The Lakes College Strategic Horizon

THE LAKES COLLEGE

OUR STRATEGIC HORIZON

THE LAKES COLLEGE

OUR STRATEGIC HORIZON

I am very pleased to present this Strategic Horizon to The Lakes College Community. It is the product of a journey the TLC Board and Senior Executive team have taken throughout 2020. This was a journey informed by a consultation process undertaken with students, parents / carers, and staff. In many ways, it was a journey that has mirrored that of the Uniting Church of which we are a part.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY In the words of the poet Jonathan Hill,

We acknowledge the traditional owners whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, this land, since men and women awoke from the great dream. We honour the presence of these ancestors who reside in the imagination of this land and whose irrepressible spirituality flows through all creation.

We acknowledge the Turrbal, Gubbi Gubbi and Wakka Wakka peoples; the traditional custodians of the Pine Rivers and surrounding areas. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Indigenous Australians.

The story of the Uniting Church begins many years ago, even before its official union, shortly after WWII when the World Council of Churches were formed in 1948. During this time the Congregational Union of Australia, Methodist Church of Australasia and Presbyterian Church of Australasia began to discuss what a ‘united church’ denomination would look like. After years of negotiation on topics such as theology, governance and practical outworking of worship and ministry, the union of these denominations was about to be undertaken.

It was then that Davis McCaughey challenged the proceedings by asking the Joint Commission of Church Union to make a choice between a “union which committed no one in the existing denominations to anything to which they were not already committed, and one which sought the renewal of the face of the catholic Church (universal Church) and so called into question that which we already were.” This lead to complete rethinking of what it meant to be a united church, or more to the point a ‘uniting church’. This distinction is fundamental because it declares an openness to ongoing renewal. It was after another 21 years of negotiations and discernment that on 22 June 1977, the Uniting Church in Australia was formed. During this time, the shared conversations were around learning how to talk to each other, what to talk about, and what kind of vision the church might dare to name together.

The starting point for our journey was the desire that the College, at the age of 16, enter into adulthood with a well understood sense of purpose and identity.

We were half way through the process of developing our strategy when the Board and Senior Executive were presented a series of inspired questions.

These questions caused us to rethink our approach and shaped how we set the strategic direction of the College.

These questions were:

• What is our narrative and character?

• To what are we being called?

• How will we steward what we have been entrusted with?

The answer to these questions has formed the framework upon which this document has been built. Intertwined within each of these three main headings are the following focuses:

• Being a College of Choice; • Being a College that clearly and simply articulates its mission as a ministry of the Uniting Church; and • Being a College which operates as a high performance team.

We have always been a community which provides students the opportunity to write their own story, in an environment that allows them to become the very best versions of themselves. Using this Strategic Horizon as our guide, I am excited to see that community grow and all that will be achieved in the next three years. To keep the Board and Senior Executive accountable, it is our intention to regularly report both our progress and what goals have been developed and/or achieved via a monitoring, evaluation and learning process.

We invite you to join us on this journey.

Gary Adsett CHAIR, THE LAKES COLLEGE BOARD

THE LAKES COLLEGE

OUR STRATEGIC HORIZON

I am very pleased to present this Strategic Horizon to The Lakes College Community. It is the product of a journey the TLC Board and Senior Executive team have taken throughout 2020. This was a journey informed by a consultation process undertaken with students, parents / carers, and staff. In many ways, it was a journey that has mirrored that of the Uniting Church of which we are a part.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY In the words of the poet Jonathan Hill,

We acknowledge the traditional owners whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, this land, since men and women awoke from the great dream. We honour the presence of these ancestors who reside in the imagination of this land and whose irrepressible spirituality flows through all creation.

We acknowledge the Turrbal, Gubbi Gubbi and Wakka Wakka peoples; the traditional custodians of the Pine Rivers and surrounding areas. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Indigenous Australians.

