What's Hot June

President’s Report

The wellness of the principalship at this time, is tangible. Hope and optimism, positive energy and renewed commitment apparent. It IS important that there are deliverables. Seeing growth, gains and being heard has already shifted the energy levels to a new level. The small gains whilst working on the bigger gains really matter and we all know real change and embedded practice takes time. As individuals we have a responsibility for our own wellness and I hope the long weekend we just enjoyed saw you catch up with those you treasure – family, friends and colleagues. It was certainly a beautiful weekend weather wise with the sun shining and the cool crisp evening with clear starry skies stilled our minds to rest, replenish, recover and reenergise for the last few weeks of term 2. It is of course ‘reporting’ season and celebrating student learning and engagement with students themselves, staff and parents/carers a joy. Celebration of learning matters.

This term, I have joined the Executive at many PPC Meetings and Conferences where the energy and engagement of colleagues in their PPC’s and the business of the Association at an all time high. Congratulations to you all on focusing on what matters most and operationalising it. Yes the staffing crisis continues, COVID and influenza is surging and the flow of work whilst easing has yet to be felt to enable true focus and time spent in the right places. YET we are quietly confident the greater goal is achievable. Thank you one and all for your authenticity and continued commitment. You have so much to be proud of.

I have to say, I have absolutely loved the opportunity to be in schools. Our work as Principals matters – it matters that we are instrumental at leading and shaping the culture of what matters in schools. As we know relationships are at the heart, high quality teaching and learning is the vehicle by which we shape opportunity for the students in our care. Equity and inclusion for all students in all settings is everyone’s business. How privileged we are to lead schools at this time – a time of hope and optimism – a time of anticipated change in culture whilst significant reform continues.

We collectively have a lot of work ahead – the work will be hard – we will be supported with the right resources and the right work will be done. We have heard this from Minister Car and Secretary Dizdar. The voice of teachers, leaders, students, communities, administrators and principals have been heard. Let’s work in collaboration with our corporate colleagues to deliver and thrive in our system. I’m ready – I know you are too.

Vice President Stuart Wylie will take leave from his Executive role commencing Monday Week 8 Term 2 until Friday Week 10 Term 3 to travel and then take up the position of Principal EPMI based in Maitland. We know Stuart will offer great energy and insight in this role. All substantive PPC Delegates were eligible to nominate to relieve in this role. Join me in congratulating Adam Zanko |Principal Queanbeyan South PS | Queanbeyan PPC Delegate who was elected to the role.

Term 2 NSWPPA State Council

Last week the NSWPPA Executive hosted the Term 2 State Council. It was a FABULOUS forum where the conversations and presentations were informative, reassuring, solution and action focused. Culture and genuine collaboration from the ground up will build as commitment to the why and how is understood by all. Each of us – in schools and in corporate have a responsibility to contribute and work together to ensure this happens. Our PPC Delegates hold critical information for the membership to ensure we are all well informed and have insight to what now and what next. Voice of the principalship matters at this time.

Right now, it is OUR time to influence and shape the future – we all have a responsibility. Proactivity and responsiveness are our signature traits.

We are midst a time of great opportunity and much navigation of pathway for the future. There is much planning and much conversation and robust conversation around the thinking to move forward. The NSWPPA Executive and I are being deeply consulted on a multitude of streams of work.

Keep in mind this Government has not been in leadership for twelve years and the foundations are currently being built and platforms established. All stakeholders’ voices are being heard – both educational and industrial. Prioritising the work ahead of us is critical in terms of where the focus is, where the resources are invested and where the greatest impact will lay for students, staff, leaders, principals’ and communities.

A Conversation with Deputy Premier/ Minister for Education | Hon. Prue Car

I had the privilege of introducing and welcoming our Minister for Education Hon Prue Car to Term 2 State Council. The NSWPPA Executive and I have met with her on a number of occasions now both informally and formally. This was an opportunity for her to meet with us as an Association to commit to the work we will collaborate and lead on through our priorities. It was also an opportunity to express our appreciation that her words and actions to date were aligned and the workforce in its entirety were hopeful and optimistic.

I recognised her for her action around declassification as her first order of business and her public commitment to 100% SRS to Public Schools. Whilst this is work to be done at a Federal and Commonwealth level, to have the NSW Minister’s commitment is key. The Minister believes she has the best job in Government. She recognises the challenges we all face.

‘Schools are amazing places and lots of magic happening. Teachers and principals keep going despite all the challenges for the kids. Schools operate on good will. Structurally this is not sustainable. This is despite all the challenges, changes and expectations of parents and governments. ‘

The Minister’s vision is to ensure we are one system working together to support schools. One of her key statements is that pay is a function of respect. She spoke of how NSW is not competitive in this area and reaffirmed that negotiations have started with the NSW Teachers Federation.

