NewsA Community of Communities

From July 29 – 31, thirty Middle Leaders from across the Ballarat, Sandhurst, and Wagga Wagga Dioceses gathered at Cammeray Waters in the Macedon Ranges for part two of the Country Diocesan Leadership Program (CDLP).

Throughout the three-day residential experience, participants engaged deeply in reflection, learning and professional dialogue. They demonstrated courage and commitment as they explored their leadership strengths, identified areas for growth and considered the unique contribution they make as leaders in Catholic education.

Some program highlights from Part 2 CDLP:

• Leading in a Catholic School: Through reflection on Catholic social teaching, shared liturgy and the practice of the Examen.
• Defining Middle Leadership: Exploring a theoretical model of Middle Leadership and identifying practices, and core competencies required to successfully manage and lead within schools.
• Professional Standards: Unpacking the AITSL Professional Standards for Middle Leaders to reflect and align with their individual PSI (Personal Styles Inventory).
• Leading & Managing Change: Diving into change management frameworks and learning how to leverage personal strengths during organizational transition.
• Executive Directors’ Insights: Engaging in candid panel discussions and Q&A sessions with Executive Directors Tom Sexton and Dr Sandra Harvey, gaining valuable insight into their personal leadership journeys and vision for Catholic Education.
• Next Steps & Coaching: Synthesizing learnings from Parts 1 & 2 to craft a SMART leadership goal and meeting in triads for a coaching and feedback sessions.

A key highlight was the opportunity to build lasting connections across the three Dioceses. By sharing ideas, learning from shared experiences, and enjoying social time together, participants developed a supportive, collaborative network.

We congratulate all participants on completing the residential component of Part 2 of the CDLP and look forward to seeing the positive impact of their leadership across our school communities!