Registration is now open for the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference to be held at the Cairns Convention Centre from Wednesday 20 August to Friday 22 August 2025.

National Catholic Education Commission is partnering with host diocese, Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns to offer an engaging professional learning experience for an anticipated 1,500 Catholic educators, leaders, clergy, parents and others from the broader Church involved in Catholic education.

With the theme ‘hope, anchored in faith’, the conference will focus on the strategic vision and mission of Catholic education across three key areas – Faith, Excellence and Access. We will be featuring a broad range of speakers, presentations and workshops focused on Catholic identity, mission and formation; learning and teaching; leadership and governance; parent engagement; parish and community engagement; resourcing and infrastructure; advocacy and marketing; and more.

Enhance your experience

Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns has been partnering with Traditional Owners and Elders of the region to create Spirituality and In and On Country experiences as part of their work on Truth-telling, Healing and Reconciliation. You are invited to join one of these experiences pre or post conference to deepen your understanding of First Nations Ways, connection to country and your role in truth-telling. The experiences include:

Encounter In Country Kaurareg (five day immersion in Torres Strait)
Seasons of Creation Laudato Si’ Retreat Day Kuku Yalanji Country at Mossman Gorge (one day)
Encounter Gunggandji on Fitzroy Island (one day)
Encounter Gimuy on Country Experience in Cairns (one day)

Learn more about the experiences

Apply to present at the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference

We are seeking educators, thought leaders and passionate advocates to share their expertise, impactful research-driven approaches, and fresh ideas on the key focus areas of Faith, Excellence and Access.

Under our theme, ‘hope, anchored in faith’, this is your opportunity to present your work to colleagues from across Australia and Oceania. We also highly encourage submissions involving student voice or led by students.

See Abstract Submission Guidelines

About the conference logo

The conference logo and branding features the artwork ‘Tenacious Dreaming’ of local First Nations artist Susan Reys, and reflects the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in far north Queensland.