Catalyst has earned national interest and recognition, with Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) visiting schools in the Archdiocese to learn more about the program and find out how it has been implemented at-scale across a system of 56 schools. 

CET has drawn parallels between the Catalyst program and their strategic priorities for 2022. Executive Director, Dr Gerard Gaskin, and Director of Teaching and Learning, Anita Cunningham, visited four schools in Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (CECG) Archdiocese to learn more about Catalyst. They were hosted by CECG’s Education Lead, Patrick Ellis and Catalyst Program Manager, Michele Bezuidenhout, along with Leaders at each of the schools. 

This trip showcased the Catalyst journey at Merci College, St Thomas Aquinas West Belconnen, Holy Spirit Primary School Nicholls and St Thomas More’s Campbell. 

Each visit involved lesson observations where High Impact Teaching Practice  was demonstrated and discussions with Leaders about their Catalyst journey; their challenges, successes and how change is managed to support continuous improvement.  

The schools visited shared key insights on their Catalyst journey based on their unique contexts, providing a holistic and authentic view of how evidence-based teaching could be embedded in a schools’ teaching and learning program within a complex system. 

“The school visits were amazing. I can’t wait to take my learning back with me to the CET team to discuss,” Anita said. 

Patrick Ellis said he was proud to showcase the progress CECG had made in just over a year, but acknowledged this is a journey and there was still work to be done. 

“Catalyst is alive and well across the system, and I’m thrilled to share our journey with other school systems who are thinking about implementing an evidence-based teaching approach,” he said. 

For more information on Catalyst visit the about page. 

Visit to Merici College

Visit to St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, West Belconnen

Visit to St Thomas More’s Primary School, Campbell

L-R: Anita Cunningham – Director Teaching and Learning Catholic Education Tasmania, Luke Donnelly – Principal, Gerard Gaskin – Director of Catholic Education Tasmania, Patrick Ellis – Education Lead CECG, Michael Roberts – Director COGLearn (HITP Coach), Michele Bezuidenhout – Program Manager CECG