JOURNEYING WITH YOUTH
By Laura Kings, ‘Australian Catholics’ assistant editor – education and youth
From the classroom to the global Church, discover how the Australian Catholics Education Hub helps teachers, students and families engage with faith in meaningful and creative ways.
It was a Monday morning, and my classroom was buzzing with restless energy. As I tried to settle the students for a lesson on the saints, I wished I had a single resource that could capture their attention, strengthen literacy, and help them connect with their faith. Something that could bring learning to life, spark curiosity and support families and teachers alike.
That experience stayed with me long after I left the classroom and shaped my work as Assistant Editor of Australian Catholics and the person responsible for the Education Hub, which was launched in 2019. It gave me firsthand insights into the realities of teaching: the pressure on time, the need to engage students meaningfully, and the importance of helping them explore Catholic culture and faith in ways that are relevant to their lives today.
A trusted resource for schools
For 25 years, Australian Catholics has been helping bring faith to life in Catholic schools and parish communities. Its print publication and online resources explore Catholicism in contemporary life, helping schools deepen and extend their faith formation activities.
Launched in 2019, The Education Hub builds on this legacy, offering more than 3,000 curated articles and resources from the magazine archive, including classroom activities, prayer services, film and book reviews, saints’ biographies, and reflections by Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ.
Resources are searchable by curriculum topic, audience, and theme, and all carry the Imprimatur, ensuring alignment with Catholic teaching.
Teachers’ notes bring articles to life
A key part of the Hub is its classroom questions and activities. These transform magazine articles into structured, classroom-ready lessons for Kindergarten-to-Year 12 students.
Typical sets include orientating activities to spark curiosity, pre-reading vocabulary development, guided reading with comprehension questions, and creative follow-up activities.
Lessons explore Scripture, connect students to the life and teachings of Jesus, and include consolidating and culminating tasks to reinforce learning in fun, interactive ways.
Designed with literacy development, ICT integration, and differentiated instruction in mind, these notes support teachers in delivering engaging and inclusive lessons that showcase best teaching practices.
Many Australian Catholics articles are contributed by the Young Writers Community, while each Spring edition is planned and written by guest editors from Catholic schools across the country. This focus on student voice and engagement ensures content meets learners where they are in their faith journey, encouraging them to explore questions about faith and justice.
Engaging students and families
Teachers can also explore creative sections such as Sneaky Jesus Songs, Sneaky Jesus Scenes, and Gaming the Gospels, alongside retreat guides, weekly scripture reflections, prayers of the people, and a Catholic teacher calendar.
Professional learning sessions, often accredited by dioceses, provide flexible opportunities for teachers to develop their practice while accessing resources they can apply immediately.
Beyond the classroom, the Hub and magazine help families nurture faith at home. Programs such as the Young Voices Awards, Media Internship Program, and Young Writers Community actively involve students, while parents are supported with sacrament guides, film and book reviews, and the Families Blog.
The goal is to connect students and families not just to their school or parish, but to the global Catholic mission, making them feel part of a Church that extends across the world and through time.
A resource I wished for
Looking back, I can see how transformative a resource like this would have been during my own time at the chalkface. It combines pedagogy, literacy development, and faith formation in a way that respects teachers’ time while fostering curiosity and spiritual growth.
More than just a collection of materials, the Hub and its resources guides, and classroom questions and activities reflect a thoughtful approach to education. It helps students, families and teachers engage meaningfully with their faith, their learning, and the wider Catholic community.
Through the AC subscription, schools can access the Education Hub for their entire community, making it easy to bring these resources into classrooms, newsletters, and homes, and ensuring every student can explore faith in engaging and inspiring ways.
Enquire about a free trial for your school or diocese.
Banner concept by David McMahon, using Canva’s Magic Media app.