Support Class Placement Panels | Deputy President Rob Walker

Thanks to the members who have stepped forward to represent on the newly formed support class placement panels. The panels have a position for a primary principal representative, a high school principal representative and an SSP principal representative. The Department sought out the PPA to manage the process of identifying the principal representative for primary and SSP positions (SSP representatives agreed to by SPC leadership). Alternates for each of the representative roles were also identified. SSP positions may be filled by either principals or DPs from SSPs. The people placed in these roles have two year terms, so it is anticipated their terms will conclude end of term 1, 2023. By now all representatives should have been trained and the panels functioning.

Inclusive Access Project | Deputy President Rob Walker

The Department has established a project team to bring together an online platform for planning and managing each student’s support needs. The success measures for the project are

• Increase the quality of requests for support
• Reduce time to receive support
• Reduce time required for completion of support requests
• Reduce delays and deferrals of decisions
• Improve quality support outcomes for students
• Improve the experience for parents, schools and office staff

At this point the project team have brought together an understanding of the types of information gathered at school and system level and the processes currently used.

There have been meetings with stakeholders to assess priorities areas for process improvement and have developed some concepts about what the online platform might incorporate and to a degree how it might look and feel. Recently the PPA has identified schools to take part in a collaboration process to shape the next phase of development of the platform. The final product has the promise of bringing together information we hold in a variety of locations at the moment, and improve the process we use.

Principal Health and Wellbeing | Deputy President Bob Willetts

The Principal sets the wellbeing culture of the school, and often the community.

Every year since 2011 the Australian Principal Occupational Health and Wellbeing Survey has recommended Principals prioritise their own health and wellbeing.
The best examples we are seeing are when Principals are involving their teams in the learning process to enhance the wellbeing culture.

Wellbeing tips

“Sharpen The Saw”

Participants in the PPA Covey 7 Habits Program are learning that their wellbeing is a “Big Rock” that must be scheduled into their week.
Principals in the course this term have scheduled things like; morning walks, gym programs, playing music, reading and paining.

What Lights You Up?

Do Something Every Week That Recharges You.

Participants in the PPA Flourish Program are ensuring that they schedule something that lights them up and energises them. There have been some amazing examples of how our colleagues have enhanced their leadership by ensuring they are physical, mentally and emotionally recharged so they have more in the tank to give.

The things that energise us are related to our passions, purpose and nourish our mind, body and soul.

Take a moment to reflect on what lights you up and put it in your diary this week.

Growing Up Digital | Deputy President Bob Willetts

Gonski Institute’s latest research sheds light on the impact of technology on family life.

“A new research report by the Gonski Institute for Education reveals digital media and technologies as a great distraction in Australian family life.

More than 9 out of 10 parents think digital devices negatively distract their own lives, and 83% think their children are also negatively distracted by digital gadgets.”
The full research and technical report can be found here:

Carry Forward Policy | Vice President Michael Burgess

Over the last few years and particularly in the last 12 months the Finance and Administration Reference Group (FARG) has been highlighting the issues related to a restrictive carry forward policy.

As you would be aware a Carry Forward Policy was recently released. The final policy does not reflect the advice and feedback provided from the NSWPPA. The vast majority of primary schools manage their funds well to ensure the efficient application of resources to maximise student outcomes.

It is important to note that the Carry Forward Policy only relates to government funds in the 6100 State Consolidated Fund (and temporarily also 6101 funds).

We are pleased that we were able to have the ability for Principals to apply to carry forward funds for specific projects included in the policy. The allowance of a small ‘contingency’ amount to carry forward each year for the next three years is welcomed but should be a permanent part of the policy.

The policy of a hard $0 carry forward amount from 2025 onwards is unacceptable and unworkable. The concept that schools can accurately, given the variables, arrive at zero dollars in the 6100 fund on 31st December is not feasible.

We support the premise that government funding should be spent on students in the year in which the funding is provided. We also acknowledge that some schools have carried forward funds without a clear plan to spend that money.

This, however, should not prevent Principals, in consultation with their school communities, planning to carry forward funds to purchase significant resources or undertake infrastructure works.

The policy should also take into account that the DoE systems in place currently do not support Principals in reaching a zero carry forward amount. Funds from SFLM, workers compensation and other programs can arrive in school accounts late in the year. On the other side invoices can arrive late in the year for payment.
The FARG will continue to push senior departmental officers to review the Carry Forward Policy.

Some Key Notes:

• Schools need to plan to spend their full SBAR funding in the year that it was provided. (Spend 6100 first)
• Schools may still carry forward funds in the 6300 School and Community fund.
• There is support available from the strategic schools resourcing field team to help Principals with budgeting.
• Schools will still be able to apply to their DEL to carry forward funds for a specific purpose.

NSWPPA Awards | Vice President Jude Hayman

Every year we have the honour to recognise the work of our colleagues through the nomination and selection of recipients of the following awards which are presented to the successful recipients at the NSWPPA State Conference;

Awards are

• LIFE MEMBERSHIP or FELLOWSHIP
• DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
• PROFESSIONAL AWARD
• ABORIGINAL EDUCATION AWARD
• SOCIAL JUSTICE / EQUITY AWARD

Please see the attached document for nomination criteria and submission information

ACARA Review of the Australian Curriculum – Open for Public Comment| Vice President Norma Petrocco

The proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum for Foundation – Year 10 (F–10) have been released for public comment.

During our consultation session last year, over the last 9 months ACARA’s review process has involved teachers and curriculum experts from all states and territories and the government and non-government sectors.

Proposed changes include:

• significantly improving the content descriptions and achievement standards – the core curriculum that teachers use to plan, teach and assess learning - by simplifying expression, explaining requirements more clearly and reducing ambiguity
• reducing content across the primary school curriculum with greater consistency and coherence in organisation, language and expectations across all learning areas
• content identified specifically for the Foundation year in each learning area, making clear the expectations for students in the important first year of school
• improving the content elaborations – the illustrations and examples of ways to teach the content – to show how the teaching and learning of the learning area content can be supported using the general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities.

The proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum will be available for public comment from 29 April until 8 July 2021. Feedback and input will be used to develop final revisions for consideration of education ministers.

School communities – teachers, executives, parents, and students - are encouraged to review the proposed revisions and give feedback via the new consultation website

The updated version of the F-10 Australian Curriculum, once approved by Ministers, will be made available on a new Australian Curriculum website for the start of 2022.

Scripture and Ethics Classes| Vice President Michael Trist

The implementation of SRE and SEE classes in our schools is a sensitive issue, but it that does arise in conversations with members. The NSWPPA State Executive seek your input via the following short survey to help us determine if further investigation is required.

Communications and Engagement Standing Committee | Vice President Stuart Wylie

Providing great news content about your school is easy on Twitter and many schools are utilising social media as part of their communication strategy. Andrew Smee Principal of Kangaroo Valley Public School has taken over as manager of the @NSWPPA Twitter account. If you are doing something amazing at your school and would like Andrew to re-tweet content then alert him by using #NSWPPA to notify Andrew.

School Website Training – Communications & Engagement Standing Committee would like to plug the new changes to the school website which is easy to use.

You can enrol to attend a School website training – Adobe Experience Manager (online) training session via MyPL (course code NR26389) under the Staff Portal.

Legends and Lessons, Find Them Remember Them Missing Medals Project| Vice President Stuart Wylie

Schools are being invited to participate in the Find Them Remember Them Missing Medal ANZAC pilot project. This is a great initiative for schools to acknowledge and reconnect families of fallen soldiers with their unissued medals. Please see the attached flyer for more information