16 December 2024

President’s Report

Dear Friends of TPA,

Speaking with school leaders across the final few weeks of the school year, unsurprisingly there is plenty of energy and emotions swirling around our school communities in the lead up to Christmas! The professional and moral responsibility and commitment that drives our school leaders through assemblies, parades, information evenings, farewells, presentations and maintaining high expectations on teaching and learning right through to the last day can leave our tank just a little empty by the time that the car pulls up in the driveway of an evening! Please know that you are deeply valued by your colleagues and communities for the important work that you do across the state and more importantly, as an individual that deserves to feel great satisfaction and joy from the work that you do.

This will be our last newsletter for the year, and I sincerely thank our Executive for their support in helping me to fulfil my role, for being there whenever I needed someone to run ideas past, for support, and for the innumerable ways they have made my job as your President easier. Thank you for their service and support: Sarah-Jane Murphy, Georgia Perry, Sam Wells, Rob Fleming, Vicki Mackrill, Lee Craw, Maree Pinnington, Lisa Bailey, Ted Barrance, Joel Doyle, Monique Carter and Duncan Groves. For Duncan, Lee and Lisa, we are especially grateful for your rich contributions to the Association during your time on the Executive with your tenure concluding at the end of this year.

I also thank our Business Manager, Tamara Clark for her exceptional work on behalf of the TPA and for the direct support she has provided me in ensuring that our Association is continuing to look for ways to grow, improve and increase our impact. 

I extend to the Education Minister Jo Palmer MLC, and senior leaders of the Department for Education, Children and Young People, my thanks for their ongoing support when working with our Association, which has been as recent as this week. The mutual regard between the Department and our Association is evident, as is their willingness to listen and respond to concerns raised by our members.

The work that we do is enhanced by our partners. I thank them for their ongoing support of our Association. We value the relationships we have developed, as their support assists us in providing professional support, advocacy and learning for our members. Welcome to EasyTurf, HART Sport and Modern Teaching Aids who have joined as Platinum Partners.

I know these final weeks will be busy as you tie up the loose ends of 2024 and focus more on the year ahead. Between now and then it is time for a well-earned break. I trust that you have the chance to relax and recharge with family and friends. Thank you for your support of TPA throughout the year. We are who we are and do what we do because of our growing membership; your support and engagement remain critical to our ability to inform and influence. 

Absolute best wishes and take care

Mat

Professional Learning

I encourage you view the professional learning opportunities for 2025 and take advantage of the TPA Member discount offers. Further details below. 

State Executive Meeting

Our State Executive met in Launceston recently and discussed a range of key themes and topics, with a particular focus on reviewing the 2024 calendar year and using the member survey results to guide our planning for 2025.

The member survey was a key part of how we review our impact and ensure that our work is informed by the voice of members. Thank you to the 75 members that completed this year’s survey!

In response to the questions on ‘To what level is the TPA delivering on it’s key practices of…’ we have seen an increase on all three areas from last year’s results, with a snapshot showing;

The open text responses from members were equally as important part of this process with the suggestions, insights and feedback greatly valued.

Some of these included, but weren’t limited to

‘Consider allocation of a colleague for new members’

‘Sharing of contemporary research – eg links to AERO, Grattan’

‘Continue to grow Middle Leaders through a conference/PL Day’

‘Provide member updates via email in a consistent cycle – in line with the member drop-in sessions

‘Targeted member drop-in sessions for particular groups eg small schools, district schools etc’

‘Use infographic to provide some clarity on how we consult with key stakeholders’

‘TPA Teams page with key topics for threads/posts – Must consider the multiple other comms points for principals’

Beyond this annual survey process, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any stage to myself, Tamara or a member of the state executive if you have any suggestions or feedback on how we can ensure that our engagement strategies are appropriate and that our work is targeted to best represent the needs of members.

Executive Expressions of Interest

Following nomination and selection procedures in line with our constitution, we can confirm that the following members have been appointed for a two year tenure, congratulations to the following members;

• Northern Primary Principal: Mark Gleeson, Cressy District School (2 year)
• North West Primary Principal: Georgia Perry, Hillcrest Primary (2 year)
• General Member: Ted Barrance, East Derwent Primary (2 year)
• Assistant Principal Primary: Ben Gofton, Tasmanian eSchool (1 year)

The strong interest in executive positions was heartening and indicated the desire for members to contribute to the work of the Association in different ways. Please be assured that a range of representative opportunities will continue to be provided to our broader membership.

Member changes

I thank the following members for being a part of our Association, farewell them and extend my very best wishes to them both. May your futures be filled with health and happiness, wherever you go and whatever they hold for you.

• Wendy Potter - retiring as principal of Glenorchy Primary School 
• Marcelle Norton – retiring as principal of Cooee Primary School 

Both Wendy and Marcelle have made such tremendous contributions to the communities they have taught in and led, and to our profession more broadly. Some fitting tributes have been made by Trudy Pearce on behalf of the Department at recent principal briefings acknowledging Wendy and Marcelle’s service. Valuing Wendy’s 30 year and Marcelle’s 15 year professional contributions to the Association, TPA members will be presenting Wendy and Marcelle with some stunning student artwork in the coming weeks.

