Membership News 🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏽

NEW MEMBERS

We would like to welcome the following new members who have joined our Association. How nice the views must be in Cocos Islands!

Sharon Spring - Cocos Islands DHS
Elise Koch - Henley Brook PS
Melanie Smoker - Dunsborough PS

"We look forward to providing you with the Support, Advocacy, Leadership Development and Connection for which WAPPA is renowned.

We welcome your voice to the ongoing discussions around primary education and school leadership through the numerous avenues provided to our members."
- The WAPPA Team

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

WAPPA would like to extend a heart felt congratulations to all nominees and finalists of this year’s DG’s Women of Achievement Award. Whilst all finalists would have been worthy recipients, the final honour was awarded to Dr Antoinette Morris of North Lake Senior Campus.

WAPPA would also like to acknowledge South West Educational Region, Director of Education, Sue Cuneo, who was amongst the five finalists.

Sue has been a WAPPA member for over 22 years and continues to work closely with the Association, with matters that impact primary leaders in the South West.

LOOKING FOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

The Department is currently advertising for the position of Assistant Director of Education, across three regions.

Experienced school leaders are encouraged to apply for this position, as one of the core functions of the role is to support school leaders within our schools.

Click the link below for more information:
Assistant Director of Education (Metropolitan and Regional), Schools RAEXDR, $197,477 per annum Appointment Pool, 1.0, DOE879726 Department of Education

Please be advised that this vacancy has now been advertised with a closing time/date of 4:30pm (WST), Wednesday, 27 March 2024.

NEW WAPPA MEMBER SERVICES OFFICER

WAPPA would like to welcome our newest Business Centre team member, Angie Ossy-Orley. Angie commenced at WAPPA this week and she will be responsible for several key roles, within the Connection and Leadership pillars of our work. A sample of Angie’s role will be to:

Support members in seeking Mentors and Collegial Groups.
Establish new WAPPA Professional Communities for various sub cohorts, such as L3 Principals, Regional and Remote Leaders, Aboriginal Leaders and more.
Source articles from WAPPA Members for inclusion in WORDS.
Source relevant school policies and documents from WAPPA Members to share with others on the website.
Coordinate the WAPPA Grants and Awards Program and liaise with successful schools/member.

Advocacy & Support

WAPPA BOARD MEETING - HELD 11 MARCH 2024

The WAPPA Board met last week and discussed a number of topical issues in schools, with members of the Department’s Corporate Executive joining our meeting for a period of time. Issues raised with them included International Enrolments and the impact this was causing for our members. We subsequently wrote to a number of our Chapter Chairs asking for various stories from the field, in order to better understand the complexities of this issue and further advocate on your behalf. Since then, we have noted that the topic was again raised in the recent Webex with the DG and all school principals have now been asked to send your concerns and queries directly to the Department. We see this as a positive step, coming from our advocacy at the recent Board Meeting and we will continue to collate any responses we receive, in order to progress potential solutions.

If you would like to share your experiences with us, please email us directly at support@wappa.net.au.

Another topic of discussion that was acknowledged as being of concern, was the impact of PIIR Forms in schools and the apparent lack of support for school leaders in navigating this space. WAPPA will be hosting our May State Assembly in just over six weeks and we have already secured a senior leader from the Department, to hear directly from our Chapter Chairs, as well as provide greater insight and clarity into the function and management of PIIR Forms and other Work Health and Safety requirements. Corporate Executive members were able to advise the WAPPA Board on the training that is being planned and provided across the system, inclusive of Directors of Education, to ensure the needs of school leaders are also being addressed.

WA STUDENT ASSISTANCE PAYMENT

With the announcement of this week’s Student Assistance Payment, WAPPA will be very keen to monitor any impact on our members across the state. Whilst we anticipate a smooth roll out of this initiative, we are keen to ensure members are not drawn into disputes regarding access to the payment, or having to spend inappropriate amounts of time on paperwork and technical support.

To minimise the impact on schools, the claims process has been designed to use ServiceWA as the primary method of submitting a claim. In addition, promotional material will clearly outline the requirements to submit a claim and where to find a student WA Student Number. A support line has been established to answer questions regarding eligibility and how to claim. Parents and carers can call 1800 882 345 for support between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There may be exceptional circumstances where schools may be required to assist parents and carers to submit a claim. The following dedicated support email address has also been established for schools.
wasap.schools@education.wa.edu.au

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS UPDATE (AGPPA and APPA)

This week, WAPPA President Niel Smith and Vice President, Mel Sutherland are in Canberra to take part in AGPPA and APPA meetings. Over the course of the three days, they have been engaged in discussions with other states in relation to school leader workload and wellbeing, primary resourcing in relation to 100% SRS payments and the changing policy landscape at a national level.

In relation to Health & Wellbeing, members at national level discussed various research proposals into vicarious trauma of school leaders and the emotional toll of school leadership. In coming months we will be able to provide further information about these research topics and any possible involvement from WAPPA Members. WAPPA is also aware of the imminent release of the 2023 ACU Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey Report, which we will share with our members in the coming weeks.

Upcoming Events

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

We are calling for EOIs for concurrent speakers and schools interested in performing for WAPPA's Annual Conference in August. Please click the links below to learn more about how you can participate in this year's conference.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Professional Learning

Complete your required professional learning hours for TRB renewal with us!
Our Trilogy of Conversations lineup can help you manage difficult conversations and deal with conflict. The skills and tips you'll learn will enable you to lead with knowledge and confidence. Not only that, our professional learning workshops count towards the requirements for TRB renewal.
LEARN MORE

From the Field

Dear Colleagues,

Watheroo Primary School opened in 1914 and closed in 2023. To commemorate this lovely school, the community is holding a final farewell.

We would like to invite anyone across the state who has been associated with the school over the years to attend.

Sincerely,

Watheroo PS

PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

EPILEPSY WA
March is Purple Month, dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy. At Epilepsy WA, we stand with the 1 in 25 who will receive an epilepsy diagnosis in their lifetime.

Our calendar is filled with impactful events to spread awareness and support in the WA community. We've already experienced the camaraderie of the Purple Walk and Family Fun Day on March 17, where families and friends came together to show their support for epilepsy awareness.

But the momentum doesn't stop there. On March 26, we're excited to illuminate nearly 50 landmarks across the state in purple on Purple Day, symbolising our collective commitment to increasing epilepsy awareness and ensuring a fair go for those diagnosed. It's a striking visual representation of solidarity and support for those living with epilepsy.

Epilepsy WA is dedicated to ensuring that schools in Western Australia are well-prepared to provide support for individuals with epilepsy. We offer epilepsy management and emergency medication training, a dedicated information hotline, free resources, support groups, and much more.

We encourage all school communities to join our cause. Whether by attending events, hosting awareness activities, or spreading the word, your involvement makes a significant impact.

For more information on how you can contribute or access resources, please visit our website at www.epilepsywa.asn.au. Together, let's paint March purple and show our unwavering support for epilepsy awareness.

WAPPA Words 2024 – Term 1 Week 8