The story of the Uniting Church begins many years ago, even before its official union, shortly after WWII when the World Council of Churches were formed in 1948. During this time the Congregational Union of Australia, Methodist Church of Australasia and Presbyterian Church of Australasia began to discuss what a ‘united church’ denomination would look like. After years of negotiation on topics such as theology, governance and practical outworking of worship and ministry, the union of these denominations was about to be undertaken.

It was then that Davis McCaughey challenged the proceedings by asking the Joint Commission of Church Union to make a choice between a “union which committed no one in the existing denominations to anything to which they were not already committed, and one which sought the renewal of the face of the catholic Church (universal Church) and so called into question that which we already were.” This lead to complete rethinking of what it meant to be a united church, or more to the point a ‘uniting church’. This distinction is fundamental because it declares an openness to ongoing renewal. It was after another 21 years of negotiations and discernment that on 22 June 1977, the Uniting Church in Australia was formed. During this time, the shared conversations were around learning how to talk to each other, what to talk about, and what kind of vision the church might dare to name together.

The starting point for our journey was the desire that the College, at the age of 16, enter into adulthood with a well understood sense of purpose and identity.

We were half way through the process of developing our strategy when the Board and Senior Executive were presented a series of inspired questions.

These questions caused us to rethink our approach and shaped how we set the strategic direction of the College.

These questions were:

• What is our narrative and character?

• To what are we being called?

• How will we steward what we have been entrusted with?

The answer to these questions has formed the framework upon which this document has been built. Intertwined within each of these three main headings are the following focuses:

• Being a College of Choice; • Being a College that clearly and simply articulates its mission as a ministry of the Uniting Church; and • Being a College which operates as a high performance team.

We have always been a community which provides students the opportunity to write their own story, in an environment that allows them to become the very best versions of themselves. Using this Strategic Horizon as our guide, I am excited to see that community grow and all that will be achieved in the next three years. To keep the Board and Senior Executive accountable, it is our intention to regularly report both our progress and what goals have been developed and/or achieved via a monitoring, evaluation and learning process.

We invite you to join us on this journey.

Gary Adsett CHAIR, THE LAKES COLLEGE BOARD

The Lakes College is a school of choice that provides exceptional student-centred education, developing young people of character, who embody Uniting Church values in the community.

Leaders in inspirational and innovative learning.

The Lakes College is a school of choice that provides exceptional student-centred education, developing young people of character, who embody Uniting Church values in the community.

Leaders in inspirational and innovative learning.

The Lakes College sits within the broader story and identity of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Uniting Church story and identity fundamentally affirms and celebrates that the grace, love and hope of God in Christ is offered to all people. In this we can find a place of acceptance and belonging, that inspires each of us to contribute to the shaping of a more caring and just world.

The character of The Lakes College reflects the particularity of the Uniting Church’s journey of faithfulness to God, in how it fosters an environment in which young minds and hearts can be shaped and nurtured to become the people God has created them to be. The Lakes College seeks to live out this understanding through these values modelled by Christ:

Faith is a place of mystery, where we wrestle with uncertainty. In letting go of the fear of that which is unknown, faith gives us the strength to believe in what we cannot see.

Hope is a gift from God to humanity; thought underpinned by emotion to support humankind through the realities of life. Hope empowers us to survive, endure and seek the next horizon.

Love is having a deep respect and selfless care for all humanity and creation, nurtured by giving without expecting anything in return. 1 John 4:19 ‘We love because God first loved us’

Courage lives in the heart where our vulnerability and new-found bravery meet. It is where we dare to be honest and open about who we are and what we believe.

Courage is about standing for what is right, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Community is about celebrating the authenticity of self and others, a place of true belonging, where uniqueness and diversity are accepted and embraced.

Justice calls us to stand alongside the voiceless, the marginalised, the oppressed. Through a commitment to creating a more caring and just world - where people are empowered, where people are heard - we work towards reconciliation.

The Lakes College sits within the broader story and identity of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Uniting Church story and identity fundamentally affirms and celebrates that the grace, love and hope of God in Christ is offered to all people. In this we can find a place of acceptance and belonging, that inspires each of us to contribute to the shaping of a more caring and just world.

