Welcome to Scholaris

Priority 

Last Chance to register. Will you be joining your colleagues from across NSW for this premier event on our Catholic calendar? (227/25) 

For me the takeaway is having the opportunity to network amongst a variety of dioceses.
2024 Principal Attendee 

What do you look for when choosing quality professional learning?

Speakers?
The 2025 Curriculum Reform Conference programme features more than 40 leading voices in education. 

This includes:
Dallas McInerney, Paul Cahill and a team from NESA, Professor Renee Kohler Ryan, Brett Salakas, Professor Jim Tognolini, Alex Dore, Professor Miriam Tanti, Dr Simon Crook, Dan Bowen and many more. Breakout sessions will showcase the excellent work being done across our dioceses and schools.

Time to reflect?
Participants will be beautifully guided over the 2 days by Libby Denny who will create a space for us to share and reflect as we continue to "journey together" in curriculum reform. 

Networking?
Your conference experience includes a professional networking hour (overlooking the pristine NRL Grand Final-ready Accor stadium), as well as other opportunities throughout the two-days to connect with your Catholic colleagues from across NSW.

Venue?
We have chosen a venue that is conveniently located close to a range of transport options plus ample parking. If staying in the Olympic Park precinct, once there, everything is within walking distance - restaurants, parks, bars, Sydney Aquatic Centre and much more. 

“It’s inspirational, its aspirational, and it really gives teachers hope for what is possible!”
2024 Presenter

Registrations closing soon!
Whatever the reason, book your seat today! Last year’s conference was sold-out. 

Register Here 

“Thank you for an incredible conference! 
So much valuable learning to take away.”
2024 Participant

Australian Early Development Census Upcoming Webinars (Ref: 228/25) 

Register for ‘Responding to the 2024 Australian Early Development Census – building effective connections and partnerships’.

NESA News (Ref: 225/25) 

Subscribe to the NESA News here

By subscribing to the NESA News, you will receive the latest updates and information as soon as it becomes available. 

New Science 11-12 syllabuses

New Science 11–12 syllabuses and support materials are now available on the NSW Curriculum website.

Schools can now plan and prepare to teach the new 11–12 syllabuses.  

Biology, Biology Life Skills, Physics and Physical World Science Life Skills 11–12 will be implemented in NSW schools in 2027.  

Chemistry, Chemical World Science Life Skills, Earth and Environmental Science and Earth and Environmental Science Life Skills 11–12 will be implemented in NSW schools in 2028.

Access the new Science 11-12 syllabuses here

New Design Innovation Technology 7–10 and Work Education 7–10 syllabuses 

The new Design Innovation Technology 7–10 and Work Education 7–10 syllabuses and support materials are now available on the NSW Curriculum website

Schools can now plan and prepare to teach the new syllabuses, ahead of their implementation in NSW schools in 2028.

Access the syllabuses here

Student writing celebrated at WriteOn Awards Ceremony 

This morning we celebrated the achievements of 54 creative young writers at the State Library of NSW. The student works were selected for publication as part of the WriteOn 2025 competition.

The WriteOn competition for Years 1 to 6 students is an opportunity to create an imaginative text in response to a stimulus quote.   

This year, WriteOn received 658 entries from 344 schools and home-schooled students.  

Join the celebrations by:

• viewing the full list of Gold, Silver and Bronze winners
• sharing the news on social media
• watching the stories from some of this year’s winners in our compilation video
• reading The Best of WriteOn 2025 anthology, our free ebook featuring all the winning entries.

Photos from the event will be available on our Flickr page later this week.

ENCORE and SHAPE nominations go out this week

HSC Music and Technological and Applied Studies students across NSW will find out if they’re nominated for ENCORE and SHAPE this week.

A nomination is an outstanding achievement that means a student’s work reflects the syllabus outcomes and content and meets HSC exam requirements.

The HSC Showcase Hub has all you need to know about the upcoming HSC Showcase Season, including key dates, performance and exhibition details, and social media assets to help you celebrate your students’ achievements.

Visit the HSC Showcase Hub here

2025 NSW Training Awards winners announced   

Congratulations to the students and teachers across the state who were finalists and winners at the 2025 NSW Training Awards on 11 September.   

The NSW Training Awards is an annual event held by Training Services, recognising outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector.  

School-based winners at this year’s awards were:  

VET in Schools Student of the Year  

Darby Hubber from St Raphael’s Catholic School (Cowra) – Certificate II in Agriculture through Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst.

School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year  

Amali Rollinson from MacKillop College (Bathurst) – Certificate III in Hairdressing through The Hair Academy Australia and employed by Blush Hair and Beauty Bar.

VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year

Penny Mackay, VET Coordinator at Kildare Catholic College, Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga – Business Services and Hospitality.

We’d also like to congratulate TAFE NSW for winning the 2025 NSW Large Training Provider of the Year award.

See all of the winners here

Celebrate the teaching gems in your community

Last week, we relaunched our NSW Teaching Gems Map ahead of World Teachers’ Day in NSW on Friday 31 October.

