ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and CONFERENCE REPORT SATURDAY 20th AUGUST 2011 LILYDALE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL Issue No 236 Tasmanian State School Parents and Friends Inc 202 Liverpool Street, Hobart Tasmanian State School Parents & Friends Inc gratefully acknowledge the sponsorship, support and donations from the following groups and organisations aQua Fill’n’Go Water Solutions Carers Tasmania Children’s Book Council of Australia Commonwealth Bank – School Banking Life Education Tasmania Inc Mark George Books MindMatters / KidsMatter Statewide Immunisation Reference Group Tasmanian Association for the Gifted Tasmanian Life Long Learning The Smith Family SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS Tasmanian State School Parents and Friends Inc AGM and Annual Conference 2011 CONTENTS Page Attendance and Apologies 1 Address by the Hon Nick McKim, MP, Tasmanian Minister for Education and Skills 3 Notification of Office Bearers 7 Agenda Items 9 Guest Speakers Peter Garrigan, President, Australian Council of State School Organisations 16 Darren Stops, State Chair, Australian Psychological Society 20 Lesley Fraser, Psychologist 26 Sharon Rush, Senior Social Worker, Dept of Education, L-S North 29 Management Committee Reports President 36 Northern Region 39 North West Region 40 Southern Region 42 Representation on Committees 44 ACSSO – Tasmanian V-P 45 Financial Reports Independent Auditor‘s Report and Financial Statements 47 List of Members 57 ATTENDEES President: Jenny Grossmith Delegates Chair: Jenny Grossmith Jackie Pilgrim, Nixon Street Primary Jenny Eddington, Ashley School Michelle McLeod, Nixon Street Primary Nicole Edgar, Avoca Primary Gary Morse, Penguin High Kirstie Anderson, Avoca Primary Janine Walker, Queechy High Ant Dry, Burnie High Jann Rowlands, Queechy High Mark Briggs, Cooee Primary Alison Jales, Riverside Primary Elise Chilcott, Deloraine Primary Tina Fairfield, Rosebery District School John Samphier, Deloraine Primary Robyn Newman, TASSP&F Lindie Read, Devonport High Lynda Wood, Trevallyn Primary Helen Kaus, Devonport High Lisa Gillard, Ulverstone High Sheree Evans, Hagley Farm Primary Lisa Gillard, Ulverstone Primary Louise Clifford, Kings Meadows High Karen Harman, Yolla District School Philip Clifford, Kings Meadows High Simon Warriner, Yolla District School Keith Wenn, Launceston College Lisa Tatnell, Youngtown Primary David Brown, Lilydale District School Louise Clifford, Youngtown Primary Evelyn Archer, Lilydale District School Nigel Jones, Lindisfarne North Primary Jenny Eddington, Newstead College Life Members: Phillip Cornwell Richard Pickup Proxies Franklin Primary Latrobe High Mountain Heights Riana Primary Taroona Primary Observers Allison Beard, Queechy High Jessie Brown, Lilydale District School Peter Kearney, Principal, Hagley Farm Primary Invited Guests and Speakers Hon Nick McKim, Minister for Education and Skills Peter Garrigan, President, Australian Council of State School Organisations Darren Stops, State Chair, Australian Psychological Society Lesley Fraser, Australian Guidance and Counselling Association Sharon Rush, Senior Social Worker, Department of Education, North-West Paul O‘Halloran, Parliamentary Secretary of Education Michael Ferguson, Opposition Education Spokesperson Liz Banks, Deputy Secretary ( Damien von Samorzewski, President, Tasmanian Catholic School Parents & Friends Fed Nella Pickup 1 Staff Dianne Ellson, Executive Officer Cassandra Wells, Administration Officer Apologies TASSP&F Management Committee: Jennifer Branch, Southern Delegate and Life Member Eddie Staier, Northern Delegate Members: Geilston Bay High School Association Swansea Primary School Association Dover District School Life Members: Libby Bailey Julia Greenhill Pat Jackson Doreen Dowker Audrey Mitchelson Julie Roberts Invited Guests: Mayor Albert Van Zetten, Launceston City Council Hon Craig Farrell, MLC Hon Sue Smith, MLC Hon Rosemary Armitage, MLC Hon Vanessa Goodwin, MLC Hon Mike Gaffney, MLC Hon Tania Rattray, MLC Hon Greg Hall, MLC Hon Ruth Forrest, MLC Leanne Wright, President, AEU (Tas) Tony Crehan, Association of Independent Schools (Tas) Bob Phillips, General Manager, Learning Services (S-E) Colin Pettit, Secretary, Department of Education 2 CHAIRPERSON: Jenny Grossmith WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER At 8.55 the school choir sang a beautiful rendition of ―Why We Sing‖ Evelyn Archer welcomed all delegates and guests to Lilydale District High School and to the new BER building in which Conference was being held. OFFICIAL OPENING Jenny Grossmith welcomed all to the 64th Annual Conference of TASSP&F and introduced the President of the Australian Council of State School Organisations, Peter Garrigan OPENING ADDRESS by PETER GARRIGAN Peter acknowledged the traditional owners of the land, past, present and future. Transcript of Peter‘s address – page ADDRESS BY THE HON NICK McKIM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION and SKILLS Mr McKim thanked Jenny and paid his respect to the traditional owners of the land. He then acknowledged Peter Garrigan, Jenny Grossmith and the TASSP&F Management Committee, Michael Ferguson and all delegates for the time they give to their children‘s education, their school and the broader community. Government spent over $1.3 billion on education in Tasmania in the last year. The Government‘s priorities for education in Tasmania are – School Readiness: This is preparedness for education when children enter school. The Minister acknowledged the success of the Launch into Learning program and the government has committed additional funding to allow the program to progress. This program engages with families not just children. The Government will be investing another $2 million into Launch into Learning. Literacy and Numeracy: Another priority will be to continue doing the basics well. Access: Will continue to enhance access to public education through communication with communities and families. The Minister wants to encourage a love of learning. There is often an inspirational teacher that brings the importance and love of learning to children. Despite new initiatives there are significant budget challenges for the Government and there will be savings strategies that affect schools. School Viability and Closures. We cannot walk away from the challenge facing the education system and declining enrolments each year. In the last 4 years student numbers 3 have declined by approx 4,000 with a resulting decline in Federal Government funding of $4million. Need to develop a sustainable school system to deliver best outcomes. A school‘s place in its community is very important and has strong links and need to be considered. Primary function is efficient delivery of public education. The Minister apologised for getting the process wrong following the budget decision. Given the challenges, a Reference Group has been established to advise the Minister on viability of state schools. The Reference Group will consult widely and prepare recommendations on school viability including processes to assess a school and whether it should remain open. The Government will look at Legislative amendments required. The Reference Group will be chaired by Royce Fairbrother and will report to the Minister by 31 January 2012. Every parent group will be able to feed information into the Reference Group. This is not a challenge the government can walk away from. 4 Term Year. Tasmanian schools will move to new a 4-Term model in 2013. The Minister considers that this change is in the best interest of student learning. There is documented evidence of learning loss in the basics (literacy / numeracy) after long holiday periods. The new model will more easily link into National Curriculum. The Minister will be negotiating with the AEU to amend their award to allow this change to go forward. Retention and Achievement Strategy will aim to address retention to year 12 with the introduction of tracking system for students from year 10 to 12 and follow up for disengaged students. Both the Government and the Education Department will be attentive to outcomes from Conference. Motions and actions are meaningful and the Government will respond formally. In closing, the Minister thanked delegates for giving their time to contribute to their child‘s school. ATTENDANCE Secretary, Lisa Gillard, welcomed all delegates and confirmed that present were 33 delegates representing 28 schools plus 2 Life Members, and a total of 40 votes. Also present were guests and observers listed on page 1. 4 APOLOGIES Apologies received were circulated to delegates and the Secretary, Lisa Gillard, called for apologies from the floor. Resolved to accept apologies ADOPTION OF STANDING ORDERS AND RULES FOR DEBATE Moved Richard Pickup (Life Member)/ Gary Morse (Penguin High) That standing orders as circulated be adopted CARRIED APPOINTMENT OF TIMEKEEPER AND SCRUTINEERS The Chair called for volunteers from observers to act as timekeeper and scrutineer. Resolved that Damien von Samorzewski and Peter Garrigan would take on this task. EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEMS (refer page ) ADDRESS BY DARREN STOPS State Chair, Australian Psychological Society Darren is a teacher as well as a psychologist. Darren went to a government school and received a good education. He is very committed to government schools. It is a privilege for all to be working in schools in Tasmania. There is a very strong duty of care and the importance of what School Psychologists are doing. A lot of the work they do is silent and unseen. Transcript of Darren‘s presentation is on page ADDRESS BY LESLEY FRASER Australian Guidance