State Council this term was again held over two days via ZOOM. Prior to the State Council meeting we as an Executive discussed the viability of State Council proceeding or not. The wellbeing of our Executive, Chairs, Officers and Delegates was the consideration. We decided after much consideration that the work of the Department of Education is continuing through the pandemic and we are therefore it was unanimous that State Council would proceed.

I made it very clear that there were competing priorities for all of our colleagues in attendance and that schools, leading learning from home as well as personal wellbeing was a priority. In saying that – we had 100% attendance on both days!!!!

Our guest list included:

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning | The Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC
Group Deputy Secretary | Ruth Owen
Deputy Secretaries | Murat Dizdar and Leanne Nixon
Chief People Officer | Yvette Cachia
Chief Operating Officer | David Withey
Executive Director Strategic Resource Management | Sally Blackadder
Chief Executive Officer NESA | Paul Martin
A/Executive Director | COVID-19 Taskforce | Paul Wood
A/Director |Literacy and Numeracy | Megan Kelly
Leader School Sport Unit | Peter Banks
Executive Director Professional and Ethical Standards | Daryl Currie

I am confident your PPC Delegate has provided you with a comprehensive and relevant report reflecting the business of the Department and Association. Our current State Council format provides great opportunity for many voices to be heard and issues arising to be put forward, responded to, or taken on notice to revisit. Our collaboration and agency with senior DoE colleagues matter. It inspires trust and shared responsibility. The Executive and Chairs | members continue to advocate and lead in every forum we step into. We represent every member of the Association. It is critical that your voice is heard – be it via lodging an issue through your PPC, contacting your regional representative on a Reference Group, contacting the Chairperson of our Reference Groups |Standing Committees or Working Parties directly, contacting your Executive Liaison for your region or contacting a member of the Executive. I am available at any time -phone or email.

It is the Executives goal to not only work in a consultive and collaborative manner but to move into a partnership where at the ground level we are part of the codesign to ensure the expertise and work of our Senior DoE personnel lands in our schools to ensure systems are seamlessly operationalised. Partnerships work to the strengths of all stakeholders.

Thank you to all in attendance at State Council this term – YOU were the difference and we are confident you felt heard and informed about where next, why and how. PPC Delegates play a key role in the clarity of information our membership have.

Communication matters to us as an Executive – the way we sent it out and the way we receive it. You will see us trialling different ways to reach you so as you are well informed and clear about how much your work in your school, your PPC and for the Association is valued.