Overview

Within a 'stand-alone' education system offering services to families seeking a quality Catholic education for their children, a number of significant obligations and responsibilities are managed and facilitated by the work of Catholic Education Services. As part of the Diocesan family of schools, although each school may be self-managing, it is not self-governing.
Each school operates according to the mandate of the Diocesan Church, and its leader, the Bishop of Cairns. The Bishop delegates responsibility for the provision of Catholic Education to the Executive Director of Catholic Education Services, and works through the Education Board of Governance to set and monitor policy and practice.

Leadership and strategic management of the system of schools is the responsibility of the Executive Director of Catholic Education. The Executive Director and CES office staff manage and facilitate a number of significant obligations and responsibilities.

» CES Stewardship – Pastoral and Organisational Framework (pdf)

RESPONSIBILITIES & RELATIONSHIPS
Bishop, Vicar and Clergy

As the chief pastor of the diocese, the diocesan Bishop governs the particular Church in legislative (policy), executive and judicial terms. While holding executive authority himself, executive or operational authority can be exercised through an Episcopal Vicar. The Episcopal
Vicar, by law, has the same executive power as that of the diocesan Bishop (canon 479). In broad terms, within the Diocese of Cairns, the Vicar carries the executive (operational) responsibilities of the Bishop, while the Bishop has a particular focus on legislative and judicial aspects of governance.

“The core of our organisational relationship is our interdependent,
co-responsibility in mission.”

Board of Governance

Appointed by the Bishop, the Catholic Education Board of Governance operates within the general pastoral and educational goals of the diocese. The aim of the Board is to help Catholic
Education identity take shape within the diocese. It does this by developing and monitoring its educational Vision and Mission Statements, its Strategic Priorities (annual and longer term), and through its educational policy process.

The Board’s role in policy development is visionary, developmental, coordinative and evaluative.
The Board engages in policy development through the shared wisdom process.
The Board also cooperates with, and supports the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC), the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and the Australian Bishops in furthering the ideals of Catholic Education in Australia.

RESPONSIBILITIES & RELATIONSHIPS
Schools, Parishes, Agencies and Commissions

Schools, Parishes, Educational Agencies and Commissions constitute an interdependent community of schools and services drawing support and ownership within parish and local community, but also operating in communion with one another, under the Bishop.
CES acts in partnership with priests, parents, school staff and parish communities. This entails regular pastoral contact, necessitates clear communication, and the establishment of trust and mutual support across the diocese.

CES also works collaboratively with schools supported by Religious Institutes with Diocesan
Councils (eg Priests' Council, Parents & Friends, Ministry for Pastoral Vision, Finance Council, etc) and with community services in the promotion of a common vision and shared responsibility for the good of the whole diocese. A spirit of openness and participation characterises this collaborative relationship between all diocesan agencies and groups.

CES MINISTRY DESIGN

Central to Catholic Education Services are its people, their delegated responsibilities and the particular duties that emerge from these.

Delegations

At a diocesan level, the professional needs and organisational complexity within Catholic Education necessitate the appointment, by the Bishop, of a delegate to act on his behalf. This delegation is made to the person holding the position of Executive Director. It is out of this delegation, and the responsibilities associated with it, that the administrative relationships between CES, diocesan and parish schools, and agencies take shape. While the detail of these relationships will vary from time to time, the following current delegated responsibilities generally apply:

1. To develop, establish and model the distinctive Catholic Identity within schools and colleges
2. To develop and monitor Strategic and Annual plans
3. To provide Human Resources support to schools, colleges and CESTo coordinate communication and collaboration within and beyond Catholic education
4. To provide oversight of the financial and physical resources of schools, colleges and CES
5. To develop and maintain communication, decision making and associated management systems
6. To act for and on behalf of the diocese in all matters related to employment
7. To support the professional development of all staff
8. To represent and advocate for Catholic Education
9. To be accountable to the Bishop, Vicar and Board of Governance through seeking authorisation, consulting and informing on matters of Catholic Education within the diocese.

The responsibilities entailed in the above roles are exercised within a faith and value system based on the life of Jesus Christ and in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church. As Jesus both led and served his followers in a complementary manner, so the task of staff in Catholic Education, whether in schools or the central office is to achieve effective and productive servant leadership of those with whom they work. This cascades through Catholic Education at all layers – teachers with students, principals and other leadership positions with teachers and school officers, CES staff with principals and school staffs, schools with their students and communities.

Accountability

Within CES, policy accountability is to the Bishop of the diocese through the Education Board of Governance. The work of the Board reflects diocesan pastoral priorities and is carried out in collaboration and co-operation with the Diocesan Finance Council. Matters of extraordinary administration and day to day support, specifically to the Executive Director, is provided by the Episcopal Vicar.

Pastoral accountability is met through the development and review of strategic and operational activities. This occurs annually, is reflected in budget processes and arises from consultative practices. Annual planning is connected to a five year plan which is integrated with overall diocesan priorities. The CES Annual Report is a primary mechanism for reporting to the diocesan community.