Member Update 20 March | Term 1, Week 8

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

One day to go until we are together Letting the Principal Shine at the beautiful Melbourne Town Hall!

As President, I extend my deepest gratitude to our generous sponsors for their invaluable support of our professional Association. Their commitment enables us to grow, innovate, and provide meaningful opportunities and support for our members. Through partner generosity, we can host impactful events, offer professional development support for principals and schools, and continue striving for excellence in our field. These partnerships are not just sponsorship of goods and services but a testament to shared values and a vision for a brighter future for our school communities. I particularly note and thank the sponsors for our upcoming (tomorrow!) President's Ball. A special thank you to premium sponsor, Compass and feature film and photography sponsor, The School Photographer. 

2025 President Ball Sponsors: The School Photographer, Compass, Brennan Law Partners, Edunet, Our House Spirit, Kinect2Dance, Elastik, ANZUK, TheirCare, Amplify, Nudel Kart, AB First Aid Training, ABC Music Group, nForma. 

On the note of Sponsorship, I formally introduce a recent Partnership: COS School and Office Product Supplier.

COS is Australia’s largest family-run and operated office and education supplies business, proudly led by second-generation sisters Belinda and Amie Lyone as co-CEOs. Founded in 1977 by the late Dominique Lyone, COS began as a small business with a vision for exceptional service and social responsibility. Over the past 45 years, COS has grown significantly, with over 600 employees and warehouses in every state and territory, ensuring truly national coverage and reliable service.

We are a trusted partner to schools, from early learning and primary to secondary schools, TAFEs, and universities, delivering essential supplies that keep classrooms, staffrooms, and learning spaces safe, healthy, and productive.

As a private, family-owned business, COS is deeply committed to community and sustainability. Through the Lyone Foundation, we donate 1% of annual revenue to support Australian charities, contributing over $20 million to local communities since 2013.

Our sustainability initiatives reflect our dedication to a greener future. We are actively working toward net zero operations and 100% renewable electricity across all our facilities. This includes eliminating single-use plastics in alignment with APCO targets and integrating electric vehicles into our delivery fleet, ensuring we support sustainable practices for schools and learning institutions nationwide. 

Welcome to COS and thank you for your support of Catholic education in Victoria. I note there are Term 1 Specials still available so please have a look! 

Also in this newsletter:

• 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.
• Welcome new Business Partner, COS: Check out the term 1 Specials!
  
• ACU presented: "Unveiling the Ripple Effect: How offensive behaviours impact school leaders’ productivity". (Survey link on attached flyer advertisement).
  
• B2Architecture: School Building and Facility Maintenance Plans: A School Maintenance Plan and Schedule allows your school to be proactive in its approach to maintenance, helping ensure the safety of staff and students and prevent the likelihood of costly building repair and rectification works down the track. Article in the newsletter or on B2 blog here.

• Thoughts and Prayers with Helen: Forth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) 29/30 of March 2025. Download Helen's prayer resource.
  

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.

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 2025 Conference

The 2025 APPA Conference proudly presents a stellar lineup of keynote speakers and workshop facilitators, each bringing unique expertise and powerful insights on leadership, collaboration and personal growth. 

$1100.00 - Early Bird Registrations Close Friday 27 June 

Welcome new Business Partner, COS: Term 1 Specials

COS is Australia’s largest family-run and operated office and education supplies business, proudly led by second-generation sisters Belinda and Amie Lyone as co-CEOs. Founded in 1977 by the late Dominique Lyone, COS began as a small business with a vision for exceptional service and social responsibility. Over the past 45 years, COS has grown significantly, with over 600 employees and warehouses in every state and territory, ensuring truly national coverage and reliable service.

We are a trusted partner to schools, from early learning and primary to secondary schools, TAFEs, and universities, delivering essential supplies that keep classrooms, staffrooms, and learning spaces safe, healthy, and productive.

