CaSPA News

Above: Andrew Pierpont [far left] leades discussion at the PASL Forum

The two peak Government School Principal Associations have worked together to attract funding for a project they are calling:

Principals as STEM Leaders

Building the Evidence Base for Improved STEM Learning

The project has gathered a consortium that is being led by the University of Tasmania.

At an important Reference Group Meeting at the ACU in Melbourne, plans and scope for the project were discussed with a broad group of stakeholders from many within Education.  Unfortunately as yet there does not appear to be "buy in" by Industry, but this may emerge as the project develops.

More information on this project can be found at:

 

http://www.utas.edu.au/education/research/research-groups/maths-education/pasl/pasl

Financial information 2017

This statistical report includes information on VET loan payments, trends for operating revenues and expenditures, operating expenditure by VET activity, and assets and liabilities. State and territory breakdowns are also included.

NCVER 201718 annual report

NCVER's annual report documents important company information, activities and achievements across financial years. The appendices also available contain published work, commissioned work in progress, consultancy projects, and presentations and submissions.

1.     Ask Gran Not Google
Ask Gran Not Google, developed by Feros Care, is an inter-generational project that encourages children to seek the wisdom and life experience of a senior before searching the internet for answers. By doing so, children gain insight into the valuable role seniors can play in their lives and society. In the lead-up to Seniors' Week commencing on February 13, primary and secondary students will be challenged to switch off their devices and seek answers to life's questions from a more experienced, senior source. Participating schools will be supplied with a free kit which includes a Facilitator Guide for teachers and resources for each child. For more information and to register see the website https://www.feroscare.com.au/ask-gran-not-google

2.     Maker Projects Stream A
Provides Australian primary and secondary schools with a one-off grant from $2,000 to $5,000 to support the establishment of a maker space for students to access and work on STEM-related activities. Applications open 12pm AEDT, 8 November 2018 and will close once funding for 2018/19 is exhausted. https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/inspiring-australia-science-engagement/maker-projects

3.     Youth Week WA 2019 Grant Program (WA)
Funding of up to $1,000 for individual events and up to $3,000 for collaborate community-wide events will be available for eligible organisations to host an event during WA Youth Week 2019 (13-20 April 2019). Priority will be given to events held in regional and remotes areas of Western Australia and to events and organisations that have not previously been funded through the Youth Week WA Grants Program. Applications close 4pm, Thursday 6 December 2018. https://www.dlgc.wa.gov.au/GrantsFunding/Pages/All-grants-programs.aspx

4.     Perpetual IMPACT Philanthropy Program
Perpetual distributes more than $100 million annually from the charitable trusts and endowments it manages. The IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program allows philanthropists and Not-for-Profits (NFPs) to connect, and allows NFPs to demonstrate how they improve outcomes for the communities in which they operate. Charity or DGR status required. Applications close 5pm AEDT, Friday 7 December 2018. https://www.perpetual.com.au/advice-and-trustee-services/impact-philanthropy/impact-funding

5.     Local History Grants Program (VIC)
The Local History Grants of up to $15,000 encourage and foster community activities that preserve, record and share the local, social and community history of Victoria and Victorians. Applications from organisations affiliated with, or funded through, State or Federal Government will be considered provided the project is undertaken in partnership with a community based organisation, including State Schools. Applications close midnight, Tuesday 18 December 2018. https://prov.vic.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/local-history-grants-program

Students graduating with a vocational qualification earn only marginally more on average than their peers who completed Year 12, and the small differential sticks with them throughout their working lives. For women in some jobs, a vocational education qualification left them worse off than if they had got a job straight out of high school.

According to the Financial Review, the data, which comes from a long-term Household Income and Labour Dynamics Australia survey, has left researchers puzzled given the shortage of skilled labour in Australia.

• In 2016, males with a vocational qualification earned just 2.1 per cent more than males who went straight into jobs from Year 12.
• Women vocational graduates earned 1.8 per cent less than women who had gone from Year 12 straight into the workforce.
• Looking at a whole working life, the small gap between people with VET qualifications and people with Year 12 qualifications does not change over a career.
• Male VET graduates continue to make barely any more than Year 12 students well into their late 50s.
• The negative premium for women continues right up to age 60.

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Above: Andrew Watson President CaSPA; Mark Merry President AHISA; Andrew Pierpoint President ASPA; Berth Blackwood Exec Officer AHISA

A recent meeting of the Presidents of all the Secondary Principal Associations has seen agreement by the leaders in all three sectors to work closely to lead discussion on Education in the media, at the government level and in the public forum.  There was agreement that the recent interchanges on Funding has given the impression that sectors are working in different directions in terms of education. The Presidents of all Peak Associations feel that this impression is anything but helpful.

A quick scan of the media would see all sorts of people offering gratuitous advice about "how education could improve" and what "should be taught in schools these days....."

Sadly those charged with leading education in the 10,000 schools across the country are rarely given the opportunity to offer their perspectives.

All the Presidents agreed to support the following initiatives to help shape future education policy:

• Nov 2018 - Principals as Leaders of STEM Project Launch
• March 22, 2019 - Leaders Forum in Canberra
• Early 2019 - AHISA Education "TED Talks" in various venues

CaSPA will providing further details of these events during the coming months

AHISA chair - Dr Mark Merry - offered this reflection of the meeting:

• In the absence of clear influence from Principals in national discourse, others would lead the narrative and decision making in the area of school leadership
• The three organisations could and should work together in areas of mutual interest to strengthen their impact in the political and public arena
• There were some emerging opportunities in the new year such as the ASPA Education Forum and the AHISA Ed Dialogues where the three groups could collaborate
• There is great value in continued discussions between the three organisations to further Principal leadership of education in Australia

I believe that this is a very positive step in re engaging our Principals as significant influencers on education policymaking and as a strong voice for our schools.