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Professional Learning

HSC Analysis: Results Analysis Package (RAP) Training (Ref: 284/25)

NESA presents online training: An Introduction to the Results Analysis Package (RAP)

Audience: This course has been developed specifically to meet the needs of teachers new to RAP or those desiring a re-familiarisation. Engage with expert instructors via chat at completion of the training.

Programme: NESA staff will guide teachers in conducting a forensic investigation of HSC results looking specifically at how to explore whole faculty/school trends and HSC Minimum Standards data to improve student HSC outcomes.

Completing An Introduction to the Results Analysis Package (RAP) will contribute 1 hours and 30 minutes of teacher-identified PD in the priority area of Delivery and Assessment of NSW Curriculum or Early Years Learning Framework addressing standard descriptors 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Preparation: Ensure your principal (or delegate) has granted access to the RAP functions through 'Work with Staff Profiles' on Schools Online. If you can't see some functions, check your principal or delegate has given you access to all the RAP functions.

Where: Live Online via TEAMS

When: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Friday 19 December 2025: Register here

NESA Online Learning Hub

NESA provides accredited teachers with access to online professional learning courses on NESA Learning Hub. The following courses, the Results Analysis Package (RAP), can be accessed here: https://lms.nesa.nsw.edu.au/

NESA self-paced online course: Supporting Assessment: RAP and the Standards for Proficient Teachers

This course is designed for Teachers who are new to using and navigating the Results Analysis Package. This 1-hour self-paced course will allow participants to:

• strengthen their understanding of NESA's Standards Referenced Assessment and
• develop skills in using the Results Analysis Package and in data analysis.

Completing Supporting Assessment: RAP and the Standards for Proficient Teachers will contribute 1 hour of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and Assessment of NSW Curriculum or Early Years Learning Framework, addressing Standard Descriptor 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

NESA self-paced online course: Supporting Assessment: Experienced RAP Users/Teachers 

This course is designed for Teachers who have some experience navigating the Results Analysis Package (RAP) and are looking to improve their use of RAP to enhance teaching and learning. This self-paced course will allow participants to:

• strengthen their understanding of NESA's Standards Referenced Assessment and
• develop advanced skills in the use of the Results Analysis Package and data analysis.

This course is accredited at Proficient Teacher.

Completing Supporting Assessment: Experienced RAP Users/Teachers will contribute 1 hour and 30 minutes of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and Assessment of NSW Curriculum or Early Years Learning Framework, addressing Standard Descriptors 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

2025 HSC Analysis Seminars with Dr John DeCourcy (Ref: 283/25)

HSC Analysis Seminars with Dr John DeCourcy

Teachers, school leaders, and system officers are invited to attend a series of seminars presented by Dr John DeCourcy that discuss the intricacies and importance of understanding and analysing the 2025 HSC data. Each training seminar contributes 5 Professional Development (PD) hours.

The Seminar Programme comprises 4 in-person seminars, each aimed at a specific audience. Prior to attending, an online tutorial designed to support intending participants can be completed through the HSC Data Analysis Users portal, which requires a NetID login. 

Diocesan and School Officers’ HSC Overview

Audience: Diocesan and RI/MPJP school officers.

Programme: This seminar will take participants through using the system-level reports in conjunction with school reports to support schools. There will be opportunities for cross-system sharing and for discussing key features of the 2025 HSC. 

Completing this seminar will contribute 5 hours of teacher-identified PD addressing standard descriptor 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Preparation: Checking for an active NetID account and access to the HSC Data Analysis Users portal, and familiarity with the online tutorial via NetID: https://netid.csnsw.catholic.edu.au. (For the tutorial, once logged into NetID select CSNSW Professional Learning and use the search bar to find "HSC Analysis Online Tutorial")

Where: The Assembly, Mezzanine level, 123 Pitt St, Sydney

When: Friday 30 January 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, lunch included: Register here

HSC Analysis #1: Introduction to the Analysis

Audience: Teachers, KLA coordinators, school leaders and interested persons who have not previously attended an HSC Analysis seminar.

Programme: This seminar discusses why and how schools should use data to shape pedagogical direction. It will also cover an introduction to the idea of Comparative Learning Gain and how this can be used to understand HSC data.

