Governance Structure

Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG)

Mercy Education Limited

church hall The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) is involved with ten fully sponsored and two co-sponsored secondary schools in Victoria and Western Australia. Mercy Education is the delegated authority responsible for operating the ten sponsored schools but also assists the Institute Leader in offering advice, expertise and services in fulfilling her role as one of the Governors of the co-sponsored schools. In addition Mercy Education supports the works and promotes the Mercy ethos in the eleven Mercy affiliated schools across Victoria and Tasmania.

The management role of the Board of Mercy Education is confined to the ten sponsored schools and sets policies, appoints Principals, approves senior leadership positions and fulfils due diligence in the area of finance and audit management, capital development, risk management and litigation.

Message from the Chair

The Institue Leader and Council ultimately oversees the actions of Mercy Education , bearing in mind that the history of our schools has reflected a strong emphasis on local government in decision making at the appropriate level whilst maintaining the distinctive Mercy educational philosophy.

“The tradition of our institute is to combine decentralisation in government with a deep and personal concern for unity of spirit. Catherine McAuley found that local needs are best met by local resources. By her continuing warm support of all foundations, however she also fostered unity, and encouraged all to a wide vision of building the kingdom wherever they were called by the Church. This two fold Mercy tradition is reflected in our administration which seeks to place decision-making at the appropriate place.”
(Constitution of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, Clause 6.03)

Hence, in the Catholic Secondary Schools, which the Congregation sponsors either solely or in partnership with a diocese and/or other Religious Congregations, the governance structure allows for differences between sponsored and co-sponsored schools and variations to suit the local needs of each School Council.

School chart

In incorporating Mercy Education, the Institute Leader and Council are mindful of their dual obligations of faith and of administration imposed by Canon Law which considers the incorporated entities to be part of the sponsoring juridic person. The Institute Leader and Council therefore reserve certain powers sufficient to meet their canonical faith and administrative obligations.

Mercy Education Constitution

Reserve Powers

College Advisory Council - Model Constitution

Mercy Statement of Purposes - awaiting update

Mercy Education - Rules - awaiting update

Members of the Company are currently made up of members of the Institute Leadership Team and Board of Directors. Current members are:

Sr Berneice Loch rsm	Institute Leader	Board of Directors: Back left; Mr Eugene Lynch, Mrs Elizabeth Monahan, Mr Don Pasquariello, Sr Mary Moloney rsm, Dr John Brick. Front; Mrs Lucy Molony, Mr John Shannon and Sr Kath Tierney rsm.
Sr Annette Schneider rsm	Intitute Council
Sr Sally Bradley rsm	Institute Council
Sr Barbara Bolster rsm	Institute Council
Sr Theresia Tina rsm	Institute Council
Mr John Shannon	Board Chair
Mrs Lucy Molony	Deputy Board Chair
Dr John Brick	Board Director
Sr Mary Moloney rsm	Board Director
Mrs Liz Monahan	Board Director
Sr Kath Tierney rsm	Board Director

Public Secretary of the Company is Mr Eugene Lynch, Mercy Education Executive Officer.

Financial Consultant - Mr Don Pasquariello