School Advisory Council

Effective 1 January 2021, the Bishop established the Company, Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL), to assume the ownership and operation of fifty-six (fifty-two Primary and four Secondary) Catholic Schools previously operated in an unincorporated form, and to be responsible for the operation of further schools that will be established by the Company and referred to as DOBCEL Schools. Accordingly, the Board of Directors of DOBCEL is the governing authority of the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Schools as defined under the DOBCEL Constitution. DOBCEL is committed to working with school leadership and school communities to build thriving Catholic education schools. A key dimension of this collaborative work is the establishment and effective operation of advisory councils to support the work of schools.

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is not part of the governance structure as such – they sit separately from the delegation and reporting lines to the DOBCEL Board. They are formed and created at a school level to provide informed advice to the Principal of the school.

The SAC is the leading advisory group for the Principal, as an active forum for parent and community participation, providing support and advice in strategic planning, school improvement, educational outcomes and stewardship of resources. As outlined in the DOBCEL Governance Charter, SAC members do not have any financial or non-financial decision- making powers.

 The SAC is intended to:
•       provide a voice for members of the school community
•       actively support, in collaboration with the local parish, the Vision and Catholic Identity of the School
•       provide input into and support for strategic planning and directions
•       actively support and promote child safety practices including the National Safeguarding Principles for Child Safe Organisations •       provide input and contribute advice in the processes of school improvement and school review
•       support the Principal in meeting his/her responsibilities and accountabilities for educational outcomes, effective stewardship of resources, and annual reporting
•       actively support the Principal in the encouragement of family engagement
•       support the ongoing sustainability of the SAC and its members in its succession and learning

The SAC will meet monthly in the College Boardroom and the AGM is held in October each year. The St Brigid’s College School Advisory Board Members comprise of: