WACSSO P&C Voice - Term 4, 2024

WACSSO NEWSLETTER

P&C VOICE

P&C Voice What’s inside?

Term Four 2024

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN MESSAGE FROM THE EDUCATION MINISTER ADVOCACY IN ACTION YUNA BUS SERVICE CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE P&C OF THE YEAR AWARD LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF AFTER CYBERBULLYING INCIDENT TIPS ON TRAVELLING WITH KIDS FLEXISCHOOLS MESSAGE TERM 4 P&C FAQs WACSSO HELPDESK

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The Western Australian Council of State School Organisations pays respect to First Nations people and Traditional Custodians throughout Australia, recognising their connection to land, waters and sky. We acknowledge parents, families, Elders and communities as first educators, sharers of culture and knowledge; and recognise the value this learning holds for children and young people.

P&C VOICE

Ending the year with a burst of

advocacy Here we are, the last P&C Voice for 2024! It has been a busy and productive year for both WACSSO and P&Cs.

The WACSSO State Councillors and Staff are still buzzing from what was one of our biggest Conferences to date, which is appropriate for being the 90th one held! We have also launched a new website and commenced a large-scale project to assist all P&Cs seeking ACNC registration to complete the necessary documentation. We’ve thanked outgoing State Councillors and welcomed in new faces, with 4 By-Elections still open at the time of writing this President’s Pen. All the while, we have continued to do what we love most – provide support and advice to our incredible network of WA’s P&Cs. Advocacy is an important part of our role as your peak body, on behalf of our affiliates, WACSSO has been actively raising your concerns on a number of fronts.

We have continued to provide feedback on the Pathways to Post-School Success Review, and feedback on the proposed amendments to the WA School Education Act. We provided a submission to the Draft Regional Education Strategy, and I have been invited by the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education to participate in National Parent Roundtable on 22 November. I look forward to sharing the learnings from these discussions with you. I was also pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the Western Australian Primary Principal Association State Assembly earlier this month. A strong working relationship between the P&C and School Principal enhances the power of the P&C and the wonderful things that can be achieved for students. Building productive partnerships is a collective effort; together we are stronger.

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN An update from Pania Turner

Early in the New Year we will offer public school parents the opportunity to attend an Education Forum. Panellists will include the Education Minister, Shadow Minister for Education and other party education spokespeople. This event is an excellent opportunity to have your questions on the future of public education in WA answered, and we will be encouraging both in-person and online attendance.

Keep an eye out for the event details via WACSSO communication channels and we look forward to seeing as many parents in the audience as possible.

One other advocacy item that we have given focus to this Term has been the cancellation of the Yuna South East Bus Service. Our concerns regarding the cancellation of this Service are twofold; of immediate concern is the welfare of the affected family and the ability for their children to attend school and of broader concern is that this situation will continue to be repeated in regional locations in WA, with efficiency and costs being primary drivers over the responsibility of service delivery and community. The lack of consultation with the stakeholders involved is frustrating and concerning. WACSSO has strongly asserted to the decision makers in this case that communication without consultation is not good enough for public school families. We want and deserve better consultation on decisions that have an impact on the education of our children. See page 4-5 for more on this story.

I know that as our P&Cs head towards the end of the year the pace has not slowed with graduation events, final fundraising activities, end of year celebrations, and dare I say it consideration of preparing for 2025!

With all that is going on, I urge you to reflect on what it is your P&C has achieved in 2024. Big or small every positive achievement is worth acknowledging. On behalf of the WACSSO team of State Councillors and staff, I say “thank you” and wish you all the very best for your end of year activities. I hope you have the chance to take a well-deserved break with your families. We look forward to working with you all again in 2025.

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P&C VOICE

Message from the Education Minister

The Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA Minister for Education

With the end of the 2024 school year just around the corner, I want to thank you all for your support over the last year.

Parents and carers play such an important role in our education ecosystem and your commitment to your school community is vital to ensuring we are doing all that we can to make sure that all Western Australian children achieve their potential.

We also launched the draft Regional Education Strategy for consultation, which set out aspirations for students in the six education regions outside the metropolitan area. We undertook consultation on the draft because I wanted to hear from families and school communities about how we can continue to enhance the education opportunities for students in regional, rural and remote areas of Western Australia.

Thank you to all those who took part in the consultation and provided their feedback.

Thank you for the work you do, the commitment you show, and the countless voluntary hours you dedicate. Not only to build your own school community, but to build a better State for our young people.

