Diocesan News
The Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited are pleased to launch a new DOBCEL podcast series, Towards 2035, which explores the thinking, voices and partnerships shaping their 10-year DOBCEL Strategy 2035.
Across the series, listeners are invited inside the story of Strategy 2035 – why it’s needed, how it was co-designed, and what it means for schools, leaders and communities today. Through conversations with system leaders, global thinkers and principals from across the Diocese, the podcast explores what it means to be bold and brave in a time of significant change, while remaining grounded in Catholic identity, mission and community.
DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Podcast Launch: Towards 2035 – Episode 1
Becoming a High-Performing System of Catholic Schools: The Why, What and How of Our Strategy
In this opening episode, Executive Director Tom Sexton, in conversation with Strategy Implementation Manager Julia Petrov, unpacks the origins of Strategy 2035, the co-design process that shaped it, and the role of the DOBCEL Board in challenging and endorsing the vision for the future. Together they explore what “high-performing” means in a Catholic context – and why now is the time for courageous, future-focused action.
🎧 Listen to Episode 1 now:
👉 https://dobcel.captivate.fm/
New episodes, including conversations with school leaders and global education thinkers, will be released weekly throughout the term.
Following the launch of Towards 2035, we encourage all staff to subscribe to the podcast and listen to the first episode if you haven’t already.
Towards 2035 brings the DOBCEL Strategy 2035 to life, exploring why the strategy matters, how it was co-designed, and what it means for schools, leaders and communities today. Through conversations with system leaders, global thinkers and school principals, the series reflects on leading boldly through change while remaining grounded in Catholic identity and mission.
New following on from the first episode: School Voices interlude
The first School Voices interlude features Dave Runge, Director of Future Schools, in conversation with Carmel Hanley, Principal of Lumen Christi Primary School, Delacombe, reflecting on what Strategy 2035 means in a local school context and the practical realities of leading change.
🎧 Listen and subscribe:
👉 https://dobcel.captivate.fm/
Episode 2: New Podcast Episode: Finding Pasi – How a Global Collaboration Began
How did a regional Catholic education system in Victoria end up working with one of the world’s most respected educational thinkers?
In our latest podcast episode, Finding Pasi: How a Global Collaboration Began, Executive Director Tom Sexton is joined by Marketing & Communications Manager Ruth Appleyard to share the story behind connecting with Professor Pasi Sahlberg and futurist-educational strategist Dave Runge – a hopeful opportunity that quickly evolved into a meaningful partnership.
In the second half of the episode, Tom and Pasi sit down together to reflect on the early beginnings of the DOBCEL Strategy. They explore the big questions that sparked the work:
- Why now?
- What challenges and opportunities were emerging?
- And why is courageous, future-focused change essential for Catholic Education Ballarat?
This episode reveals the human side of strategic design – the relationships, curiosity, and shared purpose that set our bold and brave journey in motion.
🎙️ We encourage all staff to take some time to listen and reflect on the story behind this important chapter of our strategic journey.
👉 Listen to the episode here: dobcel.captivate.fm