News - Primary Ethics

Primary Ethics to merge with The Ethics Centre

Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit organisation delivering Special Ethics Education in NSW public primary schools, will merge with its founding body, The Ethics Centre, in a strategic move to enhance ethics education opportunities.

Established by The Ethics Centre in 2010, Primary Ethics has equipped more than 250,000 students in over 650 NSW public schools with vital skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning and respectful discussion, thanks to the dedication of thousands of trained volunteers.

For over three decades, The Ethics Centre has been a leader in developing innovative and impactful ethics education initiatives in Australian primary and high schools, including initiatives such as Moral Courage and Common Ground. The Centre is committed to developing programs that help young people navigate the ethical challenges they face now and in the future, guided by a Youth Advisory Council.

“This merger brings together two organisations that share a deep commitment to building ethical literacy in Australia,” said Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Chair of the Primary Ethics Board and Executive Director of The Ethics Centre. “We’re immensely proud of the impact Primary Ethics has made in NSW schools and this step allows us to explore future possibilities to build on that legacy.”

While the merger will bring opportunities for collaboration and growth, the day-to-day delivery of Primary Ethics classes in NSW public schools will remain unchanged. The quality of the curriculum, the role of volunteers and the integrity of donations to Primary Ethics will all be preserved.

Dr Longstaff said: “The ethics education program that our volunteers, supporters and families know and value will continue to operate as it does today. What’s changing is the opportunity to do more – to innovate, to reach new communities and to bring ethics education to a broader audience. This is about broadening horizons while staying true to our roots.”

Detailed planning for the merger is underway, with full implementation to follow stakeholder consultation.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Primary Ethics: Susan Ardill – communications@primaryethics.com.au M: 0478356969

The Ethics Centre: Kathleen Evesson – communications@ethics.org.au M: 0414171945

Download this media release

Inquiring Minds March 2025

Welcome to Inquiring Minds for autumn 2025, where we bring you stories and reflections from our ethics classrooms, as well as recent Primary Ethics highlights.

In this issue we collected stories from many of our wonderful volunteers, such as:

Sinéad Fitzgerald, who works for Microsoft and thinks the skills we teach in ethics are ideal for preparing this generation to thrive in the age of AI.
While Karina Morgan finds her own life enhanced by five lessons she’s learnt as an ethics volunteer.
Five years ago, COVID launched Lalita Kanetkar on her journey to be an ethics teacher.
And Jim Neely teaches a remarkable five lessons a week in four different schools in the south of the state.

To receive the next Inquiring Minds, make sure to subscribe to our newsletters at the bottom of our home page.

Dr Simon Longstaff is our new Chair

Dr Simon Longstaff AO, CEO of The Ethics Centre and longstanding member of the Primary Ethics Board, has become our new Chair on the retirement of founding Chair Bruce Hogan.

Dr Longstaff said, “It is with a deep sense of honour that I have accepted the Primary Ethics Board’s invitation to succeed Bruce Hogan as Chair.

“I have had the privilege of being part of Primary Ethics’ unfolding story from the first. It began with an email from a parent of children attending Neutral Bay Public School. Peter Carre asked if it might be possible to offer ethics classes to those not attending Special Religious Education (Scripture) – and the ball began to roll.”

Dr Longstaff paid tribute to founding Chair Bruce Hogan.

“Bruce has been a committed volunteer in the service of this proudly volunteer-driven organisation. He has given his all – wisdom, passion, experience, time and energy – in helping Primary Ethics become the force for good that it is today. I extend to Bruce our deep thanks and respect.”

Evan Hannah, CEO of Primary Ethics, also saluted the outgoing Chair. “Quite literally Primary Ethics would not be operating without Bruce’s hard work gathering funds and supporters in our early years. His energy, vision and passion are the reason we are still here, along with his own outstanding personal generosity. What we have achieved rests largely on his shoulders and all of us – volunteers, staff and directors – owe him a significant debt.

“Bruce can be proud of bringing ethics classes to the many thousands of students who have benefitted since our launch 15 years ago.”

