Member Update 15 August 2024 | Term 3, Week 5

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

This week Leon Colla (VACPSP Deputy President) and I have been working on a national scale, advocating for your voice and perspective to government officials, Commonwealth education leaders, and national policymakers through the Australian Catholic Primary Principals Association (ACPPA) (which connects Victoria to Catholic principal associations nationally) and APPA (which connects all primary associations across sectors).

ACPPA updates include:

* Finalisation of the five position papers covering: Principal Wellbeing, Teacher Shortage, Parent Engagement, Funding and School Attendance. 

* A meeting with the General Manager of ATSIL, Danny Pinbchas, which focused on workforce data collection, trends in principalship employment, and government work to ensure that education has a viable and exceptional workforce.

* An in-depth evaluation of the Australian Catholic Universities (ACU) Health and Wellbeing study, which informed ACPPA’s work on our new position papers.

* Election of the National President. Congratulations to Philip Schultz, Principal of St Francis School Lockley’s, South Australia, member of the APPA Board and National Advisory Council (NAC) and the South Australian Catholic Primary Principal Association (ACPPA) on his election. Phillip’s tenure will continue to give voice to ACPPA’s strategy of voice and action for Catholic primary principals across Australia. Phillip will work with Peter over the next six months as a handover and start in the role in January 2025. On your behalf, I congratulate outgoing President Peter Cutrona on his outstanding work. Peter has been extremely committed to Catholic education and Principalship. Peter has led ACPPA with distraction, vision and passion. His work has ensured our views impact policy. On your behalf, I thank Peter for this commitment of time, energy and expertise in attending the many working parties, consultations and meetings across Australia.

APPA updates include:

* A successful APPA Parliamentarian Friends of Primary Education function with Jason Clare (Commonwealth Education Minister), co-host Liberal Member Julian Leesar, Member from Berowra, Sydney and Labour Member Libby Coker, and former teacher and Member for Corangamite (Queenscliffe, Surf Coast and Otway Shire, Victoria). The purpose of this meeting was to ensure that our political leaders recognise the significance of primary education and grasp the complexities involved in the work of principals leading schools. At this function, we had a presentation from Professor Frank Oberklaid (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Centre for Community Child Health and lead researcher of the Mental Health in Primary Schools Victorian) initiative highlighted the critical role of Primary education and Principalship to education, Australian health, wellbeing, enriched communities and economic productivity. Frank also highlighted the importance of early health intervention for young people and a coordinated approach to supporting young people’s wellbeing. Frank highlighted the moral imperative of appropriate funding and resources to meet student needs. To read more about the initiative click here

You may have noticed the flurry around NAPLAN yet again in the news. Whilst discussion of concerns is important, it is the advocacy that makes a real difference to educational outcomes in young people. To improve student health and safety, foster equity and inclusion, help people with special needs and support for Indigenous students (amongst other things) we require the appropriate level of support in our schools. Political parties and members of parliament have the power to make decisions conducive to best outcomes. Therefore, one role of our Association is to make the decision-makers in government and the governors of our schools recognise that the current resourcing is inadequate by hearing the Principal voice. It cannot fall upon the Principal to do more with less. Instead, the VACPSP alongside APPA and ACPPA are focusing on facilitating informed decision-making, engaging with government lobbying, connecting with media and taking a strategic approach to impacting policy for young people, our schools and Principalship.

Also in this newsletter:

• Presidents Ball 2025: Save the date!
  

• ASCA: Benefits for your school. Are you an ASCA Member?
• Victorian Institute of Teaching: Registrations are now open!
• Multilit Webinar: Implement the Victorian literacy approach with InitiaLit'.
• APPA Survey: Quick 3-minute survey that is part of a project that aims to ascertain perspectives on rurality and schooling provision.
  

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 President's Ball 2025: Save the Date

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 along to Celebrate The Principal.

Save the date for this stellar, sell-out event on Friday 21 March 2025.

ASCA Benefits For Your School

Since 1979, ASCA has strived to improve the financial outcomes and deliver the best value for its member schools. Whilst saving money for the School and Canteen through our strong relationships with our Supplier Partners, we have donated millions to our Charity Partners, chosen specifically to support the education of vulnerable children.

Victorian Institute of Teaching: Registrations are open

All Victorian teachers are required to complete the annual registration process by 30 September each year in order to maintain their registration. The annual registration process applies to all registration categories. 

The annual registration period is now open. Teachers can login to their MyVIT account to complete their registration tasks.

Multilit Webinar: Implement the Victorian literacy approach with InitiaLit'

If you’re wondering how your school can best implement using synthetic phonics and explicit instruction as required by the literacy policy update, make sure to watch the webinar. You’ll discover how InitiaLit, our evidence-based whole-class program for Prep to Year 2, aligns with the reforms and is straight forward to implement.

APPA Survey: Quick 3-minute survey that is part of a project that aims to ascertain perspectives on rurality and schooling provision.

A quick 3-minute survey that is part of a project that aims to ascertain perspectives on rurality and schooling provision. This will update our exiting perspectives and add new perspectives on how rurality is understood in order to enable the development of further research to improve rural education polices. The project is also being undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada to enable the development of comparative perspectives.

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