Educator Newsletter (Term 3, 2026)
Welcome to the Catholic Network Australia Educator Newsletter. Whether you’re looking for ideas to use in the classroom, professional learning opportunities or ways to connect with colleagues across the country, we hope you find something useful.
BE DIGITALLY WISE WEEK (19-23 Oct)
Be Digitally Wise Week returns from 19–23 October, with a week of practical learning opportunities designed to help Catholic school communities navigate technology confidently, safely and responsibly.
Throughout the week, educators can access sessions and resources exploring digital wellbeing, cyber safety, responsible technology use and emerging issues affecting students, families and schools.
Choose the sessions most relevant to you, share opportunities with colleagues and use the week as a conversation starter within your school community.
Explore Be Digitally Wise Week
Choose the sessions that best suit your students and timetable:
MINECRAFT BUILD THE CHANGE CHALLENGE
This year, 2,682 students participated in the 2026 Minecraft Build the Change Challenge, with 412 inspiring designs submitted from across the country.
Each submission represented hours of thought, collaboration and creativity. We were continually impressed by the innovative ways students interpreted the challenge and brought their ideas to life.
A huge thank you to the teachers, school leaders and families who encouraged students to participate!
Catch up on the National Showcase
Missed the live event or want to celebrate the experience again with your students?
Watch the showcase recording below.
Meet the finalists!
👉 Explore the finalist projects here
CHRISTMAS DESIGN CHALLENGE 2026
Students in Years 3–12 are invited to create an animated digital Christmas card using Canva, combining text, imagery, animation and sound to creatively share the Christmas story.
The challenge brings together Religious Education and Digital Literacy, with on-demand workshops and resources available to support both students and educators.
📅 Launch: 26 October 💬 Teacher Q&A: 9 November, 3pm AEDT ⏰ Submissions due: 25 November 🎉 Live Showcase: 1 December, 1–2pm AEDT
Can’t meet the submission deadline?
Schools can still access the resources and complete the challenge at a time that suits them.
Learn more and register below.
STEM MAD LOCAL COMPETITIONS
Congratulations to the students and educators recognised through this year’s STEM MAD local showcases across Australia!
We’ve seen some incredible projects demonstrating creativity, innovation and a genuine commitment to using STEM to Make A Difference. We’re looking forward to seeing many of these ideas and projects represented at STEM MAD National 2026, taking place on Thursday, 26 November at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
In the meantime, explore some of the recent highlights from across the country and see how students are using STEM to make a difference in their schools and communities.
Recent highlights
Brisbane Catholic EducationThe results are in – BCE’s STEM MAD students are changing the world!
Diocese of Ballarat Catholic EducationInnovation with purpose
Catholic Education Diocese of WollongongInnovate for impact
Catholic Education Western AustraliaGreat Southern STEM ShowcaseCatholic Education Western Australia STEM ShowcaseBunbury STEM MAD Showcase
Keep an eye on LinkedIn for more STEM MAD highlights as local showcases continue across the country.
AI in Schools: New Professional Learning Coming in 2027
Catholic Network Australia and Cyber Safety Project are partnering to make practical AI professional learning accessible to Catholic educators and school leaders across Australia.
Two new courses, developed specifically for Catholic education, will help schools build a shared foundation for using AI safely, ethically and confidently, while protecting student privacy and wellbeing and supporting informed decision-making.
AI in Schools: Safe, Ethical & Responsible Practice is a 60-minute course for educators and school staff, exploring how AI is shaping young people and schools, student data and privacy, safe tool choices, professional practice and AI literacy.
Leading Safer AI Schools is a 90-minute course for school leaders, focused on assessing AI readiness, strengthening governance and risk management, supporting staff judgement and building a culture of safe and responsible AI use.
Both courses are online and on demand, making it easier for dioceses and schools to build consistent understanding and practice across their communities.
EARLY CHILDHOOD: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
CNA exists to respond to the priorities of Catholic education — and we want to better understand how we can support colleagues working in early childhood education.
If you work in or alongside early childhood education, we’d love to hear about your priorities, challenges and where greater national collaboration could add value.
Your feedback will help CNA explore opportunities including professional learning, shared resources, research, partnerships and collaboration across Catholic education.
The survey takes less than 10 minutes, and we encourage you to share it with colleagues working in the sector.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your leadership in classrooms across Australia.
Know another educator who might find these opportunities useful? Share this newsletter with colleagues across your school or system and encourage them to subscribe for future editions.
CNA is at its best when we share ideas, learn from one another and create opportunities together. Thank you for being part of our growing community of Catholic educators across Australia.
Best Regards, Matthew Ferrinda
Chair | Education Working Group