Completing this seminar will contribute 5 hours of teacher-identified PD addressing standard descriptor 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Preparation: Checking for an active NetID account and access to the HSC Data Analysis Users portal, and familiarity with the online tutorial via NetID: https://netid.csnsw.catholic.edu.au. (For the tutorial, once logged into NetID select CSNSW Professional Learning and use the search bar to find "HSC Analysis Online Tutorial")

Where: The Assembly, Mezzanine level, 123 Pitt St, Sydney

When:

1. Wednesday 11 February 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, lunch included: Register here
2. Friday 27 February 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, lunch included: Register here

HSC Analysis #2: A detailed reading of your Analysis

Audience: Experienced users, including teachers, coordinators, Assistant Principals or Principals who have previously attended at least one HSC Analysis seminar.

Programme: Theory covered in the HSC Analysis #1: Introduction to the Analysis seminar is assumed knowledge. Participants will have the opportunity to spend the majority of the seminar in a detailed, guided reading of their own school’s analysis. This will include consideration of ways to resolve any problems highlighted by the analysis.

Completing this seminar will contribute 5 hours of teacher-identified PD addressing standard descriptor 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Teacher Accreditation in NSW. Completing this seminar will contribute 5 hours of teacher-identified PD addressing standard descriptor 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Preparation: Checking for an active NetID account and access to the HSC Data Analysis Users portal, and familiarity with the online tutorial via NetID: https://netid.csnsw.catholic.edu.au. (For the tutorial, once logged into NetID select CSNSW Professional Learning and use the search bar to find "HSC Analysis Online Tutorial")

Where: The Assembly, Mezzanine level, 123 Pitt St, Sydney

When: 

1. Friday 13 February 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, lunch included: Register here
2. Friday 6 March 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, lunch included: Register here

HSC Analysis #3: Leading your school in the Analysis

Audience: Principals, Assistant Principals, Leaders of Curriculum or Pedagogy and anyone with a whole school focus.

Programme: This seminar will explore the intersection of leadership, data, teacher professional learning and student achievement. Participants will come away having considered a range of leadership responses to their school’s analysis. Multiple members of a school’s senior leadership team are encouraged to attend.

Completing this seminar will contribute 5 hours of teacher-identified PD addressing standard descriptor 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Preparation: Checking for an active NetID account and access to the HSC Data Analysis Users portal, and familiarity with the online tutorial via NetID: https://netid.csnsw.catholic.edu.au. (For the tutorial, once logged into NetID select CSNSW Professional Learning and use the search bar to find "HSC Analysis Online Tutorial")

Where: The Assembly, Mezzanine level, 123 Pitt St, Sydney

When: Friday 20 February 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, lunch included: Register here

Webinar video: Dr Michael Carr-Gregg on preparing families and schools for the social media ban (Ref: 282/25) 

The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) asked Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading psychologist, author, and broadcaster, to give a presentation to help families and schools prepare for the under-16 ban on social media, which will take effect on 10 December 2025.

In his 30-minute presentation, Dr Carr-Greg explains the questions of what the social media ban legislation is, why it is happening, what the penalties are, and what parents and schools should do now to respond. 

Parents and educators are encouraged to take time to familiarise themselves with the information surrounding this social media 'delay' to understand how this will impact them and their wider community. 

To watch Dr Greg-Carr's Webinar Video, click here

For more information, visit the Social Media Age restrictions hub on the eSafety Commissioner website, by clicking here

AERO Webinar: Writing Matters (Ref: 277/25)

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has launched the School Writing Instruction Framework (SWIF) to support school leaders and teachers in providing high-quality, evidence-based writing instruction across all subject areas from upper primary to secondary levels.

In a recent national webinar hosted by AERO, Christine Jackson, AERO Principal Researcher, was joined by Rebecca Birch (English Teacher and Academic in Residence) and Lara Harvey (Head of PDHPE) from Queenwood School for Girls (NSW). Together, they explored how the framework is being implemented in classrooms and the positive outcomes it is generating for both teachers and students.

Christine outlined the research foundations of the framework, while Rebecca and Lara shared practical insights from their experience using SWIF to enhance writing instruction across disciplines.

Watch the full webinar, including the interactive Q&A, to learn more about how SWIF is transforming writing instruction in Australian schools.

