Forming minds and hearts: almost 1,500 gather for Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns

More than 1,450 delegates from across Australia and overseas gathered in Cairns from 20 to 22 August for the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference, a triennial event exploring the future of Catholic education through the themes of faith, excellence and access.

In first keynote, Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ, general undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops in Rome and a global leader in synodality and youth ministry, described Catholic schools as ‘networks of relationships’ and the ‘places where hope is nurtured, where young people learn to walk in faith and diversity with the spirit.’

Education is a shared journey, where we walk and listen, foster communication and participation.

Education, she said, is ‘a shared journey, where we walk and listen, foster communication and participation’. She urged Catholic schools and universities to be spaces of dialogue between faith and culture, offering formation that resists ‘the dominant models driven by individualism and competition’. When inspired by interreligious and intercultural dialogue, she added, Catholic schools can also be ‘valued by those of other religious traditions as a form of human development’.

The opening day also featured the conference Mass, concelebrated by Bishop Joe Caddy of Cairns, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP of Sydney. More than 1,100 students from across the Diocese of Cairns participated, including a 400-voice choir.

As we are forming minds, we should also be forming hearts.

In his homily, Bishop Caddy spoke of the dignity at the heart of Catholic education: ‘As we gather, we reflect on the awesome responsibility and privilege we share in ... to be instruments of God, create and foster environments where every student’s dignity is respected.’ He prayed that young people formed in Catholic schools would ‘respect human dignity, build bridges and come to know Jesus Christ ... creating a more just and peaceful home for all God’s children’.

A panel conversation on Signs of Hope for Catholic Education, moderated by Susan Pascoe AM, was an opportunity to hear Sr Nathalie Becquart, Bishop Mark Edwards OMI, Fr Friedrich Bechina, Professor Henrietta Marrie and Professor Renée Kohler-Ryan discuss the themes of authenticity, cultural diversity and formation.

The desire to be authentic will lead young people to Christ

‘As we are forming minds, we should also be forming hearts,’ Professor Kohler-Ryan said, while Fr Bechina observed that ‘Our Catholic faith means embracing every culture … with unconditional love for everyone.’ Bishop Edwards identified the longing for authenticity among young people as presenting a unique opportunity. ‘The desire to be authentic will lead young people to Christ,’ he said.

The second day opened with a high-profile conversation between Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and federal education minister Jason Clare MP, moderated by National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) executive director Jacinta Collins. Both reflected on the important role of Catholic education in shaping Australian society.

What you are doing as teachers for the next generations of Australians will live on forever.

‘The work everyone here does is the most important in the world,’ Mr Clare told delegates. ‘What you are doing as teachers for the next generations of Australians will live on forever.’

Archbishop Fisher—observing that ‘there is so much unrealised potential in Catholic education’—highlighted the conference’s theme of hope, pointing out that hope enables teachers to ‘persevere through the hard times’ and that ‘a visionary, faith-based hope means we can see real progress in our three strategic priorities of faith, access and excellence.’

Day two also featured several international experts. In his keynote, Prof Dylan Wiliam, emeritus professor of educational assessment at the University College London Institute of Education, argued that equity means not only lifting achievement but also narrowing gaps between students. Calling for shifts in the culture of education from performance to learning, from fixed ability to mastery over time, and from linear to adaptive curriculums, he advocated for ‘teaching that works for all’.

Family engagement was the focus of Dr Steve Constantino’s keynote, Why Families Matter. The best-selling author and executive professor at William and Mary’s School of Education in Williamsburg, Virginia, outlined five principles for involving parents and communities: a culture that engages every family; development of relationships through effective communication; building family efficacy; engaging every family in decision-making; and engaging the greater community. Reminding delegates that family engagement is ‘not an event; it’s a process,’ he reassured delegates that this ‘doesn’t mean more work. It’s the same energy, same resources, different process, different results.’

Catholic schools are deeply human communities built on trust, relationships and shared purpose.

On the final day, attention turned to the students themselves in a panel moderated by Bishop Joe Caddy. Six students from schools across the Diocese of Cairns spoke candidly about what makes a difference in their education.

Their reflections were simple but pointed: relationships first, attention to individual learning needs, and openness to technology—including artificial intelligence—as a tool for creativity and preparation for the future. Delegates were urged to listen to students, step into their world and recognise the power of small changes.

The conference concluded with a keynote from Dr Simon Breakspear, founder of Strategic Schools. In his presentation, he stressed that true reform comes from ‘patient, intentional and collective action’ rather than quick fixes. Catholic schools, he pointed out, are ‘deeply human communities built on trust, relationships and shared purpose, and it is through small, steady improvements in daily practice that genuine, system-wide change takes root.’

In her final remarks, Jacinta Collins said she hoped delegates ‘took away the value of our community, the strength of our unity, the benefits of a faith-based education, and our capacity to collaborate and be accountable and build cohesion.’ Cairns Catholic Education Executive Director Durm O’Riordan also expressed his pride in the student contribution, saying he hoped everyone recognised ‘the importance of student voice and the power of listening to them’.

Reflecting after the conference on his experience, Mark Brear, Chief of Regional Operations at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), described it as ‘a fantastic opportunity to deepen my understanding of school improvement strategies being implemented around the country.

‘The chance to listen to Dr Stephen Constantino on the nuances of engaging diverse families with authenticity, curiosity and compassion was inspiring and led to interesting conversations with my colleagues that we’ll continue in Melbourne,’ he said. He also ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ the opportunity to make valuable connections with education professionals from around Australia.

The sense of optimism and lessons learned here will be brought back to the staff rooms and classrooms in Melbourne.

Dr Edward Simons, Executive Director of MACS, also described the conference as ‘a great opportunity to check in with the national conversation, what’s going on with Catholic education right across Australia, what are the successes, the challenges and the opportunities for us.

His time in Cairns had left him with ‘a strong sense of solidarity and hope’, he said. ‘It’s been a privilege to be involved in rich conversation about curriculum, pedagogy, religious education and faith formation. I’m confident that the sense of optimism and lessons learned here will be brought back to the staff rooms and classrooms in Melbourne.’

The next national conference will be hosted in Sydney in 2028, to coincide with the 54th InternationalEucharistic Congress—and possibly even a visit from Pope Leo XIV himself.