We know for some it has been a challenging year due to cost-of-living pressures and we sincerely hope measures like the Student Assistance Payment and free public transport for students provided some relief for those who needed it.

The school P&C has long been recognised as a pivotal part of a connected and thriving school community.

You are a very important piece of helping schools to foster community engagement and promote closer connections with the wider community.

This year, I was lucky enough to visit more than 110 schools across the State. And I say lucky, being able to meet students, staff and members of the school community, and see the outstanding work being done in our schools, is absolutely one of the best parts of my role as Minister for Education. I also met many of you through the Regional Roadshow sessions that were held this year, which allowed me to speak to you about my priorities in education.

It is a testament to WACSSO as an organisation and all P&C members, that the ongoing commitment to creating better school environments and communities for our children and young people has resulted in many successes that we see in schools today.

It has been another big year in Education. We opened two new primary schools this year – Jilbup Primary School and Henley Brook Primary School – and have another two new primary schools on the cards for 2025 in Wellard and Hilbert.

Well done also to all the Year 12 students and their families for all of their hard work and dedication to their schooling over the last 13 years. I wish you all the best for future success, whatever you choose to do.

This year, work also progressed on two reviews that our Government launched last year, the Pathways to Post-School Success review of senior secondary pathways in Western Australia, and the review of the School Education Act 1999 to identify opportunities to strengthen access and inclusion for students with disability. Thank you to the WACSSO members that took part in the consultation of both of these very important reviews.

To all families, please enjoy the summer holidays, have a safe festive season and I look forward to welcoming you back in 2025.

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P&C VOICE

Advocacy in Action

This is not about one child, or one family. This is about providing services to communities.

WACSSO stands with regional communities calling for commitment to essential school bus services.

In its capacity as the peak body for public school parents, WACSSO State Council recently voted to write to relevant leaders regarding the cancellation of the Yuna South East Bus service. The cancellation of this service, and the way in which the decision was made and communicated, has far-reaching implications for parents and families in regional towns.

As a part of its advocacy activity, the WACSSO President has written to the Transport Minister and the Executive Director Transperth System, Regional and School Bus Services regarding this decision.

WACSSO has also written to Mr Rundle MLA acknowledging his support of this issue and community. WACSSO representatives attended Parliament House on November 7 in support of the Yuna community as a grievance on this decision was formally put to Parliament by Mr Rundle MLA. In the response to this grievance, the Minister for Transport has committed to extending the Yuna South East bus service for a further 12 months. Other promises included restarting the bus service for the community of Kondinin, subject to due diligence, who have waited ten years for this commitment.

“This is not about one child or one family,” says WACSSO President Pania Turner. “We understand that the community approached this issue proactively with the Public Transport Authority and the State Government, offering viable solutions that would not require the cancellation of this service. Yet the decision to cancel the service was made with no community consultation.

“Our concerns regarding the cancellation are two-fold.

Firstly, we are concerned for the family and the ability of the children to attend school, and secondly, we do not want this situation repeated in other regional areas. Efficiency and cost must not be primary drivers over the responsibilities of service delivery and community. We understand this is not the first time a regional bus service has been cancelled for financial or efficiency reasons with little or no consultation with the community involved and we are deeply concerned this pattern will be repeated. We echo the arguments put forward by the Yuna community, who assert that collaboration is essential to ensure services are in place to the boost attraction and retention of families to rural locations. Access to a local primary school and a school bus service is paramount to these goals,” she added.

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P&C VOICE

“While we acknowledge the extension of the Yuna South East bus service announced on November 7 and the commitment to further community consultation, we emphasise to the Government that this is not about one family and providing the service to see that child through primary school. There are whole communities who are affected by the cancellation of bus services, and the flow-on consequences of decisions such as these include the inability to attract families to regional areas, decimation of local schools as parents are forced to choose alternative options and the requirement that the primary caregiver take time off work – up to four hours a day in this case – to transport their children to and from school. This is simply not good enough for our regional communities,” emphasised Pania Turner.

WACSSO will continue to advocate for parents and P&Cs who are engaged in discussions regarding transport to and from school. With everything from safe active transport, to staffing school crossings, to access to buses equipped with seatbelts, the WACSSO State Council is frequently engaging with leaders in the education and transport contexts, advocating for better outcomes for WA public school families.

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P&C VOICE

Community involvement has been key to their success.

