All teachers and staff within the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are encouraged to undertake professional development throughout their career to further their education and improve career prospects.
If you are considering a role in senior leadership, see Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead to find out about the academic and faith formation qualifications required to work, teach and lead in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
Financial Support Offered by the CSO
The CSO currently remunerates one-half (50%) of Accreditation to Teach Religion and Accreditation for Senior Leadership course fees for students who are undertaking approved courses of study in RE/Theology/Catholic Leadership and who are permanently employed part time or full time in diocesan schools.
Staff who have been permanently employed full time by the CSO for at least 12 months who undertake other postgraduate study courses can receive fee assistance and study leave to complete study requirements, subject to CSO approval.
All programs of postgraduate study will be considered for financial support. Financial assistance will not be provided for postgraduate study if you have not advised the CSO prior to commencing your study program.
Applicants must seek approval for financial assistance prior to commencement of study by completing the Postgraduate Study Financial Assistance Application Form. This will enable the CSO to offer advice on your planned program of study and approve your eligibility to claim for reimbursement of fees and study leave.
The CSO will contact you to advise if your application has been successful.
If approval to study is granted, applicants are eligible to apply for study leave of one day per unit per semester. Study leave must be taken in the semester of study and should not be accumulated. Some casual release is provided for those undertaking accreditation modules in Categories A to C – find out more here.
To claim reimbursement, staff will need to submit a copy of their transcript and receipt of payment of fees after successful completion of each unit.
Please note:
- Claims for reimbursement must be submitted within 2 years of completion of study.
- The CSO will only provide fee financial assistance for up to 12 units of postgraduate study per person.
Please contact the School Improvement Team for further information about postgraduate study schoolimprovement@mn.catholic.edu.au.
Research Applications
The Catholic Schools Office encourages and supports high quality educational research to inform evidence-based decision making in policy and program development. Approval must be obtained before commencing research activity in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
The approval process is designed to ensure that:
- Students are protected from physical, psychological and other forms of harm
- Participants’ privacy and confidentiality is maintained
- Research activity does not negatively impact on the teaching and learning environment
- Research conducted provides educational benefits to the schools involved and to the Catholic Schools Office
- Research methodologies are appropriate and capable of producing valid and reliable results
- Research results are accessible to practitioners in a form they can use
- Integrity of learning is maintained at school sites, and research provides benefits for school communities and education.
The Catholic Schools Office reserves the right to accept or decline any research application at its own discretion.
Once an application for research is received by the Catholic Schools Office, approval will be granted according to the appropriateness and relevance of the research project. Once a project is approved, the researcher may approach diocesan schools to request permission to conduct the research project.
Researchers should be aware, however, that participation in any research is voluntary. This means that school principals and Catholic Schools Office employees have the right to decline participation even if approval has been granted by the Catholic Schools Office.
All applications should be addressed to:
School Improvement Team
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
P.O. Box 714
Newcastle NSW 2300
E | schoolimprovement@mn.catholic.edu.au
