Principal Partners Announcement and Conference Website Launch
The countdown is on for the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference hosted by the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and host diocese, Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns (CEDC).
The conference will be held at the newly-refurbished Cairns Convention Centre in Far North Queensland from Wednesday 20 August to Friday 22 August, 2025.
This triennial event is expected to attract around 1,500 delegates including Catholic educators, leaders, clergy, parents, and others involved in Catholic education. Under the theme, ‘hope, anchored in faith,’ the conference aims to provide an engaging professional learning experience focused on the strategic vision and mission of Catholic education across three key areas – Faith, Excellence and Access.
The conference will feature a broad range of speakers who will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as presentations and workshops focusing on topics such as Catholic identity, mission and formation; learning and teaching; leadership and governance; parent engagement; parish and community engagement, resourcing and infrastructure; advocacy and marketing; and more.
2025ACEC will be generously supported once again by our three Principal Partners – UniSuper, University of Notre Dame Australia and Australian Catholic University who also partnered on the 2022 conference in Melbourne.
The Queensland Government has generously approved a tourism grant to support the conference being held in Far North Queensland.
Additional partnership and sponsorship opportunities are now available by downloading the prospectus.
Early bird registrations and abstract submissions are expected to be opened in October 2024. To receive all the latest conference information, please subscribe via our conference website www.2025ACEC.edu.au.
Comments attributable to:
National Catholic education executive director Jacinta Collins
“It is hard to believe we are already one year out from our next national conference, following on from a very successful gathering in Melbourne in 2022.
The Diocese of Cairns provides a spectacular venue for our conference, not only because of the natural beauty in Far North Queensland, but also because of the rich history and heritage of First Nations peoples, and the contribution of the Church in education since our earliest days including the first school opened on Thursday Island in 1887.
The conference provides an invaluable opportunity for Catholic educators, leaders, clergy and religious, parents and many others involved in Catholic education to learn, be inspired, be challenged, share faith and friendship.
It is also an opportunity to showcase the best practice programs and initiatives under our three strategic areas – Faith, Excellence and Access, and to listen and learn from other experiences in our local context and internationally. It is also an opportunity to deepen engagement with our parishes, parents and the broader educational community.”
Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns executive director Bill Dixon
“Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns is excited to be hosting the national conference next year, especially with the installation of our new Bishop Most Reverend Joe Caddy AM, and a new executive director, Diarmuid O’Riordan next year.
We are thrilled that school and system leaders from all states and territories, as well as from Oceania, will be able to join us to experience some of the great work being done by our students and staff in Far North Queensland.
It will be a valuable opportunity to see the diversity in rural, regional and remote areas, while engaging in rich professional learning and networking opportunities.”
The conference will be supported by our Principal Partners who are integral to its success. Their contributions help ensure the conference remains a pivotal event for the Catholic education community.
UniSuper CEO, Peter Chun
“UniSuper is proud to be again the major partner for the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference.
The values that we share with the Catholic education sector such as genuine care and compassion, a commitment to excellence and a deep appreciation of learning make UniSuper a natural partner to the sector.
We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership at the event.”
The University of Notre Dame Australia Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Campbell
“We are delighted to sponsor the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference and recognise its significant role in shaping the future of Catholic education in Australia.
Following the tremendous success of 2022’s conference in Melbourne, we are thrilled to support this next event in Cairns.
The conference, under the inspiring theme ‘hope, anchored in faith,’ will serve as a vital platform for educators, leaders, and the broader community to engage in meaningful discussion, share best practices and advance our shared mission.”
Australian Catholic University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Zlatko Skrbis
“Australian Catholic University is proud to continue its association with the Australian Catholic Education Conference.
As the largest provider of teachers for Catholic schools in Australia, ACU is committed to developing and supporting educators who embody the values of truth, excellence and service.
We are proud to invest in the future of Catholic education, providing a forum for meaningful dialogue, the lifelong pursuit of knowledge and serving the common good.”
About the National Catholic Education Commission
Catholic education is the largest provider of schooling outside government educating 805,000 students and employing 109,000 staff across 1,756 schools. The NCEC is the peak body for Catholic education in Australia, representing the interests of Catholic schools, students, and staff at a national level.
About Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns
The Diocese of Cairns is 377,000 km2 spanning from Cardwell in the south, west to the Northern Territory Border including the Atherton Tablelands, and north to the Torres Strait Islands and Gulf of Carpentaria. The Diocese’s 30 Catholic schools and colleges provide a quality education to more than 12,000 students and almost 2,000 staff. The schools extend from Tully in the South, west to Dimbulah on the Atherton Tablelands and Weipa on Cape York Peninsula, and north to Waiben (Thursday Island) in the Torres Strait.
About the Conference Artwork
The artwork of local First Nations artist Susan Reys, ‘Tenacious Dreaming’, is featured in the conference logo and branding. ‘Tenacious Dreaming’, pictured below, represents the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – the land on which the Catholic education conference will be hosted. The Southern Cross is featured around a central Cross representing Catholic education across Australia. The Southern Cross, also known as the Seven Sisters, is also an important directional tool for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The boomerang shape represents the Seven Sister mountain on the tablelands, and their spirit is now the constellation. The three message sticks represent the three lore of the First Nation peoples and the 10 dots represents the ten commandments of the Old Testament. The eight diamond shapes represent the shields of the eight Yidinji clan groups of the Cairns region.
Thank you to our partners
