Principal's Report

Potential Strike Action

As many families will be aware, the Australian Education Union (AEU) has indicated a proposed stop-work action on the Tuesday, 24th March.

If/when the proposed industrial action is confirmed, the Department of Education will provide formal communication to all Principals outlining expectations and responsibilities. As such, I'll provide any updates as they come to hand.

School Council Election Results 

The School Council elections have concluded. The following members will make up our new team at the conclusion of the AGM on March 16: 

Parent Members:

Mr Ronnie Lowe, Mr Stuart Freemantle, Mrs Allison Patrick, Mrs Sarah Schoots, Mrs Genevieve Fells and Ms Sandy Hopfner.

DET members:

Mr Francis Trezise (Executive Officer), Mr Brett Parkes, Mrs Katie Moss and Mrs Emma Clohesy.

Thanks and congratulations to our two newest members, Mrs Katie Moss and Mrs Emma Clohesy. I would also like to acknowledge our three returning members, Mr Ronnie Lowe, Mr Stuart Freemantle and Mrs Allison Patrick.

I would like to thank our ‘retiring’ school council members, Mr Phil Garner and Mrs Lauren Schulz, for their significant and important contributions to the school community. I really enjoyed having you both on School Council. Thanks very much for volunteering your valuable time to help and support our school.

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, 16th March at 6.00pm followed by a School Council General Meeting at 6.30pm. 

Neurodiversity Week

Spring Gully Primary School will soon proudly celebrate Neurodiversity Week (March 16-20) to recognise and value the many different ways our brains work.

Neurodiversity reminds us that differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning differences are natural variations of the human brain. These differences bring unique strengths, perspectives and talents to our school and community.

Throughout the week, students will participate in age-appropriate activities and discussions that promote understanding, empathy and inclusion. We will explore how everyone learns differently and how we can continue to create a supportive environment where all students can thrive.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

This week, we proudly acknowledge and celebrate International Women's Day.

At Spring Gully Primary School, we are fortunate to be surrounded by extraordinary women, including our staff, parents, carers and members of our broader school community.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of equity, respect and opportunity for all, and to ensure our students grow up understanding the value of inclusion and fairness. We want our girls to feel empowered to pursue their ambitions with confidence, and our boys to champion respect and equality in all aspects of life.

On a personal note, I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by many hard-working, intelligent, compassionate and independent women in my own life. In particular, my wife, my mum, my three sisters and my two daughters are all people I love and greatly admire.

We thank and celebrate all the women who enrich our school community and help make Spring Gully Primary School such an awesome place to be.

Different Journeys

Carer Tip: You Might Be Eligible for the Carer Adjustment Payment

If you’re caring for a child under 7 who has recently been diagnosed with a severe disability or medical condition, you may be eligible for the Carer Adjustment Payment through Services Australia.

This is a one-off payment (up to $10,000) to help families adjust financially after a diagnosis or significant change in care needs. It’s designed to assist with the extra costs that can arise during those early, overwhelming stages.

💡 You don’t need to be receiving Carer Payment or Carer Allowance to apply — but there are income tests and medical evidence requirements.

Applications are time-limited following diagnosis, so it’s worth checking eligibility sooner rather than later.

You can find more information by searching “Carer Adjustment Payment Services Australia” or reach out to Different Journeys (mel@differentjourneysautism.com or

www.differentjourneysautism.com) if you’d like help navigating the process — you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Labour Day Public Holiday

A reminder to families that Monday is the Labour Day public holiday. There will be no school on this day.

We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend, and we look forward to seeing students back at school on Tuesday.