As a private, family-owned business, COS is deeply committed to community and sustainability. Through the Lyone Foundation, we donate 1% of annual revenue to support Australian charities, contributing over $20 million to local communities since 2013.

Our sustainability initiatives reflect our dedication to a greener future. We are actively working toward net zero operations and 100% renewable electricity across all our facilities. This includes eliminating single-use plastics in alignment with APCO targets and integrating electric vehicles into our delivery fleet, ensuring we support sustainable practices for schools and learning institutions nationwide. 

ACU: Survey of Offensive Behaviours and Productivity

B2architecture: School Building and Facility Maintenance Plans

A School Maintenance Plan and Schedule allows your school to be proactive in its approach to maintenance, helping ensure the safety of staff and students and prevent the likelihood of costly building repair and rectification works down the track.

The role of a maintenance plan and schedule

Principals are ultimately responsible for ensuring their school’s buildings, grounds, and infrastructure are well maintained and safe. A School Maintenance Plan and Schedule is an important management tool that:

• Allows current or potential safety risks to be identified and managed;
• Maintenance activities to be appropriately budgeted for and undertaken in a systematic and strategic manner and;
• Can be an essential component in securing funding from government and external bodies for these works.

What a School Maintenance Plan and Schedule covers

A School Maintenance Plan and Schedule will typically encompass and detail the maintenance requirements of the school’s physical assets and services, including:

• Buildings and structures
• Plumbing
• Electrical fixtures and equipment
• Grounds and sporting facilities

It identifies all maintenance activities and repair works required, both routine and preventative, and prioritises each individual activity to create a maintenance schedule that becomes a live document.

A proactive and strategic approach to managing and budgeting for maintenance activities and works

As specialist education architects and learning environment designers, our business partner, B2 Architecture, has supported many government, Catholic, and independent schools in preparing, maintaining, and managing their maintenance plans and schedules.

Their strategic approach enables school Principals to be proactive, rather than reactive, in their approach and prevent potentially costly and disruptive rectification works in the future. Tailored to the unique needs, objectives, requirements, facilities and structures of each school, the scope of work will often involve:

1. Site inspection and comprehensive audit and visual inspection of:

1. 1. Buildings and structures
   2. External fabric
   3. Fixed furniture and fittings
   4. Internal fabric
   5. Internal finishes
   6. Electrical – light fittings, switchboards etc.
   7. Hydraulics – storage units, boilers etc
   8. Mechanical services
   9. Plumbing fixtures
   10. Site – roads, footpaths, fencing, shade structures, outbuildings etc.
   11. Facilities – pools, sporting grounds etc.
       
       

2. Audit report and recommendations detailing:

1. 1. Overall school condition and individual building/asset condition scores
   2. All Defects, with relevant images, including:
      1. Intervention priority – within 6 months, 12 months, 1 to 2 years, 3 to 4 years, beyond 5 years.
      2. If there is an OHS implication.
      3. Recommended intervention timing.
      4. Works and trades and/or specialists required.
   3. Any further assessments required by specialist consultants (structural engineer, plumbing, electrical etc.), including a brief for the consultant.
      

3. Development of maintenance schedule
A live schedule that details required maintenance activities, works and investigations and associated budgets.

4. Engage and manage specialist consultants – if required

5. Documentation, tender and project management – if required

The benefits of a specialised school building maintenance plan and schedule
A comprehensive school building audit and maintenance plan undertaken and prepared by a specialist, like B2 Architecture, provides Principals and school boards with a number of benefits, including:

• Providing the necessary documentation to support federal and state government funding applications.
• The ability to effectively forecast and budget for maintenance works and activities.
• Providing a basis for a proactive and preventative approach to maintenance that will often extend the lifespan of buildings and structures and reduce the likelihood of costly and disruptive rectification or demolition works in the future.

More information

For more information about undertaking a school building audit and preparing a maintenance plan and schedule for your school, contact Brent Tullio, Director of B2 Architecture by emailing brent.t@b2architecture.com.au or calling him on  (03) 9429 4255. 

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

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