2019 Annual Report CONTENTS Chair’s Report 3 Executive Director’s Report 4 Leadership 6 Advocacy 8 Engagement 11 Highlights 12 Statistical snapshot 16 Governance 19 Financial statements 21 NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2 NICHOLAS MOORE Chair, National Catholic Education Commission I was pleased to accept the invitation by able to secure and maintain government • Support the continual improvement of the Chair of the Bishops Commission for funding of Catholic schools. This ensures educational outcomes for all students, and Education, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Australian families have the choice of a faith- • Respond to the needs of families through Fisher OP, to take on the role of Chair of the based education for their children, in large strong advocacy for recurrent and capital National Catholic Education Commission at towns and small, across the country. funding, legislation and policy. the start of 2020. As we head towards the celebration of this The focus on improvement is critical for It’s a remarkable achievement that Catholic milestone, it’s timely to take stock of all Catholic schools to continue to best serve education has successfully responded to that has been achieved and to look ahead students from all backgrounds, particularly meet the needs of Australia’s changing to identify how we can better deliver an those who are disadvantaged or require population, and economic and social excellent standard of Catholic schooling for additional learning support. Like all circumstances over 200 years. generations of young people to come. organisations who strive for excellence, we need to strengthen what we do well, and From very humble beginnings, Catholic 2019 was a period of significant leadership identify ways to improve those areas where education has grown to become the single transition with the appointment of former we haven’t been performing. This requires largest school sector outside of government, Senator Jacinta Collins to the role of National honest reflection, targeted approaches for educating some 764,000 - or one in five Executive Director in February, followed by improvement, and a willingness to learn from, students - across 1,746 schools and the appointment of Deputy Director Peter and share, best practice across the country employing over 96,000 staff in 2019. Hamill in August. and across the world. I admire the sacrifices and resourcefulness With this leadership in place, the Commission We will need to show the same tenacity and of our predecessors - clergy, religious and lay will be entering a new strategic phase resourcefulness as those that came before people - who built a strong foundation and focusing on supporting state and territory us, to meet the current and future needs of rich tradition of Catholic schooling with very education commissions and our school our students and school communities in a little government support in the early years. systems to consolidate, improve and expand period of significant economic and global our delivery of Catholic schooling. uncertainty. Thankfully, through determined advocacy and engagement, the Catholic sector has been Our national priorities will be guided by an On behalf of the Commission, I am pleased to evidenced-based approach to: commend the 2019 Annual Report and look • Enliven faith formation and religious forward to building on this work with a clear education focus for the future. “From very humble beginnings, Catholic education has grown to Chair’s become the single largest school Report sector outside of government” 3 NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 3 JACINTA COLLINS Executive Director, National Catholic Education Commission My first year as Executive Director of the The Catholic sector had significant I am deeply grateful for the support and National Catholic Education Commission has representation on a number of national leadership of the Bishops Conference been one of reward and challenge. It’s been committees and working groups, through the and our Chair Nicholas Moore. I thank our a time of listening and connecting with state generous support of representatives from commissioners and all those who represent and territory commissions, dioceses, school our state and territory commissions and Catholic education on national committees communities, and various education, parent schools systems. This active engagement and working parties for their contribution, and government bodies, to understand the ensures government and educational bodies and extend my sincere appreciation to key issues for Catholic education, and to recognise and consider the distinctive Deputy Director Peter Hamill and the team in determine future directions. differences and needs of Catholic schools the secretariat for their hard work during a in developing educational policy and other significant period of transition. As you will read in the following pages, initiatives. 2019 was a significant period of advocacy I would like to acknowledge the contribution and engagement with the Federal Election, I was also able to have a number of of outgoing Chair Greg Crafter AO who and the need to secure and finalise fair productive meetings and conversations with served on the National Catholic Education funding arrangements with the government several Catholic Education Commissions and Commission for seven years. Greg has to give our school communities greater diocesan bodies and I look forward to future made a significant contribution to Catholic certainty. Central to this work has been our opportunities to establish strong links and education and the Church over many involvement in the development of a new collaboration across the Catholic sector. decades, as well as in education as a funding measure to more equitably assess South Australian Member of Parliament parents’ capacity to contribute to Catholic One of the most enjoyable parts of my and Education Minister. He has been an schooling. role has been visiting diocesan and school incredible support to me during my first year communities across Australia. I was pleased as National Executive Director, and I wish him At the national level, we have been engaged to be able to travel to regional communities well in his future endeavours. in a number of reviews and consultations and metropolitan areas across Australia, including the Plenary Council, Religious where I saw the distinct differences, but also Finally, I would like to commend the 2019 Freedom, NAPLAN reporting, the National the shared mission of our schools first-hand. Annual Report to you and congratulate all School Resourcing Board’s reviews of Core to this mission is our commitment to those who have contributed to the many approved system authorities and students religious education and faith formation, not achievements outlined in this report. with disability, and the review of senior only of our students and staff, but also in secondary pathways, to name a few. partnership with the families we are here to serve. 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of As we look ahead, particularly to our the Child. In this context, it was timely for celebration of 200 years of Catholic Australia to review the Melbourne Declaration education, we will be refining our outlining the educational goals for Australian strategic priorities and the work of Executive schooling. Our contribution to the new Alice the national secretariat to ensure Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration we are providing effective support highlighted the spiritual and pastoral needs of and advocacy for the needs of young people, as well as their academic and our systems and schools. Director’s developmental needs. Report 4 NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 4 Catholic schools have been serving Australian families for 200 years. 768,295STUDENTS 98,402STAFF SCHOOLS1,751 NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 5 Leadership Leadership appointments “Jacinta brings a wealth of experience, Peter (pictured above) has a wealth of skills and dedication to the role. Since experience and understanding of Catholic In February 2019, former federal Labor entering the Senate in 1995, she has held education and administration, having served Senator from Victoria, Jacinta Collins, was several leadership roles and has served on as an educator, school and system leader for appointed to the role of Executive Director of the frontbench in the portfolios of school over 43 years. the National Catholic Education Commission education, early childhood, workplace (NCEC) by the Bishops Commission for relations, mental health and aging. “In his most recent role, Peter has been Catholic Education. responsible for leading a system of 44 Archbishop Anthony thanked retired Director schools and 1,600 staff; setting the strategic The Chair of the Bishops Commission for of Schools in the Diocese of Maitland- vision and direction for Catholic education in Education, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Newcastle Ray Collins who was the interim the Diocese; and ensuring sound stewardship welcomed Jacinta to the role: Executive Director throughout 2018 and until of limited resources within a challenging and Jacinta commenced the role on 18 February changing landscape,” Jacinta said at the time “Jacinta will bring a number of skills to the 2019. of his appointment. role, including a deep understanding