TPA Critical Incidents Research Project

There has been an excellent media response to the report with several radio interviews and media releases.

National Associations

Mat Grining
TPA President

Partner Offers

You have been awarded 1000 Zart Rewards points

We are proudly partnered with TPA and are here to support your school with the very best educational art and craft supplies. A login has already been created for your school and preloaded with 1000 Bonus points. 

Yes, that’s right, your school can now earn points for every online purchase and redeem them for discounts on future orders! (or save them up for higher value rewards!)

And login with your email address today.

“Put educator wellbeing first with fun activities!

HART Sport products enhance teacher wellbeing by creating engaging, active environments that promote movement and stress relief. Versatile equipment supports fun activities, teamwork, and mindfulness exercises, reducing burnout whilst increasing focus. Help teachers stay energised, engaged, and ready to inspire their students every day.”

Professional Learning Opportunities

Professor Andy Hargreaves

TPA & ACEL invite members to join your colleagues for an exclusive full-day workshop with internationally renowned Canadian presenter and researcher Professor Andy Hargreaves.

• Wednesday 5 March 2025 – Launceston Conference Centre

Discounted TPA/ACEL Member rate of $350.00. We are also extending the discounted rate to members of your leadership team.

Tasmanian Educational Leaders Conference

Multipliers

Course Fee: $829.00 (ex GST) Includes Multipliers Participant Kit & catering Lunch and morning tea

Discounted TPA Member Rate: $729 (ex GST) for the first 15 participants for each session.

Introduction to Leadership Coaching  

This practical course explores all three elements of effective coaching practice: the GROWTH conversational framework; the key coaching skills; a coaching Way of Being; and how to apply these in a range of conversational contexts. Further details can be accessed here

Leaders then apply and trial skills and concepts in their workplace and roles.

TPA Member Discount rate of $830.00 (excluding GST) per participant – Enter TPA Discount Code

TPAGCI25

Scheduled sessions -
Burnie - Thursday 27 & Friday 28th February 2025
Launceston - Thursday 3 & Friday 4 April 2025
Hobart - Monday 7 & Friday 8 April 2025

Venue details are to be confirmed.  

For all professional learning opportunities visit https://tpa.org.au/Professional-Learning for additional information or if you have any questions please contact manager@tpa.org.au

ASPA National Education Summit

Registrations for the second Australian Secondary Principals Association ‘ASPA National Education Summit’ have opened this week and will be held at Parliament House, Canberra on Monday 24 & Tuesday 25 March 2025.  2025 ASPA National Education Summit

Last year Vicki Mackrill (Launceston College) and TPA President attended the inaugural event in Canberra and found it to be a refreshing balance of workshops, discussion and debate on major educational themes with some significant outputs as a result, that have been actioned at a National level. TPA Vice President Secondary (Joel Doyle) and TPA President will be attending the 2025 event.

We would strongly encourage you to consider this as a professional learning opportunity, where you can also join other secondary school principals in contributing to the present and future of secondary education in Australia.

Apple Professional Learning Live – Back to School

ASCA

Congratulations to all your graduating students in 2024, well done to all teachers!

• To all those retiring or moving on, thank you for all you have done in 2024 and please let us know so we can keep in touch.
• Welcome to all the new Teachers, Administration staff, Business Managers and Principals starting in 2025.
• Please make sure we have your correct email address so that you can keep updated and how we can help your school save on its purchases.
• Drop into our website to keep up with all things ASCA and our wonderful; preferred suppliers such as BFX & Officeworks
• If you have a change to your school canteen, then please let us know so we can keep you updated with our Tasmanian distributor partner & suppliers.
• From ASCA and all our wonderful Preferred Suppliers - have a fabulous Happy Holiday. https://www.asca.com.au/suppliers/

• We look forward to seeing you all in 2025 at the TPA conference in Tasmania & also the APPA National Conference in Brisbane & remember we are only an email away.
• Don’t forget to make use of your ASCAplus staff benefits – please pass this on to all of your school staff and volunteers. ALL ASCA member school staff can register for ASCAplus to save on their personal purchases - they will think you are Santa!!
• If you are not registered just click this link.  

ASCA supports Australian Charities

• As a not-for-profit organisation, each year ASCA donates its surplus funds to a range of registered charities who assist in the education of vulnerable children.
• By simply purchasing from ASCA’s Preferred Suppliers, you are not only gaining best value for your school, but indirectly contributing to our Charity Partners.
• Since our inception in 1979, ASCA has continually supported these charities, with over $11 million raised – this allows us to donate to partners such as The Smith Family.
• Thanks to your support, we have been able to donate record amounts again, and our charities really need it, as you are all aware so, Thank you!

To ensure our email reaches your inbox, please add membership@asca.com.au  to your address book.

May you all have a safe and happy holiday this season and we hope that the start to 2025 runs smoothly for you all.

TPA Partners

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