The Catholic Religious Victoria Education Committee
The Catholic Religious Victoria Education Committee represents the interests of Catholic schools in Victoria which historically were owned and governed by Congregations or Religious Institutes. It acts as a consultative forum for the debate of issues related to Catholic education, particularly as these pertain to Congregational schools and maintains lines of communication with the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. It acts as a point of referral of issues related to the future governance of Congregational schools and it also liaises with the Principals of Congregational, Religious Institute and Ministerial Public Juridic Person schools. In addition, it represents the interests of its schools on the Catholic Religious Australia Education Committee.
CRVEd Executive 2018 Jeffrey Burn - Chair, Sr Julianna Drobik and Eugene Lynch.
HISTORY
Religious Congregations and Catholic Education diocesan collaboration
Over many years, the Religious Congregations involved in Catholic Education in Victoria have collaborated and consulted with the various diocesan Catholic Education Offices. Congregational Leaders met with Fr Frank Martin and Fr Tom Doyle (Catholic Education Directors) on a regular basis for many years.
Midway through 2006, in response to issues relating to the structure of the Catholic Education Commission Victoria (CECV) and the management of industrial relations, the Catholic Leaders Religious Congregations Victoria (later Catholic Religious Victoria) established a Schools’ Committee. This was a structure to enable the Leaders of Congregations that owned and governed schools in Victoria to have dialogue between the Congregations and act as a vehicle for consultation with both the CECV and the various Catholic Education Offices.
All Congregations administering schools were invited to name a representative to be a member of this committee. Thirteen Congregations responded; one person was nominated to represent three congregations. A group of ten formed the committee.
Initial Committee
Chairperson: Sr Brigid Arthur (Brigidines),
Secretaries: Sr Julianna Drobik OP (Dominicans, Loreto, FCJ), Sr Joan Wilson (Mercy Sisters)
Members: Bro Clem Barrett (Christian Brothers), Lois Bunn (Good Samaritans), Sr Julianna Drobik, Sr Maria Lazzaro (Presentation Sisters), Margaret Beirne (Sisters of Charity), Bernard Neal (Substitute for Denis Uhr, MSC’s), Fr John Prest (Salesians), Sr Helen Reed (Sisters of St Joseph), Tom Smyth (Marist Brothers, substitute for Bro John McMahon), Sr. Dorothy Renton (Sisters of Our Lady of Sion)
The original CRV Education Committee Charter's main objectives were:
To act as the representative body for the Congregations involved in education in Victoria.
To raise issues related to the place of Congregations within the overall provision of Catholic education in Victoria.
The original terms of reference:
i) To be a means of communication between the various education authorities and the CRV:
ii) To appoint and consult with representatives on the following groups
o Targeted Programs
o VRQA Review Committee
o GAC (Secondary)
o Salaries and Conditions Board
o CECV Equity Challenge Committee
o Capital Grants
o Governance Network Meeting
o Enrolment Committee
o OHS Committee
o Employer Reference Group.
iii) To provide lines of communication with the CRA Education Committee
iv) To act as a forum for the debate of issues related to Catholic education
v) To act as a point of referral of issues related to the future governance of Congregational schools
vi) To liaise with Principals of Congregational schools
The first Executive Officer (Michael Doyle) was appointed in 2012. The current Executive Officer (Bernard Dobson) was appointed in 2015.
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES/CONGREGATIONS AND MINISTERIAL PUBLIC JURIDIC PERSONS OPERATING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN VICTORIA
The following organisations conduct Catholic Secondary Schools in Victoria and are represented by the Catholic Religious Victoria Education Committee.
Antonine Sisters
Carmelite Friars
Christian Brothers
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH)
De La Salle Brothers
Dominican Education Australia (DEA)
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA)
FCJ Education (Faithful Companions of Jesus)
Good Samaritan Education (Good Samaritan Sisters)
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea
Kildare Education Ministries Limited (Brigidine Sisters and Presentation Sisters)
Loreto Ministries (Loreto Sisters)
Marist Schools Australia (Marist Brothers)
Mary Aikenhead Ministries (Sisters of Charity)
Mercy Education Limited
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC)
Presentation Sisters
Salesians of Don Bosco
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Sisters of the Resurrection (Primary)
Society of Jesus
Society of Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ Sisters)
Some of these schools are Reception to Year 12 schools. In addition, Sisters of the Resurrection operate Resurrection School, Aberfeldie (Primary).
