President's Message

Dear Colleagues

I hope Term 2 has gone well for you and your community. We are very pleased and excited to announce that CaSPA has received a commissioned art piece from Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann from Nauiyu country, who lives in Daly Waters in the Northern Territory. Miriam Rose was a Catholic School Principal in the Northern Territory, a leader in many areas, as Senior Australian of the Year 2021, and a renowned artist.

It is a beautiful painting and symbolic of CaSPA’s work around Australia. It is my hope that we can officially launch the painting in our next newsletter for all to see and to read the narrative that explains the symbolism.

The CaSPA Board looks forward to the full implementation of the Uluru Statement of the Heart. Reconciliation in Australia of First Nations People and non-First Nations People is an important social justice matter. The recent passing of the Referendum Bill to allow the vote regarding the Voice to Parliament for First Nations People will hopefully be a positive step forward for reconciliation.

A big thank you to the Catholic Principals Associations who will be sending their president and Executive Officer to the CaSPA Combined Meeting in Melbourne on 24 July. This annual gathering of our 8 associations is a great way to hear issue updates and discuss contemporary education issues. This year we are truly blessed by having key presenters to our Combined Meeting. NCEC, AITSL, ACU and AERO will all be providing updates and seeking feedback from the meeting participants.

Following the Combined Meeting, representatives from the CaSPA Board will be meeting with our 8 Partners in Melbourne on 25 July. This Partners Meeting has also become an annual event to show our appreciation of the wonderful support the businesses give CaSPA to enable our Awards, Professional Learning and Social Action activities. Please remember our Partners if you need quotes from their line of business.

CaSPA has continued to be an advocate for Catholic Education during this consultative time regarding the National School Reform Agreement, which is due for 2024. In recent times there has been evidence of an emerging lobby group advocating to stop funding to non-government schools. CaSPA has been meeting with ACPPA, CSPA and NCEC to ensure our voices are heard in this debate. It is imperative that all schools are financed in line with bridging the equity gap. Catholic Education provides a great bridge and targeted education to many,  which would not be possible if funding was cut.

Blessings to All

Ann Rebgetz
CaSPA President