Simon Longstaff taking up the role of Chair coincides with Primary Ethics moving to share The Ethics Centre offices. Simon sees the need for ethics education as only growing. “Primary Ethics was established by The Ethics Centre as a heartfelt response to the plight of children who were subjected to unjust treatment – simply for not attending scripture classes. There is still much to be done to realise the original mission. And we can’t diverge from working towards that goal for as long as the need remains. Our curriculum and distinctive mode of teaching and learning has vast, untapped potential.”

Simon went on to acknowledge everyone who contributes to the work of Primary Ethics. “The parents who entrust their children to our care; the school communities who host our program; our dedicated staff who enable and support a high-quality program to be delivered every week; our donors and supporters who enable this work to be done.

“Above all, I thank our thousands of trained volunteers, who build the capacity of young people in ethical decision-making and thus help make a better world.

“I look forward to working with them all to broaden and deepen our impact.”

Primary Ethics CEO stepping down

After almost eight years leading Primary Ethics, Evan Hannah is stepping down as CEO.

Evan said: “This is a busy, challenging and satisfying role, but I have decided to begin a transition into retirement and help find and install a new CEO as I slow down. I have been in this role since 2017. When I started, I’d been the ethics coordinator at my son’s primary school. He starts university this year!

“Since I began in the role, it has become increasingly busy – a new CEO will have plenty to do! There are challenges ahead to improve sustainable levels of funding in order to support strategies to take the benefits of our program to a wider audience. And, as ever, we have to ensure our core program in NSW public schools remains healthy by recruiting more volunteers and meeting demand for ethics classes in all schools.

“We’ve achieved a great deal since we began in 2011 and much is due to the continuing dedication and passion of our volunteers. In recent years Primary Ethics has increased our focus on volunteer support, which improves outcomes for students. We’ve adopted a scrupulous approach to continuing development and improvement of our curriculum and training. Plus we have vastly more positive relationships with schools, the Department of Education and SRE (scripture) providers.

“It’s been an honour to lead Primary Ethics and a pleasure to work for an organisation that brings such clear benefit to our society. The link between effort and positive result is clear and deeply satisfying.

“We have a great team of committed and passionate staff providing support and guidance to our thousands of volunteers – they’re going to make a new CEO very welcome.

“My thanks to all staff, to every volunteer and past volunteers for your wonderful support for our program and the benefit you bring to the thousands of school children who join our lessons each week.”

The ad for the new CEO can be found here.

Chief Executive Officer: Primary Ethics

Primary Ethics is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing free ethics education in NSW public schools. Through a volunteer-led model, Primary Ethics delivers structured lessons that equip children with critical thinking, ethical reasoning and respectful discussion skills. With over 2000 volunteers and a dedicated team of 15 staff, the organisation fosters a strong sense of purpose and community engagement.

The role: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Primary Ethics plays a pivotal role in leading and managing the organisation’s strategy, operations and stakeholder engagement. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will drive the organisation’s vision, ensuring the successful delivery of ethics classes across NSW. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the growth of a financially stable, volunteer-powered organisation, leveraging leadership, fundraising and operational expertise to expand its reach. The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader with a passion for education and ethical discourse, capable of mobilising volunteers, engaging key stakeholders and sustaining long-term impact in a highly valued community program.

To apply: People for Purpose is partnering with Primary Ethics to lead the search for this role.

We invite you to read the position description located on the People for Purpose website under Current Opportunities. To review annual reports and financial statements, please visit the Primary Ethics website.

Once you have absorbed this information and completed your own research, if you have specific questions, please email Roger Reidy on roger.reidy@bpsconsulting.com.au

Your application will include your CV, as well as a cover letter outlining how your skills and experience align to this opportunity and why you are interested in joining Primary Ethics. A considered cover letter will be an important part of your application.

Applications close at 5pm on Sunday, 16 March 2025.

Area manager position with Primary Ethics

Primary Ethics is an independent not-for-profit organisation delivering an engaging, age-appropriate philosophical ethics curriculum to students from Early Stage 1- to Stage 4 (Kindergarten to Year 8). We provide this free of charge via a network of trained and accredited volunteer teachers. Ethics classes have been enthusiastically adopted in schools across NSW and we take pride in our reputation as an effective and well-regarded education provider within the public school system.

