Our mission and values
It's our mission to create vibrant Catholic school communities where every student finds meaning and purpose in their life through experiencing continual growth in faith and improvement in learning.
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With 38 primary, secondary, and K-12 schools, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is the largest provider of non-government education in the Macarthur, Illawarra, Southern Highlands, and Shoalhaven.
An expression of the Church
Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is a pastoral work of the Church in the Diocese of Wollongong, under the leadership of our chief teacher, Most Reverend Brian Mascord DD, Bishop of Wollongong.
The Diocese of Wollongong is one of eleven dioceses in the state of New South Wales. It is home to 191,000 baptised Catholics who worship at our 29 parishes across Macarthur (South West Sydney), Illawarra, Southern Highlands, and Shoalhaven.
Bishop Brian is supported in his leadership by the Diocesan Schools Council, which provides expert advice on the strategic direction and operation of our system of schools, to ensure we fulfil our purpose as an expression of the Church experience.
Bearers of Christ's Love: The purpose of Catholic schools
The purpose of our Catholic schools is laid out in a decree by Bishop Brian Mascord. It makes clear that our schools are distinctly Catholic, open to all who share our values, and called to be evangelising beacons of hope to today’s young people.
Read the DecreeOur Leadership Team
The day-to-day running of our system is overseen by the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong Leadership Team, led by our Director of Schools, Peter Hill.
Director of Schools
Deputy Director - Improvement Learning and Wellbeing
Assistant Director - Catholic Life, Education and Mission
Assistant Director - People and Culture
Assistant Director - Governance, Assurance and Risk
Assistant Director - Finance, Facilities and Planning (CFO)
Assistant Director - Information, Communication and Learning Technology (CIO)
Director of Schools
Peter Hill
Peter Hill brings over 35 years of experience in Catholic education to his role as Director of Schools. His career has spanned diverse roles including teacher, principal, and executive leader in both diocesan and religious institute schools. Peter is passionate about the transformative power of Catholic education and is deeply committed to supporting the students and staff of Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. He holds a Master of System Leadership, Master of Educational Leadership, and a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, among other qualifications.
Deputy Director - Improvement Learning and Wellbeing
Tim Gilmour
Tim Gilmour is a dedicated Catholic educator with over 30 years of experience in schools and diocesan offices. As Deputy Director, he leads the development and implementation of the Continuous Catholic School Improvement (CCSI) Framework. Tim has a strong background in educational leadership, governance, and policy, and is committed to achieving the best outcomes for every student. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and has presented at Catholic education conferences nationally and internationally.
Assistant Director - Catholic Life, Education and Mission
Joanne Kenny
Jo Kenny is a passionate Catholic educator with extensive experience as a teacher, school leader, and system leader. As Assistant Director, she leads the Catholic Life, Education and Mission team, fostering a contemporary understanding of faith in schools and the wider community. Jo has been instrumental in designing and implementing the Educating with a Mission Lens program, which guides schools and system teams in expressing their Catholic identity in all aspects of learning and teaching. She has also facilitated retreats and formation opportunities for educators, clergy, and Catholic community groups across various dioceses, and is dedicated to helping children, young people, and staff develop a strong faith foundation. Jo holds a Master's degree in Theology and Religious Education, degrees in Social Welfare and Primary Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Leading a Catholic Culture.
Assistant Director - People and Culture
Natasha O'Donoghue
With over 24 years of leadership experience in human resources, policy development, and legislative affairs, Natasha O’Donoghue brings a wealth of experience across the public and not-for-profit sectors. As Assistant Director, Natasha oversees HR services for our system of schools, managing key areas such as child safety, employee relations, recruitment, performance management, payroll, workplace safety and wellbeing and workforce development. She is also responsible for developing and implementing workforce strategies, as well as fostering talent within the Catholic education system. Natasha is a member of the Governing Council for Good Samaritan Education, serves as a Company Member at St Mary’s College, Wollongong, and is the Chair of Members at Mater Dei, Camden. She holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) and a Graduate Diploma specialising in Employment Law.
Assistant Director - Governance, Assurance and Risk
Michael Knight
Michael Knight is an experienced lawyer and governance advisor with over 20 years of experience in senior executive roles. He is passionate about ensuring the growth of Catholic education in the Diocese of Wollongong is built on a foundation of strong governance and best practice. Michael holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Master of Public Administration, and is a member of the Law Society of NSW.
Assistant Director - Finance, Facilities and Planning (CFO)
Steven Testa
Steven Testa is a CPA-qualified accountant with 30 years of experience in finance and not-for-profit organisations. As Assistant Director, he leads the strategic financial management and infrastructure planning for Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. Steven is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Catholic education and providing access to modern learning environments for all students. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and has extensive experience in financial governance.
Assistant Director - Information, Communication and Learning Technology (CIO)
Bede Ritchie
With a career spanning 40 years, Bede Ritchie brings a wealth of experience to his role as Chief Information Officer. He has held diverse roles within Catholic education, including teacher, EdTech account manager, and CEO of Catholic Education Network (CEnet). Bede is passionate about the intersection of technology and education and is committed to leveraging technology to enhance learning for all students. He holds an Executive MBA and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The Catholic Education Office
Our 38 primary, secondary, and K-12 schools are supported by the Catholic Education Office, which provides a range of evangelising, educational, pastoral and corporate services. To ensure we deliver our mission while meeting compliance requirements and obligations, our suite of policies provide staff with direction on what we do, how we act, and how we make decisions.
Getting better all the time
As a system of schools, we believe that good enough is never good enough. Just as we believe every student is capable of continual growth and improvement, we hold the same expectations for ourselves.
Our strategic plan, Lighting The Way, sets out our ambitions to improve the experience and outcomes for our students, staff, and school communities. It’s the result of engagement with thousands of young people, families, teachers, school leaders, parish priests, and partners. In its five focus areas, Lighting The Way unites our community of schools around what we need to do, now and in the future, to bring our mission to life.