The character of The Lakes College reflects the particularity of the Uniting Church’s journey of faithfulness to God, in how it fosters an environment in which young minds and hearts can be shaped and nurtured to become the people God has created them to be. The Lakes College seeks to live out this understanding through these values modelled by Christ:

Faith is a place of mystery, where we wrestle with uncertainty. In letting go of the fear of that which is unknown, faith gives us the strength to believe in what we cannot see.

Hope is a gift from God to humanity; thought underpinned by emotion to support humankind through the realities of life. Hope empowers us to survive, endure and seek the next horizon.

Love is having a deep respect and selfless care for all humanity and creation, nurtured by giving without expecting anything in return. 1 John 4:19 ‘We love because God first loved us’

Courage lives in the heart where our vulnerability and new-found bravery meet. It is where we dare to be honest and open about who we are and what we believe.

Courage is about standing for what is right, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Community is about celebrating the authenticity of self and others, a place of true belonging, where uniqueness and diversity are accepted and embraced.

Justice calls us to stand alongside the voiceless, the marginalised, the oppressed. Through a commitment to creating a more caring and just world - where people are empowered, where people are heard - we work towards reconciliation.

We are committed to a high-quality holistic and innovative approach to learning. We are all challenged to be agile and independent learners in the pursuit of excellence.

We are committed to a shared responsibility, investing collectively in an authentic exploration of faith and spirituality. In being a Christ-centred community, we foster respect, care and compassion to all humanity and creation. We actively demonstrate Christ’s model of servant leadership in how we serve others and participate in social justice issues that open our hearts and minds to the needs of others.

We are committed to promoting and implementing initiatives that support the development of wellbeing; enabling all students, staff and our community to lead engaged, confident and resilient lives of meaning and purpose.

We are committed to providing opportunities for students that nurture individual strengths and interests, preparing them for a vibrant and rewarding future. We provide opportunities for our staff to pursue professional aspirations and support them to achieve success.

We are committed to growing our influence and impact within the community. This growth includes both the number of enrolments and the depth and quality of experience within the College.

Always protect the children in our care.

Enrich our teaching and learning programs through evidence-based practice and educational research to pursue the development of independent learners who engage deeply with the world around them.

Develop dynamic partnerships with other Uniting Church ministries in Australia and around the world that will provide opportunities for mission and service.

Provide the College community with pathways of Christian faith formation and opportunities to explore interfaith spirituality.

Partner with local and global organisations to develop opportunities to respond to the emerging needs within the wider community.

Provide state-of-the-art educational settings that stimulate curiosity and creativity.

Develop links with tertiary institutions and career providers to enable students to successfully pursue their chosen pathway.

Maximise our academic enrolments within our current campus context.

Deliver complimentary business streams, using existing infrastructure to provide benefit to the community and create additional income.

Provide opportunities for staff to engage in further education, training and professional development.

Remain deeply committed to embedding our wellbeing framework to enhance and enrich the lives of our staff and students, and monitor wellbeing across the College.

We are committed to a high-quality holistic and innovative approach to learning. We are all challenged to be agile and independent learners in the pursuit of excellence.

We are committed to a shared responsibility, investing collectively in an authentic exploration of faith and spirituality. In being a Christ-centred community, we foster respect, care and compassion to all humanity and creation. We actively demonstrate Christ’s model of servant leadership in how we serve others and participate in social justice issues that open our hearts and minds to the needs of others.

We are committed to promoting and implementing initiatives that support the development of wellbeing; enabling all students, staff and our community to lead engaged, confident and resilient lives of meaning and purpose.

We are committed to providing opportunities for students that nurture individual strengths and interests, preparing them for a vibrant and rewarding future. We provide opportunities for our staff to pursue professional aspirations and support them to achieve success.

We are committed to growing our influence and impact within the community. This growth includes both the number of enrolments and the depth and quality of experience within the College.