On the policy front, she said announcements of policies and programs that have been paused and that more would be explained in Term 3.

She committed to seeing NESA streamlining accreditation and saw the term ‘proficient’ problematic. ‘Having to prove your proficiency every five years is offensive and drives people out of the profession.’

I was able to offer our support and commitment to ensure policy and practice was the work that mattered in our schools. The right work with our corporate colleagues is where we need to be focusing the resources and workforce to support students, schools, and their staff.

It was indeed an energising and positive conversation – there is no denying we will be at the table – at the infancy level to ensure we build the right work to focus on in our schools. The Minister made it clear that the key Associations and Councils will be the voice of NSW Education.

Secretary | Murat Dizdar Term 2 State Council

Minister Car’s announcement of her appointment of Murat to the position of Secretary NSW DoE was very warmly received. A standing ovation from those present at State Council reflected the energy, hope and optimism in the room.

The Department’s plan will be called the ‘Public School Strategy’. It will focus on equity. It will be a two page plan that we will be invited to provide feedback on in Term 3 before it is put in place.

Murat spoke to the Behaviour Strategy at length. He will take an active role in looking at the suspension policy – it will be taken out of the strategy and addressed separately. The important policy work can then proceed in schools and further collaboration will be undertaken to ensure suspension, restrictive practices and inclusion be refined to ensure the operationalisation works in all school settings. He addressed SSP Funding and Funding Support and committed to additional and specific funds for SSP’s and reinforced the importance of our NCCD data.

With forty percent of our students of our students in regional, rural, and remote areas, we must continue to focus on meeting the needs of these students and the staff in these areas in terms of deliverables. to meet their needs – equity. The amplification of this work is strongly supported by the membership of the NSWPPA.

In terms of the Temporary to Permanent initiative and the interim Staffing Agreement, Murat spoke to the fact that we have taken a risk with the strategy as we will have 16000 staff above establishment – this is about people – OUR people – OUR workforce – this is an immeasurable piece of work. The Minister and the Secretary both noted that ‘pay counts’ – we want our people to operate in a fair and equitable remuneration cycle. With transfer points reinstated there is a risk – there is commitment to a three term trial and then review.

When I broached Principal Classification with Murat he responded by stating that ‘nowhere in the country is there a quality Principal Classification system.’ He continued by stating that PPA has their view, SPC has theirs and WE need to stand strong together and commit to getting it right.’

I was able to say that SPC, Federation and PPA are committed and ready to take this piece of work on. We recognize this is a VERY difficult space and much negotiation and consideration needs to be invested. This is the right work for us to be doing. 

NSW Department of Education Staff Wellbeing Strategy

As you know significant work has been undertaken in the are of Staff Wellbeing by EY. Phase 1 – Diagnose has been completed and the stakeholder’s consultation of the findings and subsequent recommendations are going to be shared. The outcomes will be used to inform the next stage of work – codesigning and developing the Departments’ Staff Wellbeing Strategy.

Ernst and Young was engaged by the DoE to design evidence-based Staff Wellbeing Strategy for all Department employees with consideration to addressing key gaps and opportunities for the future.

Ernst and Young looked at what other jurisdictions are doing also. The identified opportunities for improvement and consideration include: Trust in Leadership, Interpersonal Trust and Trust in the Organisation.

Specific attention to a realignment withing these spaces will be addressed in upcoming consultation meetings about findings and actions forward to ensure change and realignment to ensure our work is sustainable and richly rewarding. State Executive and Chairpersons | Reference Groups will be deeply engaged in this work as we codesign the strategy forward.

Interim Staffing Agreement

As you know, the current Staffing Agreement will remain in place to ensure deep consultation takes place. The current agreement will remain until the end of Term 1 2024.

There are some key changes commencing Term 3 however. On receipt of a position declared vacant by Teacher Recruitment (TR), the principal MUST  provide advice to TR within 4 school weeks - Principals to use codes. If no action is taken in the 4 weeks it is escalated to the DEL and Teacher Recruitment for follow up.

Request for a position to be put on HOLD – the request is first considered by the DEL – endorsed or not. ALL endorsed positions will be reviewed by senior officers of School Workforce and School Performance BEFORE approved.

Key change is in the process for permanent vacancies – there is an elevation of all TRANSFER types in STEP 1 | Incentive, Aboriginal Employment, Nominated, Priority Aboriginal, Priority NSS, Compassionate, Service, Priority

Step 2 | Scholar, Graduate, ATT EOI

At my request we will be meeting monthly with the DoE team led by Leah Anderson and Shaun Ruming and both Presidents of SPC and PPA will be in the room before heading into the next Staffing Negotiation. The NSWTF endorses this initiative.

Temporary to Permanent Initiative

Many schools have reported such positive feedback on this initiative – issues arising have been dealt with quickly and clarity offered with individual circumstances. The workforce has responded positively accepting permanency. Variations and provisions will be considered for others in the workforce once this initiative is complete across the state.

