Scholaris newsletter 7/4/2026
Priority
Full event programme now available! 2026 CSNSW Behaviour and Diverse Learning Symposium (Ref: 81/26)
The 2026 CSNSW Behaviour and Diverse Learning Symposium will be held on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 May at the Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney. The Symposium will address topics including bullying, antisemitism and social cohesion, school security, wellbeing and pastoral care, student behaviour, and supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Day One (Monday 4 May) of the Symposium will focus on School Safety, covering topics such as the NSW Anti-bullying Framework, antisemitism and social cohesion, and school security. This day is aimed at Diocesan Directors, system leaders, wellbeing leaders, heads of counselling, safeguarding leads, and principals, and will feature a keynote address from EmeritusProfessor Donna Cross and Peter Moroney (Nemesis Consultancy). In addition, the program will include diocesan and RI/MPJP Catholic school case studies, panel discussions, and table discussions with ample time for Q&A.
Day Two (Tuesday 5 May) will address a range of topics including wellbeing and pastoral care, anti-bullying, student behaviour, diverse learning, and school safety. The programme will feature keynote presentations from Tom Bennett OBE (International Behaviour Expert and Author), Dr Mark Williams (Internationally Renowned Neuroscientist), and Stina Constantine (International Speaker, Human Rights Advocate, and Wellbeing Expert). Other distinguished speakers at the symposium include: Dr Shiralee Poed, Dr John Burns, Bryan Jeffrey, Dr Michael Casey, Shawn van der Linden, Kate Xavier, and Rev. Adrian Gomez. The day consists of four workshop streams for attendees to choose from, including: Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE), Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), Diverse Learning, and Mental Health/Pastoral Care. This day is designed for a broad audience, including school and Diocesan leaders, diverse learning specialists, wellbeing staff, school counsellors & psychologists, pastoral support staff, and principals.
Date and time: 8:30am Monday 4 May 2026 - 4:00pm Tuesday 5 May.
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, 199 George Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000.
For more information about this event and to register, click here.

Tickets now available! 2026 Education Law Symposium (Ref: 70/26)
Catholic Schools NSW invites you to register for the 2026 Education Law Symposium, to be held at the Hilton Hotel Sydney on Monday, 6 July.
The theme of this year's symposium is Catholic School Governance: Stewardship and Service.
We encourage leaders across Catholic education, including professionals involved in managing and governing Catholic schools, systems, and agencies, to attend.
The event will be an enriching professional development experience, delivering the latest policy and regulatory updates, and reflections on governance and Mission leadership.
This year's symposium will include keynote addresses and panel sessions on:
- Safeguarding
- Staff wellbeing, duty of care, managing risk
- Created and Loved
- Codes of conduct, hate speech regulations, fit and proper person requirements
- Technology and AI
- Not-for-profit requirements.
Tickets for the Symposium are $295, with payment required upon registration.
Date: Monday, 6 July 2026.
Time: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Venue: Hilton Sydney, 488 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
To register, click here.
For more information, visit the 2026 Law Symposium Website.

Professional Learning
Registrations now open for the Curriculum Reform Conference (Ref: 77/26)
Catholic Schools NSW invites you to register for the 2026 K–12 Curriculum Reform Conference: Learning with Grace – Expert practice at the heart, a live online professional learning event for Catholic educators across NSW.
Conference Details:
Date: Monday, 20 July 2026
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm AEST
Format: Online (live streamed to schools and individuals)
Audience: Teachers, school leaders and system leaders
The conference will support schools in planning and implementation of the NSW Curriculum Reform. It brings together leading voices in Catholic mission, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Keynotes and workshop sessions will provide expert guidance, practical support and new learnings for schools and staff.
Ticketing Information:
Option 1 – Group Booking: Whole of school ticket allowing full staff participation
Option 2 - Individual Booking: Educators not in schools register individually
All registrations will have six months of access to the conference content and recordings post event.
For further details and to secure your ticket, click here.

Catholic Secondary Principals Australia (CaSPA) National Conference 2026 (Ref: 80/26)
Catholic School Principals Association of New South Wales will be hosting the Catholic Secondary Principals Australia (CaSPA) National Conference from Tuesday 7 July, to Friday 10 July, at the Hyatt Regency, Sydney.
With the theme Inspiring Leadership: Celebrating Faith, Learning and Wellbeing, this conference offers the opportunity to reflect, connect, and collaborate with other leaders in Catholic education. Attendees are invited to engage in thought-provoking discussions, and explore ways to continue to inspire purpose, critical thinking, and hope in future generations of students.
Keynotes include Professor Br David Hall fms, Dallas McInerney, Daniella Falecki, Danielle Cronin, Dr Neil Carrington, Dr John Lee.
Secondary Principals, Primary Principals, School Leadership teams and System Leaders, are welcome to attend.
Date: 7- 10 July 2026
Location: Hyatt Regency, 161 Sussex St, Sydney, NSW 2000.
For more information and to register, click here.

