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Tickets on sale now: 2025 CSSA Symposium – “Excellence in P-12 Religious Education in Catholic Schools” (Ref: 143/25) 

Catholic Schools NSW invites School and System Leaders, Religious Education Coordinators, Classroom Teachers, Key Learning Area Coordinators, and Stage P-6 Year Coordinators in Catholic education to join us at the 2025 CSSA Symposium – “Excellence in P-12 Religious Education in Catholic Schools” on Friday, 5 September 2025, in Sydney.

This year’s CSSA Symposium focuses on academic excellence in P-12 Religious Education and delves into the purpose of a properly constituted Religious Education curriculum. It will explore the role of Catholic schools as ecclesial communities and the importance of educators in bringing to life the Mission of the Catholic Church for students, their families, and the wider school community.

The event will emphasise excellence in curriculum, assessment, and faith and mission programs for evangelisation and catechesis. Discussions will highlight opportunities for educators to design and deliver quality curriculum, assessment, and faith experiences across the full continuum of learning from pre-school to Year 12.

Date: Friday 5 September 2025

Time: 8:45am - 4:00pm (registration desk opens at 8:15am)

Location: The Amora Hotel, Jamison Sydney

Cost: $450.00

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/cssa-symposium-excellence-in-p-12-religious-education-in-catholic-schools-tickets-1423148578709

The location is close to Martin Place Metro, Circular Quay and Wynyard Train Stations, Light Rail, Buses or Secure Parking Stations.

As you would be aware, due to changes by the Commonwealth Government for the Non-Government Reform Support Fund that was available to cover the costs of prior CSSA Symposiums, the CSSA has reintroduced a fee for registration to each CSSA Symposium. This fee charged is reflective of covering the costs incurred to host the event.

Australian Early Development Census 2024 data release (Ref: 138/25) 

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) 2024 data collection outcomes are now available. 

This census is an Australian Government initiative, for which data is collected every 3 years. Data is reported at the national, state, community and school levels. Reports detail the number and percentage of children considered to be developmentally vulnerable, at risk or on track in each of the five AEDC domains, for example, language and cognitive skills. You can also compare data across different years. 

Principals of primary schools with six or more Kindergarten students who took part in the data collection are receiving a copy of the full AEDC School Profile Addendum. This addendum includes trend data for all collections in which the school participated, as well as state, territory and national results to enable comparison. 

The AEDC supports data-driven planning. Reflecting on your local context ensures planning is responsive and inclusive of children’s experiences. Knowing the early childhood development trends can help identify community strengths, challenges and opportunities.

How to access the data:

• AEDC national report  
• AEDC community data
• A detailed report that highlights the key findings from the AEDC NSW data will be available on the AEDC reports page soon.

How to use the data:

• Watch ‘About the AEDC’ explainer video
• Professional learning and resources
• Register for the AEDC NSW research symposium livestream on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, where you can learn about ways to engage with the data.
• Attend one of the AEDC NSW 2024 data release drop-in sessions, designed to support various stakeholders to engage and ask questions about the AEDC 2024 data.

Contact us  

The AEDC NSW team within the Department of Education welcomes the opportunity to meet with you. Contact aedc@det.nsw.edu.au or mary.taiwo@det.nsw.edu.au (02 7814 3083) to set up a meeting. 

Professional Learning 

A Catholic Conference for Catholic Educators and Catholic Leadership Teams! (Ref: 146/25) 

The K-12 Curriculum Conference is a significant event for NSW Catholic education, attracting over 400 delegates from across the state each year. Take a look to see what brings back Catholic educators and leadership teams year after year!

For me the takeaway is having the opportunity to network amongst a variety of dioceses …take back to our school.                                            2024 Principal Attendee

Will you be taking up the opportunity to network with your NSW Catholic education community in September?

Take a peek at 2024 (1 min video) and hear what last year’s attendees had to say about the conference. 

Session and Master Classes will include: 

• leadership and leading change
• the Liberal Arts for contemporary Catholic schooling
• NSW curriculum reform and new syllabuses
• delivering quality curriculum and assessment
• artificial intelligence in teaching and learning

                      It’s inspirational, it's aspirational, and it really gives teachers hope for what is possible!

                                                                         2024 Presenter

Tickets still available!  

Last year’s conference was sold out. Register now for the two-day conference.

Once you have tickets, you have a range of accommodation styles in the Sydney Olympic Precinct, with our promotional discounts for delegates. Details are on the CSNSW website.

                                                                           REGISTER TODAY

                          Thank you for an incredible conference! So much valuable learning to take away.

                                                                             2024 Participant

2025 Connected Catholic Communities Symposium (Ref: 145/25) 

We know that the evidence consistently “… indicates that outside factors impacting school communities of high complexity and challenges can be offset through the coordination and integration of community and government services to provide wrap-around supports for families and students.” However, where do you start and how do you implement without adding even more work to our school leadership teams?

                         The Church is called to be a community that welcomes, that listens, and that accompanies,                                                               especially those who are on the margins. 

                                                                Pope Leo XIV – First Address

This year’s Symposium, Connected for Impact, will focus on turning research into meaningful action, as we continue to explore and advance opportunities to build impactful partnerships, both within and beyond the school gate.

Our dynamic group of thought leaders and practitioners - who are redefining how schools connect with families and communities in an increasingly complex world - will share a diverse array of practical resources to assist in this work. These include a:

• strategic partnerships framework
• trust-building relational tools
• toolkit for measuring social impact
• data dictionary, and more.

Meet The Keynotes

Anne T. Henderson, our international keynote speaker, has been a strong and passionate advocate for unravelling and enriching the relationship between families, schools, and communities since 1981. She has steadily tracked research and effective practice on how engaging families can improve student achievement and life prospects, especially in diverse and low-income communities.

Paul Milgate is a Senior Catholic Education leader who is mission-led and has enabled and driven many system-wide change programs to build systemic and school capacity to uplift student and community outcomes. Paul has extensive experience in leading and developing a systemic approach to extended services operating in schools that deliver positive social impact and return on investment. This year, CSNSW is privileged to have Paul sharing his expertise and passion with the Connected Catholic Communities Project through the Extended Services School Model workstream.

Cath Garrett-Jones is an experienced education and family engagement professional who is passionate about listening and responding to the needs of families. As Executive Director of the Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP), she is enthusiastic about supporting schools in developing and building their ability to engage with families, ensuring meaningful connections that contribute to strong partnerships. Her most recent study endeavours took her to Harvard.

Les Hems, Principal at Right Hand Consulting, is a career-long social impact professional and is recognised as an expert in social planning, social infrastructure, strategy development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and social impact measurement.

Date: Thursday 14 August 2025, 9 am – 4 pm 

Venue: Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney 

Cost: $100 for full-day program and resources 

Register: https://www.csnsw.catholic.edu.au/events/symposium/2025-connected-catholic-communities-symposium

What does a connected Catholic Communities Symposium look like? 

Catch up on previous years conversations

Access the 2024 Symposium HERE 

Watch the 2022 Symposium HERE 

                                         We are starting from a base of many connections. 

                                                                    2024 Participant

Student Resources

 2025 Online Phonics Screening Check for Year 1 students MONDAY 11-FRIDAY 29 August 2025 (Term 3) (Ref: 125/25) 

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check (PSC) is an optional online reading assessment available to Catholic Schools NSW schools with a Year 1 student cohort. 

The assessment takes 5–7 minutes and is conducted by classroom teachers with each student individually. Student responses are auto-mapped to indicators from the National Literacy Learning Progressions. 

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check provides teachers with an overview of a student's progress in phonics. This information helps teachers make decisions during the teaching and learning cycle. 

The Check assesses the phonic knowledge and skills a student has learnt, to blend sounds together to read a word. 

The Student Assessment Analysis provided after the check assists teachers in making decisions that will help inform the next steps to meet a student’s individual learning needs. Teachers use an online tool to enter student responses. The online tool is available via the Assessing Literacy and Numeracy (ALAN) portal. CSNSW teachers access the ALAN portal using their CSNSW NETid credentials.

The assessment window for 2025 is Monday 11- Friday 29 August (Term 3). 

The assessment is available to systemic and RI/MPJP schools with a Year 1 cohort. Systemic schools should check with their Diocese regarding whether the Diocese will register on their behalf, as these arrangements vary across the state.

RI/MPJP schools and systemic schools not included in whole-of-Diocese opt-in to the 2025 PSC should register their expression of interest to participate via email to karen.ferrante@censw.catholic.edu.au.

Registration closes 1 August 2025.

For more information, contact Karen Ferrante: karen.ferrante@csnsw.catholic.edu.au 

Early Scholars Program - Campion College Australia (Ref: 141/25) 

Are your students curious about Ancient Greek Philosophy? This year, Campion College invites year 11 and 12 students to apply to the 2025 Early Scholars Program. 

The Early Scholars program is a philosophy intensive that allows students to complete a First-Year (Level 100) university unit that can be used as an alternative admission pathway into Campion College's Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts.

Focusing on PHI101: Socrates and the Examined Life, this unit will explore Plato's Apology and the fundamental human questions posed by Socrates, the foundational philosopher of Greek Philosophy.

