Ministry Framework

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The purpose of the Ministry Framework is to provide an instrument to evaluate and develop the formation of staff and students in their understanding of the life and misson of St Joseph’s College, as a Catholic educational community, committed to the vision “At the heart of everything there is always Jesus Christ.”

A Ministry Framework will:

  • Ensure we are addressing the needs of both staff and students in relation to all elements of Ministry within the school environment. This will in turn;
  • Give us something for us to measure ourselves against for future years, which will then;
  • Guide our future work and progress.


The framework iconography was designed to encompass the multiple facets that occur within our school setting, that are directly linked to Ministry. The overarching theme of the framework, is a model based on a Catholic identity, grounded in the Josephite tradition, where parents, students, and staff work together as diverse individuals, who celebrate their uniqueness as a Catholic community.

At the heart of the framework and giving the framework grounding, is the Josephite Cross which overshadows, guides and gives strength to the community of those gathered at St Joseph’s College as students, parents and staff. The Josephite Cross acknowledges and pays respect to the dedication and hard work of the Sisters of St Joseph, who established our school in 1883, sharing in the vision of Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, in providing an education for all.

The circular motion of the framework reveals continuous movement, formation and renewal. This indicates that the framework is continually being developed, explored and evolving. Embedded in the framework is the light that shines forth from the Josephite Charism, lived out in the school community. This light signifies that we walk as diverse people with a shared vision for the future, clearly grounded in tradition and the Gospel.

The measurable elements that provide evidence of how we live out this framework consist of:

  • Community Celebration
  • Catholic Identity
  • Service and Mission
  • Leadership Integrity and Moral Purpose
  • Faith Formation

These elements bear testament to the unique responsibilities of Catholic schools, which are faith-filled communities, who share the story of Jesus Christ and bear witness to that story through the way we live our lives.