Victorian President's Report

It was a pleasure to connect with so many of you at the recent Principals Conference. We are sincerely grateful to The Academy for providing the APF with the opportunity to host a stall in the Networking Space. This visibility led to a strong level of engagement, with a number of new members joining on the spot. This is a reflection of the growing relevance and reach of our work. 

 Commentary from another union has referred to the APF as "small and boutique." While we acknowledge that our membership is naturally limited by the number of school leaders in the state, we take pride in being a specialised organisation solely focused on the unique needs and challenges of educational leadership. Our size is not a limitation, but a strength as it enables us to provide focused, uncompromised, and effective representation. Our membership continues to grow, reflecting the increasing confidence school leaders place in the APF as their voice in the profession.

A great deal has transpired since our last newsletter just a fortnight ago, most notably the release of the report from the Independent Review into Administrative and Compliance Activities in Schools.  Given that the release occurred early on a Sunday morning, it is understandable if it did not immediately come to your attention.  We will continue to engage constructively with key Departmental staff to ensure the recommendations of the report translate into meaningful and measurable improvements in workload for school leaders.

The recent announcement by the Minister regarding expanded powers for principals to suspend or expel students for out-of-school behaviours that impact school environments has prompted significant concern among members. Many have questioned why such a major policy development was not communicated during the Minister’s address at the Principals Conference.  Learning about it through media coverage rather than direct communication reflects a disappointing lack of consultation and regard for those responsible for enacting these changes in practice.

The APF has been involved in discussions regarding the proposed changes and throughout this engagement, we have consistently raised serious concerns about the challenging and, at times, untenable position this places school leaders in.  While principals have responsibility for the school environment, that responsibility does not and should not extend to locations such as a student’s home, local park, or sporting ground. Despite our feedback, the policy has been revised and expanded. We are yet to view the implementation guidelines and remain concerned about the practical and serious implications for school leaders.