Independent Schools Australia

The ISA Board met in Canberra today for our August Board meeting and strategic workshop. The day was filled with forward-thinking and dynamic conversations, as we envisioned the future of education, the Independent school sector and ISA. The workshop was both a meeting of minds and a commitment to action, as we challenged ourselves to think 15 years ahead. Thank you to all the ISA Board members and staff for your valuable contributions. #independentschoolsaustralia #futureofschools #StrategicPlanning

With a federal election looming it’s critical to understand the policy positions of all parties. Today in Canberra we were joined at the National Press Club by ISA Board members Christopher Mountford, Andrew Wrigley, Tony Crehan, Cheryl Salter and Rachel Holthouse to watch Green’s leader Adam Bandt lay out the Australian Greens’ proposed “Robin Hood reforms,” which target large corporations.

This week, First Nations education leaders from the state and territory Associations of Independent Schools gathered with Independent Schools Australia on Ngunnawal land in Canberra to discuss the important ongoing work of Reconciliation. Reconciliation Australia joined our gathering and we took the opportunity to discuss the benefits and challenges of many issues, including on-Country learning, Indigenous boarding for students with no high school option in their community, professional learning for teachers, and the ongoing development and implementation of Reconciliation Action Plans. We celebrated First Nations art and deepened our knowledge of Australia’s history with a tour of the First Australians Gallery at the National Museum of Australia. Here we had the opportunity to connect with Adam Duncan , the Museum’s Education Manager and author of The Bunyip and the Stars, a story which is steeped in Aboriginal storytelling and history. ISA remains committed to leading Reconciliation in the Independent school sector, with the goal of strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.

ISA MEDIA RELEASE: INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AUSTRALIA WELCOMES TIM BULLARD AS NEW CEO OF AITSL Independent Schools Australia (ISA) is pleased to welcome Tim Bullard as the newly appointed CEO of the Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership (AITSL). ISA CEO Graham Catt said Mr. Bullard brings with him a wealth of experience from his role as Secretary of the Department for Education, Children and Young People in Tasmania, and is confident that his leadership will greatly benefit the education sector nationwide. "Tim Bullard’s extensive experience in leading Tasmania’s education system, coupled with his strategic insights and commitment to quality teaching, make him an excellent choice for this vital role,” Mr Catt said. See ISA’s full media release here: https://lnkd.in/geH6ER9g

Independent Schools Australia is proud to host our first face to face meeting of our Association of Independent Schools Reconciliation Group meeting tomorrow. We commenced tonight with a wonderful dinner and look forward to tomorrow’s meeting and tour of the First Nations collection at the National Museum of Australia. Looking forward to Andrew Beck (AISWA) joining us in the morning and also Tessa Keenan and Amy Duncan from #ReconciliationAustralia. Kate Mount Wendy Gerakios RoseMarie Koppe Sue Frawley Jacob Hanley Andrew Beck David Burton Tracey Taylor Tim Chugg

Great opportunity for a purpose driven leader to join Independent Schools Australia and help guide the next stage of our development as a national peak body. If you're a strategic thinker who loves operations, relishes stakeholder engagement, and enjoys working as part of a small tight-knit team this could be for you. Please reach out directly to Jo Shapley to find out more.

At Australian Parliament House today for meetings, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Katherine Bennell-Pegg in the security line. Katherine is Australia's first female astronaut and the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag. In high school, when asked to write down three different career options, Katherine only wrote down one – astronaut – and refused to add any others. Inspiring story, and a charming, gracious and down to earth astronaut.

Preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow is essential to securing Australia's prosperity. Today, at the National Press Club of Australia CEO of Independent Schools Australia (ISA), Graham Catt, asked a pivotal question to Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia. Representing over 720,000 students across more than 1,200 schools, ISA plays a critical role in shaping the future of Australia's workforce. On live television Graham questioned, "Even with national VET reform on the agenda, Independent schools find themselves in a complex regulatory environment of different state and territory regulations, so how can we unify our approach to effectively tackle the skills crisis facing our nation?"   In response, Professor Glover acknowledged that skills training goes beyond just TAFE, recognising the vital contribution of Independent schools and other training providers. However, he pointed out the significant challenge of bringing all sectors together toward a unified goal.   The time has come to turn these words into action.   #IndependentSchools #IndependentSchoolsAustralia #JobsAndSkills

Bullying No Way Week, 12 to 16 August 2024, is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative and connects schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying. The week gives schools and supporters flexibility to plan activities that suit their schedule—whether it's spreading awareness throughout the week or focusing on an impactful day or two. #BullyingNoWay #BullyingNoWayWeek2024 #EveryoneBelongs

It's National Science Week in Australia, so we'll be sharing resources linked to the theme of species survival and promoting a love of science from the early years onwards. We hope you find them interesting and useful! Let's start with the early years. https://brnw.ch/21wLNd1 You can also find events and more resources on the #ScienceWeek website https://brnw.ch/21wLNd2