Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney has visited Leura to speak on the state of education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Ms Burney addressed an audience of educators and community members from Catholic schools across NSW at the Fairmont Resort on October 12.
Ms Burney spoke about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education initiatives aimed to assist Indigenous students and keep Indigenous culture alive.
This included subsidised childcare for Indigenous students, along with First Nations language programs the government will roll out across 60 Australian primary schools.
"There is nothing more important than improvements in well-being and outcomes," said Ms Burney.
She spoke highly of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and what it means for Indigenous Australians.
"Prior to this agreement, First Nations people did not have a seat at the table," she said. "In fact, [they were] sitting under the table at best.
This agreement is about partnership.
The minister closed out her address by urging attendees to support the Voice to Parliament referendum.
"The Uluru statement is poetic. It says we seek constitutional reforms to empower our people to take a rightful place in our country. When we have power over our destiny, our children will flourish.
"The nation's birth certificate will finally be completed."
Transforming with the Spirit: Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander State Education Conference 2022 co-hosted by the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta is being run through to October 13. The conference hosts several keynote speakers, art showcases, and activities such as yarning and painting.
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17 Apr 2023
Upskill at CathWest
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30 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
Very proud of Mernaπ©βπ« and Yaseminπ©βπ« from St Agnes CHS Rooty Hill, two fantastic new teachers who featured in this Sydney Morning Heraldπ°π article suggesting that teaching degrees should put more focus on teaching teachers how to better manage classrooms and behaviour.π₯°π«Ά https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/2023-Shake-up Merna and Yasemin also recently attended the Commissioning Mass for new teachers, principals and leaders. https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/2023-Commissioning Good luck Merna and Yasemin as you begin your teaching careers.πππ The wonderful school community at St Agnes is lucky to have you.
31 Mar 2023
From CSPD Instagram
It's been really lovely seeing some of our teachers and principals recognised as part of News Corp's (The Daily Telegraph) Australiaβs Best Teachers campaign. π©βπ«π§βπ«π¨βπ« St Aidan's Primary Rooty Hill Principal Marian Bell and teacher Samantha Brimfield from Santa Sophia Catholic College Gables were both nominated for the amazing work they do and the positive impact they have on students and their school communities. πππ€© Read more at the link in our bio π And there's still time to nominate a teacher or Principal at your school: the Daily Telegraph link is also in our bio. #cspd2023 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #parramatta #hawkesbury #rootyhill #gables #boxhill #greatteachers #bestteachers #ourteachersmakethedifference @santasophiacc
30 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
Dance,π©° drama,π music.πΌ These students can do it all!π€© Check out the behind-the-scenes from the CAPTIVATE Immersion Project which is a brilliant production created by our CAPTIVATE students and teachers.π CAPTIVATE is such a fantastic creative and performing arts program that we are so proud to offer our students. Learn more here: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/learning/specialised-learning/creative-and-performing-arts
29 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
It's incredible to think that we have such talented students who will be helping build Western Sydney this yearπ©βπ§π·ββοΈπ·ββοΈππ¬π as they work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in NSW as part of their School-Based Apprenticeships (SBA). It's thanks to a great partnership between CathWest Innovation College and two of Australia's biggest construction companies CPB Contractors and Gamuda Australia.ππ Students and their parents joined officials from both companies as they registered to begin their SBAs which will see them gaining valuable skills and experience working in civil construction, plant (heavy machinery and equipment) and electrical on various projects including the St Mary's Airport rail link, Rosehill to Parramatta road exchange and M6 extension tunneling. CathWest Innovation College provides vocational education, training paths and mentors, encouraging students to create their own study and career paths.ππ
30 Mar 2023
From CSPD Instagram
Two of our superstar student athletes will build on a stunning summer of athletics success in the coming weeks as they go for gold at the Australian Athletics Championships events in Queensland. π€©π₯π Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek's Layla Sharp is going for gold in the 400m and 800m at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships (13-16 April) while Sebastian Sultana from St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens is competing in the 100m and 200m at the Australian Open & U20 Championships starting this Thursday (30 Mar). See the link in our bioπ to read more about the amazing titles and trophies Layla and Sebastian have already won, reinforcing their reputations as potential future Paralympic and Olympic stars. ππͺπ #cspd2023 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #parramatta #penrith #hawkesbury #kempscreek #stanhopegardens @stjohnxxiiicatholiccollege @emmauscedp #studentathlete #studentathletes #studentsportsstars
29 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
There's such a welcoming and supportive community at St Patrick's Guildford.π«π€² The students and staff are so excited to meet prospective families at their upcoming Open day on Tuesday 28 March from 5-6pm.ππ Register your attendance here to see what's so great about St Pat's: https://www.stpatsguildford.catholic.edu.au/Enrol-Now/Tours-and-Events
28 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
A stunning summer of athletics successπ€©π₯π could get even better for two of our students in the coming weeks as Emmaus Catholic College's Layla Sharp and St John XXIII Catholic College's Sebastian Sultana go for gold at Australian Athletics championships events in Queensland.ππͺπ Read about the amazing titles and trophies they've already won, reinforcing their reputation as potential future Paralympic and Olympic stars: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/2023-SS Please let us know in the comments below if any other students from our schools are heading up to Queensland as we'd love to celebrate all our top athletes competing at such prestigious national events. Sebastian is competing in the 100m and 200m at the Australian Open & U20 Championships starting Thursday (Mar 30) while Layla is going for gold in the 400m and 800m at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships (April 13-16).
