A Systems Approach to Enhancing the Capacity of Teachers and Leaders in Catholic School Communities to Link Learning, Student Wellbeing, Values and Social Justice

Abstract

Good practice in learning, community strengthening and social justice in faith-based school communities needs to be underpinned by good practice in system partnerships and professional learning for teachers and leaders. This chapter describes how a Catholic education system and a Catholic university worked in partnership to develop and implement a postgraduate learning programme to support and enhance the work of teachers and leaders in Catholic school communities in the Archdiocese of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. The coherence and alignment between the development of this accredited professional learning and the goals of: Australian education; Catholic Education in Victoria; and individual school communities are highlighted. The particular learning and teaching approach is explored through one unit of the course that focuses on a whole school approach to social justice. The chapter concludes with some reflections on how this approach can enable critical reflection to take place on practice for teachers and leaders in faith-based school communities.