Edmund Rice Education Australia Launches Renewed Charter to Guide Schools
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) recently launched its renewed Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The Charter is a core document of our 55 Catholic schools across all states and territories of Australia.
The Charter describes our distinct, though not unique, identity as a Catholic network of schools, known as Edmund Rice Education Australia. The Charter provides a practical expression of this identity and is of crucial use in planning, decision-making and review of the education we offer.
The Charter uses four Touchstones to describe the culture of a Catholic school which is striving for authenticity in the Edmund Rice tradition. The Touchstones are Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity.
During 2024, the national community of EREA schools was invited to engage in a process of experience, analysis, and reflection, ensuring the evolution of the EREA Charter as the contemporary educational expression of the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice in Australia. The schools were led by the Christian Brothers until 2007, when they handed governance responsibility to EREA.
The renewed Charter, through the themes of Call to Faithfulness | Call to Transformation, highlights the opportunities and challenges of responding to the diverse needs of learners, from early childhood to early adulthood, across all regions of Australia.
Dr Michael Slattery, Chair of the EREA Council, stated: “It was heartening to be at Waverley College on 24 November to launch the renewed Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The inspirational student-led launch, grounded in our Catholic faith, and integrating powerful First Nations symbol and ritual, provided the opportunity to celebrate the culmination of the process of conversations across our EREA community – beginning with young leaders in January and concluding in Alice Springs in August. The Charter will be the core document to guide schools over the next six years.”
Dr Liam Smith, EREA National Executive Director, reflected on the importance of the renewed Charter as a foundational statement of purpose. “The Charter supports EREA’s new governance structures which further ensure that, within safe and nurturing environments, over 40,000 young Australians are connected to the message of Jesus, the prophetic voice of the Church and the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice. It highlights the important role of national and global educational approaches.”
Project Leader, Ray Paxton (EREA National Director Educational Strategy), highlighted the strong sense of ownership of and reflection on the journey of the EREA Charter. “Due to the extensive consultation, there is an evolution of language that expresses the hopes and aspirations of students, young people, staff, principals, communities, and governing bodies. The renewed Charter connects and integrates the wisdom of First Nations Australians, Scripture and Church Teaching, deepening and strengthening our understanding of each, while placing each within the national and global educational environments”.
The national community of Edmund Rice Schools moves forward with confidence as we reflect, in light of the Gospels and our Catholic faith, on the opportunities provided for individuals, schools, communities, Church and the wider world.
