ASCA

ASCA and our Preferred Suppliers at the TSAA Conference

• Make sure your School Business Manager knows to come and visit the ASCA stand at the TSAA Conference in Hobart, for some great ideas from our preferred suppliers and speak with Helen Cairns from Enquiry Tracker on maximising your enrolments for the coming year.
• Kerry will be on the stand to assist with all our ASCA suppliers and there will be a wonderful special deal from Lactalis for your school to gain (see the attached flyer)
• David Edwards spoke with several Principals at their network gatherings on the 6 & 7^th of August, highlighting how ASCA contributes to education and how Principals and schools can assist in this area as well.
• This is also a great time to make sure that you have let your staff know about the ASCAplus staff benefits and that they can register via at https://go.asca.com.au/ascaplus/reg, to also gain wonderful deals and savings from our suppliers for their personal purchases.

ASCAs preferred supplier Bunnings is holding an Expo in Hobart

• Principals - let your Facilities Managers, Woodwork Teachers, Careers people know that they can attend the upcoming Bunnings Expo ben held on Princess Wharf!
• A great opportunity to talk with Trade Specialists and check out new items in all trades.
• It’s a great opportunity for students looking to move into a trade to also head along and check out the possibilities that will be on show and talk to those in the trades. Families welcome.

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 almost $11 million raised for partners such as The Smith Family.
• Thanks to your support, we continue to donate to our charities who really need our support. Thank you.

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

TPA Sponsors

Platinum

Gold

Silver

26Ten

Ensure your colleagues are familiar with the 26Ten Chat

Explore the Tutor Adult Literacy Learners TasTAFE course 

• free for Tasmanians to enrol – please disregard the tuition fee.

Secondary Trauma Research Study

A recent Australian review by Oberg et al (2023), published in Frontiers in Education, identified the need for additional research into the impact on teachers working with traumatized students.

Although many educators are implementing trauma informed practice to better support the wellbeing and learning of students who have experienced trauma, there is a lack of focus on the impact of this important work on educators. Supporting students with trauma exposes educators to secondary trauma (commonly called vicarious trauma in the community). This could include the distress of learning about the trauma experienced by a student or their family member and/or managing consequential behavioural changes within the school environment.

Deakin University and Dr Adam Fraser have partnered up to further study this issue. The aim of this study is to answer four key questions:

1. How prevalent is this issue in Australian schools?
2. What are the key factors that lead to secondary trauma in educators?
3. What are the strategies that are used to manage it?
4. What strategies are most effective in minimizing the impact of secondary trauma?

COMPLETE THIS QUICK 10 MINUTES SURVEY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE OR CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW.

There is also an option at the end of the survey to participate in an interview with a senior researcher at Deakin University. This important part of the research will allow us to identify what are some of the key factors that are helpful in managing and mitigating the impact of vicariously experiencing trauma.

The Australian Principal Health & Wellbeing Survey

We need your voice to tell the world what is happening to Australian School Leaders!    

The Australian Principal Health & Wellbeing Survey is a confidential survey, independent of all employer groups, professional associations and unions. First, you will be able to review your job-related personal health and wellbeing, with an individualised report returned automatically upon completion. Second, global results will build a holistic picture of the state of school leader health and wellbeing. The results provide a system-level report with recommendations for future actions.

This research has significant impact in the diagnostic feedback given to school principals, the evaluation of existing policy initiatives, and the consultation with state departments leading to important new policy initiatives. This year, we have updated the design and layout of our survey and personal report access. If you have taken the survey before, check your email or new participants can register at Health & Wellbeing (healthandwellbeing.org).

TPA Elections

At the close of nominations at 12 noon on Monday 26 August 2024, the following valid nominations for the TPA positions to commence on 1 January 2025 for a two-year term were received and accepted:

President:

• Mat Grining

Vice President Secondary:

• Joel Doyle, Principal Rose Bay High School

Vice President Primary:

• Monique Carter, Principal Lansdowne Crescent Primary School

Under the terms of the TPA Constitution, as there were only sole nominations for each position, I declare Mat Grining, Joel Doyle and Monique Carter elected unopposed for the positions of President, Vice President Secondary and Vice President Primary respectively.

Congratulations! We are excited for their leadership and contributions to our association's ongoing success.

Tamara Clark
Returning Officer

President’s Report

The Power of a Good Book

Book Week is a memorable time of the year in most schools and is up there with Christmas for some people! The level of creativity (and craft) on show from principals in the past week has been nothing short of entertaining!

