Who to contact when you have a question
Your primary point of contact is your State Executive Officer (SEO).
State Executive Officers (SEOs) exist to make engagement with CEN simple and appropriate. They understand both your local context and the full range of CEN support.
You are also welcome to reach out to the CEN national office:
(02) 4773 5800
[email protected]
Your SEO can:
Listen and help clarify what is actually being asked
Advise whether something is already covered by membership
Connect you with the right people or resources
Help you discern whether deeper engagement is necessary
Meet your State Executive Officers
Common situations CEN can support you in
CEN is a trusted partner to our schools in all seasons:
Governance uncertainty or board dynamics
Board-principal tension
Leadership transition or performance questions
Financial pressure or sustainability concerns
Mission drift or concerns about the depth of Christian distinctive in your school
Embedding Christian education formation in staff
A general sense that ‘something isn’t quite right’
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. CEN considers the opportunity to stand beside schools a privilege that requires absolute trustworthiness. We recognise the significance and sensitivity of the situations and information that is shared and seek always to operate in the interests of schools and their communities. All information, opinions and recommendations of CEN staff and consultants are treated with the utmost confidentiality.
No. Our engagement is often informal. Sometimes our leaders just need a sounding board or a trusted colleague to talk something over with. CEN respects the authority structures in our schools and their autonomy. Only (the very rare) matters that carry legal obligations for reporting would bring about formal action by CEN.
Either. CEN respects governance structures and works appropriately with boards, principals, and associations. Our boards are chosen by their associations to carry out the work of governance on their behalf. Boards have authority under God to make decisions, use resources, employ and care for staff, and to protect and guide the school. They delegate authority to their principal (executive principal or CEO) who carries the weighty responsibility of school leadership. CEN’s work seeks to support these critical roles in the life of our schools.
Start with your SEO – they can clarify this quickly. Whoever is helping you will let you know if additional changes might be relevant. That could be for things like onsite training, specialised and school specific advice or projects, or published resources. There is a wide range of services, resources and supports included in membership and these are detailed on our [PAGE]. Never hesitate to ask – we understand school budgets are tight and resources must be used with wisdom.
No. Much of CEN’s value lies in helping schools remain steady and aligned before pressure arises. Our proactive work with schools means that governance, leadership and school performance is strong and problems are avoided. However, we know that school life isn’t always straight-forward, and even when practice is strong, issues can present. We find that the value of membership is particularly apparent when complex situations are being navigated.
What membership includes
Membership provides the baseline support and access that you can rely on throughout the year.
Need to clarify an inclusion or take action on a particular service? Reach out to your SEO ->
Schools that experience the greatest value from CEN tend to:
- Use foundational resources consistently
- Maintain contact with their State Executive Officer (SEO) throughout the year
- Engage us early, before issues escalate
- Share the value of CEN across roles
Included with membership:
- CEN Christian School Governance Standard
- Governance Green Tick recognition framework
- board training modules and courses
- CEN Board Members’ Handbook
- board governance performance surveys
- Flint and Steel governance webinars
- whistleblowing service
- advisory support and guidance
For boards and business managers, membership also includes participation in the Annual Financial Survey conducted by Somerset Education. This enables:
- benchmarking against comparable Christian schools
- stronger Board reporting
- financial trend analysis
- early identification of sustainability risks
Selected board training modules and conferences are available to members at reduced cost. Further governance reviews, constitution reviews, and consultancy services are available by quotation where deeper support is required.
Through membership, schools gain access to foundational formation resources and learning pathways.
Included free with membership:
- What is Christian Education? course
- Core Conversations, module 1
- New Teacher Induction course, a one to two year formation journey
- MakerSpace podcast available on your favourite podcast platform
- access to publications, podcasts, and learning resources
Available at an additional cost:
- Core Conversations, modules 2–4 available for purchase via the eStore
- Bible in the Belly of the School course
- Classrooms and Formational Learning course
- School in the Belly of the Culture course
- Curriculum Design and the Big Picture course
- Authentic Christian Education course
- Classrooms and Assessment for Learning course
These resources are designed for practical use within school rhythms, with facilitator notes, video inputs, discussion prompts, and flexible delivery formats.
Where deeper or more tailored formation is required, additional professional learning and in-school formation experiences are available separately for an additional cost.
Each member school is supported locally through a State Executive Officer (SEO), providing relational guidance, contextual insight, and a clear access point to other CEN services.
