From the Business Manager

Subject Selection Fees?

We are currently going through the process of asking students for their subject preferences for 2023. At Wantirna, our students are spoilt for choice in terms of our curriculum offering, and I am always so pleased to hear that, typically, more than 90% of students get all their first preferences each year.

This process normally culminates in parents/carers being asked to make a contribution toward certain subjects their children have chosen. 

In response to feedback, and to further adopt the government’s policy around Parent Payments, our College Council made the bold decision for the 2022 budget not to ask for subject specific contributions. 

Instead, they approved a Parent Payment regime to go toward a few very specific items.

Unfortunately, the reality is that our budget is limited and finite.  This means that the level of contributions parents/carers have made in 2022 will influence what subjects we can offer in 2023 and this will be reviewed by College Council in November.  

It's not too late to pay your Parent Contribution, which is of vital assistance to the scope of what our College can offer students.

If you expected to pay for your child’s subject selections and you have not made your Parent Contribution for 2022, now would be the perfect time to do so. Just click into the Events section in Compass, scroll down to the Opt-In Events and select Parent Contributions 2022. 

If you would like to contribute a different amount, or split payments over the next few months, or just need some guidance with it all, please get in contact with the General Office in Term 4.

The government’s Parent Payment Policy is an often misunderstood topic - even when I was on College Council as a student 30 years ago! 

Remember, without Parent Contributions, we would be unable to offer enhanced Wellbeing Support for students, have a full time Nurse onsite or make the necessary enhancements to our buildings and grounds, which are above standard and in line with the quality of education we wish to offer our community.

If you believe the College Council is wrong to support these enhancements for our students, I welcome any member of our community to get in touch with me to express their thoughts and ideas on the topic and pass on your comments to College Council. All opinions matter.  

Peter Cameron

Business Manager