FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR CONFERENCE PARTNERS
INTRODUCING FOODCORE NUTRITION SERVICES
CALLING ALL HIMFLUENCERS: ARTICLE FROM THE E-SAFETY COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE
WACSSO HELPDESK AND Q&A
GOOD NEWS STORIES FROM WA P&Cs
NOTICEBOARD: RESCINDING A MOTION
Conference energy is in the air! With our highly anticipated event just days away, WACSSO State Councillors and staff are working hard to make sure your conference experience is a weekend packed with inspiration, information, great networking opportunities and, of course, the opportunity for government and education leaders to hear loud and clear the voice of Western Australia’s P&Cs and public school parents
In the lead up to Conference I want to say a big thank you to our WACSSO staff who really do work around the clock to make our conference the standout P&C event that it is Our incredible P&C partners are also gearing up for Conference weekend, so make sure you dedicate time to visiting our Exhibitor Hall and chatting with all of our guests whose organisations and businesses support P&Cs to support their school communities I thank each and every one of our partners for their support of Conference 2024 A full list of partners is available on page 9 of this edition of P&C Voice
On Monday 12 August, the Hon Jason Clare MP Australian Minister for Education and the Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA WA Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship; and Multicultural Interests, announced a joint Federal and State education pilot program to trial the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce teacher workloads in WA This is a significant initiative, and WACSSO will watch with interest the learning and recommendations that come from the pilot program One of the Agenda Items to be presented to Conference is WACSSO’s policy statement on generative artificial intelligence. We look forward to discussion on this topic at the AGM Agenda Session; this and all Conference Agenda Items can be viewed here We also have a keynote address from the team at Stirling & Rose as part of Conference that will explore the topic of AI in education I know this presentation will be outstanding and no doubt spark many engaging and interesting discussions among delegates
This Term, we farewell Department of Education Director General Lisa Rodgers PSM On behalf of WACSSO and P&Cs, I would like to extend our appreciation to Lisa for her unwavering support and dedication to public education and her focus on improving outcomes for all students. It has been a privilege to work with her. WACSSO Conference will offer the opportunity to say farewell to Lisa in person, and I encourage delegates to thank her at this event. Lisa will continue her commitment to education as the CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Research
There are a number of advocacy opportunities for parents currently open and I encourage you to consider making a submission where relevant These include the Pathways to Post School Success Expert Panel Report Consultation Draft and the WA Regional Education Strategy WACSSO State Councillors are working on our submissions currently, and I encourage you to discuss your views on these topics with Councillors at Conference If you are not attending Conference and would like more information on how to make a submission or the advocacy work of WACSSO in general, please contact me via email
I look forward to seeing many of you at Crown later this month!
I want every child in Western Australia to reach their full potential. I want our students to strive to achieve their dreams and I want the WA education system to encourage our students to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
We recently released a draft WA Regional Education Strategy to strengthen public education in regional, rural and remote locations, to provide a framework to guide more effective delivery of education in these settings and expand on post-school options for students.
To ensure the Strategy meets the needs of students, families and communities in regional areas, targeted consultation on the Strategy will now commence I want to hear from families and school communities about how we can continue to enhance the education opportunities for students throughout Western Australia A copy of the draft strategy and how you can be involved in the consultation is available on the Department of Education’s website at wwweducationwaeduau/regionaleducationstrategy Consultation closes Friday 20 September 2024 and findings will help inform the final WA Regional Education Strategy.
We understand that cost-of-living is an issue for many families which is making it harder to meet the ongoing costs that come with providing a great education A lot of my focus over the past few months has been ensuring all our students have the support they need at school
The recently concluded successful WA Student Assistance Payment program distributed more than $75 million in important cost-of-living support to almost 400,000 school students and their families All Western Australian school students in Kindergarten to Year 12, with a valid WA student number were eligible for this cost-of-living payment Parents and carers could claim $250 for each secondary student and $150 for students attending primary school or kindergarten
The initiative assisted with costs associated with sending their children to school - such as school uniforms, books, excursions, equipment and other essential items This equated to approximately 80 per cent of eligible recipients with students enrolled in WA schools receiving a payment
Since the closure of the claims period, we have also announced a $95 million boost to the Secondary Assistance Scheme’s Clothing Allowance, providing an extra $185 for secondary school students from lowincome families The increased allowance is available to eligible families in addition to the WA Student Assistance Payment and brings total Secondary Assistance Scheme support to $535 per year for both 2024 and 2025.
