TERM 4 2025
Issue 77 No 4
The Journal of the Federation of Parents & Citizens Associations of NSW
Secretary’s Message
BY MURAT DIZDAR, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education
As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I hope every parent and carer across NSW feels proud of the growth their children have made in 2025. Whatever shape that learning journey has taken, parents and carers remain the most constant educators in a young person’s life. Those words of encouragement at the dinner table, the moments spent helping with homework, or the check-in chats in the car on the way to school are all moments that matter.
That daily support is a quiet strength behind our public schools. And I’m so grateful that it doesn’t stop at home. Everywhere I go, I see parents and carers giving their time and energy in countless ways to their communities – whether it’s helping with reading in classrooms, selling raffle tickets, taking time off work to accompany excursions, cheering at carnivals, coming in as a guest speaker around your career to inspire our students or lending a hand backstage at a school play or music performance.
The power in public education is that we welcome families from all walks of life, each bringing their own experiences, cultures, stories, and strengths. Everyone offers something different, but we all share the same belief – that every child has potential, and together we can help them realise it. Nothing brings that belief to life more clearly than the parents and carers who contribute so wholeheartedly to our schools.
I was honoured to celebrate this spirit at the Public Education Awards held at Sydney Town Hall in term 3. There, I had the privilege of presenting the Public School Parent and Volunteer of the Year Awards alongside P&C Federation Vice-President Hema Fifita. The volunteers recognised this year made remarkable contributions. Some focused on building resources for their schools –leading fundraisers, running canteens and uniform shops, or securing grants that provided new opportunities for students. Others devoted their energy to student wellbeing, launching initiatives like Breakfast Clubs or helping families feel included through translation and cultural support. There were also parents who enriched learning more directly, sharing their expertise through environmental projects or working alongside teachers to help bring lessons to life. They all reflect the breadth of what impactful volunteering looks like in our schools.
Parents and carers can be assured we are working hard to build an outstanding and equitable education system. I am grateful for your voices as we continue on the path set by Our Plan for NSW Public Education Some of this work includes growing a stronger workforce that families can rely on, embedding evidence-based teaching practices to get optimum outcomes for all learners, and preparing every school to offer high potential and gifted education opportunities by 2026.
Term 4 is always a big one. It’s the season of final assessments and reports, concerts and presentation days, and end-of-year celebrations. For some students, it’s the beginning of something bigger – whether that’s transitioning into high school or preparing for the HSC. I know these weeks can feel intense and busy, but please know our schools are there to support every family to see the year through with pride.
Thank you to every parent and carer for standing alongside us, for believing in public education, and for the generosity you continue to show. Your involvement with school life only deepens our students’ understanding of why education is so important – and that is a gift that lasts well beyond the school gates.
I wish you and your families every success as we close out 2025.
Parliamentary Secretary’s Message
BY GREG WARREN MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Early Learning
Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney
As we enter the final stretch of the year, I have been reflecting on the strength of our NSW public schools and the important role parents and carers play in shaping them. We all know how life-changing a great local school can be.
One of the things that makes public education so special is the sense of community that surrounds it. Every day, parents and carers carry that spirit into the school gates – whether it be through organising events, running the uniform shop or canteen, sharing their stories in classrooms, or supporting the programs that bring learning to life. These might seem like small acts, but they have a significant positive impact on the operations of our schools, enhancing learning experiences, and helping shape the next generation of well-rounded citizens.
The NSW Government values that spirit deeply. The care, commitment, and pride shown by volunteers in all fields is one of the reasons why NSW is such a great place to live. What stands out most about volunteering in our schools is the way it enriches students’ lives, and inspires a culture of giving that reaches the broader community. I am also grateful for the role parents and carers have played in shaping milestones throughout the year. Your advocacy through the P&C Federation has been vital in reaching a landmark new funding agreement with the Federal Government. This will see the biggest investment into public education in history and deliver what families rightly expect: that every school is fully funded to meet every child’s needs.
The commitment of parents and carers to their children’s education fuels the government’s drive to deliver the reforms that matter most. That means making sure there’s a qualified teacher in every classroom, with vacancies already down 61% over the past 3 years. It means closing learning gaps by embedding evidence-based practices so all students meet their full potential. It means ensuring every school can offer high potential and gifted education
"What stands out most about volunteering in our schools is the way it enriches students’ lives, and inspires a culture of giving that reaches the broader community."
opportunities. And it means building and upgrading schools so every family has access to a strong, local school, including in rapidly growing communities.
Term 4 can be a time of mixed emotions. For our Year 12 students, it marks the culmination of 13 years of schooling as they sit the HSC, and families share in all the anticipation, aspiration, and nerves that come with it. I wish every family strength and confidence through the exam period. Trust in the work you've done together and remember to look after yourselves along the way.
