Catholic Education Matters

Catholic Education Sandhurst Executive Director Kate Fogarty is joined by Tom Sexton, Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Executive Director, to discuss the recent enterprise bargaining wage offer from the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) and Catholic school employers. Drawing on their front-row view, Kate and Tom reflect on taking an unprecedented step of putting a best-offer directly to employees, the realities of cost-of-living pressures, and why unity and portability across Catholic employers still matter. It’s a candid, good-faith conversation about leadership under pressure, communicating through noise, and keeping students, staff, and mission at the centre of decision-making.Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Ashley Marsh is joined by speech pathologists Lauren Cook and Lauren Naish from Catholic Education Sandhurst for a practical conversation timed with Developmental Language Disorder Day.DLD - a language difficulty you often can’t see - affects about 1 in 14 children. Lauren Cook and Lauren Naish unpack what DLD is, what it can look and sound like in classrooms, and how teachers and families can spot early signs and support students with simple, high-impact strategies.In this episode, we explore:What DLD is and why the theme 'You can’t see DLD' matters for classrooms and familiesEarly indicators across Foundation to Year 6Practical strategies teachers can use ie slower teacher talk, facing the class, concise instructions and visuals, and adjusting video playbackWhy oral language is foundational to literacy and how gaps in language can undermine even strong reading programsHow system-wide OxEd screening and intervention will work in our schools Whether you’re a teacher, school leader or parent, this episode offers clarity, encouragement and next steps for supporting students with DLD, because when we make language visible, we open doors to learning for every child.Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.RESOURCESWebsites mentioned in this podcast:Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (international site)8 classroom tipsThe DLD Project (Australian Site)Speech Pathology AustraliaCommunication milestonesABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and

What happens when a life of public service meets the mission of Catholic education?In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Kate Fogarty is joined by Jacinta Collins, Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), for a rich and reflective conversation on leadership, legacy and the future of Catholic education in Australia.As Jacinta prepares to retire from her role, she shares insights from a remarkable career spanning politics, advocacy and education — from her early days in the Labor movement and Australian Parliament to leading the national body that represents 1,751 Catholic schools and more than 800,000 students.Together, Kate and Jacinta explore:The journey from social work and politics to Catholic education leadership.The mission and role of the NCEC in shaping national education policy.The evolution of unity and purpose across Catholic education in Australia.How faith formation, teacher efficacy, and access to early learning are shaping the next generation.Jacinta's hopes for the future, and why every decision still begins with the student.This episode is part of our series of conversations with executive directors of Catholic education around AustraliaWhether you’re an educator, school leader, or part of the broader Catholic community, this conversation offers a heartfelt look at the people and purpose behind Catholic education in Australia.Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

What does system leadership look like when every decision starts with the student?In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Kate Fogarty is joined by Dr Ed Simons, Executive Director of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools for a conversation about mission-driven system leadership and the practical work of lifting learning at scale.Drawing on more than two decades across the UK and Australia — as teacher, principal, policy advisor and system leader — Ed reflects on governance, culture and the centrality of calm, safe, respectful classrooms. He shares why coherence matters, how to support teacher expertise, and what it takes to keep the student at the centre of every decision.Together, Kate and Ed explore:How system coherence and culture give teachers clarity without losing local context.The work ahead on attendance and behaviour - and building predictable, positive classrooms.Evidence-informed priorities that protect learning time (including smart use of technology).Supporting teacher growth through clear curriculum, coaching and leadership formation.Why Catholic identity and mission shape the purpose and direction of the whole system.This episode is part of our series of conversations with executive directors of Catholic education around AustraliaWhether you’re in the classroom, in school leadership or shaping system strategy, this is a must-listen conversation about purpose, reform and the future of Catholic education.Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Kate Fogarty is joined by Elena Pasquini Douglas, founder of Knowledge Society and a passionate advocate for bringing research and evidence to the forefront of education reform.Drawing on her deep experience working with leaders in education, health and government, Elena reflects on what it takes to move from good intentions to meaningful impact, and why Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to lead the way.Together, Kate and Elena explore:The difference between high-performing and improving systems, and what we can learn from them.The role of school leadership and teacher expertise in student achievement.Why “learning to teach better” is a system-level responsibility.How Catholic schools can live their mission by embedding evidence in every classroom.Whether you're in the classroom, in system leadership or simply passionate about improving outcomes for every child, this is a must-listen conversation about purpose, reform and the future of Catholic education.ABOUT CLASSROOM MASTERYClassroom Mastery provides leaders and teachers with the knowledge, skills and strategies they need to create classroom behaviours and school culture that foster positive learning environments for all students.ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement. ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 55 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 19,750 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.