A total of $500,000 has also been provided to WAbased charity Give Write to support its work distributing new and recycled stationery to school children in need - particularly in regional areas $500,000 has also been donated to Dandelions WA to support its work distributing school supplies to children in need
Assistance available to eligible families through the Government's successful KidSport voucher program has also been significantly increased to $500 for 2025
We will continue to look at more ways to ease costof-living pressure and we are very proud to be providing WA families with school-aged children this support
And speaking of sport, the Minister’s Running Challenge is underway, so please encourage your children to take part! Students can sign up at wwwministersrunningchallengewagovau/ Not only does it help establish healthy habits, but students go in the draw to win weekly prizes like Fitbits and mini golf vouchers!
Thank you for your continued support and I wish you all the very best for the remainder of the 2024 school year
The recipe for success involves a LOT of hard work, and plenty of time spent planning
Castletown P&C may be small, but it is mighty! Having recently donated a whopping $30k to the school in support of interactive whiteboards, the positive impact of their fundraising activities is clear!
Over the course of the year, the team run a series of successful fundraising activities including a Colour Fun Run, and a Mother’s and Father’s Day Stall, as well as a canteen and uniform shop that both contribute to the funds donated back into the school. The fundraising events and initiatives are organised by a dedicated team within the P&C, a fundraising committee made up of five fabulous volunteers (Suzie, Fiona, Tayla, Kim and Karrina)
The recipe for success involves a LOT of hard work, and plenty of time spent planning (event planning commences a year out). Typically, the team runs through all the expense approvals first, then going out to local businesses to drum up support, before moving onto logistics such as parent permission slips and volunteer rosters
“The success of our events relies on planning, and of course on the generosity of many volunteers. As well as our P&C members, we have loads of parents who sign up to help at the big events, especially the Colour Fun Run; what parent doesn’t leap at the opportunity to blast the kids with slime and water?!” says P&C President, Suzie Styles
“Our Year 6 students also get on board at the event, and they do a wonderful job of getting the kids super excited on the afternoon of the event,” she added. “Plus, we have some wonderful community connections who get involved on the day of events like this, such as a previous Castletown student who now runs a coffee van business and our Canteen Manager who creates special event lunch boxes The Colour Fun Run is a fantastic example of an all-in community event that yields fantastic results for our school,” says Suzie.
Like all P&Cs, Castletown relies on the generosity of volunteers and large events are not possible without them Engaging volunteers is a big part of the logistics each year, and the P&C use a range of tactics to encourage participation One of the more fruitful things they have introduced is added a volunteer sign up to the parent permission slip for the event. This capture-all form means that parents can approve attendance and sign up to help all at the same time
The success of the events meant the donation of smart boards, requested by the school, was possible, but the P&C went one step further After making the $30k donation, the P&C also arranged a busy bee on school grounds to get the classrooms ready for their new resources “We cleaned the rooms, painted walls and got the classrooms all ready for the new boards to be installed for Term 3. It was fantastic to know that our help not only funded these resources, but we also made sure it was easy and smooth for them to be installed. It has been a very fulfilling project,” said Suzie
The advice that Castletown has for any P&C looking to run a big event like a Colour Fun Run is, first and foremost, to have fun – to choose projects you know will bring joy to your P&C. They also recommend starting small, both in terms of the event and the fundraising goal, and make sure you invest plenty of time in planning. The planning process should include the opportunity to reflect and adapt – build on what worked and be prepared to change things that weren’t quite right. And remember to take loads of photos and thank everyone as you go along You’ll want the photos to look back on what you have achieved, plus the kids love them!
P&C President, Suzie, is quick to point out that the success of their P&C is due to an incredibly supportive school, staff, administration, groundsman, photographer, canteen manager and P&C team.
“Every parent and guardian, every student, everyone who contributed time, effort and funds has an impact and I am proud of all we have done collectively to raise funds for our school I'm SO proud of the team that I am part of! It is such a beautiful team and it's just an honour to work together to give back to our school We are very lucky to have such supportive parents to come to our events and lend a hand in any way possible, and our school is the reason we help where we can – it also helps our children and we know it will be here for many more children in the years to come” she added
The project took considerable time to achieve, but a patient, sustained approach has paid off, and the Ranford families could not be happier!
Ranford Primary School recently unveiled a fantastic new feature of their playground – a shade structure students can access throughout the year The structure was built with combined funds from a Federal grant and contributions from Ranford Primary P&C and Helping Hands (OSHC).