Book week and dressing up as one of our favourite characters is great fun for our school communities and always an event that many look forward to. Reading has been and always will be a simple experience that can be life changing – it helps us to connect and make sense of our own experiences, with other people and with the world around us. Book Week is much more than about dressing up though. It provides a platform to expose young (and older people) to quality Australian literature. We are fortunate in Australia that there is a strong appreciation for literature, and some outstanding authors that create texts that engage and inspire our young people. Since 1946, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) have continued to provide an annual structure for celebrating quality texts by Australian authors. Looking back through the years, Christobel Mattingly, Alan Baillie, Colin Thielie, Emily Rodda, Margaret Wild, Shaun Tan and Graeme Base are names across the last few decades that many of us may recognise as featuring as shortlisted books by the CBCA.

One of this year’s category winner, Timeless written and illustrated by Kelly Canby is a ripper!  Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness. Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emit’s brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing to do anything, at all. Emit tries everything he can think of to get more time, he tries to catch it, wait for it, but it’s not until Emit tries to buy some time that he learns the secret which is, if you want time, you have to make it.

A great lesson there for all of us!

Farewell Tim Bullard – Secretary of Education, Children & Young People

I attended the Northern Principal’s Forum last Friday and along with other colleagues, was asked to share some reflections on Tim’s impact as a leader in our agency.

“As Secretary of Education, following two predecessors who were both highly experienced principals in their own right, it’s fair to say that there may have been a degree of bias or assumption about the leadership that principals may have expected versus the leadership that we needed to head up the education portfolio for our state back in 2016. The Premier, Education Minster and many media outlets nationwide have recognised Tim’s pivotal leadership across major events, pandemics, critical incidents, inquiries and major reforms in education across this time. Given that many Tasmanian educators have walked this path with Tim, it feels more fitting to focus on the human elements of his leadership.

‘We are big enough to make a difference, but small enough to care’ was an opening that Tim said at a principal forum many years ago, when setting the scene for the impact that we can have in our communities and across our state for each and every learner. Not only did this resonate strongly, it really stuck with us as we saw his calm, decisive, decision making and communication always showing a genuine care and interest in out learners and our workforce.

If you’ve ever had Tim in your school or college, you quickly understand that the drivers that we share as educators are the same and you get a real sense that if not a lawyer, that Tim would be just as comfortable in a year 10 English or prep classroom, and the young people would have been mighty fortunate to have him as their teacher if that had of been his path!

Tim is held in high regard by his colleagues nationally and is known for leading with social justice, equity and the transformative nature of public education always front of mind.

It was no surprise that he would be sought out to share his impact more broadly, after all he is a learner and AITSL makes a really logical fit.

As a colleague, said upon reading the announcement, ‘I just wanted to reach out, give him a hug and say thank you for leading us through some challenging times.’

We thank Tim for being the leader that we needed across this time and wish him and his family well for the next chapter.”

The Need for Codesign

Attending the Northern Forum on Friday, I was present to hear the messages from the Associate Secretary & Deputy Secretary relating to the organisational recommendations recently handed down to DECYP executive. Understandably, as there have been, and still are, several review processes happening simultaneously, we would caution that any ‘future state’ has principal perspective from the outset and importantly, that there is a carefully considered agenda for, commitment to and timeline for change. We look forward to contributing to the conversation in the coming weeks and months.

School Visits

Thank you to the leaders at Winnaleah District School, Bridport Primary, Ringarooma Primary and Hagley Farm School for making time for school visits recently, they are always a highlight for us.

TPA Sponsor

Thank you to our valued sponsors for their ongoing support of our Association.

• Platinum - MSP Photography, ZartArt, BFX Furniture
• Gold – Schoolzine, ASCA, Berry Street Education
• Silver – Teacher Health

We welcome Hart Sport. Hart is synonymous with Australian schools with their products kicked, thrown, climbed over and under and keeping kids safe in PE lessons and playgrounds for more than 30 years. We look forward to providing opportunities for our members and the Hart staff to connect across the coming months

Check out the sponsoring member offers -

Hart Sport

ZART ART

BFX

BFX delivery to Latrobe High School Staff Room

TPA Sponsors

Platinum

Gold

Silver

26Ten

Ensure your colleagues are familiar with the 26Ten Chat

Explore the Tutor Adult Literacy Learners TasTAFE course 

• free for Tasmanians to enrol – please disregard the tuition fee.

TPA/TSAA Collaboration

Our first TPA and TSAA breakfast sessions were held this week at Ulverstone Secondary College (Tuesday 6 August), and Launceston College (Wednesday 7 August) and The Old Woolstore on (Thursday 8 August). These provided the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and contribute to collaborative actions following the recent TPA/TSAA Survey conducted in term one. The survey was completed by more than 140 individuals with the information carefully reviewed and then summarised with the intent to bring the consistent themes to the attention of the DECYP Executive from a proactive and solutions-focused position.

