REPORTING CRITERION 6

Consultation with Entities Owned or Controlled

This statement is provided as a single reporting entity, pursuant to section 13 of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) and incorporates the activities and operations of the 52 Sandhurst diocesan schools and also includes subsidiary entity SCECE&C Ltd’s two early learning centres.

For the preparation of this statement the CES Ltd Compliance and Risk Advisor and Procurement and Contracts Advisor consulted with different functional departments across CES Ltd and SECEC&C Ltd such as Operations (Finance and Procurement teams), Strategy, Risk and Governance Team, People and Culture Team, and Communication Managers, as well as ACAN and other participating members of the ACAN network.

This consultation with ACAN and other departments has informed the approach to ensure it is appropriate and effectively tailored to reflect our organisational context and will be an ongoing consultation process for future initiatives, activities and statements.

CES Ltd Current and Future Initiatives

Next Steps for 2023

Strategic Procurement Action and Risk Mitigation Plan:

• ICON is undergoing a significant upgrade in 2024 to be managed by CECV. It is highly recommended that as part of this upgrade and project that a review of financial data quality, system functionality and end user training in the ICON system is to be undertaken by CES Ltd and CECV to be able to provide a future solution for accurate data and reporting capability for the Supply Chain across CES Ltd as part of this project. This is will enable accurate identifying supply chain risk and establishment of a monitoring strategy and better reporting functionality

• Supplier Engagement Strategy to raise awareness of Modern Slavery Risk through Procurement Tendering Practices

• Develop and implement specific Service Provider Code of Conduct and update to Supplier Induction procedures as part of ongoing review into Contractor Management processes.

• Refinement of Modern Slavery and Whistleblower policies to strengthen notification procedures governed by these policies

Staff Education

CES Ltd, is committed to addressing modern slavery risks within our operations and supply chains and understands the importance of providing adequate training to our staff and those of SCECE&C Ltd to effectively identify and address these risks, as required by the Modern Slavery Act.

The aim for 2023 will be to pilot a new training program through the Anti-Slavery Community Action Network (ACAN), which will target all head office staff, Principals, Key Leaders, and Business Managers within our schools. This training program covers the identification of modern slavery risks, reporting mechanisms for suspected cases of modern slavery, and steps to take to mitigate modern slavery risks. The training is tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of these staff members to ensure they have the necessary knowledge to carry out their duties effectively.

In addition, the training program includes information on our policies and procedures for addressing modern slavery risks, including measures to assess and address risks within the supply chain. CES Ltd understand the importance of supplier due diligence and have implemented effective supplier assessment procedures to ensure compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.

This training program will be an important step towards eradicating modern slavery from our operations and supply chains. CES Ltd are committed to continuing to work with ACAN to develop and improve our training programs, and to ensure that all relevant staff members are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify and address modern slavery risks.

Overall, CES Ltd are committed to promoting ethical practices throughout our operations and supply chains, and believe that this pilot training program is a positive step towards achieving this goal.

Modern Slavery Action Working Party - To Work with Staff and Supply Chains

A Modern Slavery Action Working Party to be redefined in 2023 to reflect the new Organisational Structure and will meet once a term to monitor the progress of the Modern Slavery Action Plan.

The Working Group will inform and report to CES Ltd’s Executive Leadership Team, Child Safety and Audit Risk Committee and Board on all issues related to modern slavery and CES Ltd’s role in managing and mitigating modern slavery risks.

The objectives of the Modern Slavery Action Working Group are to:

• Provide input and recommendations for continuous improvement for CES Ltd on risks and issues related to modern slavery;

• Actively support the development and implementation of CES Ltd’s Modern Slavery Action Plan;

• Assist CES Ltd to determine priority actions to be undertaken and to establish annual goals and targets;

• Monitor and review actions taken to assess and address modern slavery risks and evaluate their effectiveness; and

• Ensure CES Ltd meets the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth).

The action working party is comprised of representatives from all across the entity in order to provide maximum input and recommendations for continuous improvement for CES Ltd on risks and issues related to modern slavery.

Social Justice Reference Group - To Work directly with Schools and Student Communities

Prior to the incorporation of CES Ltd, The Social Justice Reference Group (SJRG) has existed in the organisation for many years and has evolved over time. The SJRG is mandated to ensure our schools respond to the mission of Jesus encapsulated by John 10:10 by ensuring regular social justice activities are conducted at diocesan and local levels. These activities are clearly grounded in a well-developed understanding of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly showing respect and compassion for the dignity of all humankind.

The purpose of the SJRG is;

1. To demonstrate that through our Catholic Identity social justice is core to Learning & Teaching, Wellbeing, Leadership and Stewardship of Resources.

2. To educate and empower all members of our Sandhurst school communities to uphold and respond to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

3. To provide a space for social justice initiatives to be generated and discerned for proposed common applications in schools throughout the diocese.

4. To collect and map key social justice initiatives throughout the diocese to ensure a common voice and clear message.

The SJRG believes that opportunities to experience inequity and injustice lead to awareness which has the potential to transform and lead to justice action. The SJRG has been actively involved with the school communities in awareness raising, action for solidarity, advocacy and action for change as the principles which inform and guide an interdependent approach to social justice initiatives and programs.

The SJRG includes representation across the school community

• Primary and Secondary Teachers

• CES Ltd Catholic Identity Team

• Diocesan Caritas/Justice Coordinator

• CES Ltd Indigenous Education Officer

• Secondary Students