With more than 20 years of experience leading some of Australia’s largest not-for-profit organisations, executive director Jack de Groot is excited to begin a new journey with Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese. Source: Catholic Outlook.
Mr de Groot is driven by supporting an education for children and young people that is holistic, student-centred and unashamed about the pursuit of excellence. He is particularly passionate about ensuring access, equity and inclusion across CSPD’s 80 local schools.
“For me, a Catholic education is about the imagination and the world of seeing everything through the lens of the student,” Mr de Groot said.
Shaped by a working life that includes social and public policy advocacy in Victoria, supporting school leadership teams for the Catholic Education Office in Western Australia, addressing global injustice at Caritas Australia and the leading the St Vincent de Paul Society in New South Wales, Mr de Groot brings a strong focus on Catholic values, social outreach and mission.
“Western Sydney excites me because it never underestimates the human aspirations and flourishing of its community. It is hungry for access, for equity and for all boats to rise,” Mr de Groot said.
He highlights the work of the CSPD Jarara Cultural Centre with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families, welcoming students with disability and a strong focus on wellbeing as exemplary strengths of the Parramatta Diocese.
“To go to the edges means we are all confident that the core offering we have is strong and that we have great confidence to make a difference to those who have been denied voice, participation, access and resources.”
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Aspirations for Western Sydney students drive new Catholic schools leader (Catholic Outlook)