Wherever you are in your child’s learning journey, every parent and carer should know their daily involvement and encouragement is valued. Thank you for your partnership and for contributing to them so meaningfully.
I wish you all a wonderful Term 4.
Conference & Awards
ATTEND THE 2025 CONFERENCE
Mark your calendars! The P&C Federation Conference 2025 is coming up on 29 November at UWS Parramatta City Campus. Under the theme “Participate & Communicate”, this day is all about giving voice to every P&C, whether small or large, new or long-standing, metro or regional.
We’re bringing together creative, interactive sessions to spark conversation, deepen your skills, and grow your network. Topics include advocacy and engaging with government, AI in schools, fundraising strategies, and decision-making power in P&Cs.
You’ll also hear stories from fellow P&Cs, their wins, challenges, and lessons. You will have an opportunity to help set the Federation’s advocacy priorities for 2026.
Throughout the day you’ll engage with speakers and experts, browse an interactive trade hall full of resources and ideas, and join spirited discussions with passionate P&C members from across NSW.
The day wraps up with the P&C Federation Awards Ceremony, where we’ll celebrate outstanding volunteers, principals and associations.
Your ticket includes full access to all sessions, networking, catering and a show bag.
Bring your office bearers along. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your experiences, be inspired, and help shape the future of public education.
We hope to see you there! Bring your questions, your ideas, and your enthusiasm—together we can strengthen every P&C across NSW.
Scan the QR code below to read the full program and get your FREE tickets today.
THE
P&C
FEDERATION AWARDS ARE OPEN
We want to celebrate and recognise the incredible work done in public schools throughout the state. Whether it is the contribution of a particular individual in your school community, your school’s principal, or your P&C Association – the P&C Federation Awards are an opportunity to showcase these efforts and reward outstanding work. No matter how big or small your school community is, we want to recognise hard work and collaboration in all its forms. We have three categories of awards, each with their own criteria. The winners of our P&C Federation Awards will be announced at our annual conference 29 November 2025.
Nominate now for the following categories:
• The Association of the Year Award recognises the work of a P&C Association within their school and wider school community.
• The Volunteer of the Year Award recognises the contribution of an individual in their P&C Association, school, and school community.
• The Principal of the Year Award recognises the contribution of a principal to their P&C Association and school community.
Show your P&C pride with our "P&Cs Make it Possible" merch collection—designed to celebrate the volunteers who make school communities thrive. Whether you're flipping sausages, running a meeting, or just spreading the word, there's something here to wear, gift, and love. Scan the QR code below to shop the full collection.
New Merch Cut & Paste
On the next page you will find two certificates: a Certificate of Life Membership and a Certificate of Appreciation. Give these to outstanding volunteers in your P&C. Scan the QR code below to download these certificates in your school's colours and to see our other P&C association logo templates including an invoice template and AGM agenda. Life Member badges are available for purchase from our website:
1. Pull open the staples
2. Cut down the middle to separate the certificates
3. Add the name of person you want to recognise and have your P&C's president and secretary sign the certificate
4. Frame the certificate to hide the page on the back or glue it to a nice piece of card stock
Certificate of Appriciation
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES
From Latchkey to Leadership:
When people talk about the great volunteer movements that changed public education in New South Wales, they often think of fetes, canteens and uniform shops. But there’s another quiet revolution that began around kitchen tables and school halls: parents organising Out of School Hours Care (OOSH) so children had a safe, fun place to learn, play and belong before and after school and during holidays.
IT STARTED AS A COMMUNITY SOLUTION TO A COMMUNITY PROBLEM
In the 1970s and 1980s, social and economic forces reshaped family life. As women’s workforce participation rose, demand for school-age care grew quickly - and communities stepped up long before there was a formal market. Parents formed committees, borrowed classrooms and libraries after the bell, and created playrich programs run on goodwill and grit. Researchers point to this period as the turning point when the need for “custodial care” of school-aged children surged, driven by changing work patterns.
In NSW, the language of the time tells the story: local councils and community groups were already discussing “latchkey children” by the early 1970s - a phrase that captured both the risk of kids going home to empty houses and the urgency for community-based afterschool programs.
Those grassroots efforts coalesced into networks that explicitly extended children’s play and learning after school. As parental interest in finding care for children grew, so too did the role of P&C Associations in supporting parents in their local public schools to build safe, developmentally rich out-of-school experienceslong before large commercial providers arrived. By 1975 the “State Government directive… stated that all school and citizens association.” The Broadcaster (Fairfield, NSW) Tuesday 12 August 1975
Illawarra OSHC 1991
Circular Economy in Action
in NSW schools with Return and Earn
School-run Return and Earn programs are delivering practical lessons on environmental stewardship and sustainability while also showcasing the financial benefits of the circular economy.
