New appointments for ‘passionate’ advocates of Catholic education

09 Nov 2023

By The Record

Archdiocese of Perth Head of Mission
Catholic Education Western Australia Director, Dr Debra Sayce has this week been announced the new Head of Mission Enhancement for the Archdiocese of Perth. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.

Catholic Education Western Australia Director, Dr Debra Sayce has this week been announced the new Head of Mission Enhancement for the Archdiocese of Perth.

The Bishops of Western Australia have also appointed current Catholic Education Deputy Executive Director, Wayne Bull as the new Executive Director of CEWA Ltd for 2024. 

In a statement published Wednesday 8 November from the Bishops of Western Australia – Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who is Administrator, Bunbury Diocese, and Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey, who is Administrator, Diocese of Broome – announced that Dr Sayce, will conclude her appointment as Executive Director on 31 December 2023.

Dr Sayce has made a magnificent and enduring contribution to Catholic Education in Western Australia since 1994, the Bishops said.

Dr Debra Syace with Archbishop Costelloe, far right, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton and Episcopal Vicar, Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn. Photo: Ron Tan.

“After beginning her career as a teacher, she was successively appointed to numerous roles, culminating in becoming the first lay person to be appointed by the bishops of Western Australia as the Director of Religious Education,” Archbishop Costelloe and Bishop Morrissey highlighted.

In 2017, Dr Sayce was appointed as the Interim Executive Director and subsequently confirmed in the role in 2018.

“Dr Sayce’s passion for Catholic education and her personal commitment to enhancing a lived expression of the Church’s mission through Catholic education has made her an outstanding leader,” Archbishop Costelloe and Bishop Morrisey continued.

“Dr Sayce has always clearly enunciated the wonderful gifts of a Catholic education for students and brought a distinctive witness to the Gospel values and theological teachings that underpin the Church’s ministry of education.

“Let us give thanks to Dr Sayce for her enduring legacy to Catholic education across the four dioceses of Western Australia and our nation,” they said.

The Bishops of Western Australia have appointed current Catholic Education Deputy Executive Director, Wayne Bull as the new Executive Director of CEWA Ltd for 2024. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.

The bishops of Western Australia have also this week announced the appointment of current Deputy Executive Director Wayne Bull to the position of Executive Director of CEWA Ltd for 2024. 

A long-term contributor to CEWA, initially as a teacher, Mr Bull was appointed CEWA Deputy Executive Director in 2020.

Prior to this, Mr Bull held a number of senior leadership positions in various schools before advancing to school principalship in 2000.

In conjunction with Ms Eva Skira AM, Chair – Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia, the bishops of Western Australia will commence the consultation and recruitment process for the next Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia Limited during 2024, for appointment in 2025. Photo: Archdiocese of Perth.

In conjunction with Ms Eva Skira AM, Chair – Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia, the bishops of Western Australia will commence the consultation and recruitment process for the next Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia Limited during 2024, for appointment in 2025. “We invite you to hold Dr Sayce, Mr Bull, as well as all those who actively place themselves at the service of enhancing the lives of young people, their families and our Catholic communities across Western Australia through Christ-centered and child-focused learning communities that inspire all to actively live the Gospel in your prayers,” Archbishop Costelloe and Bishop Morrissey concluded.