Merged and Collapsed Classes Initiative | please engage…

The staffing issue continues and the availability for casual and relief staff still leads to merged and collapsed classes. This problem is real. There are schools significantly being impacted daily – leading to learning for students being impacted. The workforce is facing another round of COVID and this will continue presenting with learning from home. Specific criteria and examples of the definition of ‘merged and collapsed classes’ will be provided so as data is accurate.

In order for ALL Principals and Staff to be heard the Presidents of the Associations have endorsed a three week window where Principals will provide data daily (the commitment is it will be easy to complete) so that across the state the Secretary and the Deputy Premier | Education Minister have a true and accurate picture right now. I encourage you to engage in this when it is released as it is a piece of data that will affirm what we are saying and will also localise the support required in many of our schools. Keep a look out for this initiative.

Professional Support Officers

The EOI for recruitment of a NSWPPA Professional Learning Officer (and interested pool) closes Monday 19 June. Currently with Wendy Buckley on leave pending retirement from the NSWPPA and Phil Seymour on extended sick leave (subject to doctor approval to return to work), Geoff Scott and the NSWPPA Executive and I are supporting Principals across NSW. I will keep you updated on recruitment as the process is concluded. I ask you complete the paperwork on the website or phone Geoff Scott or myself. We will direct colleagues to the right support. Many thanks.

We wish Phil the speediest of recoveries during this time.

Executive Leadership Group

I was invited to meet with Secretary Murat Dizdar, Deputy Secretaries and Executive Directors to share the Associations priorities currently AND to share HOW we work and WHY. It was a fabulous and a most rewarding opportunity to hear from our corporate colleagues how much they value the seek to solve and collaborative style we all present with. Whilst our views often require robust conversation and a line in the sand, we go into everything with clarity, evidence and broad Principal and school voice. THANK YOU ALL for contributing to the culture of our Association. All Presidents of the key Associations will have this opportunity. I look forward to the next time we meet.

School Excellence Framework V3

We have ongoing engagement with Simone Walker, Cathy Brennan and Dan French regarding School Excellence – targets and EV … we are currently in the preliminary stages and data reflects the need to address Attendance.

School Excellence Framework V3 is also on the table for discussion as is External Validation refinement. Again, our Executive Liaisons and Chairpersons and the Reference Group members are across this. Please ensure YOUR contact people in your PPCs are keeping you both informed as well as channelling local voice us through the Reference Group.

Share Our Space

Can I remind you that all requests to be taken off the list for holiday periods for site specific issues or events are to go via your DEL. I ask you don’t contact the Share Our Space Team directly. The DEL’s have a spread sheet of requests and endorsements that go to the team. Many thanks colleagues – I know a number of you have had success following the DoE protocol.

Public Education Round Table

Key stakeholders met with Deputy Premier Car and Secretary Murat Dizdar to sign off on the shared agreement about how we will operate and how we will work in our quest to ensure NSW Education Reform and practices are the best they can be and rank highly across the world. It was a moment of great significance. Whilst a visual display of collective commitment there was a genuine agreement in the room about the WHY and HOW for the future.

Where we meet..

It is such a privilege presenting in these forums – it is a reciprocal opportunity for me to hear from the forum and action the site specific and network specific concerns expressed. These forums have been ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT is quality and relevance. Congratulations to the organising committees and the leaders in these spaces. Thankyou too to the Principalship for prioritising your attendance and engagement in these forums.

NSWPPA Professional Learning | Drew Janetzki

Take a look at the new ‘NSWPPA Professional Learning Catalogue ‘ A whole range of new and exciting events have been scheduled ! Huge thank you to Drew our Professional Learning Officer, Michael Burgess |Curriculum RG Liaison and Estelle Southall | Curriculum RG Chairperson. Lock in some learning now. You will find details on the new catalogue and PL on offer on the website.

Teacher Librarian Networks of Practice

I was invited to address one of our Teacher Librarian Networks last week. What a joy that was!! If your Teacher Librarian belongs to one such Network, they are accessing such high quality professional learning and communities of practice. The Shoalhaven Network is doing some amazing work in schools – I encourage you to talk to your Teacher Librarian about the Information Fluency Framework they are using in planning and programming which strengthens the work our classroom teachers are doing in terms of academic excellence and wellness.

What’s the Evidence? A University of Sydney research project

Project leaders: Alyson Simpson, Wayne Cotton, Rachel White

The presidents of the SPC and PPA are on a panel of experts working with a team of researchers from the University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) who are examining the concept of teacher quality. The What’s the Evidence (WtE) research team are developing a process to measure indicators of teacher quality, which can be used to support professional development and assess the predictive validity of a Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA). This study is highly valuable as it addresses critical gaps in current discussions of teacher quality by providing an evidence base for what might be counted as quality. The researchers have made a deliberate decision to focus on teacher quality – who teachers are – rather than teaching quality – what teachers do.