Access the School Writing Instruction Framework here:

School writing instruction framework | Australian Education Research Organisation

Campion College Graduate Certificate of Religious Education (Secondary) courses open for 2026 enrolments (Ref: 270/25)

The Campion Grad Cert RE (Secondary) immerses secondary teachers in the most effective religious education pedagogies designed specifically for engaging adolescent students, including the Catholic Liberal Arts approach, the Wonder and Awe approach inspired by Fr Luigi Giussani, and the Lectio Divina pedagogical approach. 

The well-established Campion Grad Cert RE (Primary) is also available for teachers to satisfy religious accreditation requirements. There is flexibility in the Grad Cert RE program for groups of teachers to study together. Teachers from the same school or diocese can study together in the same online class. Some face-to-face intensives are also offered – these intensives can also be facilitated for a cohort within a diocese.

To learn more about the Graduate Certificates in Religious Education, click here. 

For more information, go to: https://www.campion.edu.au/course/postgrad/

AERO videos of practice: Teaching for how students learn (Ref: 266/25) 

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has developed a model of learning and teaching that identifies the most effective teaching practices based on research on how students learn.

AERO has also provided videos of this Teaching model demonstrated in the classroom as a helpful resource for teachers, showing what it looks like in practice and how it maximises effective learning for students.

This collection includes:

• practice videos that focus on a specific teaching practice across diverse contexts, learning areas, and with students of varying ages.
• long lesson videos, which feature extended sequences of teaching from a lesson to show how evidence-based practices work together.

To access AERO's Model for Learning of Teaching and Videos of Practice, click here. 

Student Resources 

Harmony Day Competition 2026 – now open for entries (Ref: 281/25)

More details on the competition are available at:  https://movingforwardtogether.org.au/harmony-day-competitions/

Celebrate National Ag Day with a free Smart Farming virtual classroom (Ref: 275/25)

The Smart Farming Virtual Classroom is back for Term 4 ahead of National Ag Day on 21 November.

Facilitated by a qualified KE teacher, each free 30-minute interactive learning experience connects students directly with real farmers, offering a unique opportunity for first-hand learning about agriculture and sustainability.

Features include:

• free, 30-minute lessons aligned with Science and HASS outcomes;
• tailored sessions for Lower and Upper Primary;
• access to a range of classroom-ready resources; and
• engaging quizzes and a live Q&A with a real farmer.

Book your free session here at: Smart Farming

Explore additional resources, including posters and student worksheets, on Australian Good Meat Education, which offers a wide range of curriculum-aligned materials for primary schools.

To view the Australian Good Meat Education Resources, click here. 

School Updates & Newsletters 

Closing soon: Parents and Carers Survey – Consent and Respectful Relationships Education Project (Ref: 280/25)

Calling all parents and carers with children in NSW Catholic schools. Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) invites you to participate in a research project for the Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE) Project.

Developed in collaboration with the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT, CSNSW has commissioned the Australian Catholic University to conduct the research on our behalf. The purpose of this survey is to gather parents' feedback on their child’s CRRE education and to gain insights into the challenges they face. We also ask what support parents need to continue this important education at home.

For more information about Respectful Relationships Education in Catholic schools, click here.

Parents and carers can participate in the survey by simply clicking on the following link: https://acu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ddjeX9g5j1IVjSe

Thank you for your involvement in this important piece of work. CSNSW is committed to supporting parents in their sacred role as first educators by walking with them to foster respectful relationships grounded in Catholic values.

Generation STEM CSIRO Showcase 2025: Faith, innovation and real-world impact (Ref: 278/25)

Catholic students from across NSW are preparing to take centre stage at Generation STEM Showcase 2025, proudly organised by CSIRO. Registered schools and students are gearing up to present their STEM Challenge projects to peers, local councils, and STEM industry professionals — tackling real-world problems with creativity, compassion, and purpose.

• Triple E (Explore, Experience, Engage) – A VR Career Exploration Program designed by students to help their peers discover career passions through immersive job simulations, breaking barriers to career access and equality.

• CareConnect – A smart device supporting elderly wellbeing through GPS tracking, fall detection, and SOS alerts, giving families peace of mind and seniors greater independence.
• EconoHeat – A nifty way to harness solar energy by charging a heater’s lithium battery during daylight hours, so it can efficiently warm homes through cold evenings — lowering energy costs and carbon footprints.
• Connected – A heartwarming initiative linking school students with aged care residents through shared, elder-led activities like cooking, gardening, and storytelling. It promotes purpose, dignity, and joy — building friendships that span generations and nurture community spirit.
• EcoHome – A visionary project transforming the rooftops of urban high-rises into bird-friendly sanctuaries. Designed with native flora, rainwater capture systems, and eco-materials, EcoHome brings biodiversity back into city life, creating pockets of green that sustain both wildlife and human wellbeing.

Each of these projects embodies the mission of STEM education in Catholic schools: to serve others through innovation, to care for our communities, and to live out our faith through meaningful action.

Looking ahead

As 2025 draws to a close, now is the perfect time for schools to start planning their STEM learning opportunities for the new year. We’d love to see even more Catholic schools from across Sydney represented at next year’s Generation STEM Showcases. Be inspired by our students’ ingenuity and discover how faith and STEM together can truly make a difference.

 

Pope Leo XIV releases Apostolic Letter on education: 'Drawing New Maps of Hope' (Ref: 273/25) 

On the 60th anniversary of the Conciliar Declaration Gravissimum educationis, Pope Leo XIV has released a new Apostolic Letter titled Drawing New Maps of Hope.

In this Letter, the Holy Father reaffirms the continuing relevance of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Catholic Education, noting that the document “has lost none of its potency.” He highlights the enduring mission of Catholic Education as a vital expression of the Church’s maternal and teaching role in the world today.

Pope Leo XIV reflects on the Church’s vocation as one of service rather than supremacy, reminding educators that “the Church is ‘mother and teacher’ not by supremacy, but through service: she accompanies the growth of freedom, taking on the mission of the Divine Master so that everyone ‘may have life, and have it abundantly’ (Jn 10:10).”

The Letter celebrates the diverse educational traditions that have flourished through the centuries, each shaped by the vision of the human person as the image of God, called to truth and goodness. Educational charisms, the Pope writes, are never rigid formulas but “original responses to the needs of each era,” ensuring that Catholic education remains a living, creative force in the pursuit of wisdom, faith, and human flourishing.

To view Pope Leo's Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, click here.

Students step into financial futures through innovative industry partnership (267/25) 

This groundbreaking initiative connects classroom learning in VET Financial Services directly to real-world experience, giving students authentic insight into the skills, expectations, and opportunities within the financial sector. It’s more than a bridge — it’s a jumper-lead — energising students’ pathways into the workforce.

The Financial Services Virtual Work Placement program demonstrates what’s possible when collaboration, innovation, and opportunity align. It’s helping young people in Catholic schools across NSW see their potential and inspiring the next generation of financial professionals.

As this partnership continues to grow, one thing is clear: together, education and industry are building futures worth celebrating.

Legal and Policy

Major civil penalty for breach of privacy (Ref: 172/25) 

The Federal Court's recent decision in Australian Information Commissioner v Australian Clinical Labs (No 2) [2025] FCA 1224 is a warning to all organisations that must comply with privacy laws.  The case resulted in the first civil penalty under the Privacy Act. 

Australian Clinical Labs Limited (ACL) was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $5.8 million for a data breach affecting the sensitive health information of over 223,000 individuals. Relevantly, ACL failed to ensure proper security systems were in place, failed to assess the breach, and failed to notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (Commissioner) in time. 

The case demonstrates the Commissioner’s intention to seek penalties for privacy breaches. It is an important reminder to schools that they must ensure that the personal and sensitive information they hold is appropriately secured.

What this means for schools

Schools should:

• assess the security of systems that hold personal information;
• ensure you have the capability to monitor your systems for data breaches;
• be aware of your responsibility to conduct an assessment where you suspect there may have been an eligible data breach and take reasonable steps to complete the assessment within 30 days; and
• notify the Commissioner (report a data breach here) as soon as practicable where you have reasonable grounds to believe there has been an eligible data breach.

For more information about this case and about the steps schools need to take in responding to data breaches, check out the following resources:

• A turning point: Federal Court provides guidance in first-ever civil penalty proceeding under the Privacy Act | DLA Piper
• Privacy guidance for organisations and government agencies | OAIC
• Notifiable data breaches | OAIC

YouTube ban for students under 16 in Schools (Ref: 271/25)