澳洲悉尼教育考察團
(27th March – 3rd April 2004)
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香港天主教辦學團體在處理教育事務時，除了盡量配合教育統籌局的各種政策外，更關注屬下學校如何實踐天主教辦學理念。澳洲悉尼的天主教教育事務處屬下有百多間中小學，積累多年推動天主教教育的經驗，成績蜚然。因此，香港天主教教育事務處，特情商有關當局為本港天主教學校校長安排為期一周的考察（由三月二十七日至四月二日），目的是：（一）觀摩當地天主教學校的運作，（二）深入了解推行「學校自評」的有效方法。
考察團的二十四位校長，隸屬不同的修會、教區及明愛中小學。他們在教育事務主教代表胡路明女士的領導下，於三月二十七日下午六時，在赤角香港國際機場踏上往悉尼的航機。到達目的地後，隨即由專車送往St.
Patrick’s Catholic Church參與主日彌撒。其後登上觀光船，暢遊悉尼內港。
經過一夜的休息，團員於三月二十九日星期一早上前往位於Leichhardt的悉尼天主教教育事務處，受到總監Brother
Kelvin Canavan及職員的熱烈歡迎。Brother Kelvin Canavan在任職學校總監之前，曾任教師及督學，不但對當地、甚至全球的教育情況，了解甚深。當日的程序首先由Brother
Kelvin講解悉尼學制、學校目標及理念的訂立、學校五年的發展藍圖、策略管理及校長的專業領導。為配合是次考察團首要的目的，Brother
Kelvin特別詮釋如何建立具天主教特色的學校及將宗教元素融入正規及非正規課程內。其後，各校長分別與悉尼的校長互相認識及交流，為未來兩日的學校附訓作好準備。
三月三十及三十一日的行程最為緊密，八組校長分別走訪不同的天主教中小學，全日駐校觀摩。被訪的學校包括有男校、女校、男女校、歷史悠久及新開辦的學校。校長們除參觀校舍及設施外，更觀課及參與活動，並與校長、副校長、宗教教育主任、課程統籌主任、以至教師及學生接觸交流。經過兩日的觀察，校長們都感到各校的宗教氣氛濃厚，師生都態度認真而投入。所得的印象是各學校都是名符其實的優質天主教學校，有很多值得本港同工借鏡的地方。
經過兩天的學校附訓後，校長們再回到教育事務處，進行一整天的工作坊，學習撰寫目標清晰的天主教學校發展計劃。
第五天，亦即考察的最後一天，各小組在教育事務處滙報了學校附訓的所見所聞，總結心得。校長們都感到悉尼天主教學校在推行宗教教育方面非常成功，更能實踐天主教的辦學理念，不同種族及能力的學生在校內都得到愛護及尊重。管理層與教師們的工作熱忱十分有啟發性，本港教育工作者，實應以他們為學習榜樣。Brother
Kelvin 細心聆聽報告，十分重視各組的意見。
為對悉尼天主教教育事務處的妥善安排、欵待及詳盡的分享表示謝意，香港天主教教育事務處特設晚宴，答謝悉尼各同工及校長。與會者在無拘無束及愉快的氣氛下，再進一步交流，賓主盡歡。
悉尼教育事務處的悉心安排，使是次考察得以順利完成。Brother Kelvin及其屬下員工的無私、友善及樂於助人的表現，將基督的「愛」及「服務」精神發揮得淋漓盡致。整體而言，這是一次難得及有意義的旅程。透過此次活動，期望校長們更了解作為天主教學校領導的使命，對訂立長遠的教育目標及學校自評的方法有更深入的認識。更重要的是，五天的相處為悉尼及香港兩地的天主教教育同工建立了日後携手合作的基礎。本年五月至六月期間，Brother Kelvin將與一位校長訪港，教育事務處安排在六月二日舉辦研討會及工作坊，以便全體天主教學校的校監及校長能與他們分享經驗。
Apart from always working in alignment to support new educational policies of the Education and Manpower Bureau, the Catholic Education Office (CEO) is committed to ensuring that all the Catholic schools should strengthen their Catholic identity. In order to learn from the successful experience of her counterpart in Sydney in running quality Catholic schools, an educational visit to the Sydney CEO was organized from 27th March to 3rd April 2004. The visit aimed at sharing the good practices with Sydney school leaders, with particular reference to Religious leadership and the operation of Catholic Schools. Besides, the group was also interested in the School Self Evaluation mechanism which has contributed to the increasing effectiveness of the Sydney Catholic Schools over the past few decades. The group consisted of 24 secondary and primary Principals from Diocesan, Religious and Caritas schools , with Miss Alice Woo, Episcopal Delegate for Education, as the leader.
With the help of the Sydney CEO, a very well-arranged schedule awaited our Principals. It included a briefing session, a two-day school attachment and a workshop. The programme was to be concluded by oral reports of the visiting Principals on the last day.
On the first day of the visit, the group arrived at the Sydney CEO at Leichhardt early in the morning to be greeted warmly by Brother Kelvin Canavan, Executive Director of Schools, staff of the Office and host Principals. The programme began with a briefing session by Brother Kelvin, focusing on the Australian education system and the Systemic Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney. In the course of his talk, Brother Kelvin stressed on the importance of strategic leadership, vision and mission building, preparation of school development plans & accountability through self-evaluation & external review as well as the six dimensions of Catholic School Leadership Framework.
For the next two days, the Principals visited a number of Systemic Schools in groups of three. These included single-sex schools, co-ed schools, well-established ones as well as new ones. The Principals had indepth discussions with their Sydney counterparts, Assistant Principals, Religious Education Coordinators, Curriculum Coordinators, staff and even students. After the two-day visit to schools, all the participants were greatly impressed by the strong Catholic identity displayed by these schools. Students from diversified cultures, backgrounds and abilities were equally respected, cared for and loved and in turn they all enjoyed being part of the school community. The staff members all worked in harmony for the achievement of the school goals.
On the fourth day, the Principals had a whole-day workshop in the Sydney CEO. With the assistance of the host Principals and some experienced school administrators, they worked on the school development plan, annual strategic plan and annual report.
As a conclusion to the programme, visiting Principals reported what they had observed during the visit. Brother Kelvin valued every single comment of his guests.
The meticulous arrangement of the Sydney CEO staff and the host Principals made the trip successful and meaningful for all. In appreciation of their good work and hospitality, the Hong Kong CEO hosted a dinner party for Br. Kelvin, the CEO staff as well as the host Principals. On the occasion, all the participants were once again able to share their views freely in a relaxed environment.
All the Principals agreed that the trip had widened their knowledge in many educational issues and given them an insight into the promotion of Catholic education in Australia. They realized that religious values could be brought alive in Catholic schools and that is exactly what makes Catholic schools different from the others. The generosity and dedication of the Sydney CEO staff and host Principals had borne witness to the spirit of Jesus Christ in the most effective manner.
This visit has laid the cornerstone for future collaboration between Sydney and Hong Kong Catholic schools. It is hoped that in the long run, by working hand in hand, more exchange and sharing programmes can be arranged to make the Catholic schools in both cities even better. To actualize this vision and for the benefit of those who were not able to join the visit, the Hong Kong CEO has invited Brother Kelvin to conduct a seminar cum workshop for the Supervisors and Principals of all the local Catholic schools on 2nd June 2004.