Congratulations Calista Primary P&C Winners of the inaugural Containers for Change WA P&C of the Year Story provided by Container for Change WA

In less than a year since re-establishing after a decade-long hiatus, Calista Primary School’s P&C has already made a significant impact, earning the Containers for Change P&C of the Year Award at last weekend's WA Council of State School Organisations (WACSSO) Conference.

Starting with just four bins, the P&C quickly expanded to 12 to keep up with growing demand.

Strategically placed beside general waste bins across the school from the kindy area to year six, these bins are emptied every fortnight by their partner Refund Point, Exchange Depot Kwinana Beach.

The P&C engaged the entire school community by assigning each year group its own bin and creating a friendly competition. Each term, the year group that collects the most 10¢ containers earns rewards through the Positive Rewards Scheme, encouraging active student participation.

This initiative is further supported by interactive assemblies that educate and inspire students at Calista Primary on sustainability and the circular economy.

Community involvement has been key to their success. The P&C went door-to-door, distributed wallet-sized cards with their unique member number to families, and encouraged them to share their cause with neighbours, workplaces, and local businesses, significantly increasing collections.

Calista’s P&C expects to raise $2,500 by the end of the year, demonstrating that with incentives, community engagement, and a focus on sustainability, schools and P&Cs can make a significant environmental and financial impact with Containers for Change.

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P&C VOICE

How to Look After Yourself if you are Cyberbullied

You are not alone and there is help available.

Article sourced from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. Read this, and related articles, online here.

It can be hurtful when people are mean or spread lies about you online – but there are things you can do to feel better.

Tell someone you trust Before you do anything, you should tell a trusted adult, teacher or friend who is not involved. Even though it can be hard, talking about it can make a big difference to the outcome. You can get a fresh point of view and work out what to do together.

The most important thing to remember is that it is not your fault. You are not alone and there is help available.

How to report cyberbullying Report the harmful content to the service or platform used to send, post or share it. This is often the fastest way to have the content removed. You can find reporting links for many services and platforms, including social media, online games and other apps, in The eSafety Guide.

Try to stay connected with your trusted person while you get more information and deal with the situation.

You might also ask them to help you follow the steps to report cyberbullying.

Contact a counselling and support service If, like lots of people, you feel you don’t have anyone close you can talk to about cyberbullying – or you want expert help – there are counselling and support services available.

If the content is seriously harmful and the service or platform does not help, you can report it to eSafety and we will help to have it removed.

How cyberbullying can affect your wellbeing Cyberbullying can have a big impact on your mental health and wellbeing. You might feel upset, overwhelmed, embarrassed, scared or even angry – like everyone is picking on you. These feelings may last for a short time or a long time.

Services like Kids Helpline and Headspace provide expert, non-judgmental advice for free.

It's important to remember that all these feelings are normal and other people who are cyberbullied feel them too.

Get help and support Sometimes, it’s hard to know what to do when you are cyberbullied, but you don’t have to cope with it on your own. It can help to talk with someone else about what’s happened.

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P&C VOICE

Tips for taking care of yourself online and offline Stay socially connected You might not feel like talking to other people when you’re feeling down or worried, but it’s important to keep joining in with others, online and offline, so you don’t start to feel lonely and left out.

Create a safe space offline Spending lots of time online can affect your mood or make you feel like you’re missing out on other things.

That’s why it’s good to log off for a while, even for a few hours each day.

Reclaim your space online Getting back online after a bad experience can be overwhelming at first, but remember, you have every right to be there, and there are ways to make it easier.

Take a break from the conversation by muting notifications on services like WhatsApp or choosing one of the privacy settings on Snapchat.

It might help to only chat online with close friends and family at first. You can change your device or account settings so only a small group of people can contact you.

You can also try setting aside an internet-free zone in your home. For example, you can keep your phone and other devices out of your bedroom, especially at night, or switch off your devices or notifications at certain times of the day, such as when you’re studying.

You can also ask a trusted friend to check in on you while you’re online, until you get your confidence back. You might even like to play a game or scroll your favourite posts together.

It can be hard to stay positive when you’re feeling hurt and upset, but the way you handle a tough situation can make a big difference to the outcome.

You can set a good example for online behaviour by showing you care about other people. If it’s safe to do so, don’t be afraid to respond to negative comments with positive ones.

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We understand school life and know how essential it is for a school’s many services including canteen, uniform shop, events, fundraisers and other services to run smoothly.

Since we started in 2008, we have processed more than 150 million orders in Australian schools and are trusted by over 700,000 Australian parents.