“This was a large-scale project, made possible initially from receiving the Schools Upgrade Fund for $50,000,” says P&C President, Angie “From there, it was about working together as a school community to raise the balance of the required funds to ensure the project could be completed. The P&C were happy to contribute $10 000 which was a phenomenal result, as we knew it would be fit-for-purpose and really enhance the playground area”
The playground is located outside of the school grounds meaning it has a dual purpose. It is used by the school during the day, and by the community outside of school hours and on weekends
“This was an important factor for the P&C as we pride ourselves on being part of a school that prioritises community,” said Angie. “The other factor that played into the success of this project was the robust nature of the P&C We have a healthy budget, strong family support, a great relationship with the OSHC provider, Helping Hands Network, good regular fundraising activities that are reliable earners for the P&C and a long-term approach to this project. The community is thrilled with the result,” she added.
Installing the shade structure has meant that the school students, in particular junior students who use the playground the most, have access to a year-round play area Wind, rain or shine, the Ranford Primary kids are engaged in play, creating adventures and making memories in the vibrant playground.
The other great outcome of this new resource is that parents have somewhere to meet yearround and watch their kids play, while being protected from the elements Bringing parents together and forming that sense of community is important to the P&C and so this structure really ticks the boxes on so many levels.
“We’re so pleased we could work together with the school and our partners to achieve the grant to get this built for our families I must acknowledge our current Principal, Kylie Godfrey who worked with the P&C to realise this project’s aims,” says Angie.
“The project took considerable time to achieve, but a patient, sustained approach has paid off, and the Ranford families could not be happier!
“If your P&C is attempting to apply for a grant of this size and nature, I recommend you have a few people working together, that you leverage any partnerships your school has and that you find a way to make the project have broad community application, if possible,” suggests Angie
Well done Ranford Primary P&C – what a great outcome for your community!
This interaction also opened doors for further community engagement opportunities
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We are excited to share a special moment from our Excelsior Primary School P&C On June 18, 2024 P&C President, Amie Crosswell and Vice President, Marie Boxell had the honour of meeting the Mayor for the City of Gosnells, Terresa Lynes, marking a significant milestone for our school's Parent and Citizens Association
The informal meet and greet with Mayor Lynes proved immensely beneficial to Excelsior Primary School's P&C. It provided a platform for Amie and Marie to establish a direct line of communication with local government leadership, fostering a deeper understanding of the school's needs and aspirations This interaction also opened doors for further community engagement opportunities, enabling the P&C to collaborate more closely with city officials on initiatives that directly impact our students and families. By building these relationships, Amie and Marie are paving the way for enhanced support and resources that will enrich the educational experience at Excelsior Primary School for years to come
Amie and Marie were not only present to meet Mayor Lynes but also attended the City of Gosnells Annual Gala Dinner on Saturday 22 June 2024 This event provided them with a valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with local Members of Parliament and prominent business figures The Annual Gala Dinner was a night filled with networking and collaboration, highlighting the dedication of our P&C to foster strong relationships within our community.
WACSSO thanks our incredible Conference partners, supporters and exhibitors. More information on each of these fantastic organisations is available here.
Are you attending the WACSSO Conference?
We’ll be there with our hybrid bottle filling stations!
Pop by our drinking water booth to say hello and claim your special offer.
See you there!
By the team at the eSafety Commissioner
As a small number of harmful voices dominate online conversations about masculinity, new eSafety research has revealed young men are struggling to understand what manhood means in a rapidly changing world
The qualitative study delved into the experiences of more than 100 young men aged 16 to 21 years through 25 focus groups and 25 follow-up individual interviews, making it one of the most in-depth investigations into the contemporary online lives of young men in Australia
“Navigating adolescence and early adulthood has always been a confronting rite of passage, but this is one of the first generations to grow up in a world straddling the offline and online dimensions, with the online world becoming an increasingly potent force,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said
“Young men are also coming of age against a backdrop of complicated and contested public discussions about what modern-day masculinity means, potentially making the process of figuring out who they are and what they stand for more confusing and fraught
“As Australia’s online safety educator, we wanted to understand how to support young men in online spaces in ways that have meaningful impact and are relevant to them And we wanted to channel these insights into our kids, youth, parent and educator resources as an important primary prevention measure”
A collaboration with Deakin UniversityExternal link and the Queensland University of TechnologyExternal link, ‘Being a young man online: Tensions, complexities and possibilities’ confirmed online environments are a powerful source of community, acceptance and friendships for young men However, conversations about their place in the world are often negative.
