Member Update 14 November 2024 | Term 4, Week 6

Acknowledgement of Country

The VACPSP acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the many lands that encompass our Catholic primary schools across Victoria – Dioceses of Ballarat, Sale, Sandhurst and the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The VACPSP recognises the Traditional Custodians' culture and the continuing spiritual connection to land, sea and waters.

The VACPSP pays our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who live, work, teach and learn within Catholic education in Victoria.

We commit to working together to create culturally safe schools for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to learn and thrive. We commit to working together for reconciliation, justice and treaty.

From the President

The recent AGM was a gathering of principals from across Victoria to celebrate and report on the sustained success of the Association in 2024 in its mission to support you as a principal. I am pleased to say that it was a great success. Thank you to those who attended and those who submitted Proxy Votes. With your support the AGM process was a seamless, informative and time efficient event. I especially thank and acknowledge the Principal Council for their efforts in communicating with you on behalf of the VACPSP. As previously mentioned, the AGM saw the election of a new Vice President. I warmly welcome Damian Howard, Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School, Wollert, to this role and express my gratitude for his commitment to the Association. Damian has much wisdom and experience to share and will be an asset to our Association. With the new, however, we also farewell our dear friend and outgoing Vice President, Leon Colla, St Mary of the Cross, Point Cook. Leon has been an exceptional Vice President, supporting principalship locally, statewide and nationally. We will miss working closely with him but wish him the very best as he enters the new era of retirement! I would also like to acknowledge and thank Carmel Stutterd who has been re-elected for a further term of two years to the role of VACPSP Treasurer.

Tomorrow the VACPSP Executive has a MACS meeting which will include an update on the digital reimagination project and procurement. The key agenda items are MACS communication, principal wellbeing, network consultation and the reportable conduct scheme review project outcome. We will also have a finance discussion including insurance scheme, claims and processes and the primary school funding model.

From a national perspective, a key focus of our recent work has been with the Commonwealth government with regard to social media and young people noting this week The Hon Jason Clare MP Jason Clare, Commonwealth Minister for Education, announced impending legislation regarding young people's access to social media.

Also in this newsletter:

• Second President's Ball 2025: Reservations for all tickets now open on TryBooking! Secure your spot and bring your team along for a fun night and "Let the Principal Shine".

• Macquarie University's My Mind Check project: My Mind Check is a new student mental health and wellbeing check-in for Australian schools. It gives students a voice to share how they feel about their own mental health and wellbeing and provides schools with proactive, evidence-based indicators about each student, each year group and whole school mental health and wellbeing at a moment in time. It’s a free, voluntary digital tool that has been expertly developed by Macquarie University based on years of research and extensive consultation with education, health and community. To find out more about this initiative visit mymindcheck.org.au. Take a look at the “school” page specifically for schools and educators and/or submit an enquiry form so the school support team can provide you more information.

• Women & Leadership Australia: School Leadership Development Funding for 2025 Available.

• APPA Survey: Medication in primary schools survey. By completing the survey, your members can directly contribute to meaningful discussions with education and healthcare professionals, helping to drive improvements in managing student health in school. Access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XLLCWR5 

• APPA 'National Horizons' - November 2024: Extracts from the latest newsletter including NAC Meeting, Medication Survey and Better & Fairer Funding.

• Exciting Opportunity for educators and students: The ASEAN BRIDGE School Partnership Program 2024-2026.
  

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VACPSP President's Ball 2025: All tickets open!

After the success of the 2023 event, the 2025 event will again be held at the Melbourne Town Hall for a formal black-tie dinner and celebration.

Bring family, friends and staff, or come as a zone group, to Let the Principal Shine on Friday 21 March 2025.

Macquarie University's My Mind Check Project

My Mind Check is a new student mental health and wellbeing check-in for Australian schools. It gives students a voice to share how they feel about their own mental health and wellbeing and provides schools with proactive, evidence-based indicators about each student, each year group and whole school mental health and wellbeing at a moment in time. It’s a free, voluntary digital tool that has been expertly developed by Macquarie University based on years of research and extensive consultation with education, health and community. To find out more about this initiative visit mymindcheck.org.au. Take a look at the “school” page specifically for schools and educators and/or submit an enquiry form so the school support team can provide you more information.

Women & Leadership Australia: School Leadership Development Funding for 2025 Available

Women & Leadership Australia has announced a new round of scholarship funding to support excellence in school leadership.  Partial scholarships of $1,000 are available to support the development of school leaders for one of two specialised school leadership development programs:  

• Schools Middle Leaders Program: Open to leaders of any gender, with $1,000 scholarships available to support participation. 
• Women in Schools Advanced Leadership Program: Designed for senior women leaders, with $1,000 scholarships available toward enrolment. 