All school services including canteen, uniform shop, events, and fundraisers can be set up on Flexischools (individually or combined), giving parents the flexibility to place school orders and make payments online at any time.

Canteen Parents can order and pay for their child’s canteen food online, taking away cash counting and reducing counter orders, saving you up to two hours a day! High school students can be provided with their own login.

Uniform Shop You can make it easier to manage inventory and sales of your school’s uniform and supplies, by loading your uniform shop catalogue onto Flexischools. Parents can buy items at a time that suits them.

Events & Fundraisers Your next school event or fundraiser will be a breeze, by taking payments and bookings online with Flexischools.

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P&C VOICE

Top Tips on How Best to Travel With Kids

The most important thing during the holiday season when travelling with children is to plan and to be flexible.

Article sourced from the Raising Children team.

Read this, and related articles, online here.

During the year we all dream of the annual holiday during the Christmas break, however, it can also be a stressful time for families with changes in routine, long car journeys or day trips, and maybe planes to catch. The Raising Children Network website, visited by 30 000 Australians a day, has collated a list of top tips for travelling with kids during the holiday season.

Associate Professor Julie Green, Executive Director of Raising Children Network says planning prior to the trip can make it more enjoyable for everyone.

“The most important thing during the holiday season when travelling with children is to plan and to be flexible. There are often unforeseen circumstances that can crop up such as delayed flights, car sickness or unexpected illness.

Involving children in planning the holiday can give them a sense of ownership over the arrangements and increase their excitement, and perhaps even motivate them to help with packing!” she says.

“Whether families are doing day trips or holidaying away from home, travelling together as a family can be a great way of connecting after a year of school, work and other activities that keep families busy. Holiday time can open up opportunities to enjoy each other’s company by doing activities together, talking and sharing new experiences.”

Whether family travel involves hanging out in one spot or heading off to explore, holidays with kids are about planning for short attention spans and manageable travel times.

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P&C VOICE

Here are the top tips for family travel these holidays from the Raising Children team: You’ll need lots of breaks and fewer activities than you would if you were travelling on your own or with adults.

Plenty of stops for meals and drinks will keep everyone’s energy levels up. Keep water and snacks handy for eating and drinking on the go.

Try not to have too many things that children need to share. Sharing is hard at the best of times, so have a pillow and a rug each, rather than one to share.

Everyone has more energy in the morning, so this can be a good time for the more demanding activities. Activities and local attractions to keep children entertained might involve swimming, games, playgrounds, carnivals, fun parks and movies.

Don’t forget to plan down time for yourself too.

If your children are busy with organised activities, are playing with other children, or are looked after by relatives or babysitters, you’ll get a break for yourself.

If your holidays are going to involve long car, bus, train or plane trips, it might pay to think ahead about ways to keep your children entertained. Depending on the age of your child, it can be helpful to have books, toys and movies available.

If travelling in the car, consider getting a sunscreen for the back windows to help block the sun. Also, some families take an old icecream container for accidents of any kind. It can also work as a potty if your child hasn’t been toilet trained for long and there are no toilets around.

Take a change of clothes for each child, along with hats and something warm to put on.

Take your child’s ‘blankie’ or favourite toy. This can make settling and sleeping in a different environment easier.

If your child sleeps in a cot at home, check that you can hire one at your accommodation.

Stick to your child’s normal bedtime as much as possible. The occasional late night might be a treat.

For older children, teenagers (and parents!), devices can be great for long trips but try to have ‘device-free times’ and do family activities together instead such as swimming, going to see a movie, going out for or cooking a meal together, picnicking, exploring the local area and board or card games.

It’s also OK for your child to feel bored sometimes! Being bored can motivate your child to find something creative or new to fill their time.

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P&C VOICE

WACSSO HELP DESK Below are some of the common questions we get at this time of the year.

04

Do you have a question about anything to do with your P&C? 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!

01

P&Cs don’t have to spend all of the money the have raised by the end of the year, but when there are funds in the account, P&Cs sometimes like to discuss and vote on fund allocation in their final meetings. Ideas include playground upgrades, library resources, or educational programs. Schools may provide input based on high-priority needs, and it's best to confirm with them for coordination. Once the decision has been proposed and voted on at a meeting, and the motion passed, the P&C can transfer the funds to the school’s nominated account.

Don’t forget, financial motions need 7 days’ notice if they are being raised at a General Meeting or 48 hours if at an Executive Meeting.

Can we use P&C funds to purchase gifts for teachers?

