What We Offer

At Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) we believe our employees are the driving force behind moulding the next generation and strengthening our faith for years to come.

Our goal is to cultivate young minds and deliver exceptional service, which is why we are dedicated to providing our employees with outstanding resources, compensation, and skills training to tackle the challenges of preparing students for the jobs of the future.

Benefits

Come and be part of our vibrant Catholic community, where you can find purpose and belonging through engaging in meaningful work. Our core values of Wonder, Wisdom and Witness drive our culture and support your professional development. At Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) you will be empowered to make a positive impact on the lives of students, their families, and the wider community, while also fulfilling your own personal and professional aspirations.

SCS offers a 25% school fee discount for employees who enrol their children in an SCS school. This benefit supports staff with young families and reflects our commitment to attracting and retaining excellent teachers and employees who are proud to contribute to our school communities across the system.

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) is committed to supporting our people and their families. Through our partnership with Sydney Catholic Early Childhood Services (SCECS), SCS employees receive priority of enrolment across SCECS Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services. SCS employees will be prioritised for available places in line with national Family Assistance Law requirements.

We encourage current employees, through financial rewards, to refer qualified candidates for open positions within our organisation. SCS Employee Referral Program is designed to help source suitable and highly skilled candidates for our hard-to-fill roles and allows for a more diverse pool of candidates promoting a positive company culture.

All permanent SCS employees who have completed at least five years of continuous service, are entitled to leave without pay to work in an overseas volunteer program approved by SCS. The leave is granted for up to one year but may be granted for up to two years if required by the relevant volunteer program and agreed by SCS. Such leave without pay will not break the continuity of service but does not count as service with SCS for the purpose of long service leave or any other accrued entitlements.

Compensation

At Sydney Catholic Schools we believe that our employees are our most important resource in guiding our next generation.  As such, we are committed to providing them with competitive compensation, ample resources, and a range of leave options that support a harmonious work-life balance. Our ultimate goal is to empower our employees to nurture young minds and deliver outstanding service, while also enjoying a fulfilling personal life.

Employees are entitled to an annual leave loading of 17.5%, which is paid in addition to their regular annual leave payment. This loading is automatically paid to employees in December each year and is calculated based on the employees ordinary hourly rate of pay, including allowances, but excluding overtime and other non-salary payments, as of December 1. For averaged employees who have been continuously employed since their school service date, the annual leave loading is paid on the assumption that they have completed a full year of service with SCS.

Employees who are eligible for unpaid parental leave under the Fair Work Act and are entitled to paid parental leave (PPL) as follows:

  • Initial primary carers are entitled to 14 weeks’ PPL.
  • Employees who are not the initial primary can take up to 2 weeks of PPL, and then up to 12 weeks at a later time if they become the primary carer of the child.
  • All periods of PPL count as service. For teachers, up to 12 months of parental leave (paid and unpaid) will count as service for salary progression purposes.

Staff can access Long Service Leave (LSL) at five years of continuous service, rather than having to wait the standard ten years. This above state Long Service Leave Act entitlement provides SCS staff the opportunity for regular breaks and renewal, in addition to pupil vacation periods. Teachers who access two or more continuous weeks of LSL can also request this be paid at half-pay. (LSL is provided for full time employees at a rate of 3 months for the first 10 years of service, and 2 weeks each year thereafter.)

At SCS we endeavour to ensure that your hard-earned long service leave is always accessible, even if you switch employers within the Catholic education sector. As an employee of a Catholic school listed in the Catholic Schools Intrastate Long Service Leave portability arrangement form, or a Catholic Education Office or Catholic Schools Office, you have the ability to transfer your long service leave entitlement from one employer to another participating employer under this arrangement or the former industrial instrument the Catholic Schools Long Service Leave Portability (State).

As a not-for-profit organisation, we can offer employees an opportunity to salary package some of their earnings, which means you can pay less tax and your take home pay is higher. Benefits available to staff include:

  • Up to $15,900 from your salary for everyday purchases including rent, mortgage, groceries etc
  • Additional superannuation contributions
  • Discounts on a range of portable electronics devices (laptop, tablet or mobile phone)
  • Novated car leases.

Both full-time or part-time employees are entitled to one day of Special Leave/Special Family Leave per calendar year. Examples of Special Family Leave include Sorry Day and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and community responsibilities, weekday weddings, graduation ceremonies, funerals of family members who are not immediate family members where bereavement leave is not available (i.e. aunts, uncles, close friends).

Are you a talented athlete representing Australia in the Commonwealth or Olympic Games? SCS offers employees paid leave (up to 20 days for overseas events and up to 10 days for local events) enabling the employee to train, compete, and represent our country on a world stage.

Health and Wellbeing

At SCS we believe that the health and wellbeing of our employees is a top priority. We offer a range of programs and initiatives designed to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. From access to nutrition and wellness programs to flexible work arrangements and mental health support, we strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where our employees can thrive.

SCS provides full-time employees with 15 days a year of personal/carer’s leave, which can accrue uncapped through years of service. This leave is available to support employees through difficult personal and family times, and is essential to who we are as a caring and Catholic employer.

Our SCS Staff Wellbeing team partners with schools to support the health and wellbeing of employees and their capacity to thrive and bring the best of themselves to work. Our programs and initiatives raise awareness and promote emotional, physical and social wellbeing. Schools and the Central Office have a variety of health, wellbeing, nutrition and exercise activities available for employees and unique to their communities and needs. Our everyday positive approach at SCS inspires our students in their own health and wellbeing.