Registrations of interest close on Friday 29th November 2024. Via our website: https://www.wla.edu.au/industry/schools/   Resources for Sharing We’ve created shareable content, including text and images, for easy promotion through your newsletter, website, or other channels. Access them via this DropBox Link. 

APPA Survey: Medication in primary schools survey

Help Shape the Future of Student Health Support in Schools!

As discussed at the recent NAC meeting, APPA is conducting a survey to better understand children’s medication needs within today’s primary school setting. We invite you to share the survey link below with your members and encourage them to participate.

By completing the survey, your members can directly contribute to meaningful discussions with education and healthcare professionals, helping to drive improvements in managing student health in schools.

Access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XLLCWR5

APPA 'National Horizons' - November 2024: Extracts from the latest newsletter including NAC Meeting, Medication Survey and Better & Fairer Funding

National Advisory Council Meeting (Term 4)

NAC continued to work on documenting APPA’s professional wisdom and thinking on primary education. APPA Position Papers have been developed for Curriculum & Pedagogy, Primary Resourcing, Principal Wellbeing & Workload and Students with Complex Needs.  Papers in development include Assessment, Parent Induction and Management of Risk.


The NAC was pleased that Dr Jenny Donovan, CEO of AERO, was able to attend the meeting on Wednesday to share insights on AERO's work to improve student outcomes through evidence-based research, overseen by an independent board. Over the next three years, AERO will focus on supporting schools in implementing practical research within classrooms, with upcoming resources on teaching writing, classroom behaviour management, and a First Nations Charter.

Survey regarding medication management in primary schools

Some primary leaders have reported an increase in the number of students requiring medication to be given out at school. Others are reporting an increase in the number of students with complex medication or health needs (such as diabetes). This presents resourcing and risk management challenges for schools, particularly in ensuring the necessary allocation of staff time to meet the medication and health needs of students in a site.

APPA wants to understand these challenges and will be inviting primary leaders to complete a survey, which will be sent out next week. Their experience and expertise will contribute to a contemporary understanding of primary school operations in Australia.

Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (2025-2034) 

APPA prepared a submission to the committee for the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement 2025-2034. We advocated for appropriate sector blind funding for every student, for the funding to the primary years to be reviewed, and for the principal voice to be included the co-design of implementation strategies.

Exciting Opportunity for educators and students: The ASEAN BRIDGE School Partnership Program 2024-2026

Are you ready to foster global connections and enhance the intercultural understanding of your school community? The ASEAN BRIDGE program, funded by the Australian Government and managed by Asialink Education at the University of Melbourne, is the perfect opportunity for primary and secondary schools across Australia to build meaningful partnerships with schools in Southeast Asia.

This initiative offers educators and students the chance to engage in collaborative activities with schools in Southeast Asia (excluding Indonesia and Myanmar, but including Timor-Leste). It’s a fantastic way to enhance Southeast Asia literacy, improve intercultural competence, and develop global perspectives that will benefit your entire school community.

Why get involved?

• Develop lasting global connections between your school and Southeast Asian schools.
• Enhance your school’s intercultural understanding and global competence.
• Collaborate on engaging activities that bring teachers and students together.
• Strengthen your school’s Southeast Asia literacy and prepare your students for a global future.

As school leaders, your support in promoting this program is vital to its success. By reaching out to your networks and encouraging primary schools to participate, you’ll be helping foster exciting opportunities for both educators and students.

Let’s build connections that will last a lifetime, build empathy and understanding and create a brighter, more connected future for our students and educators across the ASEAN region.

A program flyer is attached. Expressions of Interest by 29 November 2024.

Should you have any questions or require further information, reach out to ASEAN-BRIDGE@unimelb.edu.au.

Prayer

Loving and generous God, awaken us to your presence as we continue to discern what is life-giving, empowering and sustainable for the good of all Catholic primary Principals, the school communities we support and the students we serve.

May our inspiration and commitment deepen as we reflect on and respond to the needs of Principals according to the vision of the Gospel and the voice of the Spirit.

Pour out your abundant blessings upon all involved in Principalship, a ministry of witness and leadership in Catholic education.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians, pray for us.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Patron of Catholic Education in Australia, pray for us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter update and a snapshot of the actions, connections and programs that the Association supports, leads or engages with on your behalf.

I am proud to represent the Victorian Catholic Primary Principal voice statewide and nationally and lead this professional, influential and trusted collegial body. By being a Member, your perspective, experience and knowledge of the school context joins the wealth of knowledge we take to key stakeholders to inform discussions.

As always, I not only welcome but encourage active communication between myself and members and look forward to engaging with you in person, phone or by email. Please share your insight with me at any time, be it through your Principal Council Representative or directly by emailing president@vacpsp.org.au or booking a call with me here. 

Thank you to our Business Partners