MEMBERS of the Brisbane’s Catholic Education Council (CEC) witnessed the Good News story being put into action when they visited St Joseph’s School, Corinda, and St Augustine’s College, Springfield.
The aim of the visits was to help council members understand the needs and local issues impacting on Catholic schools in different areas of Brisbane archdiocese.
At St Joseph’s School, council members attended a prayer assembly with Year 1 students and parents before principal Maryanne Riley and assistant principal for religious education Bryan Malone took them on a tour of the school facilities.
They also spoke about the school’s building program under the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution.
Corinda-Graceville parish pastoral associate Sister of Charity Sister Cate O’Brien also met with CEC chair Good Samaritan Sister Mary McDonald and council members to learn more about the governance role of the council.
Over at St Augustine’s College, acting principal Peter O’Connor and head of primary Libby Lee provided council members with an overview of the establishment of the college, and subsequent developments.
Members said they were impressed with the use of technology throughout the college, the facilities for vocation education and the partnerships with Centacare and the Goodna parish.
Mr O’Connor said they were pleased to welcome the CEC members and enjoyed the opportunity to tell aspects of the story of the still young college (opened in January 2003), as well as some features of its current and developing practice.
He said staff accompanied the visitors on a tour of the campus and facilities.
“The school visits provide members with a great opportunity to see their strategic plan in action,” he said.
“I do applaud the opportunity that is provided to members from time to time to visit various schools and colleges.”
Mr O’Connor said the visits must assist council members in building a context for their deliberations in the governance of Catholic education.
“Knowing the visit was occurring also built some awareness in this college community of the existence, role and purpose of the council,” he said.
Members of the CEC come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including education, and are responsible for advising Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane in the exercise of his leadership, teaching and governance responsibilities in the area of Catholic schools.
The council has responsibility in a number of areas, including supervision of the implementation of the Catholic Education Vicariate governance policies, strategic planning, policy development; monitoring policy implementation; co-ordination between Brisbane Catholic Education-run schools and religious institute schools.
