College Council 

College Council Elections

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. 

They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students. 

Who is on the school council? 

There are three possible categories of membership: 

A mandated elected Parent category

More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.

A mandated elected DET employee category.

Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.

An optional Community member category.

 Its members are appointed by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members. The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections. At Scoresby Secondary College the College Captains are valued members under this category providing a voice for our students.

Why is Parent membership so important? 

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging. How can you become involved? The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.

 In view of this, you might seriously consider 

• standing for election as a member of school council

• encouraging another person to stand for election.

 Do I need special experience to be on school council?

 No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future. What do you need to do to stand for election? The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not employed are eligible to nominate as parents for the school council where their child is enrolled. Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt following the receipt of your completed nomination.  If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed. 

Remember

 • Ask at the college for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do 

• Consider standing for election to council this year 

• Be sure to vote in the elections. 

Contact Principal, Mrs Gail Major for more information. 

The 2023 Council Election Process and Timeline Nomination Forms may now be obtained from Reception at the College and must be lodged at the College no later than 4pm on Thursday 24 February 2023

Following the close of nominations, a list of nominations received will be posted at the College. An election will then be conducted (if the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies). The terms of office, membership categories and numbers of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows: 

Parent Member 

Number of Positions:      3

Term of Office: From the day after the declaration of the poll in 2023 to, and inclusive of, the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024.

DET Employee Member 

Number of Positions:        3

Term of Office:  From the day after the declaration of the poll in 2023 to, and inclusive of, the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024. 

 If you decide to stand for election you will need to arrange to be nominated and seconded by persons who are eligible for the same category as you will stand for. 

Student Member 

Number of Positions:       1

Term of Office: From the day after the declaration of the poll in 2023 to, and inclusive of, the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024 

 If you decide to stand for election you will need to arrange to be nominated and seconded by persons who are eligible for the same category as you will stand for. 

Community Member ( non-elected – co-opted by Council Members)

Number of Positions:   4

Term of Office:  From the day after the declaration of the poll in 2023 to, and inclusive of, the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024.

 If you decide to stand for election you will need to arrange to be nominated and seconded by persons who are eligible for the same category as you will stand for. 

Continuing Council Members 

The following Members will continue to serve on School Council throughout 2023

Principal/Executive Officer:  Mrs Gail Major

Parent Members:  Mr Andrew Bissett, Mrs Jo Jones, Mr Peter Mitcham

DET Members: Mr Mark Corrie

Community Members:  Annual Co-option

I look forward to working closely with all members of the College for another successful year.

Mrs Gail Major 

Principal