Australian Catholics

17/09/2025

Curious about what the Australian Catholics Education Hub has to offer? 🌟

Why not dip your toe in by signing up for our free Catholic Teacher newsletter? Each week you’ll get a taste of our classroom resources, plus plenty of free extras: including a calendar, dictionary entry, reader’s digest, weekly news briefing, film review, and more.

If you’re looking for ways to keep your RE students engaged in authentic, contemporary learning, this is the perfect place to start.

👉 Sign up here: https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/signup-catholic-teacher

17/09/2025

Going away? Don’t bin your blessings! 🥫
Catholic Teacher has launched a new social justice campaign inviting holidaymakers to donate leftover non-perishable food to local food banks and community kitchens.
🙌 Show your faith in action!
Snap a photo as you donate and share it to inspire others.
👉 Tag us on Facebook

An Australian Catholics campaign to fight food waste and feed those in need.

16/09/2025

𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒: 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐄 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: Anne Slingo, Michael McVeigh, Laura Kings
Join us 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟏 𝐎𝐜𝐭, 𝟒.𝟑𝟎-𝟓.𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦 𝐀𝐄D𝐓
Book your spot here:

Our Q&A sessions provide professional learning opportunities for teachers in subscribing schools. Join us for a session via Zoom to explore ways to bring religious education and faith formation to life in your school.

02/09/2025

The Catholic Season of Creation is an annual celebration from 1 September to 4 October that invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and take action for the care of God’s creation. This Season of Creation, we’re reminded to listen closely to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Our priorities today still align with those highlighted in this 2021 article.

Our challenge for the Season of Creation 2021 is to truly listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

22/08/2025

Day three of the National Catholic Education Conference saw the student voice take centre stage with a panel discussion between Bishop Joe Caddy AM and six student leaders from schools across the Diocese of Cairns. The students brought their passion and humour and didn't hold back, sharing their insights and dreams for the future of education.

Key takeaways from the students:

Relationships are everything. Students emphasised that a simple "how are you?" from a teacher can make all the difference. Strong student-teacher relationships create a supportive, positive environment that makes school a place students want to be. It's about human connection, not just curriculum.

Individual learning matters.
The students highlighted the need for a more personalised approach to education. They spoke about the importance of tailoring learning and assessments to different styles, citing examples like how dyslexia impacts a student's ability to communicate their knowledge on paper. The core message: every student is an individual with unique needs.

Embracing technology.
The panel openly discussed the role of AI in the classroom. Instead of banning it, they urged educators to teach students how to use AI as a tool for good, to help with things like grammar or research, and to prepare them for a world where AI is inevitable. They also noted that some teachers are already using AI to create lessons and provide feedback.

The discussion was a powerful reminder that all voices matter, especially the quiet ones. The students urged school leaders to step into the student's world, to listen, and to make small, meaningful changes that can have a huge impact on their daily lives.

Thanks to Bishop Joe and the students for this great conversation and thank you to the NCEC and Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns for hosting a fantastic conference!

National Catholic Education Commission

22/08/2025

Our team is at the National Catholic Education Commission Australian Catholic Education Conference this week. After attending the sessions so far, Laura Kings writes that one message stands out: synodality is not simply about speaking, but about those in power truly listening.

Read more here: https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/acec-2025-listening-message

20/08/2025

We're excited to be at the National Catholic Education Commission Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns this week. Come and see us during the break to get a free copy of our latest edition, and see us in the sessions in Room 5 this afternoon. We're looking forward to some great insights and conversation over the next two days.

07/08/2025

Today we celebrate the feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. As Australia’s first canonised saint, Mary MacKillop remains a powerful model for Catholics, with her deep commitment to faith, education and social justice. Read more about the Mary Mackillop story here: https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/article/the-mary-mackillop-story

07/08/2025

This summer (2025/26) holiday season, Catholic schools and communities are invited to take part in 'Don’t Bin Your Blessings'. The campaign asks holidaymakers to donate leftover, unopened non-perishable food to local food banks, helping ensure no one, and no food, is left behind. Find out how to get involved here: https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/no-one-behind-no-food-behind

18/06/2025

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
This video offers fresh, engaging ways to involve young people in social justice learning through the 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘴 Education Hub. Explore strategies for teaching listening skills, love and kindness, and guiding students to reflect on the meaning of justice and compassion. The workshop also encourages educators to help students consider how Jesus acted and what young people today can learn from his example, including the importance of the Golden Rule. https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/classroom-ideas-workshop-young-people-and-sj

05/06/2025

Australian Catholics Professional Learning Sessions are for religious education practitioners to deepen their knowledge about key topics related to faith education and formation. This month (Tues 17 Jun 4.30-5.30 pm AEST), we will discuss forming ecological leaders in schools in the Spirit of Laudato Si' with Australian Jesuits ecology officer Sue Martin and Alice Carwardine, who works in the mission and formation team for the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Oceania Province. Sessions are open to AC+ subscribers only. You can find out more about subscribing at https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/subscribing.

05/06/2025

Australian Catholics Professional Learning Sessions are for religious education practitioners to deepen their knowledge about key topics related to faith education and formation. This month (Tues 17 Jun 4.30-5.30 pm AEST), we will discuss forming ecological leaders in schools in the Spirit of Laudato Si' with Australian Jesuits ecology officer Sue Martin and Alice Carwardine, who works in the mission and formation team for the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Oceania Province. Sessions are open to AC+ subscribers only. You can find out more about subscribing at https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/subscribing .