28 February 2024

President’s Report

It is hard to believe that we are already 4 weeks in to the 2024 school year! I hope that you have had a positive and productive start to the new year in the school communities or teams that you are leading across public education in our state. 2024 represents an exciting time for us as an Association as we are operationalising the 2023-2026 strategic plan that we finalised in the middle of last year. From feedback received by members, we will continue to adapt our communication and ways of working to maximise our engagement and connection with our membership.

We have recently sent a ‘temperature check’ survey to all TPA members and members of the school business managers association (TSAA) that we would encourage you to complete, with 80 submissions already received. This information will be vital in collaboratively progressing joint matters on behalf of both groups. A reminder that the survey closes this Friday. 

Welcome to new members

• Trish Thompson - Natone Primary School
• Stu Farr - Port Sorell Primary School
• Ben Richardson - Rokeby Primary School
• Dion McCall - Montello Primary School

Member Engagement

We were able to enjoy three BTS (Back to School) sessions in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart on the Thursday and Friday prior to school commencing. We were rapt with the number of members that were in the area and took the time out to catch up with colleagues at Communion, Du Cane and the Hanging Gardens. It looks like this will be an annual event to mark the start of the year!

Our member drop-in sessions have started, with our first one held last week. A number of topics and themes were discussed and as a result, TPA Executive were able to follow up on actions from the session and gain some clarity from DECYP Executive on some key issues that we were able to relay to members.

2024 Tasmanian Educational Leaders Conference

The momentum is building for our annual conference to be held in the perfect setting of the paranaple centre in Devonport. We have been able to reconnect with each of our keynote speakers in the past moth and they are equally as excited to share their journey and learnings with us!

Warm regards & take care

Mat

2024 Tasmanian Educational Leaders Conference

There is no better time to continue to grow as courageous and connected leaders by prioritising your own learning and wellbeing – we look forward to seeing you making this investment in your professional learning.

Early Bird Registrations Close Friday 22 March - Take advantage of the Early Bird Saving and Register Now

Registration Fees

• Full - Early TPA Member - $600.00
• Full - Early Non-Member - $750.00
• Full - Standard TPA Member - $800.00
• Full - Standard Non-Member - $950.00

Keep updated with the progress by visiting - https://tpa.org.au/tasmanian-principals-conference

ASCA supports Australian Charities

• As a not-for-profit organisation, 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 raised over $10 million to benefit partners such as The Smith Family.
• Thanks to your support, we can continue to support our Charity partners, who in turn support the children in our schools. Thank you.

Australian Schools Plus

Australian Schools Plus is a national not-for-profit that believes every child has the right to the same opportunities to thrive in school and beyond. They invest in underserved school communities, with funding and capacity-building support, tailored to address their unique challenges and give more opportunities for young Australians to reach their full potential.

Schools Plus tackles the most pressing challenges in education across five key focus areas: Learning Gaps, Wellbeing, First Nations, Rural, Regional and Remote and Crisis. These are complex and intersecting areas, and with the help of their donors, they partner with a broad range of stakeholders including teachers, health practitioners, community leaders and families to create transformational change for thousands of students facing disadvantage.   

Each year, eligible schools are invited to apply to partner with Schools Plus over a single or multi-year period through their annual partnership round. These partnerships are designed to provide schools with resources and support they need to create lasting change within their communities with a focus on evidence-based strategies and measurable outcomes. 

School Partnerships include:

1. Single year (1 year) of multi-year (3 years) funding for schools to develop and deliver a strategic project.
2. Coaching for the project leadership teams providing guidance and support to successfully deliver, evaluate and create a sustainable model for future strategic projects.
3. Program management and evaluation support using tools and resources to plan, implement and evaluate projects.
   

To be eligible, schools must have an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) value below 1000 or be a special needs school. This year’s partnership round opens 5 August and closes 9 September.  Information on how to apply will be made available on the Schools Plus website later this year.

Schools Plus also celebrates the vital role of teachers in giving children more opportunities to thrive through the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards.  Nominations open 4 March and closes 8 April 2024.

Subscribe to Schools Plus’ newsletter and visit their website to stay up to date with what’s happening.  

HOW TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN CHILDREN: Tips FROM TRIPLE P

Confidence is a superpower for kids. It helps them enjoy challenges, take reasonable risks, try new things and adjust well to school life. It can also buffer against social anxiety and school refusal. Parents and carers play a key role in building confidence up. Here are some tips to help.

First, praise their efforts, not just their achievements. Let them know you’re proud of their progress, no matter the outcome. Children also learn a lot by watching how you handle obstacles, so try to set a positive example.

Next, instead of trying to fix every problem for children, try asking questions like What have you tried so far? or What do you think might happen if you try this? Breaking a problem down into smaller steps can also help kids learn to work through it.

In addition, show confidence in their abilities by letting them do things for themselves as soon as they’re ready. Encourage them to set some challenging but realistic goals and praise their progress. Let them know losing or making a mistake doesn’t mean failure, it means they’re learning.

And finally, laughing is a great way for kids to express emotions and feel good about themselves. Enjoy those moments together – it’s all part of building a positive connection where confidence can blossom.

To explore this topic further, read Triple P’s article.

Free online parenting support from the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program® helps you raise happier, more confident kids.

MyFuture Webinars

Best practice principles for career development learning for students with disability

March 5, 2024, 1:00 PM (AEDT)

Young people with disability are more likely to experience challenges in their careers and employability, including periods of disengagement and unemployment, when compared to other populations. They may also have poorer outcomes from university and VET courses. However, students with disability have the legal and moral right to be adequately supported toward meaningful, stable, and sustainable careers.  

In this webinar, learn about the outcomes of a National Careers Institute funded project to develop a suite of evidence-based career development learning resources in support of young Australians with disability. The speakers will describe their project and demonstrate the features of an online ‘CDL Hub’ of resources for students living with disability. 

Register via this link

Supporting the career development needs of children from refugee and migrant backgrounds

March 7, 2024, 1:00 PM (AEDT)

Australia is a multicultural country, home to people from all around the world who have come to establish themselves in a new life. They often have high aspirations for their children's education and career development.  However, there are many challenges that those children and their families might face.

In this panel discussion, you will hear from several experts in refugee and migrant settlement, employment, and career development. We will discuss the challenges and offer strategies for career educators to help confront them. 

Register via this link

myfuture Insights | Supporting First Nations kids toward career success: A yarn with educators

Tuesday 12 March 1:00pm (AEDT)

We all want a good job with a good wage, right? Sure, but our definitions of ‘good’ aren’t always the same. And who is the ‘we’ referred to by each of us? It’s important that we all understand each other’s perspectives to support our whole community in achieving their employment goals. Unfortunately,

First Nations kids often struggle to express their cultural values in their schooling and employment, struggling to balance the values and motivations of themselves and their mob with those expected in their schools, the world of work, and Australian society at large.

For educators, recognising key cultural differences, and how certain cultural values are privileged over others, is a key starting point to better supporting First Nations kids in their career journeys.

Tracy Ryan, Educational Designer (First Nations) at Charles Sturt University, invites you to join her in a yarn about how First Nations success is defined and shaped. Tracy will offer some ideas about First Nations cultural values around education and employment, to start a conversation about how educators can help First Nations kids envision, plan for, and achieve the kind of career that works for them and their community.

Register via this link.

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