Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns- Encounter: Catholic Identity Framework
The Encounter – Catholic Identity Framework, developed by the Diocese of Cairns, is a comprehensive approach to fostering Catholic identity within local communities, drawing inspiration from First Nations peoples’ wisdom and the Emmaus Story in Luke’s Gospel. Built upon four core principles – respect, connect, reflect, and embrace – the framework integrates themes of community living, intentional formation, learning and teaching, and authentic leadership, with the central belief that faith encounters should permeate all aspects of school life. The framework’s success can be attributed to its collaborative development, strong implementation mechanisms, and emphasis on reflective practice, resulting in significant outcomes including the development of a common language around Catholic identity, increased teacher confidence, enhanced sensitivity to Indigenous perspectives, and improved liturgical teaching, ultimately reinforcing the fundamental role of Catholic identity in school life.