We note that in the recent Statement of Intent led by the NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car, all signatories acknowledged the importance of retaining and respecting current teaching staff, providing opportunities for ongoing and meaningful professional development and growth, and restoring pride and respect in the teaching profession. It is timely that a focus on teacher quality is taken to address challenges facing the profession. Our WtE study is the first research project in Australia to undertake this challenge and is supported by a wide range of education stakeholders including the NSW DoE, the NSW Teachers Federation, and others.

In the first phase of our research, we developed a teacher quality construct through reviewing 20,000 research articles. This identified four category sets of teacher quality:

1. Intellectual: A teacher’s cognitive processing abilities, which equates to a professional mind-set;  
2. Interpersonal: The ways in which teachers communicate with, interact with, and understand others, particularly their students;  
3. Affective: The teacher’s capacity to be relatable, e.g., empathetic; and  
4. Intrapersonal: A teacher’s ability to take personal responsibility for professional conduct.

In the second phase members of our research team consulted with educational stakeholders including senior Department leaders, principals, professional association leads, and teachers in schools to determine the essential indicators of quality for early career teachers. Our survey and focus group data revealed the most essential qualities for early career teachers to be resilience, motivation and commitment, communication, respect for diversity, and adaptability.

In our third phase we aim to measure three indicators of quality for early career teachers – motivation, respect for diversity, and reflective practice using a survey for principals and teachers. Principals in schools where early career University of Sydney and UTS teaching graduates are employed will be contacted soon to seek their support for the surveys to run their schools.

Our funding from the Department of Education means that we can pay schools for relief time for participating teachers: 1. to complete the survey, or 2. to complete the survey and to participate in early career professional development workshops run by the research team. We aim to collaborate with schools building partnerships that recognise the value of principal and teacher involvement in our research.

If you would like to know more about this study,or if you have USyd and UTS graduates employed at your school and you’d like to participate, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact our project lead, Professor Alyson Simpson (Alyson.simpson@sydney.edu.au) or our Research Fellow, Dr Rachel White (Rachel.a.white@sydney.edu.au) for further information.

NSWPPA 2023 State Conference

Theme: Connections and Crossroads

Sofitel Wentworth Sydney: 24-27 October.

• Registration opens on Tuesday 18^th July (week 1, term 3).

Face-to-face: $1050-00

Virtual: $500

• TUESDAY: EDUCATION EXPO - Opens at 10am – for Principals, executive, SAMs and Business Managers.

The theme for our Expo is Frocktober, highlighting awareness about Ovarian Cancer. For those that love an excuse to dress up, we will have prizes! Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided.

• SOCIAL EVENTS

Wednesday: Cocktail reception at Sofitel Wentworth

Thursday: Harbour Cruise – departing from Circular Quay. We will be altogether on the one huge ship.

SPEAKING PROGRAM

Grace Tame – Confronting my autism

Taryn Brumfitt – 2023 Australian of the Year – Body image

Kate Jenkins – former Sex Discrimination Commissioner – Respect at Work

James Kerr – author of Legacy – about the culture of the All Blacks. Virtual presentation (based in the UK)

Andrew May – performance coach for Manly Sea Eagles – Human connection, purpose and performance.

Yemi Penn – Rebellious curiosity

Bastian Treptel – Think like a hacker

Tanya Hosch – Diversity, inclusivity, and leadership

MC – Shelly Horton

• PPA Awards, Life Members and the AGM will be all held on Wednesday 25 October.

• Book your accommodation using the code NSWPPA023. Call group reservations on 02 9228 9188.

Welcome to the Principalship:

We warmly welcome these colleagues to the Principalship - a noble and rewarding profession – such a privilege to lead a school through the successes and celebrations as well as through periods such as these. Together with our staff, students and communities we lean on our colleagues and share in our next steps. Please know there is much support available to our early career principals including your mentor, Principal School Leadership, Primary Principal Council Executive and colleagues as well as the NSWPPA Executive and Professional Support Officers – Wendy Buckley 0403 560 814, Geoff Scott 0427 451 359 and Phil Seymour 0412 673 378. I am also available at the end of the phone anytime, email or text 0429 547 619.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome – your communities are very fortunate to have you. Remember to update your details on the NSWPPA website so your contact details are accurate and you are contactable.

New Chief Executive Officer appointed to the Public Education Foundation:

Following an extensive and extremely competitive recruitment process, the Public Education Foundation (PEF) welcomes David Riordan as its new CEO, commencing 29 May 2023.

David brings a wealth of experience as a former primary school teacher and from his 30-year career in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, mostly as a senior executive. He has held several high-profile roles, including CEO of the NSW Department of Education International, Director of Sydney TAFE one of the largest TAFE institutes in the country, CEO of the NSW Office of Communities and Director of City Services at the City of Sydney.

