ABOUT US
Our Story
Welcome to Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) – a community dedicated to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.
As the governing body for 39 Catholic primary and five Catholic secondary schools in the Diocese of Sale, we proudly serve over 18,000 students and more than 3,000 staff. Our commitment is to provide leadership, support, and essential resources to our schools, with a strong focus on child safety, sustainability, and delivering a high-quality education that aligns with our Catholic values.
ABOUT US
Our Vision
Our approach is rooted in our Vision: Faith inspired educational excellence for a faith-filled future.
At the core of this is a commitment to develop each student holistically – spiritually, academically, socially, culturally, physically, and emotionally.
DOSCEL
Shared Mission
Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale embraces the heart of the Church’s mission. Our schools partner closely with parishes to enrich the faith and spiritual lives of students, staff, and families.
Geographic Location
Spanning from Narre Warren and Cranbourne in the west to Orbost in the east, and including beautiful Phillip Island, our schools reflect the diverse tapestry of our community.
DOSCEL proudly owns and operates all 39 primary schools and five of the seven secondary schools within the Diocese. The exceptions are Lavalla Catholic College, governed by Marist Schools Australia Limited, and Catholic College Sale, governed by Catholic College Sale Limited. Together, all Catholic schools in the diocese work collegially, fostering a spirit of collaboration and shared values.
We invite you to explore our vibrant school communities.
BISHOP GREGORY CHARLES BENNET
Meet The Bishop
Bishop Gregory Charles Bennet is the tenth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sale. He comes to us from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Bishop Bennet was born in 1963 and educated at St Dominic’s Primary School, East Camberwell, All Hal-lows Primary School Balwyn and Marcellin College Bulleen, before completing his secondary education at the ecumenical Braemar College at Woodend. He then joined the Commercial Bank of Australia whilst undertaking studies in Public Administration.
GOVERNANCE
A Centralised Approach to School Governance
In 2018, the governance of schools in the Diocese of Sale was transferred to a newly established entity, the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL).
DOSCEL provides leadership, support and services in the governance role of schools.
It is the responsibility of DOSCEL, as the governing body, to ensure each school and the DOSCEL Secretariat maintains and promotes the Catholic identity of the schools in the Diocese, while meeting all legislative and regulatory requirements.
This includes a strong focus on embedding and sustaining safe professional environments across all schools and workplaces, as well as a commitment to child safety.
Current members of the Board are:
Mr Garry McLean (Chair)
Ms Cathy Jenkins (Deputy Chair)
Very Rev. Dean Francis Otobo
Emeritus Professor Gabrielle McMullen AM
The Hon. Martin Dixon
Dr Dominic Thomas
Rev. Jeff Kleynjans
Mr John Swan
Executive members:
Mr Paul Velten – Executive Director
Ms Debra Punton – Deputy Executive Director
Ms Kirrilly Bridger – Chief Financial Officer
Mr Martin Keogh – Chief Learning and Teaching Officer
Mr Dominic Ryan – Catholic Identity and Mission Officer
Mr Richard Wans – Chief Leadership and Registration Officer
Mr Terry Mulvaney – Chief Governance Officer
Ms Leanne Beveridge – Chief People Officer
Mr Dermot Cannon – Chief Planning and Infrastructure Officer
Mr Shane Doyle – Chief Technology Officer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meet The Board of Directors
DOSCEL is committed to the highest standards of governance and ethical conduct. The Board of Directors provides leadership and strategy, shapes policy and works closely with the executive team.
Inspiring Faith, Inspiring Learning
A Catholic education network nurturing every student in every school