Shared Governance arrangements between Religious Institutes and Parish/Diocese.
Christian Brothers
Shared Governance arrangements for Emmanuel College, Warrnambool (Parish and Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea)
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG)
Shared Governance arrangements for Emmanuel College, Warrnambool (Parish and Christian Brothers), Damascus College, Ballarat and St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East (Parish).
Marist Schools Australia (Marist Brothers)
Catholic College Sale is governed by Marist Schools Australia and the Diocese.
CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VICTORIA EDUCATION COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Executive:
Jeffrey Burn
Kildare Education Ministries
Julianna Drobik OP
Dominican Education Australia
Eugene Lynch
Mercy Education Ltd
Bernard Dobson
Executive Officer
Members:
Brigid Arthur csb
Kildare Ministries
Mary Barbuto nds
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion
Deborah Barker
Good Samaritan Education
Paul Cahill OCarm
Carmelite Friars
Louise Cleary csb
Kildare Ministries
Kerrie Cusack rsj
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Daad El-Azzi AS
Antonine Sisters
John Finn
De La Salle Brothers
Shirley Gauci
FCJ Education
Chris Gorringe fsc
De La Salle Brothers
Bernard Graham sdb
Salesians of Don Bosco
Leonie Keaney
Good Samaritan Education
Peter Kelly
Mary Aikenhead Ministries
Geraldine Larkins rsj
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Mark McGinnity
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Anne Muirhead
Loreto Ministries
Anne O’Loughlin
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Erica Pegorer
Kildare Ministries
Milan Poropat
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion
Rose-Marie Prosser
Presentation Sisters and Kildare Ministries
Thomas Renshaw sj
Society of Jesus
Julie Ryan
Marist Schools Australia
Nola Vanderfeen pbvm
Kildare Ministries (& Presentation Sisters)
Tess Ward fdnsc
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Paul Williams
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA)
Joan Wilson rsm
Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG)
CRVEd Governance Committee:
Brigid Arthur csb
Kildare Ministries
Mary Barbuto nds
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion
Jeffrey Burn
Kildare Education Ministries
Louise Cleary csb
Kildare Ministries
Kerrie Cusack rsj
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Bernard Dobson
Executive Officer
Julianna Drobik OP
Dominican Education Australia
Shirley Gauci
FCJ Education
Leonie Keaney
Good Samaritan Education
Geraldine Larkins rsj
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Eugene Lynch
Mercy Education Limited
Erica Pegorer
Kildare Ministries
Milan Poropat
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion
Rose-Marie Prosser
Presentation Sisters and Kildare Ministries
Julie Ryan
Marist Schools Australia
Margaret Stewart
PRISM Australia Pty Ltd
Nola Vanderfeen pbvm
Kildare Ministries (& Presentation Sisters)
Paul Williams
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA)
Joan Wilson rsm
Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Catholic Religious Victoria Education Committee is a representative body with clearly delegated authority from Catholic Religious Victoria (CRV) to whom it is accountable. The CRV Education Committee represents 19 Religious Congregations responsible for 51 Catholic Secondary Colleges in Victoria.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
To report to CRV and specifically to canonical administrators responsible for schools founded by Religious Congregations in Victoria.
To establish and maintain lines of communication with the CRV and CECV Contemporary Education Committee concerning educational issues;
To act as a consultative forum for issues referred to it by CRV and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV);
To receive reports from delegates who are representing CRV on various standing committees and any other committees established from time to time;
To establish clear lines of communication with the Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) Education Committee.
DEFINITIONS
Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) is the public name of the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes (ACLRI). It is the peak body for all Religious in Australia and is open to all leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies of apostolic life resident in Australia.
Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) is established to assist the Archbishop of Melbourne and the Diocesan Bishops of the Province to fulfil their canonical obligations to provide Catholic education to the Catholic community in Victoria.
