Just a reminder about our “Adopt a School” initiative. I’m sure that COVID has added to the issues confronting our school communities and those schools would love to hear from their buddy schools. Could you also let me know if you have any activities so I can share with colleagues.

Executive Director Kathy Powzun updated me on some of her activities related to the Bushfire Strategy.

• 226 schools and 50,000 students impacted by the fires
• Kathy has visited 75 schools gathering information & offering support
• Identified 12 key areas/levers : communication: counselling support for students; leadership support, well-being support for staff; educational continuity; clearer policies 7 processes; technical improvements; financial support& donations; community trauma; safety; school infrastructure support; inter agency collaboration.
• Staffing moratorium..any extensions?
• Emergency communications platform is being investigated
• Preparations under way for the next fire season. With these key issues Plan & Prepare; Respond and Recover the DoE is setting in place plans (23 projects involved in this)
• Kathy has been involved in gathering feedback from broad consultation. Key issue The schools most impacted are located in rural and remote locations, have the least amount of resources and support and are the most vulnerable
• Some statistics: >45% of schools has less than 100 enrolments; >59% of principals have less than 5 years experience; > 95% of schools impacted are outside Sydney.
• The Bushfire Relief Strategy 2020 – 2023+ is in 3 phases:
  - Respond, Recover & Prepare
  - Respond, Review & Strengthen
  - Respond, Improve & Transition