Greetings and welcome to the third edition of CCSP’s Parent Talk for 2021. I hope all mothers, grandmothers, aunts and significant female carers had a wonderful Mother’s Day earlier this month.

Since the last edition, much has been happening. In March, CCSP hosted two online safety webinars with the eSafety Commissioner. These expert-led webinars were delivered to the parents and carers of primary and secondary school students respectively. This initiative is just one example of how CCSP helps to upskill parents and carers in their role as the first educators of their children.

CCSP has been engaging with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) in its development of new syllabuses following the NSW Curriculum Review. We have had input on the K-2 English and Maths Syllabus as both a key stakeholder and via our membership of NESA's Disability Education Forum. More generally, NESA has consulted with CCSP though its the cross-sectoral Contemporary Issues Parent Roundtable.

On 21 April 2021, I appeared as a witness at the public hearing of the NSW Legislative Council Education Committee’s inquiry into the Education Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020. This followed CCSP’s written submission to the inquiry earlier this year, which can be accessed here. A more comprehensive coverage of this item will be included in the next edition of Parent Talk in June.

Hitting the headlines recently has been ACARA’s proposed changes to the Australian Curriculum. Of concern to many in the community has been the apparent shift in emphasis that some claim serves to diminish the significance of Western civilisation in the establishment and development of Australian society. This edition of Parent Talk provides you with some background information and a link to ACARA’s feedback tool.

On 27 April 2021, I attended a meeting with various agency heads to provide advice to the Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC, NSW Minister of Education and Early Childhood, in the lead-up to the national meeting of Education Ministers. CCSP ensures that the voice of parents is heard by those who make decisions that affect our children.

Also in late April and early May, I visited the Diocesan Director in nine of the eleven dioceses in NSW/ACT. An added bonus was an opportunity to catch up with the Diocese of Willcannia- Forbes' Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE DD. 

It is with great excitement that CCSP launches the 2021 Roger O’Sullivan Memorial Award for Family, School Community Partnerships for Learning. I urge Catholic school communities to consider making an application for this year’s award.

23 May 2021 marks the beginning of National Palliative Care Week. This year’s theme is “Palliative Care – It's more than you think.” Given the recent announcement by the Hon Alex Greenwich MLA, Member for Sydney, earlier this month to introduce a Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill to the NSW Parliament later in the year, I thought it fitting to include in this edition of Parent Talk some information about palliative care to assist you with how you might talk with your child on this sensitive topic.

Kind regards, 

Peter Grace, Executive Director