To apply for this position, please address the essential skills, experience and attributes and send your application to Elizabeth Allen at elizabeth.allen@primaryethics.com.au by 10am Monday 17 February 2025.

Role purpose

Area managers play a vital role in driving and supporting volunteer recruitment, fostering volunteer engagement and building productive relationships with schools. This role is responsible for ensuring a sustainable pipeline of ethics teachers and coordinators through effective recruitment channels and localised support. Additionally, it serves as the primary liaison between volunteers and the organisation, facilitating clear communication and providing support to ensure compliance, satisfaction and retention.

Organisational position

The role reports to the CEO.

Hours and location

This role may be full-time or part-time. Specify your preference in your application. Work may be carried out at the Primary Ethics offices or remotely, with a minimum office presence as directed. Travel may also be required to other locations for meetings with external parties or community events.

Roles and responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the role include:

Volunteer recruitment

Promote ethics teacher and coordinator recruitment opportunities through appropriate channels, such as SEEK, social media, and school parent communities.
Support ethics coordinators with local recruitment activity, or recruit directly where there is no ethics coordinator.
Screen candidates for suitability, conduct interviews and approve interviews conducted by ethics coordinators.
Follow up teachers who are onboarding to ensure completion of training within a reasonable timeframe.
Work in partnership with the communications manager on alternative recruitment channels such as radio, newspaper, magazine articles etc.

Volunteer management

Build strong working relationship with coordinators, providing support. mentoring and guidance as required and be the first point of contact for the volunteers, particularly coordinators
Encourage coordinators to organise team-based catch-ups to ensure volunteers can connect with each other.
Recognise long-term volunteers through delivery of pins and certificate.
Provide key communication to volunteers and be the main contact point for changes in Department of Education policies as well as changes in Primary Ethics procedures, policies or programs.
Build volunteer capability, including low-level Classroom Support team support and referring to Classroom Support as appropriate.
Develop the knowledge base and processes of each coordinator and their team, to ensure smooth and efficient running of the ethics program
Drive renewal process each year, ensuring volunteers meet training compliance requirements
Address complaints and issues of volunteer underperformance appropriately, in conjunction with Classroom Support team, the Engagement and Administration Manager or the CEO as appropriate.
Provide support to sole teachers to ensure stability of vulnerable schools
Ensure volunteers complete post-lesson reports.

School Management

Provide key communication to the School and be the main contact point for changes in Department of Education policies as well as changes in Primary Ethics procedures, policies or programs
Ensure School is compliant with the relevant Department of Education procedures – especially the current SRE/SEE Implementation Procedures document
Raise issues early to our school liaison officer when difficulties arise, work in partnership with the school liaison officer as appropriate to resolve conflicts
Provide sufficient information for parents through the school to raise awareness of our ethics program and give them the ability to choose ethics for their child(ren)

Administration

Ensure accurate recording of data in our database EVIE, including:

Set up and maintenance of classes and lessons, and assisting coordinators to make these changes
School status
First/last lesson dates to manage Authorised Volunteer List flow
Updating volunteer status promptly: Inactive/Raincheck/Withdrawn/Terminated
Logging calls and emails to detail contact with volunteers and schools
Case management notes
Other tasks as requested to support the needs of the team and organisation.

Skills, experience and personal attributes

Essential

Proven experience in managing and supporting volunteers, ideally within an educational or nonprofit setting.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with diverse groups, including school leaders, volunteers, and community members.
Ability to coordinate multiple activities and manage time effectively in a role that spans recruitment, support, administration and program oversight.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills to engage and inform volunteers and school stakeholders.
A commitment to the mission of Primary Ethics and a genuine interest in fostering critical thinking and ethical reasoning in our students.
Comfortable using Microsoft Suite programs including Teams, Word, Excel. Experience with CRM system/s (particularly Salesforce) will be very useful.

Desirable

Knowledge of the Primary Ethics curriculum or previous experience in ethics education.
Familiarity with the public education system and community engagement.

Commitment to diversity

Great people come from all walks of life. At Primary Ethics, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible workforce that reflects the wider community and the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from all people regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnicity, cultural background and sexual orientation.

