St Monica’s parishioner, Audrey Brown, has been appointed as Educationalist member of the Committee of Religious Institute and Ministerial Public Juridic Person School Authorities Australia (CORMSAA).
Audrey says she’s excited to serve with CORMSAA members in this voluntary position. “We’re all striving to improve education for children and young people with a lens that distinctly reflects our faith tradition in contemporary times – shared mission is very important to me.”
Audrey is looking forward to working with CORMSAA members in a broader national level context. “One of the CORMSAA members is also a member of the National Catholic Education Commission, so indirectly, there’s scope to help shape the national education agenda and policy.”
CORMSAA was established by the Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) in 2020 to replace and build upon the legacy of Catholic Religious Australia’s education committee and Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (MPJP) School Authorities.
Audrey explains, “Around half of Catholic secondary school students in Victoria are in schools that are not governed by a Diocesan Education Authority. Just in Victoria there are 18 Religious Institutes and Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (RI/MPJPs); they have 23 governing boards and operate 47 schools. In Sandhurst, St Joseph’s College in Echuca, FCJ College in Benalla, and Marist College and Catherine McAuley College in Bendigo, are schools within the RI/MPJP community.”
CORMSAA works hard to focus on mission and to create conditions under which all young people will thrive in education, with a particular lens of the history and current connection with RIs or MPJPs.
Audrey’s school education (with Loreto Sisters and MSC Fathers) and professional experience working with parish, diocesan and RI/MPJP school governors, has fitted her well for the role with CORMSAA. “Religious Institutes have a long history of involvement with Catholic education, and have always worked shoulder to shoulder with the whole of Catholic education. Education is a key ministry for most of the AMPJP’s members, hence a committee was established,” says Audrey.
Looking at Audrey’s resume it’s clear that she has a strong commitment to Catholic education and a genuine desire to impart her experience and knowledge to help students’ educational outcomes and experiences of school. Audrey’s long career in education is impressive. It includes teaching, educational support and governance roles in Ministerial PJP and Diocesan schools/systems as well as in tertiary institutions. Her current engagements include: Trustee of Kildare Ministries; Executive Officer and Company Secretary, CRMV Ltd; Member, Catholic Theological College Senate and Non-Executive Director, Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd.
Audrey is clearly motivated by a desire to sow what she has reaped, “I am very grateful for the many people who have positively influenced my career, especially in my formative career years in Sandhurst,” said Audrey.
Audrey’s position at CORMSAA will come into effect on 7 June 2023.
