From our Principal
Year 11 Student Leadership Day
On Tuesday 11 August, our Year 11 students participated in a Student Leadership Day as part of the process of selecting the student leaders who will serve the College in 2027. During the day, students were encouraged to reflect deeply on the purpose of leadership and the qualities they should be seeking in those whom they elect to represent their peers.
In my address to the students, I challenged the common view that leadership is primarily about status, authority or recognition. Drawing on the example of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, I spoke about leadership as service, emphasising that the most effective leaders are those who help others flourish. Students were encouraged to look beyond popularity and instead consider qualities such as humility, integrity, compassion, teamwork, initiative and the ability to build up those around them.
As they prepare to vote, our Year 11 students have been asked to select leaders who will serve the College community with generosity, courage and a genuine commitment to others. At St Peter’s College, we believe the best leaders are not those who stand above others, but those who stand beside them and help everyone succeed.
Enterprise bargaining update
Teachers and support staff make an extraordinary contribution to the success of our students and school communities. Negotiations are currently underway for a new enterprise agreement to recognise this work through improved wages and conditions.
The Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) has been negotiating for a new cooperative agreement on behalf of 34 Catholic education employers, including our school, since early 2025.
While negotiations are ongoing, Catholic schools have committed to matching the total percentage wage increases to be provided by the state government in government schools.
Based on the state government’s July wage offer, this will be at least 28.3 per cent over 4 years. While these changes will be government-funded in state schools, Catholic schools will not receive additional government funding commensurate with the additional cost. Thecost will need to be supported through our usual budget and planning processes.
This is a significant change for school budgets that will take some time to work through.
We are currently undertaking planning and budgeting activities for 2027 to ensure we are well placed to support our staff, students and the school community into the future.
As we work through our planning processes, we remain focused on delivering a high-quality Catholic education for every student.
We are fortunate to have a team of outstanding teachers and staff at our school. We value their contribution, and recognise the expertise, hard work and care they bring to our school community every day.
We look forward to providing further information as negotiations progress.
Mr David Hansen
Principal