His appointment comes at an exciting time. The role of the Foundation is all the more vital given the educational, social and economic challenges confronting many students, parents and carers.

We have been extremely privileged to have been led by our previous CEO, David Hetherington, for 6 years. During that time, the Foundation’s reach and scale has increased significantly, as well as the level of philanthropic support that it has received for its important work. Mr Hetherington made a very significant contribution to the Foundation and intends to continue supporting public education and the Foundation in a number of ways in the future.

NSWPPA AWARDS – 2023

Every year we have the honour to recognise the work of our colleagues through the nomination and selection of recipients of the following awards. This year’s awards will be presented to the successful recipients at the NSWPPA State Conference on Wednesday 25 October 2023. 

Nominations in the following categories are open now:

• Life Membership
• Fellowship
• Distinguished Service
• Professional Award
• Aboriginal Education
• Social Justice/ Equity
• Meritorious Service

Nominations for all awards (apart from Meritorious Service) require a 500 word citation and a photograph of the nominee. Nominations should be submitted below.

SASSPA Seminars

SASSPA are offering Leading With Empathy Seminars for all SASS Staff – I ask you encourage your school to join SASSPA and have your SASS team attend their PL.

Professional Learning | PLO Drew Janetzki

New offerings:

• Difficult Conversations in Ultimo Monday 26th June
• New offerings from Franklin Covey All Access Pass scan the QR Code to register your interest.
• EOI 2024-2025 Anxiety Project
• Reflective Practice Scholarship opportunity – Sydney University closes Monday 26^th June
  

Culture | Deputy President Bob Willetts

“Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast.”

The NSWPPA has invested greatly in continuously enhancing our culture around our core mission to Support, Empower, Advocate and Lead.

At the term 1 State Council we focused on our “Mantras”, the language, practices and behaviours that strengthen our culture and enhance our ability to achieve our constitutional objectives.

Key mantras like; “Stay in the arena/at the table”, “hold the line”, “We are all The Department (one team)”, “Solutions focus” have become part of our day to day voice.

Many PPC’s have invited the PPA Executive to present the session, or utilised the presentation to identify what’s working well, and areas to improve” both at the PPC level, as well as to feedback to the PPA executive at state level.

We encourage everyone to access the presentation through your delegate to enhance the effectiveness of the business of the association around the state.

Staff Wellbeing Strategy | Deputy President Bob Willetts

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Earnst and Young “Discovery Phase” of the department Staff Wellbeing Strategy last year.

Last week Grace Palamara, Robyn and I were briefed into the EY Discovery Phase Report to inform the strategy.

The report details the issues that are well known to us and reflects known research evidence and the insights from our membership.

The report is currently embargoed however it is being used to inform the next steps in the “Design Phase”.

We are in the room for the consultation and look forward to sharing the report and the progress on the strategy in the near future.

A huge thanks to Grace Palamara as the Chairperson of the Principal Support Reference Group for her leadership in this PPA priority.

Peak Workflow Time : Dial up your Daily Recovery | Deputy President Bob Willetts:

Dr Adam Fraser’s recent social media post about “Mad May” reminded me that we are in one of the peak workflow times of the year

One of the key learnings from the Deakin University research in The flourish Movement is that it is vital to focus more on the daily and weekly recovery strategies in peak workflow times.

The 10 minutes of daily recovery resets your brain chemistry and relaxes you.

The weekly activity energises you, lights you up and refills your battery.

New PPC Contact TEAM | Vice President Michael Burgess

In an effort to streamline our communication, from reference groups and standing committees to local PPC area contacts, a new TEAM has been established. Area contacts have been added to the TEAM and to the specific channel for each group. Chairs will add information to the TEAM channel rather than emailing it out.

If you have been added to a channel, incorrectly, please post a message in the channel, so the chair can replace you with the correct person. 

If you are a local contact, for a reference group or standing committee or PSSA Contact, and you haven't been added to a team channel please send an email to mburgess@nswppa.org.au

Procedural Fairness | Vice President Greg McLaren

Procedural fairness, also known as natural justice, is generally recognised as having two elements: the right to be heard and the right of a person to an impartial decision.

Essentially, procedural fairness is a legal safeguard applying to an individual whose rights or interests are or could be affected.

Procedural fairness serves an important function in the investigation of complaints by:

• providing a means of checking facts and identifying major issues;
• exposing weaknesses in the investigation; and
• informing the basis and direction of investigation.

A fundamental rule of procedural fairness is that a person be advised of the allegations against them and have an opportunity to reply to them.

