INFORM Newsletter
2025, Term 1, Issue 1
Table of Contents
President's Report
Welcome to Term 1, 2025—the start of another chapter in our collective journey as educational leaders. I hope that each of you found a moment to pause and recharge over the holidays, though I know for many, the shadow of staffing challenges and administrative burdens likely lingered. As always, your dedication and resilience have ensured that your school communities begin this year grounded and prepared.
As we step into 2025, I am reminded of the words of Marcus Aurelius: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” The challenges we face are not roadblocks, but opportunities to reshape, redefine, and reaffirm our leadership. Whether it’s navigating staffing shortages, managing policy changes, or addressing student wellbeing, your leadership remains the fulcrum upon which your school’s success pivots.
While we are only a few weeks into the term, I am able to update you on some issues. The Independent Review into Administration and Compliance is almost complete. We are just waiting to find out when we will be able to see a copy of the report. Based on a meeting last year, there will be a significant number of recommendations. One irony didn’t escape our notice; while the review was being undertaken the VSBA were returning the responsibilities of teacher housing back to schools.
Several issues have already been raised that we have brought to the attention of the Department. The most critical has been the lack of clarity surrounding the introduction of the Intensive School Support program. This is directly related to the changes to the Differentiated School Performance Model that was presented to us last year without any prior consultation. Hopefully I will have more information for members later this term; however, if you have concerns about the ISS process, please let me know.
The Association is being consulted on potential changes to suspension and expulsions. This discussion in the early stages and I will have more to share in coming weeks; some of the suggested changes are cause for concern.
This year, VASSP continues to stand firmly beside you, offering support, advocacy, and professional growth opportunities designed specifically ‘for principals, by principals.’ Our Field Officers and Project Services team bring a wealth of experience and are here to provide tailored support for you and your leadership teams. Professional learning remains a cornerstone of our mission, and I urge you to prioritise your own growth—even amidst the relentless demands of your roles. If attending our sessions proves challenging, remember that we can bring these learning opportunities directly to your schools.
As we navigate the year ahead, I look forward to connecting with you—whether at regional meetings, professional learning events, or our annual conference. Remember, you are not alone in this journey. VASSP is here, ready to support and uplift you as you continue to lead with strength, compassion, and vision.
And finally, with the announcement from the Secretary, Jenny Atta, that she will be leaving Education at the end of February, I would like to thank Jenny for her commitment to education and her willingness to engage with the Association and its members.
Need to Know
TEACHER SHORTAGE IMPACT SURVEY:
Survey link: Term 1, 2025 Teacher Shortage Impact Survey
*VASSP continues to encourage members to share how their school is responding to staffing shortages. This survey offers continuous insights into the impact of staff shortages in secondary schools. The data supports our advocacy, highlighting the nuances and complexity of managing the secondary school environment.
Chief Operating Officer’s Report
Amy Rashid
Chief Operating Officer
Leading Transformation: The Role of Principals in 2025
VASSP’s 2025 theme, “Transforming Schools Through Educational Leadership,” highlights the growing challenges facing secondary school leaders and the pivotal role they play in shaping the future of education. School leaders are the driving force behind transformation, innovation, and best practice, ensuring that Victorian schools remain resilient, responsive, and future-focused.
The OECD’s Trends Shaping Education 2025 report identifies key global shifts that demand strong, strategic leadership at the school level.
Technology and the Principal’s Role
The rise of AI, automation, and digital platforms offers new learning opportunities but raises concerns about equity, data privacy, and teacher preparedness. Principals must:
- Ensure responsible EdTech integration while maintaining pedagogical integrity.
- Advocate for staff upskilling and digital equity.
Workforce Pressures and Retention
Teacher shortages, workload intensification, and wellbeing concerns continue to impact school leadership. Addressing these requires:
- System-level workload reform and sustainable leadership structures.
- Stronger recruitment and retention incentives to secure future talent.
Climate and Sustainability in Schools
Students are demanding greater focus on environmental education. Leadership must drive:
- Sustainability in curricula and school infrastructure.
- Policies that support climate literacy and green leadership.
Economic Shifts and the Future of Work
Automation is reshaping the workforce, demanding a rethink of curriculum and skills development. Schools must:
- Bridge the gap between traditional education and emerging workforce needs.
- Explore microcredentials and flexible learning pathways.
Policy and Governance Challenges
Education is increasingly shaped by political and policy shifts. School leaders must:
- Navigate changing accountability structures and curriculum debates.
- Ensure the principal voice remains central in policy decisions.