We appreciate the ongoing support of the Australian School Canteen Association (ASCA), who support both association's conferences. Thank you to David Edwards, CEO and Kerry-Danks Guy, National Sales Manager for their presentation.

• ASCA is a not-for-profit member association with approximately 6,700 schools in Australia, including over 200 in Tasmania. 
• Over the last 20 years, ASCA has contributed more than $11 million to charities focused on the education of vulnerable children. 
• ASCA has introduced a staff benefits program that allows staff and volunteers to access substantial discounts from various suppliers. 
• For further information contact Kerry  kerryd@asca.com.au

TPA Elections

The elections of 3 members of the Executive will be conducted by the Association's Business Manager in accordance with the Constitution of the Tasmanian Principals Association.

The positions, each for a two-year term of office commencing 1 January 2025, are:

• President
• Vice President Primary
• Vice President

Nominations Invited 

Nominations are invited from all eligible members and must be lodged (posted or emailed) so to be received by the Returning Officer before 12 noon on 26 August 2024.

Nomination forms are available from the Tasmanian Principals Association (see contact details below).

As part of the nomination process, candidates may provide a written statement (300 words maximum) in support of their nomination. This will accompany the ballot papers sent to electors. If word count is more than 300 words, the Returning Officer will return the statement to the candidate and request that they edit it to under 300 words, providing a time frame for this to be completed and returned.

If only one nomination is received for a vacant position, that person will be declared elected unopposed. If more than one nomination is received, a ballot will be required.

Election Timetable

Nominations open at 9 am Wednesday 24 July 2024

Nominations close at 12 Noon Monday 26 August 2024

Ballot papers distributed (if a ballot is required) on Tuesday 27 August 2024

Close of ballot at 10 am Tuesday 10 September 2024

Scrutiny & declaration of the ballot (after the close of ballot 10 am) on Tuesday 10 September 2024

For more information and nomination forms visit TPA Election

President’s Report

Welcome back for the start of term 3 and for those that have enjoyed a two week break, we hope that you have returned feeling rested and rejuvenated for the term ahead.

Australian Principals Day

There is no clever coffee mug, witty fridge magnet or ‘heartstrings’ Hallmark card that truly captures the essence of a school principal. I think that the impact of the principalship is even more profound in close knit communities and education systems like Tasmania, where we often have the pleasure to follow the journey of the young people in our care, long after they finish grade 6. Last week, a principal of a year 12 shared of a student that was previously in a primary school they were principal of. Ironically, they crossed paths again and with the student completing their TCE this year, knowing the principals genuine care and interest, they shared with immense excitement that their dream of stepping in to maths teaching next year was looking like a reality. Whether it’s a handwritten card from a year one, a smile of thanks from a year 6, or a young adult going out of their way to say hi and share their good news because they remember you care, we’d all have plenty of moments like these that really fill our cup, and remind us of the joy that we can draw from these connections in what really is one of the best professions.

Whilst we marked Australian Primary Principal’s Day, it’s a perfect opportunity to acknowledge and show gratitude for the role that ALL of our school leaders play in communities around Tasmania.

On behalf of our state exec, thank you for the work that you do, the connections you foster, and your commitment to public education and the profession in our state.

Better & Fairer Schools Agreement

There has been considerable activity in the national media in past weeks with the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement released by the Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. The signing of this agreement is absolutely vital for every student, school, staff member and school leader in this state. It is now 12 years since Gonski delivered his report highlighting decades of underfunding of public schools. The Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) was developed by the Gonski panel as a minimum funding standard for every school, yet less than two percent of students attending government schools in this country are funded at this level.

If we have a situation where we reach the end of the year without the Agreement being signed, it would be a tragedy for our public education system and potentially enshrine schooling segregation in Tasmania for another generation. The Federal Government needs to show leadership in this space to ensure Tasmania and the nation's public school students are properly resourced. It’s important that school leaders continue the conversations in these next few vital weeks in order to have this agreement signed and our schools funded at 100% of the SRS. 

We encourage you to read and share the below articles from our two National Association Presidents.

Parliamentary Inquiry into Discrimination & Bullying and the Tasmanian Education System

Thank you for our members that have asked questions and engaged in the process to date. The Association will be collating member responses to the survey in readiness for a TPA submission which closes this Friday, August the 9^th

Kelly Dyer (Sorell School) and I met with the independent chair Vicki Baylis in the first week of term as part of an initial round of consultation to discuss the Terms of Reference of the broader inquiry.

Critical Incidents Research Project

This has been well supported by members and by the DECYP, with a number of briefings provided to Departmental staff interested in knowing more about the project. Stage three of the project involves individual or small group focus group interviews, with the opportunity to do these online. If you were unable to make the sessions in week one at Montrose Bay or Launceston College please make contact with the ACU research team.

