2019 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS 01 OPENING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “ We will strive to provide a service 02 OUR VISION 03 CONTACT DETAILS where reconciliation lives in 03 MINIMUM STANDARDS ATTESTATION the hearts, minds and actions 04 DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPALS STATEMENT of all our teams. We commit to 05 OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS 07 CEO REPORT transparency on our journey and 08 DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION GOVERNING AUTHORITY REPORT recognise Aboriginal and Torres 09 PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Strait Islander perspectives 11 OUR SCHOOL 12 ATTENDANCE DATA and leadership is critical to our 13 INTERVIEW WITH SARAH DAWSON success.” 15 OUR LEARNING CEO Michael Perusco 15 CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENT POPULATION 15 TEACHING AND LEARNING REPORT and Board President Jo Flynn 17 INTERVIEW WITH KATE 19 EXTRA CURRICULARS 21 LITERACY AND NUMERACY GROWTH 22 STUDENT WELLBEING 23 SETH’S STORY 25 OUR STAFF 25 STAFF WELLBEING 27 CHILD SAFE STANDARDS 29 STAFF AT BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 31 SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA SUMMARY 32 FINANCIAL REPORT 33 OUR FUTURE 33 FUTURE FOCUS 34 ALUMNI STORIES 35 ABOUT THE ARTIST 36 CLOSING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 01 BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Berry Street School acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Vision Our Custodians of the lands, skies, and waterways across Australia. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded, and we recognise the impact School Our colonisation has had and continues to have. We appreciate the knowledge, wisdom and learnings of the longest living cultures and we are guided by their strength and resilience. The Berry Street Learning Our School pays our respect and we acknowledge Elders as holders, protectors and educators of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Staff Our Financial Report Our Future Our BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 02 OUR VISION 03 BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 ANNUAL REPORT We believe that children, young people and families should be safe, thriving and hopeful. Vision Our As one of Australia’s largest independent family service organisations, this belief is the heartbeat of our organisation. School Our The Berry Street School is a specialist Our school community celebrates Students flourish when the school independent school consisting of diversity underpinned by unconditional community holds high expectations four campuses based in Noble Park, positive regard for all. Berry Street and students receive support that best Morwell, Shepparton and Ballarat. School will contribute to the nurturing meets their individual goals. The Berry The Berry Street School adheres to and strong sense of connection to Street Education Model (BSEM) standards set by the Victorian and country and cultures for Aboriginal and encompasses a structured vision Learning Our Federal Governments. We offer an Torres Strait Islander children together of wellbeing in the school community, adaptation of the Victorian Curriculum with the support of their families and including the support of education for years 7-10 and the Victorian communities. We also strive to be truly case-management for each of our Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) inclusive of all LBGTQI+ people. students. The relationship-based for Senior Secondary. Our students are often referred to us. practices are grounded in unconditional Berry Street School believe all Many students referred to Berry positive regard for our students. The use Our Staff Our children have the right to a high-quality Street Education Services have of restorative practices assists students education that prepares them to experienced trauma and disrupted to build the capacity to self-regulate achieve their full potential and transition attachment, social disadvantage behavior, feel nurtured in their to their pathways of choice with and disengagement from school. Our relationships with staff, and ultimately confidence and hope. We will do this students present with significant gaps to improve learning outcomes. through targeted and data informed in their academic learning and have The Berry Street School provides instruction that builds academic found it difficult to learn in a group students with an Individual Education stamina and rigor so that students are setting presenting with behavioral Plan encompassing holistic support able to contribute to their community and social problems in school. offering intensive literacy, numeracy, in meaningful ways. and wellbeing programs. Programming Financial Report includes counselling, advice, and post school pathways planning. Our Future Our BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 04 OUR VISION CONTINUED CONTACT DETAILS MINIMUM STANDARDS ATTESTATION