2 Jun 2023

President’s Report

This newsletter is arriving in your inbox in the middle of Reconciliation Week. Rightfully, the impending referendum and the subsequent media and conversations have elevated the discussion of Reconciliation Week at a level more significant than in previous years. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. Asking that ‘for the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, let’s choose to create a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all’. Driving to school this week, listening to my son singing along to Midnight Oil & Dan Sultan’s ‘Gadigal Land’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuWgE-u4keg and then talking about the lyrics afterwards reminded me that there are so many ways that we can have the discussion, and support people of all ages to ‘Be a Voice for a Generation’!

Ultra Marathon runner Pat Farmer OAM was in Tasmania during April as part of his Run for the Voice campaign and I was asked to speak to the place of public education in this discussion. Often the first things that come to mind when asked to speak about education take us back to the classroom; care and compassion, ensuring fairness and equity, promoting curious and confident thinkers and improving outcomes for all within our school community. Now the vision for education outlined in the updated Mparntwe Declaration (many of us would remember the initial Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young People in 2007) is not too distinctly different from what this year’s Reconciliation Week is asking – and that is to promote equity and enable confident and creative individuals, successful learners, and active and informed community members.

I hope that you have found space in your busy school schedules to facilitate some thought and discussion about Reconciliation Week to support your community’s awareness and understanding. There are some terrific resources  available on https://www.runforthevoice.com/the-run and https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

Welcome to New Members

I am pleased to welcome new members to our Association, Mark Nutting, Acting Assistant Principal,  Launceston College, Kaleb Smith, Acting Assistant Principal, Claremont College, Annette Saunders, Principal, ECIS Devonport.

Member Drop in Sessions and Forms Survey

Thank you to the members that were able to ‘drop in’ or complete the forms survey within the first 48 hours, the response rate saw more than half of our members take up the opportunity in a short amount of time. This provided a balance of invaluable lived experiences and principal voice when we are looking at themes under our key practice of ‘consult and advocate’ to escalate with DECYP executive.
Grouping the themes saw the following areas

• Staffing Shortages,
• Supporting Staff Wellbeing,
• Student Complexity,
• Communication across DECYP,
• Principal Classification
• System Initiatives inc. School Improvement
• Administrative Burden
• Suitable Resourcing
• Access to Professional Support Staff
• Administrative Demands

The anecdotes from principals that sit behind these themes are powerful and will be used with the respect and care they deserve when we are representing our membership.

Strategic Plan

Our TPA Executive have finalised the new Strategic Plan with a major feature being the move to 3 sets of ‘Key Practices’ that underpin our vision to support ‘Connected and empowered educational leaders as an integral part of our public education system’

• Support & Care
• Lead & Develop
• Consult & Advocate

I ask that you reflect on these key practices and consider how we can best engage with our members, as well as how can you as a member, proactively engage with your Association.

Behind this strategic plan sits the detail of the actions, strategies and tasks that bring this work to like across the 2023-2026 period of our planning cycle that our executive have recently developed.

National School Reform Agreement Ministerial Reference Group

Federal Minister for Education, Hon Jason Clare MP recently announced membership of this group. The Reference Group has been established to provide advice to the previously announced Expert Panel. TPA members are well represented in this work through the membership of ASPA President Andrew Pierpoint and our former TPA president Dr Sally Milbourne.

A survey has just been released, calling for input from students, teachers, parents and carers to inform the Better and Fairer Education System Review. You can access the survey here.

The survey seeks responses from students, teachers, parents and carers regarding student mental health and wellbeing, teacher recruitment and retention, funding transparency and accountability and targets for the next National School Reform Agreement.  The survey, conducted by the Social Research Centre will be available online from 23 May to 23 June 2023. This survey provides an opportunity for participants to contribute their perspectives and help shape the future of education in Australia.

The Expert Panel for the Review will use the results to help draft a consultation paper which will invite submissions from all stakeholders, and also to develop recommendations for the final report, which will ultimately inform the development of a new National School Reform Agreement.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sally if you have any further questions about the survey or the Review at sally.milbourne@outlook.com

APPA Conference

Many school leaders have touched base asking questions wondering about the National APPA 2023 Conference. It is Tasmania’s turn to host the Australian Primary Principals Conference this year – 30^th July to 2^nd August in nipaluna/Hobart. DECYP have kindly quarantined the dates around the conference, recognising the value of this tremendous opportunity for our school leaders. As a result, TPA will pause our conference for a year, just as we did in 2015 when we last held the APPA conference. For those that attended in 2015, you’ll recall it was a memorable program full of engaging keynote presentations, thought provoking panel conversations and brilliant social events in and around Hobart with colleagues from around the country. For our secondary, senior secondary and special education colleagues – the program has been designed with your contexts in mind as well!

