Indian visitors experience education immersion

A two-week immersion experience with Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton for visiting Indian priests Fr Sebastian Michael and Fr Sebastin Panampuzha Joseph, has provided an invaluable opportunity to share information and exchange ideas and approaches to Catholic education in Australia and India.

Consisting of a broad overview of how CEDR Catholic schools operate, the immersion program included a particular focus on contemporary teaching and learning skills, student wellbeing and student safety, and inclusive approaches to education within classrooms.

The visitors, who both work as school Principals in their home province of Mysore, spent time in a number of Rockhampton Region Catholic Primary Schools, Colleges and a kindergarten as well as visiting parishes and attending various events and functions.

During discussions with many Principals, staff and students of Catholic schools as well as senior staff from the Catholic Education Office, it became clear that education in India and Australia has much in common in terms of the challenges being faced, according to immersion program facilitator, Miss Leesa Jeffcoat.

Miss Jeffcoat said accompanying Fr Sebastian and Fr Sebastin during their visit had been a delightful and informative experience.

“It’s been a wonderful professional journey for all involved. During conversations with staff and students, Fr Sebastian and Fr Sebastin shared a great deal about their Province of Mysore and how schools there operate,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

CEDR Assistant Director: Curriculum Mrs Carmel Kriz said conversations with work unit staff at the Catholic Education Office included a focus on Australian Curriculum, Student Protection, Indigenous Education, Inclusive Curriculum, trauma-informed approaches, Information Technology, cybersafety and secondary education pathways.

“The conversations were a wonderful opportunity to explore similarities and differences in our schooling systems, and as is often the case through dialogue, we learned from our Indian colleagues as much as we shared,” Mr Kriz said.

Student Services Manager Brett Halter said Student Protection and Safeguarding were also key discussion topics.

“Through exploring issues related to student protection, professional boundaries and safeguarding, it was evident that these were also priority matters for Fr Sebastin and Fr Sebatian. They readily identified the strengths that CEDR have in this important area,” Mr Halter said.

“Student Wellbeing, especially understanding how embedding Trauma-Informed Principles has shaped CEDR’s approach to Trauma-Aware Schooling was another focus which was of great interest to our visiting colleagues. We shared the systems that CEDR has in place to support this in the classroom and explored what that could look like in schools in India.”

Miss Jeffcoat said the inspiration for the program emerged from a conversation between Bishop Michael McCarthy and the CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) Provincial, Fr Augustine during his visit to Rockhampton earlier in the year.

“Bishop Michael asked me to meet with Fr Augustine and the possibility of a visit by a couple of CMI Principals emerged.”

“A great number of resources have been shared during their visit and I am sure that the partnership that has been formed between the Mysore Province and Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton will continue to flourish in the future,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Photo:

Enjoying a visit to St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School and St Anthony’s Catholic Kindergarten, North Rockhampton, (from left) Fr Sebastin, Michael Roach (Principal), Fr Sebastian and Michelle Fletchett (Kindergarten Director).