This rule in relation to allegations of misconduct is reflected in section 93D and 93F of the Teaching Service Act 1980, section 22F and 22H of the Technical and Further Education Commission Act 1990 and section 30 and 32 of the Education (School Administrative and Support Staff) Act 1987. The procedural guidelines are to ensure that an officer or employee:

• to whom an allegation of misconduct relates is to be advised in writing of the alleged misconduct and that the allegation may lead to disciplinary action being taken;
• must be given an opportunity to respond to the allegation; and
• must be provided with a subsequent opportunity to make submissions in relation to disciplinary action that the decision maker is considering taking.

Procedural fairness also encompasses matters such as:

• making reasonable enquiries prior to making a decision; and
• ensuring that the decision maker has no direct interest and is unbiased in the matter.

The legislation specifically states that taking disciplinary action subsequent to an allegation of misconduct is not to entail a formal hearing with legal representation and the calling and cross-examination of witnesses (see section 93E of the Teaching Service Act 1980, section 22G of the Technical and Further Education Commission Act 1990 and section 31 of the Education (School Administrative and Support Staff) Act 1987.

Further, give an opportunity for the employee to request a meeting with the decision maker prior to a final decision on the action to be taken.

In summary, Principals or other members of staff dealing with matters that affect the rights and interests of persons associated with the Department or Government school should:

• comply with any relevant policy, guideline or statutory provision applicable to a given situation;
• advise the person affected of the reasons for the decision-making process and the consequences that flow from it;
• provide the person with full details of the issue which may result in a detriment to that person and give them reasonable opportunity to submit a meaningful response;
• provide the person with full details of any other matter that will be taken into account in arriving at a decision and give them an opportunity to respond;
• make an impartial decision;
• provide reasons in support of any decision made; and
• provide the person with details of any appeal rights that may exist and how to exercise those rights.

Compiled by Greg McLaren using DoE Legal Issues Bulletin #3 Procedural Fairness, DoE Code of Conduct and NSW Legislation.

Delivery of Information to Employee Subject to Allegations of Misconduct | Vice President Greg McLaren

NSW DoE Professional and Ethical Standards (PES) Directorate generally arranges for Principals and Directors School Leadership to hand deliver letters of allegations against employees in the areas of child protection and other misconduct matters, or letters directing employees to alternative duties during an investigation or performance process.

Supported by NSWPPA, both PES and NSW Teachers Federation have emphasised the importance of ensuring that such matters are dealt with sensitively, given the level of anxiety often associated with the receipt of such a letter.

One of the strategies to reduce the risk to employees is to ensure that such letters are not delivered immediately prior to a weekend (Friday) or the day before school holidays.

There have been some instances where employees have been provided with letters containing potentially distressing advice just prior to a weekend or holiday period. It needs to be stressed the importance of trying to ensure that distressing news is delivered sensitively and at a time the employee has access to appropriate supports.

Should you require advice about the provision of such material, please contact the appropriate PES investigator or performance officer within PES. On the rare occasion where there is no option but to provide such a letter on a Friday - please discuss this matter with the appropriate officer from PES.

Supports available to the employee receiving the letter of allegations of misconduct:

Principals have a key role in supporting all parties in an investigation and should avoid being perceived to take sides. For this reason you should encourage employees and other parties to seek professional services.

If they would like assistance at any time during this process, advice and support is available from:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAPs). The Department’s provider is Converge International who may be reached toll free on 1800 060 650 or at

http://www.convergeinternational.com.au

• (Where relevant) NSW Primary Principals' Association (NSWPPA) can provide support to members. Professional Support Officers can be contacted on 0429 547 619 or at principal_support_application_2021.pdf (schoolzineplus.com)
• (Where relevant) NSW Teachers’ Federation who may be reached toll-free: 1300 654 369 or at Home (nswtf.org.au)
• (Where relevant) Public Service Association (PSA) who may be reached on 1300 772 679.

PES relies on the professionalism and expertise of Principals support fair and timely investigations. The investigator is your key contact and will guide you through the process and provide regular updates.

While as a Principal we have a role in referring an employee to supports ensuring their welfare at school, it is not recommended to act as a support person or advisor. This may place you in a compromised position in representing the Department and in providing the employee with effective support. There are resources available on the PES website including a video about the investigation process and FAQs for Principals.

Principals also play a crucial role in advising PES of changes in circumstances for parties including significant leave, health and safety claims, resignations, ill-health, breaches of directions or heightened risks.

Managing a school while an investigation is underway can be challenging. Your Director Educational Leadership is advised by PES of investigations that are being undertaken in your school so that they can provide you with professional support.

The PES investigator and their PES team director can assist you in navigating the investigation process, liaising with external agencies when they are involved and finding practical strategies in continuing to work with all the parties involved in the matter.

The Department is committed to fair processes and decision making for all parties involved in an investigation. As part of this commitment, PES will provide the employee subject to allegations of misconduct with information about the progress of the investigation regularly (at least once each school term).

