Our Three Pillars

Advocacy & Influence

Learning & Growth

Support & Care

VASSP is valued at all levels of the Department of Education and the State Government. The Association is also acknowledged as the voice of the profession in public discourse.

We deliver professional learning offerings that are relevant and impactful. This includes leadership conferences, statewide meetings, and a suite of professional workshops run by industry experts.

Our Field Officers and Project Officers are retired principals and are available to help you with specific needs. This could be anything from staff-related issues to restructuring your school.

Our Vision

The Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals (VASSP) envisions a thriving public education system led by empowered, connected, and supported school leaders.

We believe Principalship is a distinctive and deeply impactful form of leadership: community-driven, high-stakes, and often complex. While rewarding, it can also be isolating. Our vision is to ensure every principal feels supported, heard, and equipped to lead with confidence.

 

Strategic Intent

Since 1956, VASSP has been committed to building the capacity of Victorian government secondary school principals through a collaborative ethos and shared strategic purpose:

Our Mission

Principalship presents a distinct leadership paradigm. While undeniably impactful and rewarding, this community-driven role demands navigation of complexities along with significant responsibilities; at times leading to feelings of isolation.

VASSP recognises the inherent value and challenges embedded in the profession and the individual leadership journey undertaken by each member.

Comprised of experienced state secondary school principals, VASSP understands the intricacies leaders face. We act as your trusted resource, influencing educational policy and practice while amplifying your voice on critical issues.

We are principals, for principals.

We recognise that every leadership journey is unique. Our support is grounded in professional respect, shared experience, and a commitment to your continued growth. 

VASSP strengthens the capacity and wellbeing of school leaders by: 

  • Delivering tailored professional and personal support, advice, and timely information. 
  • Facilitating leadership development for members and their school teams. 
  • Creating inclusive spaces for professional sharing, peer support, and collaboration. 
  • Actively welcoming and inducting new members, strengthening connection from the outset. 

As principals for principals, we provide a trusted voice that brings the realities of leadership into the policy arena. 

VASSP ensures principals and assistant principals are influential in shaping education in Victoria by: 

  • Maintaining accessible communication channels and deep two-way member engagement. 
  • Facilitating meaningful input into Department policy and decisions. 
  • Strengthening member-to-leadership connections through the Committee and Executive. 
  • Elevating system-level implementation with member-informed insights. 

We are relentless in our advocacy for the profession and for a system that empowers every leader to thrive. 

VASSP actively leads public and professional discourse to enhance understanding of and support for public education and the principalship by: 

  • Celebrating and promoting the value of public education locally, nationally, and globally. 
  • Championing principalship as a dynamic, future-focused profession essential to system improvement. 
  • Maintaining a visible, credible public presence to influence narratives and priorities in education. 
  • Contributing thought leadership through research-informed policy and practice. 
  • Building strong partnerships with community, educational and governmental stakeholders. 

President’s Welcome

“Our principals and assistant principals play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of state secondary schooling. It is my privilege to collaborate with you as fellow members and to advocate for the advancement of our schools.”

Colin Axup, 
VASSP President
Colin Axup, VASSP President

Our Team

We are a passionate group of professionals, dedicated to supporting state school leaders. We share a strong belief in quality state school education. Our team strongly values the relationships we have built with members and stakeholders over the decades.

Meet the team