Victorian President's Report

We welcome our members to the 2024 school year, and we hope that you have had an opportunity to recharge your batteries and enjoy some down time.  Some school leaders however have not been afforded an opportunity to shut down and enjoy a well-deserved break due to staffing recruitment challenges.  I have had regular contact with several impacted schools throughout the holiday break on this very matter.

We are aware that the Department and in particular the School’s Workforce Unit, have been actively working with impacted schools and offering extensive support and guidance.  Several members have expressed gratitude for this support and at a recent meeting with the Deputy Secretary Schools Workforce, Andrea Del Monaco and Tony Bugden (ED Schools Human Resources) the levels of supports were discussed and an undertaking to continue working with impacted schools was given. 

Also throughout January, the occasion to meet with respective heads from the VPA, VASSP, PASS and CEP also presented.   As a collective group, we are keen to advance the work undertaken at the Education Summit last year relating to Reimagining the Principalship.  The paper developed as a result of the summit was presented to then Education Minister Natalie Hutchins and it is our intention to meet with Minister Carroll to discuss the work undertaken thus far and seek commitment to addressing matters pertaining to principal overload as a result of competing demands.  Importantly, we wish to engage with Department heads on this very topic and this will be a key point of discussion in my upcoming meeting with the Secretary.

Finally as we commence the year, we welcome the onboarding of two new APF staff, Phillip Banks (Industrial Officer) and Wayne Burgess (Support Officer), who replace Mark Arkinstall.  By all accounts, Mark has the van ready for fishing expeditions as he officially ended his tenure with the APF this week.

Very best wishes to all our members for a successful and productive year ahead.