CNA Joint Working Group Forum – Perth

Collaboration, Clarity, and the Next Phase of AI in Catholic Education

This week, Catholic Network Australia (CNA) brought together leaders from across the country for our Joint Working Group Forum in Perth.

Spanning both education and technology leadership, the forum provided a valuable opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and engage in national dialogue on the issues shaping Catholic education.

At its core, the event reinforced CNA’s role as a convener—bringing systems together to share expertise, strengthen alignment, and respond collectively to increasingly complex challenges.

A Sector Moving from Exploration to Implementation

Across discussions, a clear and consistent message emerged:

• AI is no longer theoretical—it’s operational

• Governance, risk, and student impact are front of mind

• Systems are seeking practical, scalable approaches—not just ideas

The strongest engagement was seen in sessions focused on AI Toolset & Security and AI Governance & Risk, highlighting a sector rapidly transitioning from experimentation to implementation.

This shift reflects a growing maturity across Catholic education systems—moving beyond curiosity toward structured, accountable, and sustainable use of emerging technologies.

Attendance and Participation

The forum achieved strong engagement across both in-person and virtual formats, with balanced representation across disciplines:

• 30 in-person attendees

  • Education leaders: 15

  • Technology leaders: 15

While participation was strong (spanning 12+ systems), several systems were not represented, highlighting an opportunity to broaden engagement in future forums.

What We Learned

1. AI is the Defining Issue

AI dominated both attendance and discussion. Systems are actively seeking:

• Clear governance frameworks

• Practical tools and implementation guidance

• Deeper understanding of student impact and wellbeing

This reflects a sector-wide need to balance innovation with responsibility.

2. A Shift to Structure and Accountability

Interest in areas such as data governance, student impact, and screen time signals a shift from "what is possible?” to "what is appropriate, safe, and sustainable?”. This transition marks an important step toward system-wide maturity.

3. Shared Ownership Across Disciplines

The equal participation of education and technology leaders reinforced CNA’s collaborative model.

The challenges ahead—particularly in AI, cyber security, and data—cannot be solved in isolation. They require joint ownership and shared accountability.

4. Hybrid Delivery Works—But Can Improve

Virtual participation broadened access and enabled national reach. However:

• Representation gaps remain

• The virtual experience can be further strengthened

Future forums will look to improve consistency and engagement across both formats.

Emerging Priorities

Looking ahead, several key focus areas are emerging for future Leaders Forums:

Top priorities

• Data governance guidelines

• Impact of AI on students

• Screen time and brain development

Secondary priorities

• AI across education and business functions

• Online learning standards

• BYOD policy impacts

These priorities reflect a growing desire for clarity—not just on technology itself, but on its broader implications for learning, wellbeing, and formation.

A Collective Effort

Events like this rely on the generosity of the community.

Taking time away from schools, teams, and families is no small ask. The strength of CNA is built on that collective contribution—leaders willing to share openly, challenge constructively, and learn together.

A sincere thank you to:

• Catholic Education Western Australia and Corpus Christi College for hosting

• Our colleagues at the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and CEnet for their contribution to the dialogue

The openness across the network continues to be one of CNA’s greatest strengths.

Looking Ahead

The Perth forum confirmed what many are already experiencing:

AI is no longer a future consideration—it is a present responsibility.

As a network, our opportunity is to move forward together—developing shared approaches that are:

• Safe

• Ethical

• Practical

• Grounded in the mission of Catholic education

CNA will continue to play its role as a national connector—supporting systems to navigate change with confidence, clarity, and collaboration.