Invest time, support and love in young people and actively listen to what they have to share. 

If we as a Catholic school community invest in our young people what a wonderful future we are creating.  And if we broaden this statement to our whole school communities inclusive of parents, then imagine the traction we could create in achieving holistic education for our children that values people and what we all bring to the table.

Educators, Bishops, Priests, school leaders, parents and researchers came from all parts of Australia to network and take part in the many sessions looking at faith development, wellbeing, lifting educational standards, building community, learnings from lockdowns and adapting to change.  There were some robust panel discussions, presentations that were provocative and challenging to one’s own sense of faith and ideals but across the three days, there was a strong commitment to see catholic education be more to a student than a religion.  Dr Jordan Nguyen challenged us change makers to guide our children to dream big and let them “Find their inner voice and train it to be strong, confident and to be brave to take up challenges.” Madeline and Fr Anthony challenged us to look at young people’s connection to spirituality not religion as a base to provide them value and meaning.  Donna Cross challenged educators and school leaders to look at the equity across their student cohorts, which students are hiding based on their circumstances, pastoral connections made with teachers or their abilities? 

I was hopeful and energised that authentic parent engagement is a priority and possible when I attended a session entitled, Utilising parents and students experiences of remote learning to strengthen family engagement. 

This is a research project in Melbourne that is partnering with parents and students to look at the effect of lockdown on family engagement and creating professional learnings for teachers on how they can up skill themselves and their students to affect positive change and inclusion of families in their students education.  One of many takeaways from this session was the following quote, “ when parents have an awareness of what is happening at school, however, they can ask the ‘right’ questions to start and prolong conversations.”  With knowledge comes power and I was reminded of the privilege that I have in my ability to confidently interact with my children and their school.  Many of our families don’t hold the key to this knowledge…..yet……but with compassion, listening, time, appreciation and resources, we can change this. 

By doing this, our children will receive a holistic education that sets them up to be productive and successful global citizens and will have many villagers in their canoes with them on life journey.