Year in Review 2022

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as Australia’s First Peoples and the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we work to build a stronger, more equitable, kinder society, that values children, young people, families and individuals.

We honour the wisdom of and pay respect to, Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the spiritual culture of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is located on the traditional lands of the Awabakal, Biripi, Darkinjung, Kamilaroi, Wiradjuri, Wonnarua and Worimi people.

Acknowledgement of Country

Our Vision

Our Mission

We are committed to serving all in the community so that they may experience life to the fullest.

To live the joy of the Gospel and share it with the world. Our Strategic Direction

Our Diocese

The regions we serve.

Greater Taree

Upper Hunter

Muswellbrook

Singleton

Cessnock

Gloucester

Dungog

Great Lakes

Newcastle Port Stephens

Maitland

Lake Macquarie

Looking back, stepping forward

FR GREG BARKER, DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR

Many lay claim to the saying “The only time you should look back is to see how far you’ve come”. This Year in Review is a marvellous opportunity to reflect on how far this Diocese, the local Church of Maitland-Newcastle has grown, developed, transitioned as an organisation, and more importantly reflected that we are truly the ‘Body of Christ’. How far we have come this year is quite remarkable.

The Church is always the people we support, the people who work or volunteer together, and all those who belong to parish communities, schools and our agencies. Looking back, it is the people who have made 2022 remarkable and it will be the people who will make 2023 outstanding. We are a people focused, centred, and supported community.

The Call to Serve Mass celebrating our school communities and our 20,000 students and teachers was a highlight.

The Diverse Learning Needs Mass celebrates the diverse learning of every student and celebrating that every child can learn and has a right to be educated. The Year 12 Leaders’ retreats and gatherings that are such an integral part of our Diocesan leadership. Our young and aspiring leaders are inspirational.

I loved being able to visit our school communities and to acknowledge the wonderful staff, families, and young people who are there. We live in such a pressured and ever-changing time which makes our Wellbeing Framework and renewed Pastoral Care Framework, both launched this year, so important to the success of our young people from Kindergarten right through to Year 12.

Our Diocese has a troubled history. I personally was privileged and humbled to stand at the heart of the Perpetual Day of Remembrance as it was remembered in the Sacred Heart Cathedral. To stand with survivors and supporters and to mark throughout the Diocese, our Church’s sorrow at the hurt caused. The work of our Healing and Support and Safeguarding teams commit to being and doing better.

All our planning and strategic thinking including the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, our Sustainability Plan and our Strategic Plan form the platform from which we offer a hand up to those who form, at times, the fringes of our wider community. We are rightly proud of our planning and the actions that we implement as a result. These plans have been a lighthouse this year.

In November we celebrated the first anniversary of Bishop Bill’s death. We remembered his work as our Shepherd and look in prayer for the arrival of our new bishop.

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The Church is always the people we support, the people who work or volunteer together, and all those who belong to parish communities, schools and our agencies.

2022 – a reflection

SEAN SCANLON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

These pages include reflections and showcase the contributions of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle to our community, during 2022. Thankfully, 2022 has provided a little more stability than recent years. This in turn has enabled the Diocese, through its agencies, pastoral groups and parishes, to grow its services as we live our Mission to serve all in the community so that they may experience life to the fullest.

The Diocesan Leadership Group recognises that although each of the Diocese has its own unique needs, there are many aspects of our work that are common to all our agencies, we are “Many parts. One body. One mission.”

As such, this year the Diocese launched three entirely new and complementary plans including a Sustainability Plan, a Reconciliation Action Plan and a Strategic Plan to guide and unify the work that we undertake across all Diocesan agencies and parishes.

The plans reflect a discernment process of formation, planning, and input from the Diocese’s leadership teams, staff from diocesan agencies as well as our parish communities and various Church councils.

Working in a meaningful way that promotes, amongst other things, care for the environment and reconciliation with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is nothing new for our Diocese. However, these plans are significant as they formally identify our collective aspirations, priorities, and strategic direction for the next five years.

In particular, our new Diocesan-wide values and Strategic Plan identifies our strategic direction and our priorities for the years to come.

Whilst agencies have had their own strategic plans, this one is the first ever Diocesan-wide plan, and it connects us and unites our goals.

We hope articulating our values will further unite our teams through our common work and provide connection to our mission - we are committed to serving all in the community so that they may experience life to the fullest.

