has been able to navigate a complex federated educational system with grace and poise
and secure recognition for Catholic education through deliberate and informed representation.
Jacinta had the courage to step into the leadership of the NCEC after a very difficult period in the
funding history of Catholic education and steered us to a place of stability and relative security. As
a direct result of her advocacy, Catholic education secured the current funding agreement which
ensures parents have the right to choose a quality Catholic education for their children. Not only
has her campaign for accessible Catholic education formed the system we are all proud to serve
but she has established herself as the leading expert on school funding and resource allocation.
Jacinta’s relationships with state and territory educational authorities, including those governed by
religious institute and ministerial public juridic person colleagues, government and shadow ministers and ministries, and tertiary organisations has ensured that Catholic education is a respected and valued voice at any policy working group or round table. Those who have sat alongside her at any of these meetings will attest to her pragmatic, logical approach to public policy which draws on deep knowledge and experience and establishes her as a preeminent authority in discussions about the progress of education in Australia.
Jacinta has successfully advanced with the bishops, school leaders and administrators, three
priorities for Catholic education today, to enliven formation and religious education so we better
transmit the faith, to support continual improvement of educational outcomes so that our students
can reach their full potential and to ensure equity of access through advocacy for the needs of all
families.
Jacinta ably guided the NCEC and our national response to the COVID pandemic and the religious
freedom debates. She provided expert advice to the Fifth Plenary Council and led the celebration
of 200 years of Catholic education in Australia to name but a few achievements.
Jacinta is a deeply faith-filled person and her commitment to the Mission of the Church is evident in
her decision making, her strategic planning and her representation of our sector. Unapologetically
Catholic in both public and private engagements, Jacinta is a model of lay leadership for future
leaders in Catholic education.
As the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education establishes an independent review of the
mission, governance and operations of the NCEC, the next phase of its leadership will build on the
legacy of Jacinta’s contribution.
The recruitment of the next Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission will
be overseen by the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education and will begin in the coming
months.
Jacinta has been a valued colleague, and we wish her every blessing as she enjoys this next
phase of her life with more time for leisure, relaxation and the time with family she so richly
deserves after faithfully serving our system, our Church and our nation
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Chair, Bishops Council for Catholic Education
Nicholas Moore AO, Chair, National Catholic Education Commission
