CEN Board Induction (NSW)

This training satisfies the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements for board members’ formal induction training. The modules address each of the NESA governance standards that form part of the requirements for your school to be registered.

CEN Flint and Steel Governance Webinars

Participation in CEN Flint and Steel Governance Webinars.

Board Induction (General)

This training is designed to assist new board members by providing a short introductory course. This is appropriate for any board member serving outside NSW.

[Online Course] The Bible in the Belly of the School

This workshop/course seeks to present a clear and compelling approach to an overview of the whole Bible in ways that will impact life of the school.Online Workshop4 HoursTarget audienceAll members of a Christian school communityAddressed standards1.3, 2.1, 6.2, 6.3 (teacher identified only - NSW)

Online Course: Authentic Christian Education

This workshop explores the vision of Christian education. It is accessible by any member of the school community—many schools include all staff when it is delivered.It covers important questions like:What is Christian education?What is the purpose of Christian schooling?Where did Christian education come from?What is the biblical basis, and what are the worldview implications?Addressed standards6…

Online Course: Curriculum Design and the Big Picture

This workshop equips teachers with skills and confidence in school curriculum design. It explores designing curriculum in response to the Australian Curriculum (or any mandated curriculum) from a biblical perspective using the principles of Understanding by Design. The interactive and collaborative practical sessions will develop the model presented in Transformation by Design: The Big Picture.On…

Online Course: New Teacher Induction

Online Workshop8 x 1 hour online modulesTarget audienceNew teachers or experienced teachers new to Christian educationThis induction resource will take you on a journey over the course of one to two years, to unpack the core purpose and task of Christian education. You will likely notice very quickly, that being a Christian teacher is not at all the same as teaching Christianly. Our assumption is…

Online: Board Training PART 2 (Board Functions)

This training builds upon the foundations of Board Training Part I and explores in depth the corporate nature of governance, legal obligations, polices and compliance, human resources, recruitment, managing risk, and strategic planning.

Online: Board Training PART 1 (Board Foundations)

This training builds upon the board induction material and provides a board member/director with a thorough grounding in; “Being a Christian school board”, “Vision, mission, and values”, “Crucial governance concepts”, and “what is it to be a board in community”.?

Online Course: Board Training PART 3 (Board Performance)

This training builds apon the previous two training courses and explores the communal and relational life of a board. It further explores the relationship between board and principal. It also opens up discussion about board dynamics and appraisal of board functioning. It finishes with exploring the importance of a board skills matrix.

Online: Board Training INTRODUCTION (Board Basics)

This training provides the essential induction training required by any new board member/director when they begin on a board. It explores the essential questions; Who sets the vision and mission of the school?, Where is the line between governance and management, principal and board?, What are the legal requirements? What should board meetings run like?, How do I read financial reports?

(Face to Face) Authentic Christian Education

This workshop explores the vision of Christian education. It is accessible by any member of the school community—many schools include all staff when it is delivered. It covers important questions like; What is Christian education? What is the purpose of Christian schooling? Where did Christian education come from? What is the biblical basis, and what are the worldview implications?

Board Training

Circular Head Christian School Board Training

Birth Battle Build Intensive

This one-day professional learning event will equip biblical studies coordinators or school leaders to become familiar with and grapple with the concepts presented in resource, Birth Battle Build (Thompson, 2023) for the purpose of embedding it as a framework for enhancing biblical literacy and perspectives into the teaching, practice and rhythms of your school.

Annual Governance Conference

Participant certificate for CEN Annual Governance Conference.

Governance Module 1 – The Board’s Governance Role

Length 1 hour onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 2 – Due Diligence

Length 30mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 3 – Board Conduct

Length 45mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 4 – Board Papers and Records

Length 45mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 5 – Board Meetings and Decision-Making

Length 30mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 6 – The Board and Principal

Length 30mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 7 – Leading the Vision and Mission

Length 30mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Curriculum Design & the Big Picture (Face-to-face)

This workshop/course equips teachers with skills and confidence in designing school curriculum from a biblical perspective in response to a mandated curriculum.

Equipped to Lead

Principal training program

Know the Gospel. Know the Culture. Translate

Customized workshop .

Governance Module 8 – Financial Oversight

Length 30mins onlineCourse structureThe course is designed to be completed as a module that is part of the suite of governance training courses. However, boards can access individual topic modules as needed.These short-courses can be undertaken by individual board members, or be completed as a board together. The modules are kept short so boards can fit the training into their busy board cal…

Governance Module 9 – Setting and Monitoring the Budget

Boards have a legal responsibility to weigh priorities, to endorse a realistic and attainable budget, and to supervise the income and expenditures of all monies of the association. This course gives board members who are less financially experienced a basic overview of how to fulfil their due diligence in oversight of the school budget. This course helps boards in the important task of financial …

Governance Module 10 – Financial Performance and Solvency

Not all Board members have passion and talent in the area of finance, but all have responsibility for it. This course gives board members who are less financially experienced a basic overview of how to fulfil their due diligence in oversight of school financial performance, audit and ensuring solvency.This course will help boards in the important task of ensuring financial viability, transparency…

Governance Module 11 – Not For Profit NSW

This module is for NSW Boards to help them navigate the not-for-profit requirements of the Education Act 1990. These requirements are additional to the ACNC requirements and are easy to breach. The consequences can be very serious, including loss of all government funding. Similar provisions apply in Victoria and this content will be useful to Victorian Boards.This module helps boards (and other …

Governance Module 12 – Leading Your Association

For our schools to thrive, we need Associations of people committed to Christian education and who seek to ensure schools stay true to their vision, mission and values. Our Associations must be strong and vibrant so our school can be too. Boards play an essential role in building, maintaining and engaging their Associations, and to being accountable to those Associations.This course will help boa…

Governance Module 13 – Compliance Oversight

Compliance… that ever-increasing demand on boards and schools to ensure they meet standards expected by regulators. It can feel like a burden that is too big for ordinary board members. Yet, if viewed differently, compliance systems can be a wonderful source of comfort for the board to know there is clarity about what they have to attend to. Understanding the compliance role of the board can cert…

Governance Module 14 – Risk Management

As Christian leaders, we are asked to be wise stewards of all that belongs to the school. Christian boards should not be afraid of risk. Risk is part of everyday life and an essential part of the mission of a school. We encounter risk whenever we step out of our comfort zones to ensure the long-term viability of a vision for Christian education that we hold dear. What a privilege!Together, a boar…

Governance Module 15 – Risk Management in Practice

This is part 2 of Risk Management and the Risk Management Module should be completed prior to this one. This module explores how board can integrate risk management into their governance tasks and decision-making. It also looks at the identification and management of emerging risks.This course will help boards in the important task of managing risk.

Governance Module 16 – Child Protection Overview

This module provides a very brief overview and should not be seen as comprehensive. Boards should ensure they have both governance and operational policies relating to child protection as required in their particular state/territory. 

Governance Module 17 – WHS Oversight

Work health and safety (WHS) in the school context includes the safety of the whole school community, particularly staff and students. The duty of care applies to all school activities wherever they occur, and can extend outside the direct remit of the school in relation to students. While WHS legislation is harmonised in most states/territories, there are a range of requirements specific to each…

Governance Module 18 – Board Chair

The role of the board chair is a key leadership position in the school. The role is one of enablement to the board and the executive, coordination of the board and its decision-making, direction of the board and school, and communication as a channel between the board, principal and school community.This course will help board chairs in this important task.