Catholic Education Services

Serving and supporting the Diocesan mission in education is Catholic Education Services (CES). As the education office for the Cairns Diocese, this diocesan agency operates under the authority of the Bishop and the governing relationships authorised by him.

As an executive arm of the Diocese, CES assists the Bishop in directing pastoral action through educational administration and support and is delegated to undertake responsibilities which serve, support and advocate for all educational ministries.

Its overall responsibilities are articulated in its delegations which in turn are pursued by dedicated people and supportive structures. Our relationship with school communities is an interdependent one, with mission as our collective focus and carriage of responsibilities that are complementary.

Within a ‘stand-alone’ education system offering services to families seeking a quality Catholic education for their children, a number of significant obligations and responsibilities are managed and facilitated by CES.

As part of the diocesan family of schools, although each school may be self-managing, it is not self-governing. Each school operates according to the mandate of the diocesan Church, and its leader, the Bishop of Cairns. The Bishop delegates responsibility for the provision of Catholic education and leadership and strategic management of the system of schools to the Executive Director of Catholic Education Services, and works through the Education Board of Governance to set and monitor policy and practice.

The Executive Director and CES staff members manage and facilitate a number of significant obligations and responsibilities:

To develop, establish and model the distinctive Catholic Identity within schools and colleges
To develop and monitor Strategic and Annual plans
To provide Human Resources support to schools, colleges and CES
To support and enhance Learning and Teaching within schools in areas such as Student Services, Curriculum, and Resource and Information Services.
To coordinate communication and collaboration within and beyond Catholic Education
To provide oversight of the financial and physical resources of schools, colleges and CES
To develop and maintain communication, decision making and associated management systems
To act for and on behalf of the Diocese in all matters related to employment within Catholic Education
To support the professional development of all staff
To represent and advocate for Catholic Education
To be accountable to the Bishop, Vicar and Board of Governance through seeking authorisation, consulting and informing on matters of Catholic education within the diocese.

Mission

Catholic Education Services expresses its mission as follows:

We are a community of people who support the mission of the Church in the provision of quality, innovative education. We provide leadership, service, and stewardship to those involved in the life project of Catholic education. We seek to be a positive influence in our work within the Church and in the broader community. In the spirit of Christ, we undertake our work through life-giving relationships founded on collaboration, communication, integrity and respect. We look to the future with enduring hope that the human potential for growth and goodness will be realised.

Executive Team

Members of the Catholic Education Services Executive Leadership Team are:

Diarmuid (Durm) O’Riordan

Executive Director

Mr Diarmuid (Durm) O’Riordan returned to Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns as Executive Director in January 2025. With a career spanning 40 years in Catholic Education, Durm has served in various school and system leadership roles across different states and jurisdictions. This includes 14 years’ experience as a Catholic school principal in three schools, including a K to Year 10 school in country NSW and large coeducational and boys’ secondary colleges in southeast Queensland. Durm previously held the positions of Deputy Executive Director in both Cairns and Brisbane as well as serving as Edmund Rice Education Australia’s Director of Schools in Victoria and Tasmania.

He holds the qualifications of Master of Educational Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Education and Law from the Australian Catholic University. He also completed a Bachelor of Education from the University of Canberra and a Diploma of Teaching from the Australian Catholic University. Durm is member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Council of Educational Leaders.

Wayne Wood

Deputy Executive Director

Wayne Wood is the Deputy Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns, bringing extensive experience in Catholic school and system leadership. He is a highly experienced educational leader with a strong record of school improvement, leadership development, and system alignment. Wayne has served as a principal in diverse secondary settings, leading improvements in student outcomes, enrolment growth, staff capability, and community engagement. Prior to his appointment, he was Director of School Effectiveness, supporting principals across secondary and P–12 colleges to strengthen leadership practice and ensure coherent, sustainable improvement across the Diocese. Wayne holds a Master of Theology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Catholic Education, and a Bachelor of Education.