SCS offers access to Fitness Passport, a discounted workplace health and fitness program that makes staying active more affordable and accessible. With one membership, employees (and eligible family members) can access a wide network of participating gyms, pools and fitness centres at a significantly reduced cost. For more details, click here

As part of our commitment to support the health and wellbeing of employees, SCS employees can sign up to WHEREFIT. This comprehensive health and fitness program provides discounts of up to 50% on gym classes and memberships, activewear and accessories, healthy meals, wellbeing products and more. Find out more here.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of all our employees, SCS provides free yearly influenza vaccinations for all employees.

For school employees requiring individualised prevention or assistance with identified voice problems, SCS offers support of up to four Speech Therapy sessions (organised through Voice Care Australia and funded by SCS).

Employees can apply for flexible working arrangements, and/or access leave entitlements in a regular pattern, as a way to reduce their full-time equivalent (FTE). Having this flexibility can assist employees to improve their physical and mental well-being.

SCS provides a voluntary, confidential and complimentary 24/7 counselling service for all employees.

Many Central Office roles are able to adopt a hybrid working model, which allows them to work from home or a school location, empowering them to choose a work environment that suits their daily routine and enables them to engage in meaningful work.

Learning and Development

As part of our commitment to promoting continuous learning, we offer a range of mandatory and additional voluntary Professional Development (PD) opportunities for our school and office-based employees. We strive to provide access to PD, both online and face to face, that is tailored to each employee member’s role, whether they are a leader, teacher, or support staff member. Our goal is to ensure that all staff have access to relevant and meaningful learning experiences that can support their professional growth and development.

At SCS we believe that by investing in professional development, we can build a stronger and more effective organisation that is better equipped to serve our students, employees, and community.

As an intrinsically Catholic organisation, our evangelising mission and religious identity is central, and we offer opportunities and resources for employees to undertake a multitude of professional learning experiences in religious education for students, and in their own faith development:

  • Faith Formation opportunities
  • Youth Ministry opportunities
  • Religious Leadership Professional Development
  • Religious Education Curriculum Professional Development
  • Special Events & Training

Schools and individual employees are supported in developing a personal relationship with God and with our neighbour through a ‘head, heart, hands’ approach, corresponding to learning the content of the Catholic faith, developing a regular prayer life, and living out the Catholic faith in practical ways that assist our neighbour. This is achieved through:

  • School-based Church Engagement Plans
  • Our Annual System Theme
  • Specialist presentations and conferences
  • Teacher, religious and leadership retreats
  • Inner-city pilgrimages
  • St Mary’s Cathedral guided tours

International and domestic pilgrimage programs and immersion.

SCS employees have the opportunity to take part in international and domestic pilgrimages and immersions to sacred sites, both with student groups and with staff pilgrimage groups facilitated by SCS. These trips are an opportunity for personal and spiritual renewal and professional development.

SCS provides opportunities for employees to attend World Youth Day (WYD), an invitation for youth around the world to experience a pilgrimage, where like-minded young people can gather to meet the Pope and celebrate their faith. A truly positive, vibrant and festive atmosphere, the host city organises a series of expos, concerts, Catechesis talks, special large gatherings which involve the Pope together with daily mass, reconciliation and Adoration sessions. WYD is held in a different international location every three years.

SCS employees have the opportunity to request sponsorship from SCS to undertake a Graduate Certificate or Masters in Religious Education/Theology to teach Religious Education or pursue senior school leadership positions.

We provide permanent employees the opportunity to take paid examination leave for any examination days necessary in relevant courses. Part-time employees are eligible for pro rata examination leave. Additionally, permanent employees are entitled to one day of paid leave on the day of their graduation from a course directly relevant to their professional development.

Social Justice and Community

SCS is dedicated to providing an exceptional Catholic education that is both accessible and affordable to all children, irrespective of their financial, cultural, or social background. At every level (from the archdiocese to the system, parish, and school), we have a strong philosophical commitment to serving the broader community. Through various initiatives, such as the Catholic Education Foundation, City Link Mentoring Program, and staff giving program, we are committed to eliminating any obstacles that may prevent students from receiving a high-quality Catholic education, ensuring a brighter future for all, and providing employees and students with opportunities for community service.

Employees in schools work continually with students in social justice, fundraising, charitable works and community service programs including through a variety of charities such as the Catholic Education Foundation, Vinnies, and the Charitable Works Fund.

At SCS, we are committed to creating a diverse workforce and promoting a merit-based recruitment process that is free from any form of discrimination.

Our From The Heart Giving Program has been established so that employees of SCS can support the work of the Catholic Education Foundation by nominating tax deductible donations from as little as $1 a day paid directly from their salary. By giving from the heart, you are supporting programs such as our bursary programs for families experiencing financial hardship, Foster students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and refugee students who have recently arrived in Australia on a humanitarian visa.

From the Heart Giving Program supports the work of the Catholic Education Foundation. The Catholic Education Foundation bursary program ensures that no child is denied the opportunity to access a Catholic education due to genuine hardship.

Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) is the not-for-profit charity of SCS, Archdiocese of Sydney. The foundation offers support to families via our school fee assistance program. Corporate partnerships, community grants, Staff Giving Program, an annual fundraising events program and donations all play a pivotal role in raising much needed funds to continue to sustain the foundation.

The City Link Mentor Program provides mentor opportunities to students with perceived university potential whose families are receiving Financial Hardship Assistance approved by the Catholic Education Foundation. The program is made possible through the financial and time commitment of a group of senior business executives who donate $5,000 to each student per year covering school costs and school fees. Our dedicated mentors serve as trusted advisors, offering unwavering support and helping students set high expectations for themselves. They serve as beacons of inspiration, guiding students towards the fulfillment of their dreams. We understand that the path to success can be challenging, and that’s why our mentors are there every step of the way, providing guidance and encouragement.