Transforming Education Through Leadership
The transformation of education is not just about technology or policy shifts—it is about leadership. As Victorian secondary school principals, your work shapes the future of students, staff, and communities. VASSP remains committed to supporting your leadership, your advocacy, and your impact.
Texts Consulted
OECD (2025), Trends Shaping Education 2025, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ee6587fd-en.
ASPA Update
Members
If you would like to receive the ASPA Bulletin and be part of the mailing list, please register here:
https://www.aspa.asn.au/contact
*VASSP values our members’ privacy and will not share member information without authorisation.
Item
Principal Support Unit: HR and Workforce Planning Assistance
The Principal Support Unit (PSU) in DE’s Schools Human Resources Division provides confidential HR and ER support to principals, offering strategic workforce planning advice and guidance on industrial agreements. Principals can contact the PSU directly for assistance.
Beyond individual consultations via phone, email, and Webex, the PSU engages with principal and assistant principal networks, delivering workshops on key HR/ER topics such as organisational design, workforce planning, decision-making, consultative processes, and VGSA implementation.
The PSU encourages principals and assistant principals to explore the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s Strategic Management for School Leaders program, particularly the Workforce Planning module.
Contacts for the PSU are:
Francis (Frank) Sal
Telephone: 7022 1017
Mobile: 0475 832 471
francis.sal@education.vic.gov.au
Brian Wheeler
Telephone: 7022 1016
Mobile: 0457 529 729
brian.wheeler@education.vic.gov.au
Item
Improving School Governance (ISG)
School Council Training 2025
As the Department’s Improving School Governance training partner, Synergistiq delivers facilitated training which supports the knowledge, understanding and skills of school council members and provides guidance on improving governance.
The training is beneficial to both new and experienced members, enabling consolidation of knowledge and an understanding of how an effective council collectively applies its governance knowledge across evolving school contexts.
Bookings for the 2025 ISG School Council Training Program are now open.
To book or view available dates for you or your council members, visit: School Councillor Training Booking | Synergistiq
Professional Learning
- Applying for Principal Class Positions, Garry Schultz and Marie Ghirardello – Wednesday 19 March, North Melbourne
- Mastering the YLC Role: Strategies for Leadership, Teamwork, and Behaviour Management, Liam Keating – Wednesday 5 March, Online
- Navigating Behaviour Challenges – Practical Solutions in Secondary Schools, Liam Keating – Wednesday 12 March, Online
For further information and to register visit VASSP Professional Learning
Things we like
Resource 1: Our Schools
Ourschool is Australia’s first not-for-profit alumni program for state secondary schools. It helps schools engage alumni to inspire students, support career education, and build community connections. As a registered charity, Ourschool continues to expand its impact—demonstrating the power of alumni in enriching public education. See the infographic below:
Resource 2:
Pedagogy in Mathematics The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers Ltd.
Position Paper: Pedagogy in Math – The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT)
Effective maths teaching requires adaptable, evidence-based strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This paper highlights the role of school leaders in fostering informed teaching practices and encourages teachers to use diverse, research-backed methods to support all learners.
For your Calendar
- ASPA National Education Summit, Monday 24 & Tuesday 25 March, Canberra
- VASSP SGM & Leadership Seminar, Friday 16 May, Kooyong Tennis Club
- VASSP Annual Conference, Thursday 14 & Friday 15 August, Rydges Melbourne
- VASSP AGM & Leadership Seminar, Friday 14 November, Pentridge Coburg
Regional Meetings Update
Regional Group Meetings, 2025
- Term 1: Thursday 13 March, 9:00am – 11:00am
- Term 2: Thursday 29 May, 9:00am – 11:00am
- Term 3: Thursday 21 August, 9:00am – 11:00am
- Term 4: Thursday 30 October, 9:00am – 11:00am
- Term 1: Tuesday 25 February, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 2: Tuesday 6 May, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 3: Tuesday 29 July, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 4: Tuesday 28 October, 8:30am – 10:30am
Term 1:
- Thursday 27 February, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Thursday 3 April, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Term 2:
- Thursday 1 May, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Thursday 26 June, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Term 3:
- Thursday 31 July, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Thursday 18 September, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Term 4:
- Thursday 16 October, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Thursday 11 December, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Term 1: Friday 21 March, 10:00am – 12:30pm
- Term 2: Friday 13 June, 10:00am – 12:30pm
- Term 3: Friday 12 September, 10:00am – 12:30pm
- Term 4: Friday 21 November, 10:00am – 12:30pm
- Term 1: Friday 7 March, 9:30am – 11:30am
- Term 2: Friday 23 May, 9:30am – 11:30am
- Term 3: Friday 22 August, 9:30am – 11:30am
- Term 4: Friday 31 October, 9:30am – 11:30am
- Term 1: Wednesday 19 March, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 2: Wednesday 25 June, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 3: Wednesday 27 August, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 4: Wednesday 19 November, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 1: Friday 14 March, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 2: Friday 30 May, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 3: Friday 29 August, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 4: Friday 7 November, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 1: Tuesday 11 March, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 2: Tuesday 20 May, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 3: Tuesday 19 August, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 4: Tuesday 11 November, 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Term 1: Thursday 20 March, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 2: Thursday 12 June, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 3: Thursday 11 September, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 4: Thursday 20 November, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 1: Thursday 6 March, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Term 2: Thursday 22 May, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Term 3: Thursday 7 August, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Term 4: Thursday 6 November, 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Term 1: Wednesday 26 February, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 2: Wednesday 14 May, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 3: Wednesday 6 August, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 4: Wednesday 15 October, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 1: Thursday 27 March, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 2: Thursday 19 June, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 3: Thursday 4 September, 8:30am – 10:30am
- Term 4: Thursday 4 December, 8:30am – 10:30am
Friends of VASSP
Messages and updates from friends of VASSP
Ourschool Update Report
Ready, set, go!
