Strategic expertise grounded in real school leadership
VASSP Project Services provides tailored, practical support to Victorian public secondary schools.
Our Project Services Officers are experienced school leaders, including former principals, assistant principals and current school leaders. They understand the complexity of school leadership and the expectations of DE policy and mandate. Every engagement is shaped around your context, not a generic template.
Whether you need short-term advice or structured support over time, we work alongside you to strengthen leadership, systems and outcomes.
Services include:
- Leadership development through workshops and coaching
- Support for School Improvement Review processes, including pre-review self-evaluation
- Development of Strategic and Annual Implementation Plans
- Financial and workforce planning
- Merit Protection Board assistance
- Facilities preparation
- Curriculum planning and improvement
- Student management and wellbeing systems
If you are unsure whether we offer a particular type of support, contact us. We will discuss your needs and design an approach that fits your school.
Want to know more about how Project Services can help you?
VASSP Project Officers
Experienced school leaders, including former principals and assistant principals, and middle leaders.
They bring expertise in teaching and learning, school improvement, workforce practice and student management, with strong capability in leading change and strengthening school culture, alongside deep knowledge of DE policy and operational requirements.
Meet our Project Officers
Robyn Anderson
Robyn was a member of the Principal Class for more than 15 years in roles including Campus Principal, Acting Principal and Assistant Principal. She is an accredited Growth Coach with extensive experience across secondary, primary and P–12 schools, including multi-campus, regional and rural settings.
Robyn has led across a broad range of portfolios including teaching and learning, curriculum, student management and wellbeing, and the establishment of a new school. Her work supports leaders to strengthen leadership practice, improve school performance and build strong learning cultures.
Areas of Expertise
- Leadership coaching
- Leadership team coaching
- School improvement and change management
- Teaching and learning
- Difficult conversations
- School reviews
Robyn is a strong supporter of state education and is passionate about fostering future leaders, promoting effective leadership and strengthening the conditions that enable schools to achieve the best outcomes for students.
John Baston
John is a former principal with extensive expertise in policy development, school review and organisational systems improvement. He brings strong capability in aligning strategic intent with effective school-wide processes.
A former Principal of Keysborough College, John brings deep experience in aligning policy and practice to strengthen school performance. His work focuses on building clear, effective systems that support leadership teams and sustain improvement.
Areas of Expertise
- Policy design and development
- School review and improvement
- Organisational systems
- Leadership coaching
- Strategic alignment
- Performance frameworks
John is known for his structured approach and ability to translate complex policy requirements into practical leadership action.
Ross Bevege
Ross is a former principal of four secondary schools and Regional Network Leader with extensive experience across metropolitan and regional contexts. He brings steady leadership support in complex and high-stakes environments.
Ross brings strong capability in supporting leaders through complex and high-stakes situations. His work focuses on strengthening executive effectiveness, targeted improvement and confident leadership decision-making.
Areas of Expertise
- Difficult and performance conversations
- Executive coaching
- Targeted school improvement
- Principal mentoring
- Leadership team development
- Strategic clarity
Ross is valued for his steady judgement and practical support in challenging environments.
Steven Boyle
Steven is a former secondary principal and Regional Network Leader with deep expertise in whole-school improvement and organisational change. He works closely with leadership teams to strengthen strategic coherence and implementation.
Steven works alongside leadership teams to build coherence, align strategic priorities and embed sustainable improvement practices across schools.
Areas of Expertise
- School improvement strategy
- Strategic planning
- Leadership team development
- Change management
- Workforce alignment
- Improvement implementation
Steven is known for his clarity, strategic insight and focus on long-term impact.
Lyn Boyle
Lyn is a former Principal of Lara Secondary College with significant experience in executive development and whole-school improvement. She focuses on strengthening leadership practice and professional culture within schools.
Lyn works with leadership teams to strengthen practice, align teaching and learning priorities and build strong professional culture within schools.
Areas of Expertise
- Leadership coaching
- Executive development
- Teaching and learning improvement
- Organisational alignment
- Principal mentoring
- Professional culture
Lyn is recognised for her collaborative approach and commitment to leadership growth.
Noel Claridge
Noel is a former principal with strong expertise in instructional leadership and executive capability development. He supports schools to translate improvement priorities into consistent classroom practice.
Noel supports schools to translate improvement priorities into consistent classroom practice and cohesive leadership team functioning.
Areas of Expertise
- Instructional leadership
- Leadership team development
- Executive capability
- School improvement
- Teaching practice alignment
- Strategic implementation
Noel brings practical insight and a strong focus on improving learning outcomes.
Vicki Forbes
Vicki is a former Principal of Brentwood Secondary College with extensive experience mentoring leaders across career stages. She brings thoughtful guidance to principal and executive development.
Vicki focuses on principal mentoring and leadership development, supporting leaders to build confidence, clarity and capability in complex roles.
Areas of Expertise
- Principal mentoring
- Leadership development
- Executive coaching
- Career progression
- Leadership pathways
- School improvement
Vicki is known for her thoughtful guidance and commitment to professional growth.
Deb Gentle
Deb is a former Principal of Drouin Secondary College with strong contemporary leadership experience. She supports schools to strengthen executive effectiveness and sustain improvement.
Deb works with schools to strengthen executive effectiveness, clarify improvement priorities and build sustainable professional culture.
Areas of Expertise
- Executive leadership
- School improvement strategy
- Leadership coaching
- Organisational clarity
- Strategic alignment
- Culture development
Deb is recognised for her practical, solutions-focused approach.
