11 April 2025
From the President
Congratulations on making it through Term 1 of another busy school year!
Given that the school term is only 10 weeks long, it always amazes me just how much happens in such a short period of time! I thought it was worth remembering some of these happenings…
- WA and Australian Governments sign up to an updated funding agreement, with the main change being the increase in the commonwealth contribution to 25%... by 2034
- First chance for school leaders to read the Agency Capability Review Executive Summary, highlighting the significant work ahead of our agency.
- Implementation of components of the 2023 Schools General Agreement, including the Senior Teacher 2 process and the entitlement of principals and deputy principals to internal relief payments.
- Announcement of new Collegiate Principals to commence in Term 2.
- Update the lock-down browsers for every student using their own device for NAPLAN.
- Survived the 2025 State election
- Survived the first couple of weeks of the Federal election
- Welcomed a new Minister for Education, the Hon Sabine Winton, MLA, a former public school teacher.
- Read the data from the ACU Australian Principals Health and Wellbeing Research for 2024
On top of the bigger items, at a school level you:
- Ensured your water pipes were flushed
- Completed the census
- Administered NAPLAN for hundreds of students
- Administered the OLNA
- Managed the enrolments of dependants of international postgraduate students with a fee waiver
- Inducted any new Education Assistants
- Completed the Contributions and Charges survey
- Updated and submitted your incident management plans
- Made sure your initiation student registration and demographic information was uploaded to SIRS
- Uploaded course offerings etc to SIRS
- Submitted applications for EAL/D kids, and for equitable access adjustments
- Accessed, analysed, presented your 2024 Year 12 student performance data
- Accessed and analysed your secondary metrics data
- Responded to the changed Microsoft product licencing for non-employee staff (such as Chaplains) to ensure compatibility with employee access.
- Conducted On-Entry Assessment program (for those of you with pre-primary kiddies)
- Reviewed Graduate Teacher entitlements
- Reviewed changes resulting from the registration of both the Education Assistant and Government Services General Agreements.
- Reviewed and implemented the new Outdoor Education Activities policy and procedures
- Ran selection processes for multiple teaching and support positions.
- Attended PL and/or engaged staff in professional learning/planning around psychosocial hazards
- Conducted emergency drills for students and staff
- Attended meetings with your school board and P&C
- Ensured your staff completed mandatory PL (e.g. child protection)
- Approved WWCC applications
- Reviewed and commenced implementing the Workplace Learning and Training with External RTO policies
- Made sure all CPFS kids had documented plans
- Completed half a dozen payroll certifications
- Checked and completed all items in the “Reporting Requirements of Schools” for each month
- Completed end-of-month finance processes
- Changed your password at least once
- Completed Disability Resource Allocation processes for unexpected new enrolments.
- Received and actioned multiple emails advising a student needed to be moved to the Former Roll
I suspect this list is only about 10% of what you did during the term but, gee, it really shows the breadth of knowledge and skills required of a school leader.
Hopefully, you were also able to use your skills as Instructional Leaders – the work which actually makes a difference to student achievement.
Enjoy the break ahead. Rest, relax, and rejuvenate!
Melissa Gillett
WASSEA President
WASSEA Conference 2025 – Save the Date!
The conference experience you’ve come to know is being reimagined to deliver a refreshed and enhanced experience for all delegates. The WASSEA Board and Conference Committee invite you to save the date and join us for the 2025 Concept AV WASSEA Conference.
Here’s a small glimpse of what you can expect this year:
- A revitalised gala dinner – a fresh look and feel.
- New rooming at the Crown – the same outstanding venue with improved spaces to enhance the delegate experience.
- An expanded exhibition hall – more exhibitors, more engagement, and more opportunities to connect.
Now is the time to start conversations with your teams – including members, non-members, and aspiring leader – so they can also save the date!
From our WASSEA Business Partners
Fotoworks School Photography
Fotoworks is honoured and thrilled to announce that we are joining forces with Midland Photographers, taking ownership early 2025.
What does this mean for your school? Here’s the best part – nothing is changing!
- Same friendly team – Tom, Trish, and the crew you know and love will still be there (and yes, still bringing the morning tea!).
- Same great service – The Midland brand, approach, and commitment to schools remains the friendly and professional service you trust.
- More variety, more support – With Fotoworks behind the scenes, you now have a broader choice of services, products and pricing to offer your school community.
This transition is a special one as Tom, Midland Photographers’ founder, personally chose Fotoworks as the right team to continue his legacy after 50 years of dedicated service. Our shared passion for supporting WA schools and keeping it local made this an easy decision, and we are excited to build on Midland’s incredible reputation and bring even more value to your school photography experience.
Offensive Behaviours and Productivity Research
The Australian Catholic University is conducting research funded by the Principals Australia Research Foundation (PARF), a foundation which funds research into what makes effective school leadership. PARF is managed by a Board of directors nominated by ASPA and APPA – so we benefit directly from the research projects undertaken.
This project is examining the impact of offensive behaviours on school leader performance and productivity. It follows research in the health field that found that offensive behaviours towards doctors and nurses significantly impacts patient care – compromising communication, increasing medical errors, and leading to burnout and decreased quality of care. This research is investigating whether the care and education of children and young people is impacted when educators experience offensive behaviours.
Responses and resulting data will be critical in advocating for solutions that ensure all school environments are both safe and respectful.
The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed here. It will remain open until 30 April 2025.
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: