Met West Regional Council
The Executive elected to represent the Region in 2011/12 is:
President - Cathie MacMillan
Vice President - Vashti Wadwell
Vice President - Brad Butcher
Vice President -Charles Alder
Secretary - Ian Maller
Treasurer - Garry Cislowski
Media - Garry Cislowski
State Representative - Cathie MacMillan
Regional Council Meetings - 2011/12
1st Monday of every month
Ipswich Special School
Cnr 2a Milford St & Brisbane St Ipswich
ENTER from Brisbane Rd
The meeting starts at 7.30pm
Metropolitan West Profile
Who are we?
The Metropolitan West Region encompasses a diverse mixture of large Brisbane High Schools of up to 2000 students down to small rural schools with fewer than 20 students. In fact 25% of the 164 schools within the Region are small schools.
The Region extends from Boonah in the south to Toogoolawah in the north and reaches as far east as Rochedale but not quite as far west as Gatton. For those who know South-East Queensland the Region covers the Brisbane, Lockyer and Fassifern Valleys.
Despite the challenges our schools have in educational delivery, facilities, cultural and linguistic diversity and geographic diversity Metropolitan West Region is a great place to be. The Regional Council meets monthly giving the members the opportunity to forge strong friendships as well as strong working relationships.
Met West Region conducts a regular monthly Regional Council meeting on the first Monday of the month at Milford Place, Ipswich Special School, Brisbane Road Ipswich at 7.30pm.
What are our goals?
Skilling of P&C members to be able to efficiently manage their association and business ventures is a priority.
To encourage greater parent participation in our P&Cs, and their school communities.
To form, and strengthen the bonds or links, between schools and their parents.
Encourage better communication between all stake holders.
To provide knowledge and skills, in areas of Fundraising, grant submissions and to work within cluster groups so P&Cs can share skills, ideas and resources.
Where to from here?
The problems of building community and finding volunteers to ensure the success and continuing future of the P & C movement still needs solving. The changing climate in which we now operate means that time constraints, a mobile society and financial pressures has changed the availability and profile of the volunteer. The responsibilities inherent in the increased accountabilities associated with P&C Associations have added to the problem.
Discussion with others seems to indicate a need for P&Cs to build stronger links with their community and also that volunteers would like to receive verifiable recognition for skills gained while working as a volunteer. The positive reaction to skilling sessions would indicate a need for more effort to be put into skilling of P&C volunteers.
At Met West, we understand the time constraints on parent volunteers, so to make skilling as easy as possible we will come out to your P&C to run Skilling sessions for your Executive and P&C committee, at a time that suits you and your committee. We are available for over the phone or email advice, for P&C Executives and Principals.
Your P&C representatives are always welcome to attend our monthly regional meetings which are great source of information and networking with other P&Cs in our region.
Cathie Macmillan,
Regional President