Always protect the children in our care.

Enrich our teaching and learning programs through evidence-based practice and educational research to pursue the development of independent learners who engage deeply with the world around them.

Develop dynamic partnerships with other Uniting Church ministries in Australia and around the world that will provide opportunities for mission and service.

Provide the College community with pathways of Christian faith formation and opportunities to explore interfaith spirituality.

Partner with local and global organisations to develop opportunities to respond to the emerging needs within the wider community.

Provide state-of-the-art educational settings that stimulate curiosity and creativity.

Develop links with tertiary institutions and career providers to enable students to successfully pursue their chosen pathway.

Maximise our academic enrolments within our current campus context.

Deliver complimentary business streams, using existing infrastructure to provide benefit to the community and create additional income.

Provide opportunities for staff to engage in further education, training and professional development.

Remain deeply committed to embedding our wellbeing framework to enhance and enrich the lives of our staff and students, and monitor wellbeing across the College.

We are committed to a high-performance environment where we achieve clarity, confidence and connection. Our teams share a collective belief in creating a College community where students and staff members can flourish.

Invest in the development of high performance teams.

Continue developing Board capabilities and competencies in alignment with the Board Behavioural Dynamics framework.

We are committed to providing best practice governance that is future focused and effectively monitors performance, compliance and risk. We demonstrate a collaborative and effective working relationship between the Board and Senior Executive.

We are committed to being stewards with responsibility for the care of our people, business and physical environment. Through ethical decision making we meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

We are committed to fostering the development of an inquiring community that embraces opportunities for innovation. We are motivated to experiment in our delivery and practice in order to enhance learning and wellbeing.

We are committed to a community that celebrates diverse thinking. We explore partnerships that enhance meaningful and respectful relationships within the College and the wider community.

Refine systems of data driven monitoring and reporting of College performance.

Explore ways to be a ‘greener’ community as we work towards having a carbonneutral footprint.

Continue to invest in a learning environment that is agile, reliable, secure and facilitates innovative learning delivery.

Actively and positively connect with parents and carers throughout the educational journey of their children.

Further develop purposeful connections that help facilitate a better understanding of and relationship with First Nations People.

Approach every initiative with a mindset of continuous improvement to ensure the sustainability of the College, its people, business and the environment.

Celebrate our milestones and share our stories.

We are committed to a high-performance environment where we achieve clarity, confidence and connection. Our teams share a collective belief in creating a College community where students and staff members can flourish.

Invest in the development of high performance teams.

Continue developing Board capabilities and competencies in alignment with the Board Behavioural Dynamics framework.

We are committed to providing best practice governance that is future focused and effectively monitors performance, compliance and risk. We demonstrate a collaborative and effective working relationship between the Board and Senior Executive.

We are committed to being stewards with responsibility for the care of our people, business and physical environment. Through ethical decision making we meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

We are committed to fostering the development of an inquiring community that embraces opportunities for innovation. We are motivated to experiment in our delivery and practice in order to enhance learning and wellbeing.

We are committed to a community that celebrates diverse thinking. We explore partnerships that enhance meaningful and respectful relationships within the College and the wider community.

Refine systems of data driven monitoring and reporting of College performance.

Explore ways to be a ‘greener’ community as we work towards having a carbonneutral footprint.

Continue to invest in a learning environment that is agile, reliable, secure and facilitates innovative learning delivery.

Actively and positively connect with parents and carers throughout the educational journey of their children.

Further develop purposeful connections that help facilitate a better understanding of and relationship with First Nations People.

Approach every initiative with a mindset of continuous improvement to ensure the sustainability of the College, its people, business and the environment.

Celebrate our milestones and share our stories.

2 College Street, North Lakes, QLD 4509 Telephone – 07 3491 5555 Email – info@thelakes.qld.edu.au www.thelakescollege.com.au The Uniting Church in Aust Property Trust (Q) t/a The Lakes College | ABN 61 344 805 430