I’m delighted to announce five more Victorian state secondary schools will be receiving Ourschool’s help to establish a supportive alumni program and network for their students.
The new schools in our 2025 intake are:
- Berwick College
- Copperfield College
- Hallam Secondary College
- Pascoe Vale Girls Secondary College
- Wangaratta High School
An unexpected outcome
When we started Ourschool, one of the things we didn’t appreciate, until it became obvious, was that our alumni service is creating a talent pipeline of highly skilled communications specialists for public high schools.
Many of the people we’ve hired, trained and supported to deliver alumni programs to schools have gone on to be employed by the partner school that sought our help initially.
This year’s Ourschool recruits, pictured in the photo below, have professional backgrounds that include marketing, communications, project and event management.
They recently completed their initial training with us as Alumni Program Coordinators. Now they’re embedded at their partner schools, starting to build each school’s alumni program while strengthening the school’s community links.
Our next VASSP update will include the full list of current partner schools that have subscribed to receive our help this year to build their alumni networks.
More updates available via Ourschool’s LinkedIn page or Ourschool’s website
Partner Messages
Partner messages
Join us and register online at: https://aware.com.au/member/learn/events
Register online at: https://aware.com.au/member/learn/events and take action today.
The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (the Academy) offers evidence-informed professional learning that will empower you to create career progression steps. Explore the highlights below or visit the Academy website for further professional learning opportunities.
The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (the Academy) offers evidence-informed professional learning that will empower you to create career progression steps. Explore the highlights below or visit the Academy website for further professional learning opportunities.
Collaborative Complex Problem Solving
Gain understanding of what makes a problem complex and how it can be solved through a systematic, iterative 5 stage process.
Harvard Instructional Leadership Certificate
Build your instructional leadership skills to become a more effective instructional coach, mentor and leader within your team and school.
Build capacity, knowledge and skills. Academy career stage programs offer you the opportunity to further your professional learning, be challenged to be your best and establish a solid pathway to success.
Subscribe to the Academy Connect newsletter to stay up to date with professional learning. Phone: 03 8199 2900
Provisional Appointments
VASSP would like to congratulate the following provisionally appointed leaders.
Andrew Chisholm – John Monash Science School
Rachael Stone – Mordialloc College
Sarah Keating – Beaumaris Secondary College
Rebecca Allen – Hallam SC
Christine Davey -White-Fountain Gate SC
Robert Carter-Leongatha SC
Jacqui Witt – McClelland SC
Felicity Maxwell-Altona College
Tara Dunstan – Altona College
William Donaldson – Elwood College
Ana Jovel – William Ruthven Sec. College
Nerida Morrish – Swan Hill College
Angus Mclean – Charles LaTrobe P-12 College
Wayne Abrahams – Bemin Secondary College
Birgitte Spence – Craigieburn Secondary College
Jennifer Alvarez – Laverton P-12 College
Hayley Wood – Surf Coast Secondary College
Jake Cameron – Surf Coast Secondary College
Esme Jorgensen – Melton Secondary College
Alexander Mejia – Wyndham Central Secondary College
Ewan Slater – Wyndham Central Secondary College
Julia Kent – Surf Coast Secondary College
Ellyse Hutchison – Surf Coast Secondary College
Jye Ledin – Surf Coast Secondary College