Our values of compassion, hope, integrity, justice, and participation allow us all to connect to our work across the Diocese whether in pastoral ministries, Catholic Schools, CatholicCare, St Nicholas, the Catholic Community Fund, and any of the areas in which we operate.

To that end, the pages of this report include some of the work that the Diocese’s agencies, enacted through our 4,600 staff and valuable volunteers, have been working on throughout this year.

While there is still plenty more to achieve in the years to come, I am sure you will agree we are making some good inroads.

CatholicCare Social Services

Hunter Manning

GARY CHRISTENSEN, DIRECTOR

CatholicCare continued in its mission to work with local communities to build a stronger, fairer and kinder society. The strength of its work in supporting children, young people and families was validated by the NSW Government, when it awarded the agency a new, fiveyear contract to deliver permanency support programs across the Hunter and Manning regions, as well as a brand-new program in the Manning, called Staying Home and Leaving Violence.

In addition to this, the agency received 100 percent compliance in its NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission audit, which highlights the professional standards that its staff continue to uphold.

In an exciting development, the agency launched two social enterprise ventures, including a cleaning service and café and function centre in Newcastle West. These ventures aim to create an avenue for vulnerable people to obtain meaningful employment and training while earning an income in line with the relevant award.

CatholicCare’s Refugee Hub continued to grow from strength to strength, with the addition of a migrant agent service to assist refugees and asylum seekers with Australian Migration Law matters.

Additionally, with the generous support of the Catholic Schools Office, the Hub established a Refugee Bursary Fund, and with support from the City of Newcastle and the NRMA, it was also able to assist people from refugee and migrant backgrounds take part in driver training and get their NSW Driver’s license. These initiatives have created opportunities for the Hub’s clients to fulfil their potential and highlight the importance of collaboration.

CatholicCare’s counselling and clinical services arm, The Rosewood Centre, continued to support the community’s wellbeing, and opened new services in Maitland and Taree throughout 2022.

CatholicCare also delivers programs that receive no, or only partial governmentfunding but also provides crucial services to the community.

As such, monies raised through the annual fundraising campaign and support from the Catholic Community Fund enabled the organisation to continue its much-valued community outreach programs including its existing community kitchens and also open a new kitchen in Toronto.

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We aim for inclusive, just, and strong communities where all people feel safe, validated, and that their voice is heard.

Increased mental health support for the Mid-North Coast

The Rosewood Centre opened new services in Taree and Maitland in 2022. The not-for-profit practice in Taree expanded much needed mental health services on the Mid-North Coast and in the Hunter and are serviced by psychologists and behaviour support practitioners.

The opening of these new locations led the Rosewood Centre’s growth in 2022. The team offers counselling, NDIS behaviour support and clinical assessments, amongst other services.

Social enterprise café supports others

In May this year the CatholicCare team commenced operations of a café and function centre at Newcastle West. The café operates as a Social Enterprise, employing and training young people from CatholicCare’s Supported Independent Living program and people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds in all areas of cooking and hospitality.

All profits go towards funding CatholicCare’s social justice programs.

At the end of the year the team unveiled their newly renovated café, menu and new brand – Martha.

100% compliance in NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission audit.

2 social enterprise ventures launched.

2 new sites for The Rosewood Centre’s in Maitland and Taree.

151 children and young people supported through foster care.

Catholic Schools Office

GERARD MOWBRAY, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS

As Catholics, we deeply value the gift of lifelong learning. As such, it is no surprise that throughout the year our educators have enthusiastically embraced faith formation and professional development opportunities, as well as the chance to apply what they have learned to ensure our schools are at the forefront of supporting student development and wellbeing.

Our Diocese’s participation in the Clarity journey, led by world-renowned researcher Dr Lyn Sharratt, is now into its third year.

The Clarity model promotes a collaborative framework that encompasses educators, students and their families working together to strengthen student outcomes. In November this year, educators from across our 58 schools gathered with Dr Sharratt to assess what impact the use of consistent language, structure and processes has made on student development and the results were incredible.

It is clear our students now have a far greater understanding and ownership of not only what they are learning, but why and how they can apply that knowledge.

Another highlight during the year was the launch of a Diocesan-wide, wellbeing framework designed to provide all schools with an evidence-based guide for everyday practices to strengthen their support of students. Entitled ‘Wellbeing Together - Student Wellbeing and Learning across the Whole School’ the framework has yielded strong results and emphasised the value of student-voice.

