Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
RG, SC, WP | Deputy President Rob Walker:
Sharpening the saw – our Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties
Did you know the PPA has 21 reference groups, working parties and standing committees? These teams engage with education stakeholders, most frequently the department, on all matters education and ensure the principal’s voice is heard where it matters. They field issues brought forward by members and shape the Association’s strategic agenda in each of their areas of work. The teams are made up of members of the Association and chaired by a member of the Association. They meet at least once per term and their Chairs meet with State Executive the day prior to State Council. The Chairs are also on hand to provide reports at State Council following which State Delegates are able to report to PPCs.
The reference groups are made up of representatives from each of the 10 regions of the state. Membership of the standing committees is made up of colleagues with specific interest or expertise in the area of work of the committee. Working parties are ‘purpose built’ and operate for the time it takes to complete specifically assigned tasks.
Recently Chairs have worked with State Executive to refine how the Executive and Chairs meetings work which has also sharpened the delivery of reports at State Council. We are currently drafting a handbook for Chairs which we hope will further improve the working of our groups.
These groups play an extremely important role in the work of the Association and directly influence the policies of the government, department and stated priorities of the PPA. We are indebted to our colleagues who step up to work in these roles. A full list of the groups and their areas of work appears on our website.
Principal Wellbeing | Employee Assistance Program (EAPs) | Secretary Greg McLaren
Principal Wellbeing
There are a range of useful information and resources to help Principals and other DoE staff members maintain and enhance their health and wellbeing beyond EAPs. Visit:
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – also known as EAPs
Leadership Support – Employee Assistance Program
The Converge International service provides Principals and other school leaders with confidential tailored coaching and support to leaders in matters such as managing people and change management issues that present themselves on a regular basis.
COVID-19 Update
NSW DoE provider, Converge is continuing to provide tailored support services to Department employees to support their health and wellbeing.
To strengthen support for staff impacted by the current COVID-19 lockdown, Converge are providing virtual 1:1 support for all staff across NSW until at least the end of September, and are extending their scheduled 1:1 support sessions outside of normal working hours.
These services are also available to support our casual workforce until 31 December 2021.
This means, all casual, temporary and permanent staff as well as immediate family members will be able to access up to three (3) one hour sessions if required.
If you need support please contact Converge on 1800 060 650.
Access this service
For Leadership Support, call Converge International 24/7 on 1800 060 650.
- Immediate telephone support is available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Face to face appointments are available Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 10pmFac
- eTime services are available by request.
When would I use this service?
Leadership support can be used for managing situations that include, but are not limited to:
- building a strong team culture
- employee performance and behaviour
- stress and interpersonal conflict
- organisational issues impacting on team morale
- individual employee needs in the workplace
- highly distressed employees
- people and change management matters
- team wellbeing.
Onsite conflict resolution and mediation services
return to school resume for your community, Principals can arrange for onsite conflict resolution or mediation for workplace issues that may arise. Accredited mediation consultants will identify issues, address concerns causing conflict and develop a framework designed to assist and support the disputing parties to resolve their conflict, including arranging onsite meetings
How is this support tailored to my needs?
The EAP service provides tailored counselling through trained psychologists and social workers who understand the environment and challenges faced by leaders working in education. On accessing EAP you will be directed to the appropriate psychologist that has received comprehensive training and experience in the areas below:
- leading in a corporate environment
- leading in a school environment
- leading a school in a rural and remote community
- leading a school in a community with a high proportion of aboriginal students and families
- leading staff that work with students diagnosed with intellectual, physical and behavioural disorders or disabilities
- leading a school in community with a high proportion of refugee students and families.
How often can I use this service?
Those eligible can access up to three (3) one hour sessions in any consecutive two year calendar period. This is in addition to employee Personal Support sessions. If this support for you needs extension please contact a NSWPPA Professional Support Officer.
Source: modified by NSWPPA from the DoE website
Leadership Support Fact Sheet
About our Newest Partner- Essential Assessment | Executive Officer Mark Pritchard
2000 Schools partner with Essential Assessment to facilitate the collection of rich Numeracy and Literacy student data. Essential Assessment is a dynamic online assessment and syllabus resource model aligned to the NSW Maths and English Syllabus K-10. School leaders use this data to shape and track strategic school plans, improve teaching pedagogy and measure and report Numeracy and Literacy progression and student growth.
Essential Assessment website:
Teachers Mutual Bank | Executive Officer Mark Pritchard
Please see attached Advertisement from our partner Teachers Mutual Bank.
2022 Meeting Dates | Executive Officer Mark Pritchard:
I have included in this What’s Hot a full list of our Executive and State Council meeting dates for 2022. Our format for meetings has been unchanged for many years -Executive meetings on weeks 2 and 9 each term, State Council in week 7 each term. This varies if there are special circumstances e.g., start of the school year, interstate or international conferences, our annual conference.
All of our Executive members are keen to visit their own local Area PPC meeting and those area and region meetings that they are liaising with.
They go to significant lengths to visit you in these meetings and let you know about the latest developments first hand.
If you are a President, local conference organiser or member of a local area executive could I ask you to avoid these dates for your meetings.
Everybody benefits if we don’t clash with multiple meetings on the same day.