Download the position description

Primary Ethics moves to The Ethics Centre Sydney office

Primary Ethics has moved and is now co-located within The Ethics Centre at its offices in Sydney. The move enables the two organisations to share office space and office resources, as well as to continue to collaborate on ethics education projects.

Evan Hannah, CEO of Primary Ethics, said: “We’re delighted to join The Ethics Centre in their Sydney CBD office, where we will continue our work to help students develop essential skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning and respectful discussion.”

“We also thank our generous donor Rob Keldoulis for paying our rent for the past decade at our previous home in Potts Point.”

Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, said: “Since the establishment of Primary Ethics, 13 years ago, The Ethics Centre has continued to develop innovative ethics programs for school students, including the Moral Courage and Common Ground programs for high schoolers. This success, when coupled with Primary Ethics’ achievements, provides an excellent platform for an approach that combines our distinctive strengths when developing and executing impactful programs that strengthen ethical understanding in generations of Australian students.”

Primary Ethics: Susan Ardill, communications@primaryethics.com.au

The Ethics Centre: Kathleen Evesson, communications@ethics.org.au

Kinghorn Volunteers of the Year 2024

Primary Ethics is delighted to announce the winners of the Kinghorn Volunteers of the Year 2024.

Yes, that’s winners, plural. This was the first year in which nominations could be made for a team as well as an individual.

[Read more about the Award here.]

So the 2024 winners are Jim Neely, Regional Manager, ethics teacher and coordinator in the Queanbeyan region near Canberra, and the Northmead Public School ethics team from western Sydney. Jim, who coordinates three schools in Queanbeyan, receives $$3000 in prize money to distribute to the library services in his schools, while the Northmead team receives $1000.

The judging panel was Jill Kinghorn, Bruce Hogan (Primary Ethics Chair), Barb La Ganza (winner 2023), Kaye Remington (community volunteer), Martin Bregozzo (parent volunteer) and Evan Hannah (CEO).

Jim Neely is currently regional manager for five ethics programs in the Queanbeyan region, which deliver lessons to thousands of students every week. Currently, he is keeping 15 ethics teachers engaged and himself teaches four classes every week in three different schools.

Jim is dedicated to growing ethics education and works diligently to recruit via local events and media. Besides his five schools, he explores every option to launch new programs in other schools in the region.

From one of his team: “Jim strongly supports teachers at Queanbeyan schools and graciously relieves us when we can’t take our class or seeks out another teacher who can. Behind the scenes, I know he works with the Queanbeyan schools to encourage their participation and active support for ethics classes. My own class had only six students in Term 1 this year. Through his efforts with the school, I now have about 13. And a happy class it is!”

“I nominate Jim because I believe he epitomises the qualities and ethos that are so necessary in an organisation that relies on volunteers in order to be effective and respected. Any organisation would be lucky to have Jim. Primary Ethics is fortunate that we are where he chooses to commit his time and effort. I feel fortunate to volunteer in his area.”

northmead-team-2024 — The Northmead team 2024, f rom left: Veronica, Mallika, Susannah, coordinator Tania, Christina (back), Myat (front), Elaine. Missing: Abha.

Northmead Public School ethics team: This team volunteers in a large, diverse school in western Sydney and this nomination is particularly special this year – it is the school’s centenary year!

The team have worked really hard at building a very strong, steady and committed presence to ensure that ethics is now offered across all the school years, having started 10 years ago with only two classes. The reputation and popularity of the program has grown significantly and there are now over 200 students engaged in weekly lessons. This represents almost one third of the school population. The program is seen as an important part of school life and the team is well known and respected as very community-minded.

As well as the two winners, the judging panel gave a special commendation to Faith Weisbrot, who has been on every shortlist since the award commenced in 2022. Faith is a coordinator, teacher and relief teacher at schools in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.

Most weeks Faith teaches from three to five lessons, making sure no children are missing out. Faith has proven year on year what a great team leader she is. She is always available to her teams, mentoring the newer volunteers, making sure to catch up once a term, fostering a sense of team bonding. She organises Classroom Support workshops and observations where feasible.

Faith embodies the true spirit of a Primary Ethics volunteer, humble and hardworking.

