Member Update 13 March | Term 1, Week 7

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

Champion Basketballer, Kobe Bryant, once said, "You won’t feel motivated every day." Whether for work, training, or learning, show up and give your best, regardless. That’s what professionals working in the vocation of Principalship do every day. The conditions will never be perfect, but real progress comes when you push forward despite the obstacles. Don’t wait for the right moment or for things to feel easy — "take action now" was Bryant’s mantra. It is this mindset that your VACPSP embraces every day too, giving our best for you, supporting you, listening to you, advocating for you, engaging in difficult and forthright conversations for you and ensuring action moves the issues forward for you. 

The last few weeks are incredible examples of what our team has been working on here and now for all Principals across Victoria. Here’s a summary of key events and achievements:

1. March MACS Directors Meeting

The Executive of the VACPSP Principal Council recently met with the MACS Executive Leadership Team. The meeting focused on presenting your perspective on a range of complex issues and focusing on actionable outcomes.

Priority Agenda Focus Areas were:

• Enterprise of Primary Schooling & Principal Employment (EBA discussion).
• School Viability: Discussion of policy, support and MACS strategy.
• MACS Learning and Regional Services: Boundaries & directorate structure discussion.
• Procurement Update: What are the current impacts and future areas for consideration?
• Reportable Conduct: Update of Ernst Young 2023/24 Review Recommendations.
• Infrastructure: Question about capital grant applications?

The outcome of these discussions will be relayed to the Principal Council to be shared with you in more detail in the coming weeks. Noting reportable conduct investigations in MACS will be funded by the system rather than individual schools. 

2. Attendance at the MACS Learning and Leadership Development Framework meetings

This team is working on building a leadership framework for schools and offices. The Leadership development goals are: (a) reimagined Catholic leadership framework and (b) enhanced professional learning for all staff. This project sits underneath the MACS strategy ‘Enabled Leaders’, which aims to have a common approach to developing effective contemporary leaders in the Catholic tradition and an employer of choice in the Victorian education sector.

3. National Advocacy for all Principals

Damian Howard (Carlo Acutis, Melbourne, MACS) and Rachel Holdsworth (Holy Spirit Geelong, MACS) have taken on the role of National Advocates and 2025 Board members of ACPPA and APPA and recently attended the Canberra national meetings.

In summary, at the national meetings:

• Stephen Gniel from ACARA presented. Principals asked about the ongoing concerns of NAPLAN, particularly the MySchool Website, as a crude parent comparison tool of school effectiveness.
• The topic of administering medication by school staff and increased responsibility for principals was a discussed.
• APPA presented various Position Papers, including:

1. Curriculum: Great leading, teaching and learning in our primary schools
2. Principal workload, principal wellbeing
3. Primary resourcing
4. Effective parent-school partnerships
5. Supporting students with complex needs
6. Assessment
7. Advocacy for professional supervision for school leaders
8. Joy and fun: essential ingredients for effective education
9. Composite classes; stages, not ages

• The National Advisory Council (NAC) also shared a further three draft position papers: Screen Time, OSHC, and NAPLAN. The draft papers will be prepared and distributed at the next APPA Meeting in May.
• ACU presented, "Unveiling the Ripple Effect: How offensive behaviours impact school leaders’ productivity". (Survey link on attached flyer advertisement). All APPA NAC members completed the survey and we invite Principals to do so too. This is an anonymous survey, so you need to do this in one sitting. Impact on personal relationships needs to be added into survey so please be mindful it can be a trigger when going back into this space.
• Notice of the APPA Conference from 26-29 August in Brisbane. ACPPA members (all VACPSP Members are automatically ACPPA Members) are offered a $200 discount to attend.

As always if there is something you need to bring our attention to, please do so via your Principal Council representative or directly. 

Also in this newsletter:

• The countdown to the 2025 Second VACPSP President's Ball is on: Check out the teaser video here. We are so excited to celebrate principalship and acknowledge five outstanding leaders!

• VACPSP Member Renewal: If you are yet to renew, please do so through Member Jungle (use your principal@ email address and select 'one time code' which means you do not need a password). If you have any questions, please chat to your area representative. If you would prefer an invoice emailed to you, please email admin@vacpsp.org.au requesting it. By logging in you can see if you are a current member or yet to renew. 
• APPA Conference: 26-29 August in Brisbane. ACPPA members (all VACPSP Members are automatically ACPPA Members) are offered a $200 discount to attend! Learn more here.
• MultiLit: 30th Anniversary and the Inaugural Advancing Effective Education Summit 30-31st May 2025. See information here.

• Thoughts and Prayers with Helen: Third Sunday in Lent 22/23 of March 2025. Download Helen's prayer resource.

• CatholicCare Webinar: CatholicCare Victoria’s Schools Counselling Unit invites you and your wellbeing staff to a webinar focused on how we can collaborate with you to treating students with mental health issues. Change of date: The event will now take place on Wednesday, 7 May, from 10-11am. Register here.

The information contained in and/or the views and opinions expressed in content made by third party service providers and shared with VACPSP Members represents the views and opinions of the original creators of that content only and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the VACPSP. The sharing of material or content from third party service providers is done for educational purposes only and to provide information and resources that may provide benefit to some or all VACPSP Members. The sharing of this content does not constitute an endorsement by the VACPSP of such content.

The VACPSP disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied or other consequential damage or hurt caused by or arising from third party material and content, which is provided as is and without any warranties.

MultiLit: 30th Anniversary and the Inaugural Advancing Effective Education Summit 30 -31st May 2025

MultiLit is a private company that was created out of Macquarie University in 2006. MultiLit is a leading provider of effective literacy instruction in Australasia. The programs are uniquely placed to be effective because they are all grounded in scientific evidence-based best practice. As a result of being a research initiative of Macquarie University, MultiLit’s publications, professional development and Literacy Centre are continually informed by an ongoing research program. Emeritus Professor Kevin Wheldall AM leads the research team. In 2020, MultiLit celebrated its 25th anniversary. For more than two decades, they have provided assistance to thousands of students in a variety of settings, including schools, our Literacy Centres and community-based literacy projects across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Join a host of national and international speakers over this two-day conference focusing on research, leadership and theory to practice in delivering effective instruction.

MultiLit began in 1995 as a research initiative at the Macquarie University Special Education Centre, led by Emeritus Professor Kevin Wheldall AM with Dr Robyn Wheldall (Beaman).

In celebration of MultiLit’s 30th anniversary, the inaugural Advancing Effective Education Summit will be hosted on
30–31 May 2025 in Sydney.

Thoughts and Prayers with Helen: Third Sunday in Lent 22/23 March 2025

CatholicCare Webinar: Discover mental health supports for your school community - Change of date (7 May 2025)

A widespread daily challenge in all schools is supporting student, staff and community wellbeing and helping all to thrive. The VACPSP and Catholic Care Victoria invite you to a webinar designed to showcase fantastic on-ground support for schools and Principals.

The prevalence of students suffering from mental health issues, including school refusal, which prevent or disrupt their education engagement, is of growing importance to teachers, wellbeing staff and principals.

CatholicCare Victoria’s Schools Counselling Unit invites you and your wellbeing staff to a webinar focused on how we can collaborate with you to treating students with mental health issues.

Join us on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, from 10-11am. What can you expect:
●    Expert view on mental health challenges facing primary school principals and wellbeing staff
●  How a collaborative approach involving all players (student, parents/family, teacher, psychologist/counsellor/wellbeing officer, principal, mental health specialist, case worker) is required to provide long-term solutions for students and families
●    Overview of CCV School Counselling and Wrap-Around Services

There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers during the session.

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