ADDRESS I, Joanne Alford, attest the Berry Street School is compliant with: 1 Salisbury Street All of the requirements for the minimum standards and other requirements for Richmond 3121 the registration of schools as specified in the Education and Training Reform Victoria Australia Regulations2017(Vic), except where the school has been granted an exemption PRINCIPAL from any of these requirements by the VRQA Joanne Alford Australian Government accountability requirements related to the 2019 school GOVERNING AUTHORITY year under the Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth) and the Australian Education Berry Street Regulations 2013 (Cth) Mr Michael Perusco, The Child Safe Standards prescribed in Ministerial Order No.870 - Child Safe Chief Executive Officer Standards, Managing Risk of Child Abuse School. TELEPHONE (03) 9429 9266 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE JOANNE ALFORD www.berrystreet.org.au Principal AGEID NUMBER Date: 07.08.2020 80042 STATEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPALS Berry Street School is committed to Australian Democratic Principles including: Elected Government The rule of law Equal rights for all before the law Freedom of religion Freedom of speech and association; and The value of openness and tolerance. Berry Street is committed to the principles of social justice. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands and waters of Australia. 05 BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 ANNUAL REPORT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr Joanna Flynn AM, President Our Board of Directors consists of Board Director at Ambulance Victoria and Forensicare Victoria. Vision Our people committed to our vision who Former Chair of Eastern Health and Medical Board voluntarily give their time, energy, of Australia. MBBS, MPH, HonDMedSc, FRACGP, FAIC knowledge and skills to steer Berry Street through our challenges and successes. Tim Cartwright, Vice President Former Acting Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor. Our Patrons BA, Grad Dip. Patron-in-Chief: School Our The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Michaela Healey, Vice President Governor of Victoria Director & Advisor Patron: LLB, MAICD Professor Emeritus Sir Gustav Nossal AC, CBE, FAA, FRS. Joshua Grace-Ware Learning Our Changes to the Board Executive Manager, HR Operations, REA Group Dr Joanna Flynn AM BA & MA of Management (ER/IR), GAICD joined the Board in August 2019 as President (Penny Armytage resigned as president in Feb 2019) Steve Gross Steve Gross Senior Managing Director, joined the Board in November 2019 Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets Staff Our MBA, BCom Paul Mann CFO, Future Fund B.Comm, CA, CFAC Megan Mitchell Financial Report National Children’s Commissioner BA (Hons English), MA (Psych), Dip Ed, MA (Social Policy) Eric Passaris Our Future Our Partner, Audit and Assurance, Grant Thornton Australia B.Ec, CA, CPA, RCA BERRY STREET SCHOOL 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 06 OUR VISION CONTINUED CEO REPORT Berry Street believes children, young people and families should be safe, thriving and hopeful. We also recognise that education provides the platform for so many opportunities for young people and the Berry Street School is integral to realising Berry Street’s purpose and mission. This year we had a renewal of the School’s leadership with Joanne Alford starting as Principal and Maddie Witter as Deputy Principal. Joanne and Maddie come to these roles with very strong experience in this area of education, and I have been very pleased to see the progress they have made in a short period of time. Together with the Assistant Principals and staff team, Joanne and Maddie are ensuring that the students receive the education they deserve. One that is focussed on educational attainment and building the life skills necessary to enter the MICHAEL PERUSCO workforce or other educational opportunities. Chief Executive Officer Amongst a busy year we also completed our VRQA review. I continue to be immensely proud of the students and all that they achieve, often in very difficult circumstances. Their resilience, strength and courage is an inspiration to all of us. By listening to what the students tell us, we are reminded of the important role the Berry Street School plays in their lives and the responsibility we have to continually improve the learning environment. Here’s a short selection of recent comments… ‘I have attended school more than I ever have and completed more work at Berry Street than at any of my other schools.’ ‘This is the best school that I have attended, before, I was always kicked out of every class. My teachers want to help me learn.’ ‘Since being at Berry Street, I feel supported at school. I can complete my work knowing that my teachers want me to succeed and be myself.’ When I hear these words, I feel hope and trust that our students can look forward to a future filled with promise and potential fulfilled. Congratulations to all our young