Since then, we’ve seen nearly one thousand heartwarming messages pour in for NSW teachers who are making a difference to their school communities.  

Shoutout to all the schools who have submitted gems for their teachers so far.

There are still so many teaching gems to uncover!

Visit the NSW Teaching Gems Map to recognise a teacher who has had a positive impact on your school community.

We’ll be back at the start of next term with more ways your school can get involved.

Child Protection Week: 'Check Your Checks' (Ref: 221/25) 

To mark National Child Protection Week, the NSW Government has launched its “Check Your Checks” campaign, reminding all organisations that work with children of their critical responsibility to ensure the Working with Children Check (WWCC) process is followed thoroughly and consistently.

Catholic Schools and systems in NSW share a deep commitment to child safety, a cornerstone of this responsibility is the verification of Working with Children Checks for all staff, contractors, and volunteers engaged in child-related work.

Recently, the Office of the Children’s Guardian has highlighted that the most common breach identified in 2023–24 was a failure to verify WWCC’s before individuals commenced work with children. This is not simply a matter of compliance – it is about safeguarding the trust placed in us by parents, families, and communities.

• All school leaders and system managers must ensure that:
• Every worker and volunteer engaged in child-related work is registered in the WWCC system.
• All WWCC clearances are verified through the Office of the Children’s Guardian.
• Records of verification are maintained and kept up to date.
• Immediate action is taken to remove any unauthorised individuals from child-related work.

Verification links each clearance with the employer, ensuring the Office of the Children’s Guardian can contact us if a person becomes barred. It is, quite simply, one of the most effective tools we have to keep children safe.

This is an opportunity to review your local practices and confirm that all necessary checks and verifications are current. Doing so is an important step in living out our shared mission: to place the safety and wellbeing of every child at the heart of Catholic education.

To access the NSW Government's Media Release for this campaign, click here. 

For resources and further information, please visit the Office of the Children’s Guardian website https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/.

2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations (Ref: 217/25) 

In support of school organisation for the 2026 school year, the 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable dates have been released.

The CSSA, a division of Catholic Schools NSW, creates premium CSSA Trial HSC Examinations by education experts. Our writers and assessors have syllabus expertise and extensive teaching experience to create the CSSA Trial HSC Examinations. 

In support of school organisation for the 2026 school year, the 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable dates have been released.

Key Dates to assist schools:

• The 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable is scheduled from Monday 3 August to Monday 17 August with a security period up to and including 8am, Thursday 20 August 2026.

Professional Learning 

CSNSW School Registration System Forum Day (Ref: 220/25) 

The CSNSW Registration System Forum Day will provide high-level input on policy and processes, as well as opportunities to develop and define quality assurance practices. The forum is open to system (diocesan) leaders and specialists in support of their work in implementing the requirements for school registration and accreditation.

Date: 12 November 2025

Time: 9.30 am – 3.30 pm

Venue: The Assembly, Angel Place, 123 Pitt St Sydney

Cost: Free to attend

Tickets are available on Eventbrite, click on the link below to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/csnsw-registration-system-forum-day-tickets-1641458319019

Panel Webinar: From Conversations to Culture: How Catholic Education is Embedding Crucial Conversations Capability (Ref: 216/25) 

School Updates & Newsletters

Australian Catholic Youth Festival Melbourne 2025 (Ref: 219/25) 

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is set to take place from Sunday30 November to Tuesday 2 December at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). ACYF Welcomes all young Catholics, along with their leaders, bishops, clergy, religious and representatives from ecclesial organisations and groups from all around Australia. This festival is a chance for young Catholics to meet, listen to join together for Mass and prayer, as well as to celebrate being Catholic. 

ACYF also gives young people the opportunity to embark on a pilgrimage and deepen their understanding of the spiritual life. The festival program includes keynotes from key figures in the Church in Australia such as Cardinal Mykola Bychok CSsR,  Bishop Mark Edwards OMI, and Sr Mary Grace SV. 

Date: 30 November to Tuesday 2 December

Venue: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC)

Registration:Registration - Australian Catholic Youth Festival Melbourne 2025

To view the key updates for ACYF, and to download the program, click here.

For more information about ACYF, please visit: Home - Australian Catholic Youth Festival Melbourne 2025

Employment Opportunities 

Apply Now: 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations – Expressions of Interest for the role of a Committee Member (Ref: 224/25)

The Head of Curriculum and Assessment is seeking expressions of interest for the following position.

Committee Member for the following 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examination:

•    Investigating Science

The letter regarding the Expression of Interest requirements for the Committee Member role with the CSSA and the application process is found here.

Interested applicants are asked to send a Cover Letter and current Curriculum Vitae to Monica O’Brien, Head of Curriculum and Assessment at cssa.exams@csnsw.catholic.edu.au by 9am, Friday 26 September 2025. 

Scholarships and Awards

Catholic Schools provide quality training and assessment (Ref: 226/25)