“There was also a feeling of being powerless as individuals, even though some participants recognised men hold a lot of structural power. And when a small number of harmful online influencers dominate the discussion of what it means to be a man, it’s no wonder young men feel uncertain about how to express their identity and place in the world,” Ms Inman Grant said.
The research highlighted young men both experience and perpetuate online harms, with some young men, for example, describing online gaming communities as places where it is normal to respond to abuse with abuse
“From ‘looksmaxing’External link and aggressive online gaming, to the lure of algorithm systems and online influencers, there’s constant pressure for young men to conform to particular, often narrow and traditional ideals, about manhood”
One of the research leads, Deakin University's Professor Amanda KeddieExternal link, said the research also unearthed a range of healthy habits young men applied to their online interactions
“I was really heartened by the critical awareness that many of the young men expressed about their online behaviours, from trying to stem their overuse of apps like TikTok and YouTube to their critical reflections about manfluencers, such as Andrew Tate,” Professor Keddie said
“Some of the young men were very critical of Tate’s misogynistic messages. Many of the young men were also highly critical of online pornography – its ease of access and its negative representations of intimate relationships and women.”
To translate these insights into relevant online safety advice, eSafety is consulting with relevant practitioners, including Daniel PrincipeExternal link, MovemberExternal link, R4RespectExternal link, Richie HardcoreExternal link, The Man CaveExternal link and The Men’s ProjectExternal link “Young men are navigating significant cultural and social uncertainty,” said Professor Simon Rice, Global Director, Movember Institute of Men’s Health.
“Online content and influencers offer them immediate, unregulated, and sometimes misleading answers to the very stressors they face, wielding immense power to shape Australian young men for better or worse
A collaborative and collective effort is needed to unravel the profound and multifaceted impact of social media and online spaces on young men and their communities That is why we will continue to work in collaboration with young men to unravel the impact that masculine norms and dialogues have within these spaces, and why we support, and welcome, the research published today by the eSafety Commissioner”
The Man Cave’s Josh Glover said many of the male students he works with crave meaningful connection and leadership.
““As a senior facilitator, I get to hear from teenage boys every day Underneath any veneer of confidence or bravado they project is a sincere desire to connect and explore who they could be - without fear of judgement or teasing
“The online world can both build up that confidence and sense of identity, as well as tear it down. It’s so important we create psychologically safe digital spaces and elevate positive male role models to help boys and young men navigate the online world" Ms Inman Grant said we must keep listening and learning from young men to meet them where they are at
“These are complex societal issues, and there’s a collective responsibility to help young men answer important questions about what constitutes healthy, respectful models of manhood and masculinity,” she said “We encourage parents, carers and educators to help boys, tweens and teens further hone their critical reasoning skills and instill a healthy sense of online agency and responsibility
“Tech companies also need to be more accountable for user safety, especially the impacts of harmful recommender algorithms. These systems can result in young people being served increasingly damaging content that can erode respect for oneself and others, as well as perpetuate ideas rooted in misogyny.
“We need industry to take a more proactive Safety by Design approach by considering the risks their systems and platforms may pose at the outset and design in appropriate guardrails, including actively preventing young men from being drawn into an endless spiral of harmful echo chambers”
Below are some of the common questions we get into our office relating to Office Bearers and running effective meetings.
Do you have a question about the responsibilities of P&C Office Bearers? Be sure to get in touch with us so we can send you the answer - and we might even feature it in the next edition of P&C Voice!
If an Executive Member leaves their position, is there a requirement to return any P&C documents or records they have in their possession?"
Yes, all records must be returned. There are now financial penalties under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 for members who do not return required records The financial penalty is $10,000 (Associations Incorporation Act 2014 Part 4, Division 1, Section 41)
The P&C should request the return of the documents in writing It is a good idea to send a returnaddressed postage pack by registered mail to the former executive’s postal address
02
When do new Executive Committee members take up their positions?
All changing positions take effect at the 'rise of the meeting' This is the end of the meeting
03 Can an aspect of an Office Bearer's role be delegated to another member?
Yes, as an example there may be times the Treasurer may not be able to do the banking because they work full-time (Rule 174)
The P&C should foresee such occurrences and resolve to delegate roles to financial members at one of the first meetings of the year. These resolutions should always be minuted so a pemanent record is kept of the arrangement
What is a Special Resolution?
