Recently at the MSA Biennial Conference, Professor David de Carvalho gave a key note speech sharing reflections on Australian education and assessment. David is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology at the University of Notre Dame, former CEO of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and current Director on the MSA Ltd Board. A key provocation by David was, “Not everything that matters can be measured, and not everything that can be measured matters!”. In the coming weeks many teachers and staff will be finalising all manner of matters with our Year 12 students as they enter this final phase of their school journey and the public examination period in most States and Territories. Whilst comprehensive revision, practice exams, and ongoing learning dominate the precious time left, there is a valuable gift being quietly and thoughtfully prepared and finalised behind the scenes, the student reference.

You may recall Pope Francis in January this year making this plea to the people of the world.

“A global ceasefire is urgent: either we do not realise it or we are pretending not to see

that we are on the brink of the abyss.”

Last week the Australian Bishop’s Conference released their 2024 Social Justice Statement,

Truth and Peace - A Gospel word in a violent world.