Membership includes:
- direct access to a State Executive Officer (SEO)
- mentoring and advisory conversations
- support and advice to schools managing critical incidents or times of crisis
- local networking groups
- discernment around when deeper support may be required
Membership connects your school into a national Christian education movement committed to shared responsibility for the future of Christian schooling, including membership with AACS, who advocate for Christian schools in the political arena.
Being part of CEN means being connected to like-minded educators, support staff and leaders. The CEN Job Vacancy Register gets our schools and talented Christian staff connected.
Member schools have access to the following at a reduced rate:
- National Conference and AGM
- Executives Conference
- Godly Governance Conference
- study tours
- national forums and networks
- state-based conferences
- international collaboration
- Job Vacancy Register
Some schools choose to deepen their partnership with CEN during periods of growth, complexity, or transition. These tailored engagements sit alongside membership and are quoted separately.
Examples include:
- governance and constitution reviews
- board consultancy projects and onsite governance workshops
- strategic planning facilitation
- financial and structural reviews
- executive recruitment
- leadership consultancy and 360 degree reviews
- community sentiment surveys
- custom professional learning programs
- pedagogy and curriculum development
- large-scale reviews
- Teaching & Learning Summits
Training, workshops & learning
NEW Professional Learning Modules
Our digital professional learning modules are designed to run simply in staff meetings. The workshops take around an hour, with short engaging videos, interactive Slido questions, and practical activities that spark real conversation.
New Teacher Induction Course
This induction resource will take you on a journey over the course of one to two years, to unpack the core purpose and task of Christian education.
What is Christian Education?
This FREE online short course introduces the foundational vision of Christian education and equips parents and teachers for further engagement in their Christian school community.
The Bible in the Belly of the School
This workshop/course seeks to present a clear and compelling approach to an overview of the whole Bible in ways that will impact life of the school.
Classrooms and Formational Learning
This workshop/course recognises that all learning is formational and that Christian educators will, by design, seek a Christ-shaped formation of heart and mind.
The School in the Belly of the Culture
This workshop recognises that schools and their communities are embedded in powerful, life-shaping cultural contexts characterised by their own narratives.
Curriculum Design and the Big Picture
This workshop/course equips teachers with skills and confidence in designing school curriculum from a biblical perspective in response to a mandated curriculum.
Authentic Christian Education
This workshop/course explores the vision of Christian education. It explores questions like; What is Christian education? What is the purpose of Christian schooling?
Classrooms and Assessment for Learning
This workshop/course explores the role of assessment in deeper, transformative learning and explores what types of assessments should be used in the Christian classrooms.
Governance Module 7 – Leading the Vision and Mission
One of the first priorities for a board member is to understand the vision, mission and values of your school. It is your duty to uphold this, as it is set out in your Constitution, and to ensure the school’s vision is lived out in your community. This course will help boards in this important task.
Governance Module 6 – The Board and Principal
One of the most important relationships for your board is the relationship between the board and the principal/executive principal. This cannot be emphasised enough. Together, you provide direction, leadership, and vision for the school community; your roles are different, but a school will thrive when the principal and board are working well together. This course will help boards in this important relationship.
Governance Module 5 – Board Meetings and Decision-Making
A board’s meeting time is essential to good governance – not only in terms of the decisions made, but also related to the interactions with management, the opportunity to listen to each other, to set the tone and to forge a strong team. This course will help boards to have effective, efficient and uplifting board meetings.
Governance Module 4 – Board Papers and Records
A board needs to be both diligent, and able to show its diligence. Board papers and records are a critical aspect of the effective oversight of the school, underpin the relationship between the executive and the board, and fulfil an important compliance function. This course will help boards to be provided good information and keep appropriate records.
Governance Module 3 – Board Conduct
Board service is much like the rest of the Christian walk – we not only think about what we do, but also the attitude and manner in which we do it. This course will help boards to reflect on their conduct as they carry out their important task
Governance Module 2 – Due Diligence
A Christian school board should demonstrate a godly attitude to their governance duties and faithfulness in the governance task. In many ways, community and regulatory expectations align very well with our Christian values of integrity, transparency and working for the good of others. In governance, this is captured in the concept of ‘due diligence’. This course will help boards in this very important aspect of board service.
Governance Module 1 – The Board’s Governance Role
It is an incredible privilege to serve on the board of a Christian school. The Association places in their board’s hands their responsibility for the school, school community, and its resources under the vision and mission of the school. This is a wonderful ministry and a significant challenge. This course will help boards in this important task.
NSW Board Induction (Reponsible Persons)
This training provides specialised professional learning for NSW Christian school boards
Board Induction
This training is designed to assist new board members by providing a short introductory course.