Partnership advances tertiary opportunities
The Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Office and its seven secondary schools, including Marist-Sion College, Warragul signed a five year memorandum of understanding with Federation University Australia (FedUni).
Marist-Sion College principal Peter Houlahan said signing off on the partnership had been a year in the making.
Mr Houlahan said the term “launch” reminded him of when Apollo 11 was launched into space. Like that, he said the partnership would “take us to new heights never before reached.”
FedUni executive dean of the faculty of education and arts John McDonald said it was a significant partnership that would give staff and students the opportunity to work with experienced educators in the Catholic system to produce better graduate teachers.
Prof McDonald said it was 247 days ago that they first met to discuss how the university and secondary schools could work together.
“From that conversation, we have come closer together because fundamentally we are about the same objective and this is to see the region prosper.
“We will look at how to improve relationships with secondary schools, how to improve educational outcomes and to ensure our teachers are enriched.
“But what is at the heart of our discussions is improving outcomes for students and improve outcomes of our student teachers,” Prof McDonald said.
Director of Catholic education for the diocese Maria Kirkwood said it was an important educational venture.
“The Catholic Education Office fully supports this initiative and will be providing targeted staff expertise to ensure service delivery of high quality to the Catholic secondary colleges in the diocese.
“This partnership shows that very firmly we are coming together to reach the best outcomes for the students in our schools,” she said.
In the first phase of the partnership, a Literacy Educators’ Network involving teachers and academics will be formed to share information and research knowledge and to develop a joint professional learning program.
The schools and university’s School of Education also will work together on new models of teacher education to ensure that graduate teachers are “classroom ready.”
The partnership will develop a new approach to teacher education placements which will be geared to improving literacy outcomes for secondary students.
“Literacy is vital for success in modern life,” said Mr Houlahan said. “The partnership will help build overall literacy levels in Gippsland Catholic schools, and will enable FedUni preservice teachers to improve the literacy of their students after graduation.”
Prof McDonald said FedUni was expanding its range of teacher education programs at its Churchill campus next year to include early childhood, masters of primary and secondary teaching, masters in education studies and bachelor of arts and education programs.
Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood and Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent witnessed the signing of the memorandum.