August 2006
Well here I sit pondering where to start and just what to write about with this being my last Presidents message. Yes… three years have come and gone so fast and my term is at an end. So much has happened over the last three years of my life let alone the area of education in the past twelve months. You will notice that although there have been new happenings in education, some things never change or go away.
We continue to represent and advocate for P&C’s and parents in general in their role in their 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&C’s to assist and advise with issues that arise in the course of carrying out their day-to-day business.
The last year has been a productive one for QCPCA and I will attempt to condense some of the highlights into the areas of representations, meetings and media.
Representations – Our very dedicated volunteers at Regional and State level, have continued to represent the organisation very well across an ever-increasing range of areas in education. The degree of interest and willingness of people to give of their time, so that we can have our views represented, and also to be kept informed of the current happenings that would impact on our children, always impresses me. These are not always face-to-face meetings and are often done by teleconferences and also include the time consuming tasks of reading of papers and writing of reports.
An example of the forums /committees that we have been invited to provide a representative to attend this year have included-
Queensland Studies Authority – Board and Syllabus Advisory Committees
Queensland College of Teachers
Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework - reference group and forums
EQ Performance Development Framework
Sports and Physical Activity in Schools Forum
Behaviour Support Reference Group
Principal Selection panels / Regional Executive Directors panels
MCEETYA - Ministerial Council for Education Employment Training and Youth Affairs
Review of the EGPA - Education Act
Investing In Our Schools State Panel
SSS State panel
Showcase panels
Smart Choices Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy Reference Group
Road Safety Summit
Obesity Summit
Meetings
QCPCA continues to have an opportunity to raise issues at Central Office level through the bi-monthly meetings the Officers have with the Director-General, Ken Smith, and many other departments, where issues have been identified to be progressed to a higher level. I have also met with a number of people and organisations (in addition I have communicated with them via telephone and email) including the Queensland Teachers Union, Queensland Secondary Principals Association, Queensland Association of State School Principals, Australian Special Educators Association Queensland and the Joint Parent Committee when needed, to either progress an issue or just to keep up with other stakeholders’ common concerns. I have also met with the Minister, Rod Welford, or our designated liaison with his office, Sophia la Pietra, to advance issues when the need arises. Issues covered with Departments such as Facilities, Strategic Implementation Branch, Human Resources and Finance over the last year have included-
Asbestos Air-conditioning
Q-Build Basketball Posts
Education Adjustment Program All aspects of ETRF
School Reporting Smart Choices Resource Toolkit
Principal Selection Panels Prep Year TA allocation
Investing In Our Schools Program
Finance and Audit of P&C’s
Electronic banking for P&C’s
Media
The year has been busy at times, interspersed with weeks with little or no activity with the media. Then all of a sudden a topic will come to the surface and all hell will break loose. Collectively we have participated in over 100 media interviews, mostly with papers and radio interviews and a couple of TV interviews. This workload was spread between Greg Donaldson and myself with help from Mick Cutler (Northern Region) and Kevin Charlesworth (State VP). It is important that we take every opportunity to get our message and name out there and in all instances we have discussed the issue and relevant comments and statements for consistency prior to appearances. The topics have ranged from the increase of security measures for schools in the school holidays, Smart Choices, Childhood Obesity, School Reporting, Australian Certificate of Education, National Testing, Prep Teacher Aide allocation, Asbestos, Bullying in schools and the list goes on.
So to all those who represented the organisation admirably on committees, at meetings and functions - thankyou for keeping QCPCA in the forefront as an interested and participating key stakeholder. To those who assisted with submissions, feedback and responses - thankyou for making sure that our opinions and comments are valued and considered in matters of the education of our children.
Internally we have steadily progressed some planned goals. We have rolled out a Performance Review and Support Process for all State and Regional Executives, aimed at improving performance and communication across our senior teams. In addition, we are in discussions with consultants to develop a range of training modules for P&C Executives that will lead to accreditation that is recognised in the commercial world .We also welcomed the addition of a new staff member, which has eased considerably the workload of our exceptional office team.
I would like, as per usual, 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 Ops Unit staff and the Regional teams. Without you all working together we cannot achieve anything we set out to do.
Now, if you will indulge me - the mushy part. While my association with QCPCA is far from over (I still have two sons to finish high school) the experience at this level has put me in contact with a vast range of interesting and memorable people over a period of time. It has also afforded me the opportunity to grow in a professional and personal sense and for that experience I would like to thank QCPCA wholeheartedly.
It has been fulfilling to my sense of community spirit and my need to do my part to ensure that the education of not only my children but all children, is of a quality standard and a wonderful experience for them. It has allowed me the privilege of making new friends and building on old friendships. It has given me a sense of purpose for the last 9 years that is invaluable and I can only encourage you to continue to be involved in the education of our children at whatever level you are comfortable with, for whatever time you can spare and to do it to the best of your capabilities.
It really is a worthwhile cause.