A Special Resolution is a resolution that makes a major change to the P&C such as changing the rules, changing the name or cancelling incorporation
Because these are significant changes that will require lodgment with DMIRS, three-quarters of members present must vote in favour of the resolution for it to pass. The resolution must also be recorded in the minutes as a Special Resolution
If a Special Resolution is to be presented to members, they must be given 7 days’ notice of the motion (Rule 263) Cancellation of incorporation requires 28 days written notice
How many votes are needed to pass/carry a motion?
For any motion that is not a Special Resolution, a simple majority is required to carry a motion A simple majority is 50% + 1 of the members present at the meeting For example, if there were 12 members at the meeting, then a simple majority is 7 (Rule 272)
06
If the President wishes to participate in debate should they vacate the Chair?
Yes, so they are not in the position to 'lead from the chair', the President should vacate the position and have another Office Bearer fill the position for the duration of the debate This action should be minuted
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR MY PREFERRED WORKSHOP AT CONFERENCE
I’M WORRIED I WON’T KNOW ANYONE AT CONFERENCE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
This edition of WACSSO Q&A is dedicated to all things Conference! We can’t wait to see you at Crown later this month!!
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You should have received an email from the WACSSO Office regarding the Conference app The app is jampacked with information relating to Conference, and has a button on the home screen that allows you to register for workshops If you did not receive the email or are having trouble downloading the app, please contact the WACSSO office
First of all, don’t worry! There are lots of first timers at Conference each year, and lots of people who arrive at the event not knowing anyone and going home with a wide network of contacts! If you are feeling nervous when you arrive, seek out a WACSSO State Councillor or staff member and we’ll introduce you to other delegates and make sure you feel connected And don’t worry, WACSSO Conference is known for the high level of positive energy and how keen everyone is to make new connections and share knowledge
During the AGM and Agenda Session at Conference, we need to ensure we maintain quorum at all times As such please ensure you advise a staff member at the Operations Desk (rear of the room) if you need to leave Be sure to also let us know when you return to the room
I NEED TO LEAVE DURING THE AGM AGENDA SESSION, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
WACSSO Conference 2024 is bursting at the seams with sponsors, partners and exhibitors.
Be sure to spend some time with your P&C Committee ahead of Conference planning which exhibitors you will visit and what information you seek from each of them. All our partners, supporters and exhibitors have been carefully selected according to the value they bring to P&Cs So, make a list and come prepared!
We’ve had a number of questions at WACSSO HQ about how to rescind a motion. Here’s your how-to guide!
Sometimes the effect of a motion needs to be cancelled This requires a rescission motion
When faced with a rescission motion, the Chair should consider the situation carefully before accepting the motion In principle, the rescission should not be allowed at the same meeting at which the original motion was carried The resolution represents the collective will of those present when it was put and should not be overturned lightly However, the Chair needs to be flexible – it would be silly to deny a rescission motion in those rare occasions when circumstances change before the close of the meeting that makes the resolution unworkable or impractical.
A motion to rescind should not be allowed at the same meeting at which the resolution was carried except in unusual circumstances, and then by a two-thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote
A rescission motion cannot be moved if the resolution has been carried out
For example, it is pointless to rescind a resolution regarding expenditure if the money has already been spent
At least seven days’ notice in writing must be given to the Association if you wish to bring a rescission motion at a subsequent meeting
A rescission motion is debated in the normal manner
See our full ‘Effective Meetings’ Guide for more info
The Western Australian Council of State School Organisations Inc (WACSSO) State Council is made up of a 20 elected Councillors and a President, all of whom are volunteers
The State Council meets several times a year to discuss educational issues of interest to Parents and Citizens' Associations (P&Cs), determine the direction of WACSSO and to influence the broad direction of education for the benefit of students
PRESIDENT
Pania Turner 0477 644 000
SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT GREAT SOUTHERN
Julie Brooks 0429 016 253
Indah Yildiz 0412 595 576
Paula Steenson 0409 076 476
PEEL SOUTH VICE-PRESIDENT PERTH SOUTH
Vivienne Cantem 0447 297 156
WHEATBELT-NORTH VICE-PRESIDENT WHEATBELT-SOUTH
Kim Allison 0490 035 156
Anne Fairbanks 0411 256 079
Kate HayesThompson 0458 830 000
Contact us if you are interested in nominating for one of our vacant electorates:
Canning East
Canning North
Canning West
Fremantle
Goldfields-Esperance
Joondalup East
Joondalup North
North West
Peel North South West
Swan East Warren-Blackwood
