Human Resources

FAST FACTS Our People...

Diocesan Offices, Parishes & Agencies 257 employees 42 new employees

Catholic Education SA 102 Catholic

schools comprising 48,000 students

and more than 8000 staff across

metropolitan and regional SA (includes Port Pirie Diocese)

Centacare 505 staff 28,718 clients

Screening and Verification Authority 17,494

police checks processed

Child Protection Mandatory Notification training for 900 clergy, religious, employees and volunteers across 35 sessions

Human Resources

The COVID pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on our places of work.

During 2021, managers and team leaders were constantly challenged as staff worked from home, due to close contact rules, or with staff being absent from the workplace due to illness or the need to care for a family member.

This is in addition to managing staff during state lock downs, at short notice, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff, at all times.

I wish to thank managers and staff for their ongoing commitment to the mission and work of the Diocese in these challenging times.

The HR Department was kept busy in 2021 with 42 new appointments across the Diocesan offices and parishes. Some of these roles were existing positions where employees had either retired or resigned, however, there was an increase in the number of new employees, in comparison to 2020. We know that communication is crucial for our staff during challenging times and the Diocesan intranet (portal) was a valuable tool during this period, especially for our parish networks. The portal provides news, policies and procedures, work health and safety information, forms, and contact details of diocesan personnel.

Parish visitations recommenced in 2021 and are an ideal time for the HR Team to meet with staff and to assist with any employment queries. On September 9 2021 the HR Team hosted ‘R U Ok Day’. This is an important initiative as it encourages people to invest more time in their personal relationships, to build support networks, and to have a conversation if they identify signs of distress in friends, family or colleagues.

It was wonderful for staff to attend the Diocesan Office Staff Day which was held at The Monastery on October 14 2021. This was a fantastic opportunity for staff to engage with other staff members who they may not encounter in their normal working day. It was lovely to welcome staff from various sites, in particular our chaplains who work in hospitals and prisons, and staff from Archbishop’s House.

It also gave staff the opportunity to learn more about the Diocesan Assembly which was held on September 17/18. Staff could hear the important feedback from the people of the Diocese and how this process will tie in with the Australian Plenary Council in 2022. Once again, I wish to thank managers and staff for their ongoing commitment to the mission and work of the Diocese and to the Diocesan IT Department for maintaining the critical network infrastructure to ensure business continuity, particularly during the State lock-down.

Majella Jovanovich

Manager, Human Resources

STAFF DAY AT THE MONASTERY