It was also great to see several of our learning programs, particularly ASPIRE - our creative and performing arts program, take on new life in 2022. Students embraced the learning opportunities that come with these programs and were especially motivated to take part in the ASPIRE concert band and annual performance.

The Diocese announced that over the next five years, it will be renewing its approach to secondary schooling in Newcastle to ensure it best supports the educational needs and outcomes for its students.

This work sees San Clemente High School, Mayfield, St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton and St Pius X High School, Adamstown each expand to become providers of quality, Catholic education to student cohorts from Years 7 – 12.

The changes to school intakes and offerings will commence from 2024, and consultation regarding how this will best be achieved commenced, with valued input obtained from students, their families and staff.

Finally, our schools have continued to show their love for Creation by embracing the opportunity to transition towards more sustainable operations.

Many of our schools have reduced their waste, water and energy use and we are well on our way to our goal of powering all our schools with 100 percent renewable energy by 2023.

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Our Catholic Schools ensure each and every student receives a quality education in a supportive environment and has the opportunity to grow academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally.

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ASPIRE returns to the stage

The Cost of Wishes was performed in 2022 – a return to the stage and a live audience since COVID-19 impacts in recent years.

Students from across the Diocese auditioned and came together to be part of the original production, Cost of Wishes, participating through dance, design, drama, vocal, stage band and production ensembles.

Wellbeing framework launched

In 2022 the Catholic Schools Office launched a Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Policy and related Framework which guides policies, programs, resources and practices implemented at both a system and school level, to support and enhance the wellbeing of students within the school community.

58 schools across the Diocese.

20,000+ students enrolled in our schools.

3 secondary schools transitioning to Years 7 to 12.

St Nicholas

DAVID HEALY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2022 has been an operationally challenging year for the early childhood sector. St Nicholas has taken the opportunity to deliver several projects designed to improve service delivery across the network.

To cater for increasing demand in early childhood education and care services across the Lower Hunter, St Nicholas completed several projects to increase licenced capacity in our early education services across the region.

Most notably, following a significant building project, Chisholm Early Education opened Stage 2 at the facility – increasing licenced capacity of the service by more than 50 percent.

St Nicholas OOSH has continued to grow its footprint, opening a St Nicholas OOSH service at St Joseph’s Primary School in Gloucester and plans well underway to commence new services at St Peter’s Primary School in Stockton and St James’ Primary School in Muswellbrook in the new year.

St Nicholas Pathways continued to grow throughout 2022, with a record intake of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs), a new training partner Macquarie Community College for the CONNEX program and growth in participation for the Industry Immersion program.

To better meet the needs of the families, a review of St Nicholas operations was undertaken and resulted in its Early Education and OOSH Head Office teams coming together to enable greater specialist support of all services in the key areas of operations, staffing and quality assurance.

This combined team moved into a refurbished premises on Parry Street, Newcastle at the end of 2022. The premises has a rich history – originally a school building, the site was more recently the home of the Newcastle Art Space. It has been wonderful to see the space being rejuvenated and used once again.

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St Nicholas Early Education, OOSH and Pathways teams came together in 2022 to enable greater specialist support to all services of our operations.

Chisholm Early Education grows

Following a significant building project, Chisholm Early Education opened Stage 2 of its facility.

The extension saw the centre nearly double in size, with additions to both the indoor and outdoor environments, all purposefully included to delight, engage, challenge, and inspire each child.

Some of these new elements include additional bicycle tracks, dry river beds, large sandstone sandpits, climbing structures and obstacle courses.

Inside the extension, large, open-plan rooms offer unique opportunities for playbased learning at every turn while providing a calming and home-like environment.

A record intake for Pathways’ SBAT program

2022 saw St Nicholas support 29 number of School Based Trainees (SBAT).

St Nicholas Pathways’ SBAT program allows Year 11 and 12 students to gain entrylevel qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care) while completing their HSC, providing them with a qualification that can lead directly to employment as well as an opportunity to continue their learning pathway with advanced entry into university.

Dedicated mentors provide SBAT with solid support throughout the program, from sign-up to completion.

Training is complemented by 100 days of paid on-the-job training at our St Nicholas Early Education centres and St Nicholas OOSH services across the Newcastle, Hunter and Manning regions.

29

School Based Trainees (SBAT).

11

St Nicholas Early Education Centres.

34

St Nicholas OOSH Centres.

+50% Increase in licenced capacity at Chisholm Early Education with the opening of Stage 2.