Schools statewide have turned to Return and Earn to increase recycling, care for the environment and raise funds from eligible 10 cent drink containers for specific goals and ongoing school improvements.
Schools and P&Cs who sign up to become Return and Earn donation partners have their fundraising cause featured on the Return and Earn app. This allows the community to donate their refunds directly to the school fundraiser at any Return and Earn machine across NSW.
A school-specific page on the Return and Earn website explains options for school and P&C fundraising, including how to sign up as a Return and Earn donation partner, host a bottle drive, and partner with depots.
Return and Earn also offers a free digital toolkit filled with tips and resources to help schools start their recycling journey - both in the classroom and the playground.
An online calculator can be used to highlight and celebrate the impact your school’s recycling has on water, energy and landfill savings.
According to a recent school survey, some of the key reasons schools have been taking part in Return and Earn include engaging students in recycling.
LITTER REDUCTION AND FUNDRAISING
Since Return and Earn began in December 2017, more than 14 billion bottles and cans have been recycled, putting $1.4 billion in refunds back in people’s pockets and raising over $82 million for charities and community groups.
To sign up to become a Return and Earn donation partner, scan the QR code. For more information on Return and Earn visit returnandearn.org.au
AMANDA PROVIDES further insight to this stating “What seemed like a simple idea at the start to do what rural families have done for generations and join together in a carpool to get to school has been anything but! We identified areas that needed to be addressed to make sure we covered off on every compliance and scenario we could possibly think of, and after much a-do we finally got the wheels in motion. Behind the scenes of implementing the Carpool Service we have engaged pro bono private law firm advice, liaised with the Transport for NSW, Andrews Insurance and their underwriter CGU, the P&C Federation NSW, NRMA insurance and Roadside Assist, obtained various sponsorships, fundraised for, and fitted out the main vehicle which a local family has kindly donated the use of.
THE VEHICLE ITSELF has been equipped with extra features such as a dash cam, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, bullbar, UHF, and dedicated mobile phone with life 360 tracking. We have had to develop extensive policy and emergency management plans, employment agreements and appoint a payroll officer, register as an employer with the ATO for taxation and superannuation compliance, workers compensation insurance, working with children checks plus training and policy per the Office of Children’s Guardian, information brochures and enrolment packs for families, advertising, and media engagement.”
THE EXTENSIVE WORK done by the Fairfax P&C is now coming into fruition evidenced by a steady flow of increased enrolment enquiry with student numbers estimated to triple by Term 1 2026. All new students are anticipated to be likely utilising the Carpool Service. The Fairfax P&C recognize that children currently attending other schools have likely developed a good rapport in their familiar environment and have no desire to pressure these families into changing schools to be part of Fairfax Public School if this is the designated school within their zone, but rather offer an alternative option for those families who feel their child would flourish in a smaller school environment with greater attention given to individual student needs due to the high ratio of teachers to students.
ADDITIONALLY, THE FAIRFAX P&C have made connections with Coastwide Child and Family Services who have now been granted approval to operate a Mobile Preschool based at Fairfax Public School to engage with children as young as 3 years old to begin their education journey locally at Maules Creek. It is hoped that these families will consider continuing to build on the strong Preschool foundations established at Fairfax Public School by going on to enroll as students locally in Maules Creek.
THE NEXT BIG THING on the agenda for Fairfax P&C now that the Carpool Service has proven successful is to secure funding to purchase a newer model minivan to reduce the likelihood of unforeseen and often costly maintenance issues.
Puzzles & Games
Can You Spot the Six Differences?
Quick Quiz
Which of the following actions is the best first step when a member of a P&C Association identifies that they have a conflict of interest?
1. Keep quiet to avoid delaying the meeting
2. Immediately disclose the conflict to the office bearers and members
3. Leave the association permanently
4. Vote on the decision anyway, but note it privately
What is the primary reason a P&C Association keeps written records of disclosed conflicts of interest?
1. To protect the personal reputation of the member involved
2. To demonstrate accountability and transparency in decision-making
3. To help the member avoid taxes
4. To shorten future meetings
Puzzle Corner
answers on the welcome page
Scan the QR code to find the answers and read the Conflict of Interest factsheet.
You have a pile of 24 coins. Of these, 23 are the same weight and one is too heavy. You have a beam balance, which allows you to compare weights. How can you identify the odd coin in three weighings?
- Term 3, 1981