Students will attend classes on campus over four days during the September school holidays, getting a taste of university life in Campion's unique academic setting. 

The Early Scholars Program gives students the opportunity to learn from expert academics, to connect with like-minded peers, and to take the first steps in their university education. 

Expressions of interest are due by 21 July 2025. 

For more information on what is involved, click here

To submit an expression of interest, click here

Legal and Policy

Employment Opportunities 

Catholic Schools NSW - Compliance and Risk Officer - School Registration (Ref: 144/25) 

A role is available in our School Registration unit for an experienced Compliance and Risk Officer. This position is responsible for supporting the Senior Manager, School Registration and Accreditation (‘the Senior Manager’) and, more broadly, the Head of Education Policy and Regulation, to ensure that CSNSW functions effectively as the single registration system authority for the Catholic education sector.

This is a full-time, permanent position, working from the CSNSW office located in the Sydney CBD.

Applications close Friday 11 July 2025.

If you are interested in this position or know someone who may be, please share details or click on the link below to view the full position description and information on how to apply

Compliance and Risk Officer - School Registration Job in Sydney NSW - SEEK

Catholic Schools NSW - Assistant Company Secretary (Ref: 135/25) 

This position will support the Company Secretary by undertaking all administration activities required to support the work of the CSNSW Board and its Committees. The purpose of this role is to ensure the efficient and effective operations of CSNSW Board meetings and related activities and to deliver high-quality support to the board of CSNSW.

This is a part-time, permanent position, based at the CSNSW office in the Sydney CBD.

Applications are being actively reviewed. 

If you are interested in this position or know someone who may be, please share details or click on the link below to view the full position description and information on how to apply.

(28) Assistant Company Secretary - Part-time (3 days per week) | JLegal Australia | LinkedIn

Scholarships and Awards

Catholic School Students and Trainers from NSW win at Regional Training Awards (Ref: 148/25) 

Catholic Schools NSW Students have again demonstrated the advantages of studying VET courses, winning Student of the Year awards in both VET Schools Student (VETSS) and School-Based Apprentice or Trainee (SBAT) categories. Additionally, teachers in CSNSW schools have won Teacher/Trainer Awards. https://www.instagram.com/skillsnsw/

VET Schools Student of the Year

SBAT of the Year

VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year

Catholic school Students take home the medals at WorldSkills 2025 National Championships (Ref: 147/25) 

Congratulations to the 25 talented students who represented their Schools, Catholic Education, and the NSW school sector at the WorldSkills 2025 National Championships in Brisbane. NSW brought home the VETiS shield by winning a total of 19 medals. Catholic students put in a massive effort and collectively won four Gold, four Silver, seven Bronze, and one Certificate of Excellence. 

They were well supported by their Team Leaders from CSNSW, the Department of Education and the Association of Independent Schools. 

Five Catholic teachers also judged in the various industry competitions: Beauty (Make-up), Bricklaying, Electrotechnology, Health Services and Information Technology.

https://www.worldskills.org.au/2025-national-championships/2025results/

4 Gold: 

Electrotechnology: Zachary Rutter HSCB DoW 

Cookery: Quentin Lassauniere DLSCC SCS 

Health: Torah Pauls Newman Lismore 

Business: Arjuna Devine Newman Lismore

4 Silver: 

Electrotechnology: Jack Mackey Newman Lismore 

Health: Penelope Sprague Newman Lismore 

Business: Niamh Malone Catherine McAuley Parramatta 

Primary Industries: Angus Pursehouse St Greg’s DoW

7 Bronze: 

Brick&Block: Meisha Newman Lismore 

Electrotechnology: Maverick Masutti LSCC SCS 

Primary Industries: Charlie Spry RBCC WF (Bathurst RTO) 

Wall&Floor: Elijah Smith Newman Lismore 

Beauty Make-Up: Sienna Balocco SCCC 

Business: Claudia Gaudiosi St Mary’s DoW 

Health: Gabriella Viterale LSCCB SCS

1 Certificate of Excellence:

Cookery: Carla-Jean Loria Good Samaritan CC SCS

CSNSW Team Leaders: 

Automotive: Steve Dibbs - Lismore 

Electrotechnology: Steve Cornell - Lismore

Hairdressing: Katie Teague – Sydney 

Health Services: Kirra Porter – Sydney 

Tourism: Bev Towle – Lismore

CSNSW Judges:

Beauty (Make-up): Puline Cole – Sydney 

Bricklaying: Luke O’Brien – Lismore 

Electrotechnology: Cameron Dribbbus – Wollongong 

Health Services: Sue Leahy – Lismore 

Information Technology: Christina Desmond – Wollongong