The abovementioned advice was compiled by Greg McLaren using current NSW DoE PES information, DoE Code of Conduct, EPaC correspondence to Directors PS -DELs (2006) and Review of EPaC by Mark Tedeschi AM KC (2019).

A copy will be sent to PES.

Administration Marketplace Panel for Schools (AMPS) Student Finance | Vice President Leah Martin

Is your school still deciding on a Student Finance Product? You may find the Student Finance Roadshow videos and Product Demonstration Webinar videos from Compass, Sentral & School Bytes on this website of use.  

To facilitate the decision-making process for schools not currently using a third party vendor, the ITD team have provided a range of helpful resources including pricing comparison  information and this guide to selecting a product.  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Vice President Leah Martin:

AI has enormous potential to support staff in removing the burden of cognitively repetitive tasks. It also comes with a high level of risk in terms of privacy and security of information. The department continues to restrict student access to generative AI applications on devices within department networks. As part of its commitment to duty of care for all its students, the decision to restrict access is due to the lack of reliable safeguards preventing these tools from exposing students to potentially explicit and harmful content. While department staff have access to generative AI tools, these guidelines recently released by the NSW DoE must be followed for safe, ethical usage.  

When using generative AI tools for teaching and learning, it is essential to manage personal information effectively and ensure proper de-identification processes are in place. 

Personal information is any information that can be used to identify an individual directly or indirectly. It could be a student’s name, address, class, school, family details, fingerprints or a combination of information from which a student or other individual can be identified. The information can be in recorded in paper files, electronic records, video recordings and photographs. 

Google Reviews of Public Schools | Vice President Leah Martin

Many schools are dealing with derogatory Google reviews of their school, staff and programs. At present, there are limited channels for having such reviews removed. The NSWPPA Technology Reference Group are working with ITD to support schools to work towards a solution and would greatly appreciate your time in responding to this survey to provide further information to inform the next steps.  

In the meantime, if schools receive a derogatory review, please forward to the Technology RG by emailing leah.martin5@det.nsw.edu.au, who will reach out to ITD for support.

Inclusion and Wellbeing | Vice President Trish Peters

With a change of government comes a mini-reset and a pause!

• The Minister announced a review of the behaviour policy and procedures. For now, follow and implement the current (new) policy, hold off on your new School Behaviour Support and Management Plan and expect a separate (clearer, shorter) document that covers the procedures for suspension and expulsion to make life simpler.
• There’s also a pause on implementation of the Restrictive Practices Framework with more time to unpack, understand and action the changes needed.
• The Outcomes Framework, designed to better track and measure educational outcomes for students with disability to measure and track the learning growth, wellbeing and independence of students with disability is waiting for advice from the Minister.

Your NCCD processes and data quality have never been more important as the data is used to determine funding for Low Level Adjustment for Disability (LLAD).

From the DoE website - School principals are responsible for verifying the accuracy of their school's data and validating that there is evidence at the school to support the inclusion of a student in the data collection. Evidence must be retained for a minimum of 7 years. NCCD data is used to inform funding provided by the Australian Government to NSW and may be the subject of audits or compliance activities.

School Counsellors – Good news and bad news

There’s a number of successful recruitment initiatives happening to bring more on board – that’s the good news!

The bad news is - it isn’t fast enough to cover all the vacancies!

But the good news is - you can use other staff categories such as teachers, SLSOs, Student Support Officers to fill vacancies to undertake wellbeing work. Helen Craigie, chair of the Student Wellbeing Reference group, is seeking information on how to go about this, and a guide for principals to clarify the procedures. This will get sent out via email to all members when it comes to hand.

OC Advisory Group- Selective Education Program Principal Survey | Vice President Norma Petrocco

Does your school have an opportunity class?

The Selective Education Program is currently surveying OC Principals and Teachers about a proposed OC conference. Could you please take 5 minutes to tell us what you would like to see at the proposed conference.

Curriculum Reform | Vice President Norma Petrocco

NSW Curriculum Reform Key Messages | Megan Kelly

Executive Director | Curriculum & Reform

Changes to the NESA Curriculum Reform Schedule

As you’ll be aware, the NSW Government is making changes to the NSW Curriculum Reform schedule. The new schedule will be staggered, with English and mathematics being prioritised and all new syllabuses delivered to teachers by 2027. Teachers will now have more space to get to know the new syllabuses and time to implement them well.

All syllabuses which have been released and are scheduled for implementation in 2024, including English 3-10 and mathematics 3-10 syllabuses, are proceeding as planned. The NSW Curriculum Reform schedule will be redeveloped and published on the NESA website once available. Read more about the changes.

‘Have your say’ on new syllabuses

In Term 3, NESA will consult on four mandatory K-6 syllabuses.

This will be the only opportunity for your school to provide feedback on the new syllabuses before they are finalised and implemented. Exact dates are yet to be confirmed but the latest updates will be communicated via Staff Noticeboard and the Primary Curriculum Statewide Staffroom.