Pastoral Ministries

TERESA BRIERLEY, DIRECTOR

Inspired by the Five Foundations of the Diocesan Synod, the Diocese’s Pastoral Ministries team continued to imagine new ways of serving and engaging parishes and the wider community in the Church’s mission.

Many opportunities were provided for people to participate in and enjoy experiences underpinned by the Five Foundations, namely: Identity and Community; Worship and Prayer; Formation and Education; Mission and Outreach; and Leadership and Structure.

This commitment to missionary renewal and unity within the Diocesan community has been particularly inspiring, given the postponement of the official Synod process while we await the appointment of a new Bishop.

Highlights throughout the year were many and include: ongoing dialogue to come to a shared understanding of our ecclesiology and synodal process, involving Parish Priests and Parish Leaders, Parishioners, Diocesan and Agency Leadership Teams and the wider diocesan community.

Advent and Lenten Reflection Programs involving the diocesan community; meetings of the various Synod Focus Groups to progress the work that incudes Foundation Guiding Principles, Discernment of Data, Diocesan Directory, Governance Guiding Principles and Documentation, Event Planning and Liturgy Planning.

Meetings of various Diocesan Councils, supported by Pastoral Ministries, continue to provide opportunities for making real the spiritual foundational principles of the Diocese which guide our mission, vision, and values.

Three Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Plenary Council members attended the Second Assembly of the National Plenary Council, where Council members approved a concluding statement, with the decrees having now been sent to the Holy See.

The Ecumenical Way of the Cross was held at Kilaben Bay with the theme of ‘Church Without Walls’. This event inspired 14 storytellers to share their experiences of mission and outreach across diverse spaces.

Other highlights during the year were the World Meeting of Families events across the Diocese; more than 20 participants taking part in the Christian Formation Course; the continuation of Marriage and Relationship education; liturgical formation, the Diocese’s first LGBTIQA+ Mass; a visit from the Nuncio; and an art exhibition based on the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2021-22: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor.

The Pastoral Ministries team actively seeks out ways to be God’s love and mercy in and to our church and the wider community.

Catholic Community Fund

JENNY CHUNG, FUND MANAGER

In 2022 the Catholic Development Fund changed its name to Catholic Community Fund. This new name better reflects what the Fund stands for - the community is at the heart of everything we do.

The Catholic Community Fund (CCF) held a launch event for more than 100 staff in October to celebrate the new name – read more below.

The Fund generated a surplus of $7.8m for the year ended 30 June 2022 exceeding its budget and forecast results, an exceptional result in a very challenging interest rate environment.

From this surplus a $6m distribution was made to the Diocese to support its pastoral mission and the balance retained to build the CCF’s capital base. A program of targeted support to CatholicCare for its community kitchens and social enterprise programs has also commenced.

The Fund provided loan funding in excess of $35m during the year ended 30 June 2022, which will be utilised to construct and upgrade facilities in our schools, early education centres, CatholicCare premises, social housing and many other projects and infrastructure to support our community.

In 2022, the CCF also successfully completed a major core banking system upgrade.

A new name

In October the Catholic Community Fund (CCF) launched its new name with a staff breakfast at the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s offices.

At the launch, CCF Fund and Treasury Manager Jenny Chung spoke about why they’ve changed their name from Catholic Development Fund to Catholic Community Fund.

“We believe Catholic Community Fund reflects what our Fund stands for, what we represent and our focus for the future,” she said.

“Many people may not know that over the last 10 years alone, the Fund has provided or given back over $43 million to support the charitable works of the Diocese and its agencies.

“The community is at the heart of everything we do, so it made sense for us to represent this in our name.”

“Over the next 12 months, the CCF team looks forward to working more closely with CatholicCare to support their Social Enterprises and Community Kitchens to further contribute to our Diocesan community and those who need it most.”

$7.8m

Surplus FY22.

$6m

Distribution of surplus was made to the Diocese to support its pastoral mission.

$35m+

loan funding. Utilised to construct and upgrade facilities in our schools, early education centres, CatholicCare premises, social housing projects and infrastructiure.

$43m+

Given back over last 10 years to support the charitable works of the Diocese and its agencies.

Office of Safeguarding

SEAN TYNAN, DIRECTOR OF SAFEGUARDING

The Office of Safeguarding is the organisational expression of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and vulnerable persons.

