VOL. 59 / OCTOBER 2017 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ALLIANCE OF GIRLS’ SCHOOLS AUSTRALASIA Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, immersed in the engineering and engineering and the in immersed opportunity for students to be be to students opportunity for science behind flying drones. flying behind science Brisbane, provides a unique The Drone Academy at St COVER IMAGE Vol. 59 Work Futures IN ALLIANCE OCTOBER 2017 BOLD FUTURE WORK FUTURES Fran Reddan 5. Loren Bridge 6. The Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia 102/239 Golden Four Drive Bilinga Qld 4225 Australia (t) +61 7 5521 0749 (e) [email protected] (w) www.agsa.org.au MANAGING EDITOR Loren Bridge Executive Officer (e) [email protected] DYNAMIC CAREERS SPACE SCHOOL (m) +61 408 842 445 Kirsty Mitchell 11. Danielle Flegg 21. PRESIDENT Fran Reddan Mentone Girls’ Grammar School, VIC VICE PRESIDENT Ros Curtis St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School, QLD TREASURER Dr Briony Scott STEM SUPERSTARS DIARY DATES Wenona, NSW Simon Crook 46. 2017 Alliance events 48. EXECUTIVE Jacqueline Barron St Hilda’s Collegiate School, NZ Dr Mary Cannon Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College, VIC Dr Kate Hadwen PLC Perth, WA Anne Johnstone Ravenswood School for Girls, NSW Judith Tudball St Michael’s Collegiate School, TAS Julia Shea St Peter’s Girls’ School, SA The Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia is a not for profit organisation which advocates for and supports the distinctive work of girls’ schools in their provision ALLIANCE PATRONS of unparalleled opportunities for girls. Dame Jenny Shipley DNZM Gail Kelly www.agsa.org.au Elizabeth Broderick AO A BOLD AND EXCITING FUTURE The framework for our 2018-2022 strategic plan ALLIANCE PRESIDENT centres on a renewed sense of purpose: Your invitation to Sri Lanka We are our region’s leading voice for the welve months ago, the Alliance set in motion education and empowerment of girls and young women. In collaboration with girls’ schools and the planning process for our 2018-2022 key partners we strive for a world where more Strategic Plan. women make a difference in new and impactful ways, promoting inclusion and enhancing society. Our Executive Committee members Your invitation to Sri Lanka have brought their individual and collective This purpose challenges us to aim higher and Your invitation to Sri Lanka Texpertise and experience to bear on the development emboldens us to stake our claim as the peak body for of this next strategic chapter. I thank them most girls’ schools in our region. It honours our expertise sincerely for their passion, energy and commitment. and collective knowledge about girls’ education We have had many hours of thinking, robust and moves the strategic plan into its next logical discussions, and done the difficult intellectual ‘heavy iteration: a clear and compelling statement of the lifting’ that is required to take our organisation into role of the Alliance in a complex and changing world. the future. I believe our new strategic plan embraces Importantly, our mission remains intact and focused all the very best of what has gone before with an on our first priority, our members: exciting vision for the future. To advocate for and support the distinctive This is a unique opportunity for After conducting a comprehensive review of the work of girls’ schools in their provision of member surveys commissioned earlier this year, we unparalleled opportunities for girls and young senior educators to network had a thorough understanding of the expectations women. This is a unique opportunity for and perceptions of our members — principals and Finally, guiding our initiatives and programs over with otherseniorThis leaders is educators a unique in education,opportunity to network for staff — as well as a quantitative measure of the the next five years are four principles: senior educators to network extent to which the Alliance had met the goals of explore withan incredible other leaders destination, in education, its current strategic plan. This analysis, supported • Harnessing voices explorewith other an leadersincredible in education,destination, by expert consultancy and the input of a number of • Creating opportunities examine exploreservice an learning incredible destination, important stakeholders, provoked and challenged examine service learning the way we thought about our commitment to • Inspiring girls approachesexamine and service leading learning risk approaches and leading risk educating girls and what girls’ schools might look • Challenging convention approaches and leading risk like in the future. 