2022 | Issue 15 | SJC Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is the final week for the graduating class of 2022. On Monday the students said farewell at a full school assembly where our Year 12 students exited through a Year 7 guard of honour. On Monday evening the Graduation Mass was celebrated by Old Collegian, Fr Matt Thomas. It was a beautiful and moving celebration. Wednesday was Celebration Day with fancy dress and parade and tomorrow night the graduates and their families will gather for a valedictory dinner. Next week is ‘swot vac’ with VCE exams commencing the following week.

The final half of our graduates’ St Joseph’s education has been undertaken in a COVID impacted environment with the first lockdown having occurred during term one of Year 10. It has been a really challenging three years for them and they are an exceptionally unified group with some outstanding individuals. The author and poet Khalil Gibran reminds us; “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” We can’t see most of the scars we do know that these are outstanding young men with strong souls. Perhaps because, as Oprah Winfrey claims, “where there is no struggle, there is no strength”.

The Class of 22 is impressive, collectively and individually. We wish them every blessing in their bright futures.

Last week the Geelong Advertiser carried a front-page headline based on an article which referenced a report into the operation of Edmund Rice Education Australia from a governance perspective. While EREA is St Joseph’s governing body the headline suggested that there were shocking failings at St Joseph's. While we were offered the opportunity to respond by contributing to a follow-up article we respectfully declined on the basis that this would give the issue more prominence than it deserved, particularly in relation to St Joseph’s.

I would like to provide an accurate update to you in relation to governance and EREA.

Following a review into St Kevin’s College the state regulating body (VRQA) and the trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia (TEREA) entered into an enforceable undertaking which required reviews of EREA and all Victorian schools governed by TEREA.

The first phase of review focused on child safety and St Joseph’s was found to be fully compliant (with the term ‘exemplary’ used in feedback). The second phase was a governance review which found that TEREA had inadequate ‘line of sight’ regarding the operation of schools. Thirdly a ‘culture and capabilities’ report was conducted on EREA. The final version of this report contained six main recommendations for areas of improvement at EREA and these are detailed in the letter posted on our website and referenced in my email to families last week.

It is pertinent to note that the report does not include changes which have been made in the last 18 months. These have been substantial and go a long way towards meeting the recommendations of the report and the expectation of the VRQA.

One of these changes is the creation of five legal entities from the 50+ EREA schools across Australia. Five of the six Victorian EREA schools, (St Patrick’s Ballarat, Parade Bundoora, St Bernard’s Essendon, St Mary’s College and ourselves), will be governed as a separate entity within EREA. The sixth (St Kevin’s Toorak), will be governed as a separate EREA entity. I am delighted to announce that Mr Andy Kuppe, current Principal of Parade College, has been appointed as the inaugural director of our Victorian entity.

As you may also be aware we are currently operating in an unsettled industrial environment with the Independent Education Union (IEU) representing teachers, and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, (CECV) representing employers, have been unable to finalise negotiations on a new agreement as to salary and working conditions for school staff. College leadership are supportive of improved salary and conditions for our staff. There is currently a ‘no freebies’ campaign being followed by some of our staff which will see them choosing not to be involved in tasks outside the direct requirements of their role.

Many elements of the College run solely on the goodwill of staff most of whom are generous with their time and talents. I have confidence in the professionalism and student focus of our staff and hence I am confident that, while there will be some inconvenience, there will be little or no impact on student learning. The College leadership team and staff union representatives have been advocating with the IEU and the CECV respectively for a rapid resolution to the current impasse.

Last week we wrote to all families detailing our high expectations of student behaviour on buses. May I reiterate our request that you discuss these expectations and reinforce them with your son. Any behaviour which runs the risk of distracting the driver places all those on board at risk. Following the tragic bus accident involving Loretto College Ballarat students, we are even more acutely aware of the possible ramifications of an accident. I thank you in anticipation for your ongoing support in this matter.

God Bless