P&C funds can only be used for activities, initiatives and events that benefit children. As such, it is not recommended that P&C funds are spent on teacher gifts. If parents choose to buy gifts, it should be done personally and not through the P&C. Please check the Department of Education Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Procedures prior to making purchases.

02

It is recommended that the P&C follow up with school administration in the following year once the funds have been spent. This provides a great opportunity to share the story of what your P&C supports with the broader community.

What fundraising events can we run before the end of the year, and what permissions do we need?

Popular end-of-year fundraisers include Christmas raffles, stalls at end-of-year concerts, or school fair activities. P&Cs need to coordinate with the school administration, Department of Gaming and their local council for any permits, and ensure safety measures align with school policies. Don’t forget, you need to vote on the event and have the motion passed before the P&C can run it.

03

What’s the process for allocating endof-year funds to benefit the school?

05

What are the guidelines for planning community events for next year?

P&Cs are encouraged to start discussing major event dates as a committee in Term 4. Popular start of school community events include family fun days, welcome sundowners, trivia nights, or movie nights.

Coordination with the school calendar is key to avoid clashes with academic events or major assessments.

06

How can we recognise volunteers and contributors to our P&C?

How do we handle unspent funds or budget rollover to the next year?

While it is recommended to invest the money raised in the year back into the school, so the parents and students who have contributed benefit, P&Cs can roll over unspent funds. In these cases, it is good to earmark them for specific projects or events. Financial transparency is key, so plan to discuss and record any decisions in the last meeting’s minutes.

Organise a small recognition ceremony, award merit certificates, or prepare a thank-you section in the school newsletter, noting that the costs of these activities, if appliable, should not be paid with P&C funds. For all the information on WACSSO long-serving P&C member and merit certificates, click here (login required).

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P&C VOICE

Q&A 01

What’s the process for handling conflicts of interest in decisionmaking?

02

03

Based on your feedback, at training sessions, we’ve curated some common governance and operations questions for you to share with your Committee!

01

02

03

What is the best way to manage and track our finances?

How do we maintain good communication with the school administration and broader parent community?

South West Training: Expressions of Interest

Members with potential conflicts should declare them at the start of the meeting (this should be a standard part of the P&C agenda).

Those with a conflict of interest may be required to abstain from voting on related issues. This ensures transparency and fairness in P&C decision-making.

Our regional training officer will be on the move again in March next year, visiting P&Cs in the South West (Dunsborough, Tuart Forest, Augusta and Mount Barker already booked in) and running face-to-face Governance and Operations training sessions.

Clear documentation is key. Most P&Cs use accounting software or a spreadsheet to manage budgets, income, and expenses. The treasurer must present a financial report at each meeting, and an annual audit may be required, depending on income and state regulations.

These sessions cover the essentials of running a P&C, including office bearer responsibilities and running effective meetings.

Regular meetings with the principal and ensuring all members of the school community (including teaching staff) feel welcome to join the P&C will foster open communication.

Sharing regular updates, information on the executive committee and event information in school newsletters and social media keeps parents informed and engaged.

If your P&C is located in the South West and you’d like to book in a session in the week of March 17, 2025, contact us now!

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P&C VOICE

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.

WACSSO

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.

STATE COUNCILLORS

PRESIDENT Pania Turner 0477 644 000

SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT GREAT SOUTHERN Julie Brooks 0429 016 253

VICE-PRESIDENT PERTH SOUTH Anne Fairbanks 0411 256 079

FREMANTLE Emilia Uzir 6210 0100

SWAN WEST Indah Yildiz 0412 595 576

MIDWEST Paula Steenson 0409 076 476

WHEATBELT-NORTH Kim Allison 0490 035 156

PEEL SOUTH Vivienne Cantem 0447 297 156

VICE-PRESIDENT WHEATBELT-SOUTH Kate Hayes-Thompson 0458 830 000

Contact us if you are interested in nominating for one of our vacant electorates: Canning East Canning North Canning West Goldfields-Esperance Joondalup East Joondalup West North West Peel North Perth North South West Swan East Warren-Blackwood

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P&C Voice is the official publication of the Western Australian Council of State School Organisations Inc. (WACSSO) President: Pania Turner PO Box 6295 East Perth 5892 | 151 Royal Street East Perth 6004 p (08) 9264 4000 f (08) 9264 4948 e info@wacsso.wa.edu.au wacsso.wa.edu.au Contibutions from individuals and affiliates are welcome