Marie Ghirardello
Marie is a former Principal of Wheelers Hill Secondary College, VASSP Field Officer and VAPA Assessor. She brings deep expertise in governance, accountability and leadership performance processes.
Marie brings extensive expertise in accountability processes, governance and leadership development. Her work supports leaders to navigate performance frameworks while maintaining strong school culture.
Areas of Expertise
- Performance and appraisal processes
- Governance and accountability
- Leadership coaching
- School improvement
- System frameworks
- Emotional intelligence in leadership
Marie is valued for her deep system knowledge and balanced leadership perspective.
Jill Laughlin
Jill is a former Principal of Camberwell High School with significant experience leading school mergers and organisational transitions. She supports leaders navigating structural and cultural change.
Jill supports leaders navigating structural change, aligning culture and establishing strong executive direction in complex environments.
Areas of Expertise
- School transitions and mergers
- Change leadership
- Strategic alignment
- Executive development
- Organisational coherence
- Community engagement
Jill is recognised for her calm leadership and strategic clarity during periods of change.
Robert Lewkowicz
Robert is a former Assistant Principal with strong expertise in school operations and workforce practice. He brings practical insight into strengthening operational systems and leadership confidence.
Robert works with schools to strengthen operational systems, build leadership confidence and support effective workforce processes.
Areas of Expertise
- School operations
- Workforce management
- Interview preparation
- Organisational systems
- Staff development
- Instructional leadership support
Robert is known for his practical insight and operational clarity.
Garry Schultz
Garry is a former Principal of Belmont High School with a strong focus on middle leadership and distributed leadership practice. He works to build leadership density across schools.
Garry works closely with leadership and middle leaders to build leadership density and strengthen collective responsibility across schools.
Areas of Expertise
- Middle leadership development
- Executive facilitation
- Distributed leadership
- School improvement
- Team capability building
- Leadership culture
Garry is valued for his ability to build leadership confidence at multiple levels.
Ian Wallis
Ian is a former Principal of Sale High School with decades of leadership experience across regional Victoria. He brings measured expertise in governance, strategy and community engagement.
Ian brings strong expertise in governance, strategic planning and community engagement, supporting leaders to sustain improvement over time.
Areas of Expertise
- Governance
- Strategic planning
- Community engagement
- Leadership coaching
- Long-term improvement strategy
- Organisational oversight
Ian is recognised for his measured leadership and long-term perspective.
Rod Williamson
Rod is a former principal and Regional Network Leader, and an accredited leadership coach with extensive experience in executive development and school improvement. He supports leaders to strengthen clarity, culture and performance.
Rod brings strong system knowledge and deep expertise in coaching individual leaders and executive teams. His work focuses on strengthening strategic clarity, leadership practice and school improvement through structured, purposeful coaching.
Areas of Expertise
- Leadership coaching
- Executive and leadership team development
- School improvement strategy
- Difficult and performance conversations
- Change leadership
- Building professional culture
Rod is known for his energy, clarity and ability to help leaders translate reflection into practical next steps.
Project Service Rates
Project Work | |
Members | Non-members |
$150 per hour plus GST | $300 per hour plus GST |
Whole Staff Professional Learning
Service | Duration | Cost (ex GST) |
Full day workshop | 6 hours | $3,000 |
Half day training | 3–4 hours | $2,000 |
Staff meeting workshop | 1–1.5 hours | $1,000 |
Leadership Team Workshops (5–20 participants)
Service | Duration | Cost (ex GST) |
Full day workshop | 6 hours | $3,000 |
Half day training | 3–4 hours | $2,000 |
Staff meeting workshop | 1–1.5 hours | $1,000 |
*Travel expenses may apply depending on location.
Prices are subject to change. We will always provide a clear quote before commencing work.
Coaching Services
VASSP coaching is grounded in recognised coaching and adult learning principles. The service is designed to be purposeful, measurable, and directly connected to professional practice in schools. Each engagement supports school leaders to reflect on and improve their leadership and practice.
There are two coaching pathways available. The pathway must be identified and agreed with VASSP before commencing, as each carries a different structure and fee.
VASSP Coaching Model - $195 per session
Applies when coaching is delivered using the VASSP four-step evidence-based structure. All four elements must be present in every session:
- Pre-planning — Prepare session goals, review prior notes and context
- Focused coaching conversations — Structured, goal-oriented dialogue
- Reflection on practice/leadership — Support the coachee to evaluate their own practice
- Documented next steps — Clear, agreed actions recorded after each session, researched guidance and provided resources-shared with the participant
Inclusions
- Pre-planning, a 45-minute 1:1 coaching session, and documented follow-up
- Optional pre-commencement meeting to establish context and goals
- Initial sessions delivered face-to-face; ongoing delivery format is flexible
- Travel costs apply to face-to-face sessions only where they exceed standard thresholds
Bespoke Coaching Programs
When Bespoke Coaching Applies
Some schools require coaching support that does not fit the standard VASSP four-step model. This may be because the school has a specific focus area, a particular leadership challenge, or a preference for a different coaching and mentoring format.
Bespoke coaching is designed by the PO in consultation with the school. The program is tailored to the school’s context, priorities and needs, and may look quite different from a standard VASSP coaching engagement.
Bespoke Coaching - $150 per hour
Examples of Bespoke Coaching
- Mentoring: Ongoing mentoring relationships that support a leader’s growth over time, structured around the mentee’s goals rather than a fixed session format
- Focused on a specific school priority: Coaching designed around a defined school improvement focus — for example, instructional leadership, curriculum review, or staff capability building
- Observations and feedback: Structured classroom or leadership observations followed by debrief conversations and targeted coaching