Volunteering: The way to a more fulfilling and healthier life

The popular science on health, wellbeing and longevity is beginning to look beyond diet and exercise to volunteering as a contributing factor to a healthy, more fulfilling and longer life. Ethics volunteer Ima Strkljevic, a clinical physiotherapist, is doing her PhD in this field and shares her insights and knowledge with us in this blog post.

Ima points out that the evidence shows that volunteering positively affects the overall health of both volunteers and the recipients of their giving through social interaction, support and physical activity. Volunteering featured in the late Michael Moseley’s podcast Just One Thing (BBC) and Dan Buettner’s Live to 100: Secret of the Blue Zones (Netflix).

Ima Strkljevic has volunteered for Primary Ethics for more than seven years as an ethics teacher, coordinator and regional manager. Ima is passionate about volunteering! She is a clinical physiotherapist and a PhD candidate in public health, researching innovative interventions for promotion of physical activity in middle-aged and older adults, with particular focus on volunteering among health professionals.

Since she arrived in Australia as a refugee, Ima has volunteered with newly arrived refugees, migrants, torture and trauma survivors and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Apart from dedicating her time to providing ethics education in NSW public schools, she has professionally volunteered as a NSW Australian Physiotherapy Association branch councillor and initiated and contributed to health programs to promote physical activity, social/ intergenerational interaction and general health in her community.

Ima writes: Volunteers are an invaluable asset to their communities, an enormous, growing, informal workforce providing their knowledge, skills, resources and time. Many volunteers remain engaged in their cause for an extended period due to their prosocial behaviour. Australia’s estimated six million volunteers (roughly 30% of the adult population) have proven extremely valuable during times of national crises from destructive bushfires, drought, floods, cyclones and the unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19. Apart from crises, volunteers regularly dedicate their time to regular activities related to sport, health, education, community and social welfare, all of which support social inclusion, education, help for marginalised and underrepresented groups, social connectivity and delivery of public services.

There is plenty of evidence supporting the multiple positive effects of volunteering for both the objective and subjective health of recipients and the volunteers themselves. Studies show that volunteering is associated with decreased mortality and improved physical health, mental health, social support and interaction, healthy behaviours and coping ability. In recipients, volunteering can improve self-esteem, disease management, mental health, cognitive function, self-efficacy and life expectancy. Engaging middle-aged or older adults as volunteers promotes their social interaction, which reduces loneliness. Loneliness is acknowledged as a modern-age epidemic associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity, dementia, depression, anxiety, a multitude of physiological disorders and even premature death.

I’d like to add that there is a volunteering threshold to derive health benefits and it is one to two hours a week or 40-100 hours a year. This is the perfect number for a Primary Ethics volunteer.

Ima Strkljevic

The global aging population and increasing numbers of people with chronic disease puts strain on individuals, families and healthcare systems. Promotion of healthy aging should thus be a global priority. Encouraging volunteering as a way of fostering physical activity and social interaction in later life may prevent or at least delay the onset of age-related functional impairment. Low rates of physical activity among older adults remains a major public health concern (only one in five adults in Australia meet the physical activity guidelines and physical inactivity is one of the leading preventable causes of all ill health and premature death). Consequently, it is important to identify new, low-cost, sustainable strategies to support middle-aged and older adults to enjoy active, independent and happy lives for as long as possible.

fmed-11-1368661-g002 — Socio-ecological map of health professional volunteering

A recently published study that I co-authored recommended that volunteering organisations provide both social interaction and appropriate professional development opportunities as incentives. In addition, it is essential that organisations ensure that volunteering opportunities also involve older or retired professionals, emeritus and student groups, who have significant potential as volunteers. One group that has significant potential to be recruited as volunteers is health professionals, as they are highly motivated by altruism, empathy, ethics, learning, professional development, recognition and personal growth. Retired professionals in particular could reap the health benefits of volunteering by continuing to be physically and socially active and engaged as they progress through older age.

I’d like to add that there is a volunteering threshold to derive health benefits and it is one to two hours a week or 40-100 hours a year. This is the perfect number for a Primary Ethics volunteer.

Volunteer with us for increased wellbeing!