Canonical Administrators in the context of this document refers only to those persons with civil and canon law responsibilities for schools founded by a religious congregation and is inclusive of newly formed Public Juridic Persons established by a religious congregation with governance responsibilities for a Catholic school.
Public Juridic Person is a legal entity under canon law that allows the Church's ministries to function in the name of the Catholic Church. Some juridic persons are established by virtue of the law itself, e.g. Religious Institutes. Others are established by decree and may be approved by the Holy See, Bishops’ Conference, Diocesan Bishop or Ecclesiastical Province of Bishops.
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS
To act as a forum for the debate of issues related to Catholic education, particularly as these pertain to Congregational schools;
To establish and maintain lines of communication with CRV;
To foster partnership arrangements across the different authorities that make up Catholic education in Victoria;
To act as a point of referral of issues related to the future governance of Congregational schools;
To provide formal input into any policies referred to the Congregations from CECV;
To provide advice to committees of any Congregational perspectives as requested;
To act as a nominating forum in situations where Congregational representatives are required;
To liaise with the Principals of Congregational schools;
To meet with Principals of Congregational schools as required.
DELEGATIONS
To perform functions delegated to it by CRV
To exercise authority delegated to it by CRV
To delegate certain functions to sub committees or working groups as required
CHAIRPERSON
The Chairperson of the Catholic Religious Victoria Education Committee will be appointed by Catholic Religious Victoria for a period of three years. Re-appointment is possible through negotiated agreement with Catholic Religious Victoria.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
An Executive Officer may be appointed by Catholic Religious Victoria to facilitate the work of the Education Committee. Such an appointment will be for three years with terms and conditions determined by Catholic Religious Victoria.
The role of the Executive Officer will be determined by the Chairperson of the CRV Education Committee in consultation with other Executive members and may be varied from time to time.
MEMBERSHIP
Every canonical administrator that conducts a Catholic school or schools in Victoria has the right to nominate up to two representatives to be members of the committee. Principals of Catholic schools are eligible to be nominated for membership to the Committee.
MEETINGS
Leaders of Congregations that have schools are invited to attend meetings. Principals of Congregational Schools are also invited to attend meetings.
EXECUTIVE
An executive group of three or four persons, nominated by the CRV Education Committee, will support the work of the Chairperson and Executive Officer in such matters as planning meeting agendas, appointing CRV representatives to Catholic sector committees, and managing the business of the CRV Education Committee between meetings.
The Executive will meet at least three times in each year;
Appointments to the Executive are for a period of three years, with re-appointment possible if elected by the Committee;
The Executive may co-opt other members from the Congregations in order to have as much expertise available to the Committee as possible;
They may also co-opt school Principals for any discussion or tasks that require input from schools.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
The CRV Education Committee Executive will appoint persons as representatives of Catholic Religious Victoria to Catholic sector committees;
Appointments will be for a period of four years, with re-appointment possible;
In appointing persons as committee representatives, the Executive will seek to involve a broad base of appointees from as many congregations or newly created entities as possible.
FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
The Committee will normally meet each term or as required. The Executive will determine a meeting schedule
- 23 February 2016
Catholic Religious Australia
Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) is the peak body for leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life resident in Australia. The membership comprises more than 130 congregations of Sisters, Brothers and Religious Priests living and working in all states and territories.
Catholic Religious Australia
36 Collins Street (Locked Bag 436), Annandale, NSW 2038
Phone: (02) 9557 2695
Sr Ruth Durick osu
CRA President
Email: president@catholicreligiousaustralia.org.au
CRA Director Email: director@catholicreligiousaustralia.org.au
STATE CONFERENCES
In each State of Australia a local Conference of Religious takes up issues that are particular to Religious ministry and life in that area.
These are not 'branches' of Catholic Religious Australia but are independent bodies, although they network with CRA and collaborate where possible, especially on national issues.
Sister Veronica Hoey sgs
President, Catholic Religious Victoria
5 Wardrop Grove
Northcote VIC 3070
Phone 9481 0483
Email: vhoey@goodsams.org.au