Membership Update

Kaya

NEW MEMBERS
I would like to welcome the following members, who have joined WAPPA in the last fortnight:

Rita Twigg, Waggrakine PS
Stew Melrose, Darlington PS
Emily Ker-David, Greenfields PS
Owen Bell, Bluff Point PS

We look forward to providing you with the Support, Advocacy, Leadership Development and Connection for which WAPPA is renowned. Likewise, we welcome your voice to the ongoing discussion around primary education and school leadership, through the numerous avenues provided to our members

2023 WAPPA AWARDS & GRANTS

WAPPA has recently relaunched our Awards and Grants Program for 2023, with a number of exciting new changes. In addition to the Aspirant Award and Leading from the Front Research Grants, there are now three new Whole School Leadership Awards;

Leadership in Teaching and Learning.
Leadership in Wellbeing, Culture and Community; and
Leadership in Cultural Responsiveness.

These Awards and Grants applications are now officially open, with an application deadline of Monday 19 June 2023 (Week 9). To learn more, please click the link below.

Advocacy & Support

WAPPA STATE ASSEMBLY MAY 15/16
In coming weeks, your Chapter Chairs and Board will meet for two days at the WAPPA Business Centre, in order to further progress our support and advocacy work. These events are crucial, in ensuring we are capturing the needs of members across the state, whilst also providing opportunities to hear directly from Department personnel, on a range of matters impacting primary leaders. Some of the topics to be covered across the two days include; students with complex needs, allied support staff on school sites, school leader health and well-being and reducing red tape in our schools.

MINISTERIAL MEETINGS
I have recently attended meetings, with members from the WAPPA Board, as well as from other WA associations, with both Minister Tony Buti MLA, Minister for Education and Minister John Carey MLA, Minister for Housing. Both meetings were productive and both Ministers remain open to consulting with WAPPA on the matters that impact our members. Minister Buti reassured us that issues pertaining to school leader workload, abuse and threats are being taken very seriously and work is being progressed in this area.

Minister Carey reassured the associations that his department is very aware of how regional housing issues impact teacher attraction and retention. He advised us that his department is conducting an internal review into GROH and also scrutinising the maintenance contract, which is due to expire in 2025. It was also pleasing that Minister Buti sent a representative to this meeting, to ensure our concerns were heard from his office too. We left the Minister with a summary of the recent GROH Survey that was completed by 96 regional WAPPA principals and he indicated he was keen for our associations to continue to provide feedback directly to his department, as well as that of the Minster for Education.

THE NATIONAL SCENE
At a national level, there have been a few recent developments I need to report on. APPA President, Malcolm Elliott recently retired from his position and an APPA statement can be read here. Malcolm was a great supporter of WAPPA, having attended a number of our events and always ensuring that parliamentary consultation in the east, was inclusive of the needs of WA primary school leaders.

It is pleasing to see the inclusion of some strong primary leaders and advocates, providing direct input into the National School Reform Agreement Reference Group. As recently announced, an Expert Panel of six will comprise of Professor Pasi Sahlberg, a long time advocate of AGPPA and APPA, as well as Ms Dyonne Anderson, President of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Principals Association and member of the APPA National Advisory Council.

In addition to the Expert Panel, an NSRA Reference Group is also being established, which will include school leaders from each state. Primary leaders, who represent our members at AGPPA or APPA level, currently include; Sally Ruston AM, A/President APPA, Matthew Johnson, President Australian Special Education Principals Association, Dr Sally Milbourne, former President Tasmanian Principals Association, Robyn Evans, President NSW Primary Principals Association.

With such strong representation of primary leaders and primary needs, within these groups, we must look optimistically towards this NSRA review, with a clear expectation that funding to primary government schools will significantly improve. WAPPA, along with our federal colleagues, are advocating for a minimum 100% of SRS funding to be directed to our schools and students, in order to better deliver early intervention strategies across a range of areas.

The latest APPA Newsletter, National Horizons, can be viewed here.

RECONCILIATION WA
Reconciliation WA run a large number of events and provide numerous free resources to schools. Their new part time Education Manager also happens to be Pamela Chatfield, WAPPA Member and Deputy Principal at Mosman Park PS. To find out more about ther free resources and events, please follow this link and make sure to subscribe to their newsletter, or to reach out directly to Pamela.

2023 WAPPA Conference

Have you Registered Yet?
The 3 day registrations are open!

We are working hard to finalise the single day registrations for you too.

Expressions of Interest for concurrent presentations are still open, but will be closing soon.

Concurrent Presentation EOI

We have a great line up of Keynote Speakers including;

Holly Ransom
Aasha Murthy
Pasi Sahlberg
Jane Kise
Glenn Savage
Anne Knock
Steven Bradbury
and more ......

Black & White Gala Dinner
Registration for Dinner Only, is now open. In Term 2, we will be opening the dinner seating plan. Those who have booked their 3 day conference tickets or the dinner only will get first seating preference. Proudly sponsored by Woods Furniture.

Professional Learning

Making the Leap to Deputy Principal May 29

If you know a teacher who is aspiring to school leadership, enrol them in this one day program so that they can explore and understand the leadership skills required to make the leap to become a Deputy Principal!

EC by GO1 - WAPPA Leadership & Learning Hub

A subscription to the WAPPA Leadership & Learning Hub, on the EC by GO1 platform can provide you with unlimited online access to relevant professional learning. Why not invest in your leadership learning and growth today.

Partner Spotlight - Berry Street Education

Is your school Trauma Informed?

Berry Street are hosting a Free online module that is specifically designed for schools to provide an overview of the Berry Street Education Model and share with you an understanding of trauma and how it affects your students. The program supports a trauma aware approach for teaching and learning, which is an important focus during complex times.

Date: Wednesday 10 May 2023
Time: 3pm Perth Time (5pm AEST)

For more details, click here.