Please follow the link below to register and invest in your own professional learning and wellbeing.

Zart Art – Platinum Sponsor

ZartArt is providing Principals and schools with a 15% discount PLUS a 5% rebate to the TPA for all orders and online workshops. 

Zart Art not only offers an extensive art supplies range with a unique professional development program but also carries a complete school product line, to support all your back-to-school needs. 

View the ZartArt product range: 

Click here to view Zart Education on Demand:

National Associations

APPA/ASPA research paper on School Leader Wellbeing Report

The APPA/ASPA Research Paper on School Leader Wellbeing, was produced as a result of the PARF funded research project, facilitated on behalf of APPA and ASPA by PIVOT Research.

Australian Primary Principals Association

TPA Platinum Sponsor MSP

Leading with Reflective Awareness & Empathy to Support School Community PL

Tasmanian Principals Association
presented by

Thursday 15 June 2023
Boardwalk Gallery, Wrest Point Hotel

School Leaders including ASTs, APs and Principals are strongly encouraged to register their teams for this event.

• TPA Members and their team - Free
• Non-members - $80 per participant
REGISTER or manager@tpa.org.au

TPA Platinum Sponsor Education Perfect

TPA Gold Sponsors

ASCA

Visit ASCA at the upcoming APPA conference

• Kerry and David will be in Hobart, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, from Sunday, 30 July – Wednesday, 2 August, 2023.
• Find out how your school can obtain access our 100+ Preferred Supplier partners to streamline your purchasing and enjoy exclusive benefits and savings

Does your School have a Canteen?

• Principals, let your Canteen Manager or Caterer know that we will be releasing FREE access to our “Food for Thought” Canteen Cookbook in Term 3!
• Free to all ASCA members
• Hundreds of recipes from the ASCA Schweppes Sassy Chef, Alison Taafe
• Created specifically with School Canteens in mind

Are you receiving your SMITH’s rebate?

• We’ve recently processed SMITH’s rebates to all schools that order SMITH’s products
• If your school orders SMITH’s products, please check your bank account to ensure you’ve received yours or contact Kerry if you are unsure at kerryd@asca.com.au

ASCA supports Australian Charities

• As a not-for-profit organisation, each year ASCA donates its surplus funds to a range of registered charities who assist in the education of vulnerable children.
• By simply purchasing from ASCA’s Preferred Suppliers, you are not only gaining best value for your school, but indirectly contributing to our Charity Partners.
• Since our inception in 1979, ASCA has continually supported these charities, with almost $5 million donated to partners such as The Smith Family.
• Thanks to your support, we were able to donate record amounts in 2022, a year in which our charities really needed it. Thank you.

Resources & Readings

2023 Tax Time Resources

Time to ‘study up’ on your deductions

Tax time is right around the corner. Not sure what deductions you can claim this year? Well good news, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have shared a range of helpful tips and resources to help make tax time simple.

‘So what can I claim?’

From self-education, union fees, school supplies and working from home costs – the ATO’s tailored occupation guide gives great insight to common deductions in your role. It also covers information on the income you’ll need to declare, and the records you need to keep.

Worked from home?

If you’ve worked from home this financial year, there are two ways to calculate your deduction this tax time – the revised fixed rate method, or the actual cost method. From 1 July 2022, the revised fixed rate method has increased from 52 cents to 67 cents per hour worked from home, and no longer requires you to have a dedicated home office space. The expenses covered in the rate, and the records you’ll need to keep, have changed too.

Keep your records

Keeping the right records is essential. Use the myDeductions tool in the ATO app for a fast and easy way to store your receipts and keep track of your records!

And the best time to lodge?

The best time to lodge is from late July, when most of your information from employers, banks and health funds has been automatically included in your tax return. All you’ll need to do is check the pre-filled information is correct, add any income that’s missing, and claim your deductions!

Remember, most tax returns lodged online take about two weeks to be processed.

Be You: An Introduction to Suicide Response in Schools

Register today and join the Be You Tasmanian Team for an online interactive session.

Schools can have a significant impact on managing community risk and recovery following a critical incident.

During this online introductory session, schools will be invited to consider if they are prepared for a critical incident. Information and resources provided in this session are evidence-based and trauma informed.

You will learn about:

• The principles underpinning a response to suicide.
• The benefits of having a suicide response plan.
• Be You resources to enhance community preparedness.
• How Be You Consultants provide ongoing support to schools.

This session is aimed at school leaders and wellbeing staff.

Session details:

Location: Online
Date:        Thursday 22 June
Time:       3.30pm- 4.30pm (AEST)
Cost:        Free

For further information please contact:
Eva Nicholls Be Consultant- Tasmania
enicholls@headspace.org.au
0408 985 896

TPA Sponsors

Platinum

Gold