Professor David de Carvalho will take up the role by the middle of the year. Photo: University of Notre Dame Australia
An education careerist with a history of reform has been appointed to lead a new era of Catholic education in the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese.
At present, Professor David de Carvalho is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Philosophy and Education at the University of Notre Dame Australia, but has previously headed up the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC).
Professor de Carvalho, who is also a founding director on the board of the new lay-led company Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited, is expected to take up the role by the middle of the year. Pam Betts will continue as acting executive director until then.
He is expected to continue the transformational change in the Archdiocese’s schools that had been led by former Director of Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn Ross Fox, who last year left the role after eight years.
Professor de Carvalho has shaped the national educational landscape through his work with the National Curriculum, modernising the NAPLAN assessment, reforming the NSW Higher School Certificate and, more recently, the development of new Initial Teacher Education programs, including in Early Childhood Education.
He began his career as a secondary teacher at Xavier College in Melbourne before working with Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service, then moving into leadership roles in the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission, followed by senior roles in the Australian Public Service, including at Treasury, Health and Ageing, Finance, Education, and Prime Minister and Cabinet.
He was also a member of the NESA Board, the Asia Education Foundation and the Marist Schools Australia Board.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse noted Professor de Carvalho’s long and deep experience in education, and his depth of faith.
“David’s commitment to the evangelising mission of the Church has been a consistent feature of his personal, family, public and ecclesial roles,” Archbishop Prowse said.
“He is well-versed in the Church’s social teaching and believes that outreach to the most vulnerable and marginalised should be a hallmark of Catholic education.”
Professor de Carvalho said Australian society had never been more in need of Catholic education.
“I am very much looking forward to getting to know and working closely with the leaders and staff of our 56 schools and nine early learning centres and our parish priests as we continue to offer the gift of Catholic education to all families living in the Archdiocese,” he said.
Professor de Carvalho said Catholic education offered not only excellent academic outcomes but, more importantly, “a Christ-centred vision of humanity, life and learning as oriented to all that is true and beautiful and good”.
Chair of Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited Dr Patrick McArdle said Professor de Carvalho was a noted leader who had shaped education policy and practice from the classroom to the national stage.
“Further, he has contributed so positively to the conversation about the centrality of our Catholic identity and culture to education and human flourishing,” he said.
Professor Carvalho and his wife, Andrea, spent many years in the Archdiocese, where Andrea was a teacher in the Catholic system.
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