Welcome to New Sponsor

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Hart Sport are joining our Association as a sponsor. Hart are synonymous with Australian schools with their products kicked, thrown, climbed over and under and keeping kids safe in PE lessons and playgrounds for more than 30 years. We look forward to providing opportunities for our members and the Hart staff to connect across the coming months.

School Visits

Thank you to the leadership teams at Molesworth Primary, Collinsvale Primary, Burnie High, Launceston College, Bridport Primary, Winnaleah District School & Ringarooma Primary Schools for making time for school visits recently, they are always a highlight for us.

Welcome to New Members

A warm welcome to our new members who have joined our association in recent weeks. We look forward to your engagement with your Association for many years to come!

• Heather Parker – Devonport Primary
• Jenni Maartensz – Havenview Primary
• Kate Hume – Kings Meadows High
• Karen Richardson – Sprent Primary
• Leesa Petit – Jordan River Senior School

Zart Art

It’s that time of year again! As we gear up for Back-to-School 2025, Zart is excited to offer you the best in classroom essentials.

Discover exceptional value with our NEW Zart Everyday, Your Way collection. We provide a broad selection of top-quality products from some of Australia’s leading brands, all at the most competitive prices.

Why Choose Zart for Your Back-to-School Supplies?

• FREE Delivery: Enjoy free delivery for all online orders over $499.
• Flexible Delivery Dates: Set your own delivery date to fit your schedule.
• Australia’s Leading Brands: Access a wide range of top-quality products.
• Bulk Packs: Take advantage of our bulk packs at unbeatable prices.

Don’t miss out on these great prices – be sure to place your order before September 9th, 2024.

ASCA Preferred Suppliers with Great Deals

Make sure you check out the fantastic deals coming from our preferred suppliers for your schools as we head to the new financial year with Officeworks, BFX, The Good Guys Commercial and JB HIFI to name some.

This is also a great time to make sure that you have let your staff know about the ASCAplus staff benefits and that they can register Here to also gain wonderful deals and savings from our suppliers for their personal purchases.

Is your Canteen registered for the ASCA Rewards loyalty program

• Principals - let your Canteen Manager or Caterer know that if they are registered for the ASCA Rewards Loyalty Program, they can earn points which last for 2 years! Points can used toward credits for their Distributor or The Good Guys Commercial  - all translating to great savings for your canteens’ bottom line.
• Check out the ASCA website for ASCA’s “Food for Thought” cookbook - there are hundreds of recipes created specifically with School Canteens in mind.
• Special dietary needs? Our suppliers have you covered. Make sure you ask us about this area as our supplier offer Gluten free, vegetarian and more options.

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 almost $11 million raised for partners such as The Smith Family.
• Thanks to your support, we continue to donate to our charities who really need our support. Thank you.

Growth Coaching Course

Introduction to Leadership Coaching - This practice 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.

This is a two-day workshop held over two one-day sessions -

• Day 1: 30 August 2024
• Day 2: 13 September 2024
• Costs:
  • TPA Member Enrolment Cost $850
    • discount code required contact manager@tpa.org.au 
  • Non-TPA Enrolment Cost $890
  • Venue: Launceston College

TPA Sponsors

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Seasons for Growth

myfuture’s free webinars

myfuture’s free webinars are a great way to learn about current topics from expert presenters both here in Australia, and from around the world. The term 3 webinars are centred around supporting students to make career decisions, and how sustainable development goals (SDGs) can be used to help guide their aspirations.

We encourage you to register for any/all of these upcoming events: 

• 23 July - Where to start with de-motivated students? Presenter: Dr Shekina Rochat, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• 24 July - Navigating your post-school plans with confidence. Presenter: Dr Michael Healy, National Career Education Manager (myfuture)
• 06 August – Career development learning and sustainability goals. Presenters: Professor Sarah O’Shea (Charles Sturt University), Dr Olivia Groves (Australian Educational Research Organisation), Dr Kylie Austin (University of Wollongong)
• 10 September – Sustainable Development Goals in career education. Presenter: Dr Candy Ho, University of Fraser Valley, British Colombia
• 12 September – Coping with emotional challenges in career development R U OK? Day 2024. Presenters: Dr Michael Healy (myfuture) and Jill Wilson (Student Wellbeing Hub)

Register now: 

National Associations

Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA)

View an update from APPA - National Horizons

TPA Elections

We will begin our bi-annual election cycle at the beginning of next term, with nominations opening on Wednesday 29 July. Three positions on the TPA Executive, each for a two-year term of office commencing 1 January 2025 are up for election:

• President
• Vice President Primary
• Vice President Secondary.

I encourage you to consider nominating for a position on our Executive.  Being involved is personally and professionally rewarding and a great means of contributing to our wonderful profession. 

Further details will be provided at the commencement of term three.