Bits and Pieces Report Dec 2009

Seasons Greetings Everyone

In my last Bits and Pieces report I mentioned the need to keep a close watch on non government school hostels as the federal funding is no longer specifically tagged. The recent announcement of the closure of Swanleigh Residential College at the end of 2010 demonstrates why we need to be vigilant on this. While the shortfall of funding isn’t the only reason the Anglican Church has taken the decision to close Swanleigh, the problems there could certainly be solved with an appropriate injection of funds. The big question is, “Where are current and future students now going to board in order to access affordable, appropriate education?”

In late October we heard that Jan Little, the former Director of the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) was offered and decided to take a redundancy package. Jan has been a magnificent supporter of ICPA and we thank her and wish her all the best for the future. Unfortunately, as part of Education Department restructuring, they will not replace the person or the role and we are left with no Director of SIDE. The Schools of the Air are currently being managed by the district directors, so instead of one boss (the director of SIDE) there are now five. State Council believes this will be problematic for the SOTAs and we are keeping in close contact with their principals and Colin Pettit, the Executive Director Regional and Remote Schools to monitor things.

Our last State Council meeting was held in the gorgeous, tropical food bowl of Carnarvon. Mary Wake and Aggie Forrester did a brilliant job of hosting us and I thank them again. It was so worthwhile for Council to make the trip. We met with branch members and others from Carnarvon for a relaxed lunch and information session at the Carnarvon School of the Air. This was followed by the State Council meeting then a fabulous whistlestop tour of Carnarvon, ending with drinks at the tropical banana plantation of Bruce and Caroline May. We shared dinner at the pub restaurant across the road from our waterside beach house accommodation with a few locals, including the Carnarvon CEO, Graham Wilkes. Mary and Aggie tell me they have at least 5 new ICPA members as a result of our visit.

I'd like to acknowledge former councillor Jane Armstrong. In a brave move Jane joined state council at this year's conference. I say brave not because we are scary but because Jane is so young and has no children of her own (yet! Although she and partner Cameron will soon be parents of twins) I think it showed great character for her to volunteer to join a group of outspoken 40+ year old mothers, and although Jane was still very much in the learning phase on Council, we valued her input and will miss her happy, young face and different perspective. We wish Jane and Cameron all the best with their new job in their home state of Queensland and, of course, in the world of parenting!

December seems like a good time to reflect on what we have achieved this year. Whilst we can’t claim all credit we have been involved in a few wins over the past 12 months.

· Meekatharra School of the Air is to have a new purpose built school, situated near the Bluff Point Camp School.

· Esperance Residential College will receive some funding for an upgrade and while $1.5m falls far short of what is required it is recognition that something needs to be done.

· We have had constructive discussions with the Public Transport Authority regarding a review of the Student Subsidised Travel Scheme and the Road Travel Subsidy

· The SIDE camp for year 8 and 9 students will be reinstated in 2010

· The support for Dalwallinu district high school for supervising year 11 and 12 students studying through SIDE has been reinstated after a brief ‘scare’ when it looked like being withdrawn. Hopefully this is the case with other DHSs.

· Council had the opportunity to provide feedback into the new 2010/11 STL agreement between SOTAs and the Centre of Inclusive Schooling (CIS)

December is also a good time for members to start thinking about motions for next year’s state conference and I urge you to consider issues both unresolved and those that have arisen since March.

Many thanks to the members of the State Council for their tremendous efforts this year. It is a joy to work with you and be a part of such a passionate and active group…..and we have a lot of laughs too!

Best wishes for the New Year Everyone

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