QCPCA

It's August already. The year is rapidly passing by and the next few months will be very busy for those with Year 12 students who face their final exams. Parents with students who sat the National Tests will be receiving their results and all students will be working towards their end of term assessments.  We, as parents, encourage our children through this time and remain supportive no matter the result.

As this edition of Parent Talk reaches schools, QCPCA Regional and State Executives will be reaching the end of another term of office.  Our Annual Conference will be held in Brisbane this year from the 10th - 13th September.  The theme this year is 'Education Be in It'. Our keynote speaker is Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. Michael is one of Australia's highest profile psychologists. Conference also includes a full business agenda, workshops and conference dinner.

QCPCA Support Unit

The last few months have seen changes in our support unit staffing. We have farewelled Bob and Sarah while Helen has retired. We wish them all the best. Peter Levett has joined us as our new Executive Services Manager and, at the time of writing this message, we have advertised for someone to fill the new role of Client Services Manager. This person will be first point of contact for P&Cs requesting support.

Presidents Diary

The following list is a sample of meetings that I have attended and continue to attend on your behalf:

• Joint Parent Committee Meeting (JPC) - This is a meeting of Parent Groups across all sectors of Education. The JPC meet with the Minister and Director General once a term. Agenda items included Reporting to Parents, Drug Testing in Schools, National Curriculum and Literacy and Numeracy testing of students.
• Ministerial Advisory Council - Funding - The Minister has formed an Advisory Council to oversee the Building Education Revolution Funding (BER). This Council meets weekly to work through any issues that arise with the "roll out" of the funding. I am the P&C representative at these meetings.
• Suspensions and Exclusions - The Minister has written to every P&C advising them of the changes to the Suspension and Exclusions policy. If you want to know what's happening in your school in relation to behaviour policies please contact your P&C or Principal as each school is now required to review their policy.
• Australian Curriculum, Assessment and reporting Authority (ACARA)
ACARA is a board responsible for - National Curriculum, National Assessment, National Data Collection and Reporting Program. The Board consists of 1 representative from each of the Catholic and Independent sectors, and a nominee of the Australian Government, making a total of 13.

We continue to represent and advocate for P&Cs in their roles in our children's education.  We have been doing this at regional and state level on our affiliates' behalf at all opportunities that come our way. Our volunteers in the Regions have also been working hard in organising and running skilling sessions for P&C Executives, information sessions on current initiatives and visiting or talking with P&Cs to assist with and advise on issues that arise in the course of carrying out their day-to-day business.

As I am coming to the end of my second term as State President I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those I have worked with over the last year to keep the organisation functioning on a business level - the State Executive, the Officers, the Support Unit staff and the Regional teams. Without you all working together we cannot achieve anything we set out to do. I do intend to stand for my third and final term as State President and would be honoured if I am returned as your President again.

Kind Regards
 

Margaret Black
State President

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