29 Mar 2023
From CSPD Instagram
New Our Lady of the Nativity Primary Lawson Principal Matthew Bond wanted to be a teacher for as long as he can remember. π¨βπ«ππ Some of his earliest memories include playing βschoolsβ with friends, taking roll calls and re-marking projects he did at school βwith a better grade of course!β π«ππ As we near the end of Term One, Matthew shares an insight into his teaching career, how he got into leadership and who inspired him along the way. Read his story at the link in our bioπ #cspd2023 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #parramatta #hawkesbury #lawson #ourteachersmakethedifference
28 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
It's been really lovely seeing some of our teachersπ©βπ«π§βπ«π¨βπ« and principals recognised as part of News Corp's (The Daily Telegraph) Australiaβs Best Teachers campaign.πππ€© Marian Bell, Principal at St. Aidan's Primary School, Rooty Hill and teacher Samantha Brimfield from Santa Sophia Catholic College, Box Hill were both nominated for the amazing work they do and the positive impact they have on student and their school communities. πOur Teachers Really Do Make The Difference.π Read the story here https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/2023-Best-Teachers And there's still time to nominate a teacher or Principal at your school: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/australias-best-teachers-news-corp-series-to-recognise-inspirational-teachers/news-story/7f3b0ccc1f8c2bdf4a7c56814c56b995#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAustralia's%20Best%20Teachers%20is%20about,class%20education%20system%20in%20Australia.%E2%80%9D
27 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
For as long as he can remember Our Lady of the Nativity, Lawson NSW new Principalπ«Matthew Bond wanted to be a teacher with some of his earliest memories including playing βschoolsβ with friends, taking roll calls and re-marking projects he did at school βwith a better grade of course!β π As we near the end of Term One, Matthew shares an insight into his teaching career, how he got into leadership and who inspired him along the way. It's a great read: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/2023-Matthew-Bond
28 Mar 2023
From CSPD Instagram
Congratulations to the thousands of Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students who completed their NAPLAN assessments.π€©ππ The lovely staff and teachers at St Canice's Primary Katoomba put on special breakfasts for students to ensure they were ready to do their best. π₯³π€ They featured in a great story in The Blue Mountains Gazette - read it at the link in our bio π #cspd2023 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #parramatta #hawkesbury #katoomba #naplan #naplan2023
27 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
πTWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT - WHO DO WE APPRECIATE! π Year 12 Gilroy Catholic College student Rebecca Cleary has a little more pep in her step after being selected to represent Australia at the World Cheerleading Championships! ππ Rebecca won the bid with her team East Coast All Stars back in 2020 but due to covid the trip was cancelled. Taking place in April this year, the event is the largest for the sport and will welcome more than 100 nations to the competition! Congratulations to Rebecca who has spent 10 years working towards this goal. Get those spirit fingers ready! π
27 Mar 2023
Meet OLNβs new principal Matthew Bond
This year, Our Lady of the Nativity Primary, Lawson welcomes a new face to lead the school. At the start of Term One Matthew Bond took up the position of Principal, his first time in the role. With 27 years teaching experience in the Diocese of Parramatta, Matthew brings many years of leadership experience, most recently at Trinity Catholic Primary Kemps Creek where he served as Assistant Principal.
26 Mar 2023
From CSPD Facebook
Check out the fantastic classrooms and contemporary learning spaces at St Michael's Baulkham Hills!ππ§βπ«π Take a sneak peekπ«£ into this lovely school's 360-degree virtual tour and check out more at their Open day on Friday 31 March from 9:30-11am. Register your interest here: https://www.stmichaelsbhills.catholic.edu.au/Enrol-Now/Tours-and-Events
27 Mar 2023
From CSPD Instagram
Our annual Commissioning ceremony for beginning teachers, new school principals and leaders was held recently at St Patrick's Cathedral Parramatta. This is a special occasion where we acknowledge and celebrate the important work of educating young people in the Diocese of Parramatta and welcome staff to their new roles. This year, new Executive Director of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Jack de Groot was commissioned alongside 5 new school principals and 190 new teachers at our schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Read more and see more pics at the link in our bio π #cspd2023 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #parramatta #penrith #hawkesbury #ourteachersmakethedifference