STEM MAD Introductory Teacher Workshop (Ref: 74/26)
Join leading STEM educator Dr Simon Crook, Director of CrookED Science, for this free half-day introductory workshop designed for primary teachers. Leveraging his proven record of success with finalists and winners in the Catholic Network Australia (CNA) STEM MAD competition, Simon will equip you with essential strategies. He will unpack how to:
- Select and organise students.
- Guide them through the STEM design process and iterative prototyping cycle.
- Offer suggestions on real-world problems to solve and the final video product.
The details for the introductory workshop are:
Date: Friday, 1 May 2026
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Format: Online (via Microsoft Teams link to provided closer to the date)
Registration: https://csnsw.link/STEMMadIntroWorkshop
This introductory session will be followed by three further half-day student support workshops (via Teams) for students and teachers to work through their projects.
STEM MAD Student Support Workshops
Give your STEM students a competitive edge with direct access and expert feedback from leading STEM educator Dr Simon Crook, Director of CrookED Science. These free three half-day support workshops are dedicated to refining their STEM MAD projects. For maximum benefit, it is highly recommended that the STEM teacher also attend the earlier Teacher Introductory Workshop.
These are progressive workshops and will be held on:
- Thu 11 Jun (9.00am – 12.00pm)
- Thu 25 Jun (9.00am – 12.00pm)
- Thu 10 Sep (9.00am – 12.00pm)
To register your students for these sessions, please follow this link: https://csnsw.link/STEMMadStudentWorkshops

Community Language Schools Annual Conference (Ref: 73/26)
The NSW Federation of Community Language Schools Inc will hold its Annual Community Languages Schools Conference on Saturday 18 April 2026 at the Eastern Ave Auditorium in the University of Sydney.
This event will welcome 700 teachers of languages and feature a range of local, interstate, and international language teaching experts. Language teachers have the unique opportunity to strengthen their teaching practices with practical, relevant insights from two keynote presentations and a wide selection of 30 engaging workshops designed to support professional development.
Date: Saturday 18 April 2026,
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm AEST
Location: Eastern Ave Auditorium, University of Sydney, Camperdown
For more information and to register, click here.
Employment Opportunities
Catholic Schools NSW - Manager, Wellbeing. (Ref: 76/26)
CSNSW is recruiting the position of Manager, Wellbeing.
The Manager Wellbeing is responsible for supporting a range of policy and program areas including student wellbeing and safety, PDHPE, National Student Wellbeing Program, student behaviour, road safety and school attendance.
The Manager, Wellbeing, will work in close collaboration with the Senior Manager, Wellbeing and CVE, colleagues in the Education Policy Directorate and the Legal and Risk Directorate.
This is a full time, permanent position, working from the CSNSW office located in Sydney CBD.
Applications close Monday 13 April 2026.
If you are interested in this position or know someone who may be, please share details or click on the link below to view full position description and information on how to apply.
Scholarships and Awards
Applications now open! 2026 Schools Plus Teaching Awards (Ref: 65/26)
Applications have opened for the 2026 Schools Plus Teaching Awards, a national initiative celebrating teachers who are making a meaningful impact in some of Australia’s most disadvantaged communities.
The Schools Plus Teaching awards recognise educators who extend far beyond everyday teaching responsibilities. From helping students overcome learning barriers to creating supportive classrooms for learning, these teachers play a crucial role in helping young people thrive. In many cases, they are a consistent source of guidance and encouragement, influencing students’ lives in ways that reach well beyond academic achievement.
Not only does the award acknowledge the individual, but also their knowledge and experience on best practice and innovation.
Important dates for 2026:
- Applications close: 8 May 2026, 5:00pm AEST
- Recipients announced: June 2026
- Awards ceremony: 15 September 2026 at Parliament House, Canberra
Teachers are encouraged to apply and be acknowledged for the difference they make every day.
To learn more about the award, and to apply go to: Schools Plus Teaching Awards - Australian Schools Plus
Apply now for the NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships (Ref: 47/26)
Successful applicants will receive $15,000 to complete a 5-week study tour within Australia or abroad. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the most acclaimed schools and centres for teaching and training and collaborate with professionals in a key focus area to inspire positive outcomes for students in NSW schools.
If you are a current temporary or permanent teacher or in an early childhood centre in a Catholic school in NSW, you may be eligible to apply.
The NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships include:
- Premier's Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship
- Premier's Creativity across the Curriculum Scholarship
- Premier's Early Childhood Australia Education Scholarship
- Premier's Economics and Business Educators NSW Commerce Scholarship
- Premier's Hicksons Lawyers Rural and Remote Education Scholarship
- Premier's History Teachers' Association History Scholarship
- Premier's NESA Quality Teaching Scholarship
- Premier's Reserve Bank of Australia Economics Scholarship
- Premier's Teachers Mutual Bank Aboriginal Education Scholarship
- Premier’s University of New England STEM and Technology Scholarship
- Premier's University of Sydney Mathematics Scholarship
- Premier's Vocational Education in Schools Scholarship
- Premier's Western Sydney University Inclusive Education Scholarship
Apply for the NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships here
Applications close Friday 15 May 2026, 11:59 pm (AEST).
For further information, please visit the NSW Premier's Teacher Scholarships webpage
View the Frequently Asked Questions, or contact the program team via premierscholarships@det.nsw.edu.au or (02) 7814 3820.

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In this week's newsletter we cover: Professional Learning, Student Resources, School Updates and Newsletters, Scholarships and Awards, Legal and Policy and other Priority items. -
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In this week's newsletter we cover: Professional Learning, Student Resources, School Updates and Newsletters, Scholarships and Awards, Legal and Policy and other Priority items. -
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In this week's newsletter we cover: Professional Learning, Student Resources, School Updates and Newsletters, Scholarships and Awards, Legal and Policy and other Priority items. -
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