4 July 2025
From the President
Congratulations on making it through to the end of Semester 1, 2025!
Later in this newsletter, there is a great article by the former President of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council. Craig Peterson writes that Australia’s education system is not failing – but the narrative is.
His words are a timely reminder of the importance of focussing on what we have achieved, rather than all of the challenges we face. So, let’s get started!
As secondary principals, we:
- Are responsible for leading over 470 deputy principals, 1,193 HOLAs and 7,120 teachers.
- Manage school budgets valued at up to $40,000,000 per year
- Educate 58.24% of all WA secondary students in our public schools. That equates to educating 246,559 kids from Years 7 to 12.
- We administered NAPLAN to over 40,000 students across Years 7 and 9.
Note: One of our principals was recognised and honoured with the award of Member of the Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.
What do we achieve? Our public schools and students:
- Won 100% of the Beazley Medals for the top performing ATAR and VET students.
- Won 63.7% of all General Exhibitions
- Won 60.4% of all Subject Exhibitions
NAPLAN Numeracy Achievement:
- By jurisdiction, our Year 7 students rank fourth out of eight in average numeracy achievement.
- Two years later, our Year 9 students rank first out of eight in average numeracy achievement.
NAPLAN Reading Achievement:
- By jurisdiction, our Year 7 students rank fourth out of eight in average reading achievement.
- Two years later, our Year 9 students rank second out of eight in average reading achievement.
Don’t ever underestimate what you do. You create countless opportunities for kids. You change lives. You make a difference.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to public education. Now, it’s time to relax and rejuvenate.
Melissa Gillett
WASSEA President
2025 CONCEPT AV WASSEA Conference
2025 CONCEPT AV WASSEA Conference– One last thing before term break…
Before you head off for a well-earned rest, take a moment to tick one last thing off your list – register for the 2025 CONCEPT AV WASSEA Conference.
We are offering flexible attendance options so you (and your team) can join us in the way that works best for your schedule.
Flexible Registration Options
Choose how you want to attend:
- Full Conference (Day 1 + Day 2 + Gala Dinner)
Two full days of keynote speakers, masterclasses, panels, networking, and celebration. - Day 1 Only or Day 2 Only
Access all sessions, professional mingling, and conference materials for just one day. - Gala Dinner Only
A night of inspiration, connection, and entertainment with WA’s education leaders. - Day 2 Breakfast + Keynote Only
Join us bright and early for breakfast and an exclusive keynote by Adam Simpson, former AFL player and West Coast Eagles coach.
Day 1 – Monday 4 August 2025
Theme: Leadership & Culture in Focus
- Dr Marny Lishman – Empathy in Action The Heart of transformational leadership
- Dr Adam Fraser – “No Thanks Kevin” The Psychology of courage
- Adam Voigt – Cultivating Culture: Why strong School cultures thrive in challenging times
- School showcases, Masterclasses, networking and more
Day 2 – Tuesday 5 August 2025
Theme: Leadership, Connection & Purpose
- Breakfast Keynote: Adam Simpson
- Dr Nici Sweaney - AI leadership in Action
- Dr Tom Brunzell – Trauma-informed Educational Leadership
- Andrew Horabin – Leadership, Culture and the Stories We Tell
- Masterclasses, building relationships and more
Bring Your Team
With one-day registrations and breakfast-only options, it has never been easier to get your leadership team involved. Empower your emerging leaders and teams with targeted, high-impact professional learning.
Ready to Register?
Spots are limited — secure your place before the break by registering at the link below!
If you have questions, please contact us at executiveofficer@wassea.asn.au
We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 WASSEA Conference!
Hyogo-WA School Administrator Exchange Program
Expressions of Interest Now Open!
Now in its 13th year, the Hyogo School Administrator Exchange Program continues to support and strengthen the longstanding relationship between Western Australia and Hyogo Prefecture. The program provides an opportunity for education leaders to meet face-to-face, explore current and emerging educational issues in Japan and Australia, and foster lasting cultural and educational partnerships between our schools.
We are pleased to confirm that our Japanese guests will be visiting Perth in early August, including school visits and professional exchanges.
Expressions of interest are now open for WASSEA Ordinary members who wish to participate in the outbound exchange to Hyogo scheduled to take place from 25 November to 2 December.
How to Apply
If you’re interested in being part of this unique professional and cultural experience, please submit your Expression of Interest via the Microsoft Form linked below.
The submission deadline is 28 July 2025.
WASSEA Business Partners
We are proud to acknowledge our 2025 Business Partners — the organisations who enable us to deliver valuable opportunities for school leaders across Western Australia.
Their ongoing commitment to education makes a real difference, and we are grateful for their support. We look forward to working together to strengthen leadership and learning in our schools.
Our Business Partners will be joining us at the upcoming CONCEPT AV WASSEA Conference — you will find them in the Exhibition Hall, where we encourage all delegates to stop by, start a conversation, and explore the opportunities these partnerships bring to our professional community.
We are also delighted to welcome our Business Partners to the Gala Dinner — a special evening to connect, celebrate, and acknowledge the vital role they play in supporting school leadership across WA.
Opportunities for students
Know a high-performing Year 12 student ready to launch a career in tech?
Applications are now open for the 2026 WiseTech Earn & Learn program.
Over four years, Year 12 school leavers get paid to work with industry experts while they study for their computer science degree, with no HECS debt.
The WiseTech Earn & Learn program combines university recognised coursework, real-world experience at one of Australia's most successful tech companies, and university funding to give students an unparalleled head-start on their career in tech.
If you know students who might be interested, they can find out more information and apply at the following link:
Interesting and informative reading
Australia’s Education System Is Not Failing — But the Narrative Is
It’s a familiar headline: Australia’s education system is in crisis. We’re told our students are slipping down international rankings, our classrooms are falling behind, and our schools are in decline. But as with many media- or politically driven narratives, the story is more complex — and the truth is far more encouraging than the headlines suggest.
Click the link below to read the full article on by Craig Petersen (Past-President, NSW Secondary Principals’ Council and former ASPA Director).
Scholarship opportunities
Woodman Scholarship
The aim of the Woodman scholarship is to assist WASSEA Ordinary and Life members in accessing high quality professional development that that might otherwise be out of their reach for reasons such as interstate or overseas travel being required, or PD that is for leadership development but cannot be school funded due to school priority or budgeting restraints.
Applications can be submitted at any time, and are judged at the end of each term. More info and an application form can be found here: