Catholic Outlook September 2015

Conference to
focus on domestic
violence and
human trafficking
By Elizabeth McFarlane
NEWS & EVENTS
Mark Gronow, with his academic supervisor Assoc Prof Joanne Mulligan and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP
at the presentation of the 2014 Br John Taylor Fellowship.
Prize aims to lift numbers
studying mathematics
For Mark Gronow, the goal of having
more students studying, and enjoying,
mathematics is something of a
personal mission.
A teacher for more than 30 years, Mark
said mathematics ‘has had a bad rap for too
long’ - and he is determined to change that.
“The number of students studying
higher level maths at school and university
has been falling.
“As a nation, we are heading towards
a shortage of skilled maths teachers in
our schools, and that’s something that
is troubling schools, government and
business.”
Mark said the problem was rote
learning and the teaching procedures used
to prepare students to pass exams.
“The research is in and this is why most
people hate mathematics.”
In 2014, Mark applied to Macquarie
University to begin a PhD in mathematics
education, and thus began his journey to
study how maths teaching and learning
could be improved.
It also motivated him to apply for the
Brother John Taylor Fellowship, an annual
prize offered by the Catholic Education
Commission NSW (CECNSW), to support
his research.
“The fellowship has been a lifechanging
experience,” he said. “It’s enabled
me to attend national and international
mathematics and teaching conferences in
the US and the UK.”
In April, Mark attended the National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Annual Conference and Research
Symposium in Boston.
“It was incredible – 10,000 maths
teachers in one arena, hearing about
new research and insights into teaching
mathematics. I visited Boston College, a
Jesuit University, to meet with mathematics
research academics.”
Mark also attended the Mathematics
Educational Research Group of Australia
in Queensland and has travelled to the UK
to attend two workshops – one at Oxford
University.
He is now working with a mentor to
finalise his research and publish it for the
teaching profession.
“The opportunity to travel and attend
conferences and workshops and to meet
leaders in the field of my research has
been an opportunity that could only have
happened through this fellowship.
“I encourage anybody involved in
Catholic education who is passionate about
teaching and how it can improve young
lives to apply for the 2015 fellowship.”
CECNSW’s Executive Director, Dr
Brian Croke, said the fellowship provided
up to $25,000 in travel and accommodation
to an applicant involved in Catholic school
education, as an employee in schools or
associated bodies, to research a challenge or
priority in Catholic school education.
“We want to build a body of research
that helps the teaching profession address
current priorities or challenges in Catholic
schools,” Dr Croke said.
The award honours John Taylor, a
Christian Brother, who made his mark on
NSW education over three decades as a
teacher, principal and Executive Director of
CECNSW.
Applications for the 2015 Bro John
Taylor Fellowship must be submitted by
30 September using the electronic form at
www.cecnsw.catholic.edu.au
Domestic violence and human
trafficking will be under the spotlight
at a national gathering of Catholic
women in Parramatta this month.
About one in five Australian women
has experienced violence at the hands of
an intimate partner (ABS, 2013) and the
global problem of human trafficking is also
occurring in Australia.
The Catholic Women’s League Australia
Inc. will hold its 47th National Biennial
Conference from 22-24 September at the
Novotel Parramatta.
The CWLA strives to be a ‘voice for
the voiceless’ and at national, state and
local levels, speaks out about issues such as
violence against women and children, human
trafficking, adoption, poverty, gambling,
prostitution, and pornography.
This month’s conference will focus on
domestic violence and human trafficking
and the need for greater education, strategies
to overcome abuse and a renewal of hope
around these issues.
Gladys Meaney-Budd, a representative
from the CWL in Parramatta, supports
the belief that education is at the heart of
positive change.
“We are going to address this sad
situation in our society by learning more
of how we can support the victims of these
crimes,” Gladys said.
“Our education will be further enhanced.
We will have more information and
strategies to combat these evils in our society,
remembering the words of the Holy Father,
‘Open our ears to hear God’s word.’”
Domestic violence can have dire
consequences on the family unit. The World
Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations
(WUCWO) has launched a ‘campaign for the
enhancement of the family’ to address these
impacts.
Gladys said domestic violence cannot
be tolerated if a family is to live a normal
life. “There has to be tolerance and
understanding, and when this is not there, a
family is always in disarray,” she said.
“Domestic violence is not always
physical. Many times, one member can be
controlling and lack any understanding of
Gladys Meaney-Budd, a member of the
CWL Diocese of Parramatta.
the damage being done.”
Pru Goward MP, State Minister for the
Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault, will be a keynote speaker.
“It is a great privilege to have Pru
Goward with us on this occasion, and it is
hoped in her address she will be able to give
hope and perhaps some solace where that
need exists,” Gladys said.
Sr Hilda Scott OSB, a Benedictine
Sister from the monastery at Jamberoo,
will also speak at the conference. Other
speakers include: Pat McDermott, Australian
Women’s Weekly columnist of more than
30 years; Jennifer Burn from the Faculty
of Law University of Technology; and Ken
Smith OAM, historian from the Parramatta
Historical Society.
Jennifer Burn, director of Anti-Slavery
Australia, will speak about human trafficking
in Australia.
The ‘Child not Bride’ campaign was
launched in February this year and both
Jennifer Burn and Pru Goward spoke,
focusing on young women and community
leaders from multicultural communities.
This campaign has been supported by
fact sheets translated into Arabic, Farsi,
Urdu, Nepalese and Hindi. “This signifies
the spread and range of growth in the
community in general and the Parramatta
area in particular in recent years,” Gladys
said.
Both women and men are welcome to
attend the conference. “We would encourage
anyone to attend, especially those interested
in, and wanting to learn more about, the
issues,” Gladys said.
The Opening Mass of the Conference
will be celebrated at 6pm in St Patrick’s
Cathedral on Tuesday 22 September. Light
refreshments will be served in the Cathedral
Hall afterwards.
For more information about the
conference, please visit: www.cwla.org.au
To register tel Pauline O’Malley (02) 4358
1801, treasurer@cwla.org.au
Allan Drew OAM, JP
Supporting families in a time of need is
what Allan from Allan Drew Funerals
has done best for more than 25 years.
Tel (02) 9680 1344
allandrewfunerals.com.au
www.parra.catholic.org.au @parracatholic facebook.com/parracatholic
CatholicOutlook | SEPTEMBER 2015 21