National Catholic Education Commission

Today we celebrate International Day of People with Disability, a day to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability, and to herald their achievements and contributions. Australians are asked to pray for, and work towards, a just society that offers the most vulnerable in the community equal opportunities, compassion, and inclusion. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Disability Projects Office has prepared a range of helpful media resources for the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disability. Access the resources https://bit.ly/3CI3Z08

SPOTLIGHT ON CYBERBULLYING RESOURCES. The eSafety Commissioner’s Spotlight on cyberbullying has a range of resources created to help your school community prevent and respond to cyberbullying. Downloadable resources include: Taking a whole-school approach Professional learning programs Classroom resources Responding to cyberbullying Content and posters for schools Resources for children and young people Parent and carer support Download the resources https://bit.ly/3ZtiNZF

ST JOHN AMBULANCE DRIVE-A-THON ROLLS ON. St John Ambulance launched its first-ever national Drive-a-thon last month, a campaign designed to equip schools with life-saving technology. Day 22 of the Drive-a-thon saw an interactive CPR activation at St Joseph’s Primary School in Warnambool, teaching more than 100 students life-saving skills. They then provided Automated External Defibrillators to St Patrick's Primary School Camperdown and St Brendan's Primary School Coragulac—two more communities now equipped to save lives! The Drive-a-thon began in Darwin on National Restart a Heart Day, 16 October, and will conclude in Adelaide on 14 December, just in time for the St John Ambulance Carols by Candlelight, which will be broadcast nationally on Channel 7. Follow their journey https://bit.ly/3OupvIw

Tuesday 3 December is International Day of People with Disability which aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability, and to celebrate their achievements and contributions. Australians are asked to pray for, and work towards, a just society that offers the most vulnerable in the community equal opportunities, compassion, and inclusion. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Disability Projects Office has prepared a range of helpful media resources for the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disability. Access the resources https://bit.ly/3CI3Z08

2025 PM's PRIZES FOR SCIENCE NOMINATIONS CLOSE SOON. There is still time to nominate an inspiring science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2025 Prime Ministers Prizes for Science. Recipients of the science teaching prizes now receive $250,000 in prize money – an increase from the previous $50,000. This recognises the vital role that teachers play in motivating and inspiring students’ interest in STEM. You can nominate in just 5 easy steps! 1. Start with your name and contact details 2. Add your nominee’s name and contact details – ensure your nominee is willing to be nominated. 3. Write a short description of your nominee’s achievements – highlight their impact in the classroom and beyond, showing how they make STEM accessible and exciting. 4. Provide names and contact details of two supporters – they will validate your nominee’s accomplishments and provide a fuller picture of their impact. 5. Attach an up-to-date CV for your nominee (2 pages max) – a concise CV showcases their career and contributions to STEM education. Closing date: Tuesday 17 December 2024 5:00pm AEDT Nominate here https://bit.ly/3Z7aUJj

2025 PM's PRIZES FOR SCIENCE NOMINATIONS CLOSE SOON. There is still time to nominate an inspiring science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2025 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science. Recipients of the science teaching prizes now receive $250,000 in prize money – an increase from the previous $50,000. This recognises the vital role that teachers play in motivating and inspiring students’ interest in STEM. You can nominate in just 5 easy steps! 1️⃣ Start with your name and contact details 2️⃣ Add your nominee’s name and contact details – ensure your nominee is willing to be nominated. 3️⃣ Write a short description of your nominee’s achievements – highlight their impact in the classroom and beyond, showing how they make STEM accessible and exciting. 4️⃣ Provide names and contact details of two supporters – they will validate your nominee’s accomplishments and provide a fuller picture of their impact. 5️⃣ Attach an up-to-date CV for your nominee (2 pages max) – a concise CV showcases their career and contributions to STEM education. Closing date: Tuesday 17 December 2024 5:00pm AEDT Nominate here: https://bit.ly/3Z7aUJj

ONLINE SAFETY VIDEOS FOR EDUCATORS. The eSafety Commissioner has released new short professional learning videos, designed to empower teachers and school leaders with best practices in online safety education. Each short video provides practical 'how to' examples covering rights and responsibilities, resilience and risk, effective whole school approaches, integrated and specific curriculum, and continuous improvement. The materials are designed for classroom teachers, principals, school wellbeing leaders, and school counsellors and psychologists. Access the resources: https://bit.ly/4g4FxVm

JUBILEE OF SPORT PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST. Do you know a budding photographer? The Vatican is promoting an international photography contest, titled: ‘Sport in Motion’. It is for young photographers, professional or amateur, under the age of 25. There are 5 categories: sport and hope; sport and family; sport and disability; sport and politics and sport and ecology. The winners will be awarded a meeting with the Holy Father, a visit to the Vatican Museums, a workshop in the Osservatore Romano newspaper and their photo will be published internationally. The deadline is 30 April, 2025. Note: Airfares & accommodation are not included in this prize. FIND OUT MORE  https://bit.ly/4fX0O2S  

ACER SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLANNING SURVEY NOW OPEN. The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is collaborating with the Menzies Foundation to gain insights into the strategic planning processes in Australian schools. The goal is to evaluate their effectiveness and identify any necessary support that schools may need. If you have participated in school strategic planning—as a teacher, staff member, school leader, or within an educational system—ACER wants to hear from you. Your feedback, which will remain anonymous, will inform a public report set to be published in 2025. The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes. Take the survey:  https://bit.ly/4i00imU

SAVE THE DATE: 2025 AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH FESTIVAL. The Australian Catholic Youth Festival will be held in central Melbourne from 30 November – 2 December, 2025. The festival, expected to attract well over 10,000 young people is the largest Catholic youth gathering in the nation, welcoming young people in Year 9 (in 2025) – 25 years of age, as well as their accompanying leaders and chaplains. The festival program will provide opportunities of encounter, formation, the celebration of the Sacraments, social action, dialogue, forming new connections, encountering new expressions of prayer and of course – having had a deeper encounter with Christ. The festival will conclude the Church’s celebration of the international Jubilee Year. https://bit.ly/3AQnm6D