5 managementmanagement strategies. strategies. In the coming years, management strategies. I believe that this new strategy will help fuel the Strategic Intent Towards 2022 motivation and energy we have to deliver new projects We are our region’s leading voice for the education and empowerment of girls OUR PURPOSE and young women. In collaboration with girls’ schools and key partners, we and opportunities that make DATES PRICE strive for a world where more women make a difference in new and impactful DATES DATES PRICE ways, promoting inclusion and enhancing society. a difference. This can only 9 - 15 April 2018 or 11 - 17 April 2019 $900 To advocate for and support the distinctive work of girls’ schools in their be possible with the support OUR MISSION 9 - 15 April 2018 or 11 - 17 April 2019 $900 provision of unparalleled opportunities for girls and young women. and involvement of our 9 - 15 April 2018 or 11 - 17 April 2019 $900 members and I thank you for INCLUSIONS KEY PRINCIPLES KEY PRINCIPLES INCLUSIONS your ongoing contributions. Together, we will continue to • Economy class flights • All activities HARNESSING Strengthen AGSA voice, Develop service offerings, INSPIRING INCLUSIONS media profile, external tailored solutions, GIRLS • Economy class flights • All activities VOICES advocacy activities and programs achieve great things for our • Single room four star accommodation • Transport and transfers in Sri Lanka ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT • Single room four star accommodation • Transport and transfers in Sri Lanka schools and the education • All meals • Comprehensive travel insurance • Economy• classAll meals flights • ComprehensiveAll activities travel insurance of the young women in our care. • Single roomQUESTIONS? four star accommodation • Transport and transfers in Sri Lanka Diversify partnering and COLLABORATION RESEARCH FRAN REDDAN QUESTIONS? Provide academic CREATING sponsorship relationships, CHALLENGING research, programs • All meals • Comprehensive travel insurance strengthen international OPPORTUNITIES and grants, curated news CONVENTION Mark Walters connections and global reach Mark Walters and publications QUESTIONS?04020402 097 097 186 186 | | [email protected] [email protected] SUSTAINABILITY Governance, resourcing, infrastructure and systems Mark Walters www.agsa.org.au ThroughThrough the the support support ofof WorldWorld Challenge,Challenge, I joined a group ofof seniorsenior leadersleaders from from the the 0402 097 186Alliance | [email protected] Girls’ Schools Australasia on a ‘familiarisation’ trip. We came back with a good dose of Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia on a ‘familiarisation’ trip. We came back with a good dose of Image: Alliance Strategic Framework perspective,perspective, an an understanding understanding ofof history,history, admiration for individuals whowho havehave devoted devoted their their energies energies toto improving improving the the lives lives of of womenwomen andand youngyoung people in very challengingchallenging circumstances,circumstances, as as well well as as appreciationappreciation for for the the preparation,preparation, carecare and ‘risk-management’ capabilitycapability ofof World World Challenge. Challenge. ThroughThroughThrough the support this this experience, experience, of World wewe Challenge, alsoalso got to know I joined each other, a group andand learntlearnt of senior soso much much leaders about about each each from the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasiaother’sother’s on schoolsschools a ‘familiarisation’ and leadership challenges.trip. We came back with a good dose of perspective, an understanding of history, admirationFran Reddan for individuals who have devoted their energies Principal, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School (Melbourne) to improving the lives of womenPrincipal, and Mentone young Girls’ people Grammar in very School challenging (Melbourne) circumstances, as well as VOLUME 59 / OCTOBER 2017 appreciation for the preparation, care and ‘risk-management’ capability of World Challenge. Through this experience, we also got to know each other, and learnt so much about each other’s schools and leadership challenges. Fran Reddan Principal, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School (Melbourne) GENDER BIAS AND WORK FUTURES and STEM degrees in record numbers — it is these STEM–4–ALL: AVILA COLLEGE session. Together students discussed how to develop areas that are touted as the lifeblood of emerging a good focus question and hypothesis so they could EXECUTIVE OFFICER knowledge based industries and jobs of the future. BRANCHES OUT write their own question for investigation. Before session two, the Year 8 students met with their This issue of In Alliance looks at the incredible AVILA COLLEGE, VICTORIA ith so much uncertainty about the future assigned teacher to refine the focus question and work our girls’ schools are doing to encourage talk through each group’s idea for their experiment. of work and the skills our children