At the end of 2022 almost 1,000 diocesan personnel in child-related work had attended full or half day safeguarding training courses, as well as the hundreds of personnel who undertook the safeguarding information session as part of their induction to the Diocese.

Our schools actively progressed their implementation of the complementary NSW Child Safe Standards and National Catholic Safeguarding Standards. At the end of academic year, almost all of the Diocese’s schools had submitted approved Safeguarding Compliance Plans, with the few outstanding plans due for submission in early 2023.

More than 40 services engaged in our National Child Protection Week 2022 competition- “Decorate Your Gate” to present an artistic interpretation of this year’s theme, “Every child, in every community, needs a fair go.” Acclaimed local artist Mitch Revs will design and paint a mural in the winning schools, codesigned with the students.

The Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy was approved in October. This creates version two of the central policy statement on the ‘whole of Diocese’ commitment and approach to making the safeguarding of every child and vulnerable person, an integral part of all diocesan ministries and provision of services. The policy is available to the public on the Diocese’s website.

The Office of Safeguarding also finalised its four-year strategic plan (2022-2025) in May, incorporating the Diocese’s strategic plan and applying the five synodal foundations.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children. The Office of Safeguarding is the structural expression of the Diocese’s commitment to demonstrate the highest standards of recognising and upholding the dignity and rights of all children.

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Decorate Your Gate

National Child Protection Week (4-10 September) aims to engage, educate, and empower Australians to understand the complexity of child abuse and neglect and work together to prevent it. The campaign does this through the sharing of events and resources to encourage communities to engage in conversations around children’s safety and wellbeing.

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle put its commitment front and centre – quite literally – with the Office of Safeguarding’s ‘Decorate Your Gate’ initiative in 2022.

Diocesan Catholic schools and St Nicholas Early Education centres were invited to decorate their school or centre gate, fence, or alternative space in line with the theme of National Child Protection Week, ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go’

Each display was inspected by a panel of judges featuring acclaimed Newcastlebased artist, Mitch Revs, for the chance to win a 10sqm locally-themed mural at their school painted by Mr Revs and designed in collaboration with students.

31 primary schools, four secondary schools, five early education centres, and three out-of-school-hours care services participated in Decorate Your Gate. Congratulations to St John the Baptist Primary School, Maitland for their winning banner.

43 diocesan sites participated in Decorate Your Gate.

1,000 diocesan personnel in child-related work attended safeguarding courses.

WINNER - St John the Baptist Primary School, Maitland

The launch of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan

People gathered from around the Diocese and its agencies to launch our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) on 18 August 2022.

Our Reflect RAP is the start of our more formal reconciliation journey that recognises the work our staff and agencies are doing as we journey towards reconciliation.

The Reflect plan is centered on pillars of relationships, respect, opportunities and governance. it is endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and follows their framework.

Committing to a Reflect RAP means scoping and developing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, deciding on our vision for reconciliation and exploring our sphere of influence.

Teresa Brierley, Director of Pastoral Ministries said, “The launch of our first Diocesan Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan is an opportunity to recognise our part in the reconciliation journey.”

“Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan we hope, will lead us on a path to progress our mutual trust and develop an understanding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Diocese,” she said.

Going Green in 2022

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle recognises the ability to positively influence sustainability in the Maitland-Newcastle region.

In 2022 we launched our new Sustainability Plan.

The geographic region covered by the Diocese includes 154,481 residents identifying as Catholic and the Diocese employs more than 4,600 staff across its parishes and agencies. In addition, the Diocese provides services to many individuals as well as educating more than 20,000 primary and high school students. Due to its community reach, geographic coverage and size, the sustainability commitments of the Diocese have the potential to make a significant impact on the broader community.

Our Diocesan vision is to be a leader in sustainability and proactively play a key role in transitioning the Maitland-Newcastle region to a more sustainable future. Our Sustainability Plan is underpinned by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and our Diocesan Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

Our CEO, Sean Scanlon said, “Daily, our Diocesan operations influence and impact more than 25,000 children and young adults across our schools, early education or in our care, and more than 4,600 employees. Our people care deeply about sustainability and the Diocese considers it part of its responsibility to equip the next generation to understand global challenges and the role they may play in rising to meet them.”

154,481 Catholics in the region (2016 census).

38 Parishes in our Diocese.

4,600+ Employees across all agencies.

6,000+ volunteers.

THE SUSTAINABILITY

PLAN 2022-2025 CAN BE VIEWED THROUGH THE QR CODE.

FINANCIALS CONTINUED