Key updates

• The Assessment practices – consistent teacher judgement webpage has launched to provide the latest advice for school leaders and teachers in designing, marking and moderating school-based assessment.
• NESA has released a range of professional learning courses which help teachers with the new syllabuses and their intent and can be accessed on NESA’s NSW Curriculum website. The support available is for the following syllabuses: English 3-6, Mathematics 3-6, Aboriginal Languages K-10, Classical Languages K-10 and Modern Languages K-10.
• Check out CESE’s new Curriculum implementation case studies which share the strategies that have supported the successful roll-out of the new curriculum in 6 early adopter schools with their Year 1 cohorts.
• The PL ‘Leading effective curriculum implementation (NR37854)’ is available to support middle leaders with effective curriculum implementation for any syllabus. Find out how to register your interest for LECI Module 4: Effective assessment and reporting
• Resources continue to be released in Weeks 1, 3, 7 and 10 of every term and details are communicated via Staff Noticeboard, Statewide Staffrooms and on the Keep up to date webpage. It is worth noting that all 200 K-2 units are now published, the first time teachers have been given units that cover an entire stage - a huge achievement from the Primary Curriculum Team. The unprecedented support is part of the Department’s commitment to provide a range of quality assured curriculum implementation resources which contribute to decreasing teacher workload.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email curriculumreform@det.nsw.edu.au

Screening Validations System Change - PPA Presentation Follow Up | Vice President Michael Trist / HR RG Chair Skye Ramsey

In August 2022, Ross and Lucy presented to the PPA and SPC on the system changes for the SAP Screening Validations solution. From that engagement, the team listened and took into consideration the feedback we received from the group. 

The project is scheduled (but not confirmed) to be released in Term 3 of 2023. I have been told that you are the correct contact for SCP and PPA, I hope this is still the case. Please let me know otherwise. 

I would like to take this opportunity to give SPC and PPA progress update on the project:

• The system validation prompts have been amended to give clear direction (refer to the table below)
• Communication strategy has been created to ensure relevant stakeholders are informed (e.g. newsletter and noticeboard)
• The system validation is currently in User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

With reference to point #1, please see the updated validation prompts:

And finally….

This week is “Men’s Health Week“ in NSW. To all my male colleagues and friends – PRIORITISE a health check with your GP this month. Don’t put it off.

The physical, psychological and mental health of us ALL matters.

On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive – Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Leah Martin, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Greg McLaren, Adam Zanco, Michael Trist, Scott Sanford, Mark Pritchard, Lisa Beare and Drew Janetzki, I acknowledge the amazing commitment you have made in Term 2 and the energy and hope you are generating to your school and the education community more broadly.

Find the bright spots in your days and connect with your colleagues to celebrate your work and that of our Association at your PPC Meetings and Conferences over the next few weeks. Celebrate your leadership in this 175^th year of Public Education.

I must close this report in expressing my absolute gratitude and heartfelt thanks. I feel so very privileged and humbled to lead the Association as President. No two days have been the same!

The business of the Association is the heart of the work that matters in our schools for our students firstly, our staff – teaching and administrative and for us, as Principals. The work isn’t easy – nothing that truly matters ever is. I am ALWAYS inspired and energised by those I work alongside; - NSWPPA Executive and Chairpersons, Delegates, Observers, PPC Executive and the entire membership. It matters that we lead a culture of collaborative practice with our corporate colleagues and the Ministry. Opportunity awaits – action and deliverables are the next steps. I’m committed to this. We have the right people positioned as Executive and Chairs to get this work done. YOUR voice and YOUR commitment and YOUR action will see it happen across NSW.

Every day of my tenure as President has been a gift…the work IS rewarding… it is however about the truly amazing colleagues I get to walk it with. Just this afternoon as I was finalising this report, I received a text message from a colleague who is a remarkable educator – a teacher, and an exemplary Assistant Principal. She has just let me know she has been invited to interview next week for a Principal role… she reached out to me and said,

 ‘I have been reflecting on the leaders I have been lucky enough to work with over the years and drawing inspiration from them! That’s! where you come in!  I am so grateful to have worked with you, learned from you and seagulled aspects of your leadership I admire to form part of my own. Regardless of the outcome this week, I want you to know you are a big part of why I am here in the first place …..’

As leaders we are watched even when we are unaware of it happening … reflect on your own stories … Who inspired you? Who did you learn from and with? And who has walked with you and seen you advance your career???? How fortunate we are to walk our careers with AMAZING colleagues. I have to say, if this colleague picks up this school the staff and community are absolute winners and if she doesn’t pick this one up, there is a school community just waiting for her…. Its wonderful to think wonderful educators and leaders are wanting to take on the Principalship!!

Have a wonderful Week 8.

Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President