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About Parents Victoria

Vision    History    Funding

What is Parents Victoria?

Parents Victoria is a statewide democratic organisation representing parents of students in Victorian government schools.

Parents Victoria provides parents with a voice, presenting an organised parent perspective to State and Federal Governments, educational bureaucracies and institutions, community organisations and the media.

We are not affiliated with any political party. We pursue the broad goal of ensuring that education remains free, compulsory, secular and available to all, whichever party is in power.

Parents need to be well informed. The management of schools has become a more local concern and parents have a vital part to play. Elected parent representatives need parent clubs to assist them to access parent views. The parents' club is in the best position to provide an on-going forum for the discussion and development of parent views on the wide range of issues relating to children's education and welfare.

What Do We Do?

Parents Victoria supports members by providing:

• advice, support and information to parent clubs and parents wishing to establish parent clubs
• advocacy for individual parents, including:
• integration of students with disabilities into 'regular' schools
• Program Support Groups in 'regular' and specialist schools
• discipline enquiries
• regular publications highlighting current issues
• Victorian Parent Newsletter "Parents Voice" 8 times a year
• occasional Issues Papers
• statewide and local seminars on topics relevant to parents and parent clubs
• a comprehensive Parents Club Information Kit
• guest speakers
• local support in all areas of the State through our Regional Networks
• policy manual developed by members and updated annually
• an annual Conference

What is PV?    History    Funding

Our Vision

• Education be free, compulsory, secular and available to all.
• Education be directed to the development of the whole child and to strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• All children have equal opportunity within the State education system, according to their capabilities.
• The mental and physical health of the child be safeguarded.

Our Mission

• To be the forum and voice for all State School Parents' Clubs.

Our Motto

• Parents' Voice in Children's Education

Our Aims

• To create an awareness of the vital importance of education at the National, State and Community level.
  
• To promote the belief that education is a community responsibility.
  
• To promote inclusion of parents, students, teachers and administrators in decision making processes.
  
• To enhance the role of parents' clubs in schools.
  
• To strengthen parents' club membership.
  
• To encourage parents' clubs to accurately reflect the membership and views of their school community.

Our Objectives

• To represent parents' clubs and to act on their behalf.
  
• To publish information for parents and parents' clubs and engage in publicity to further the above aims.
  
• To provide information and advice about effective parents' club operations.
  
• To provide advice and support to parents regarding state school education.
  
• To work in co-operation with other organisations which promote public education.

What is PV?    Vision    Funding

Parents Victoria
80 Years of Parent Action

2003

• Parents Victoria participated in the Department of Education and Training consultation process as part of its LOTE Analysis. Parents Victoria ran a discussion group attended by 20 representatives from school communities and produced a feedback report
• PV campaigns for more equitable Federal Government funding for schools. Campaign includes a mail-in postcard.
• State Government announces introduction of 40km/hr speed zones outside schools - PV welcomes the announcement as we have been advocating for the zones for several years.
• Annual Conference "Preparing Our Kids for the Future"

2002

• PV participated in public debate on the issue of school 'league tables' - reporting of VCE and other testing results in a way that purports to rank schools from best to worst. PV supported ACCSO in the view expressed in its media release LAZY GOVERNMENTS LOVE LEAGUE TABLES. We also noted with interest the circular on this topic from Michael White, Director of School Education.
• PV and DET jointly release the brochure Together We Can Work It Out - a resource for parents and schools on resolving difficult situations and disputes related to schooling.
• Annual Conference: "Creating Parent Friendly Schools"

2001

• Public Education: the Next Generation. State Government consultative process to form a vision for state education in the coming decades. PV is represented on the consultative committee
• PV runs "Lollypop Week" in March to celebrate the contribution of school crossing supervisors.
• Assessment and Reporting: Parents Victoria hosted special consultation meetings for parents throughout Victoria. These meetings helped parents to respond to the proposals outlined in the Consultation Paper - Assessment and Reporting in Victorian Schools. See Parents Victoria report on the consultations and Sofweb website
• PV made a submission to DET "Better Services, Better Outcomes" consultation paper on students with disabilities and impairments.
• Annual Conference "Public Education: Creating a System for Everyone"

2000

• Launch of Parents Victoria  - new name but same commitment to children in State Schools. (Formerly Victorian Federation of State Schools Parents Clubs.)
• Parents Victoria obtained a service and government funding agreement
• Parents Victoria hosts Fifth Annual Conference
• Parents Victoria celebrates 75 years.
• The Parents Victoria website is upgraded and re-launched
• Parents Victoria conducted a series of parent forums across Victoria to gather information on community attitudes to schools' reporting and homework policies. The resulting report was presented to the Department of Education, Employment and Training.

1990s

• Strong Federation support for VCE
• Increasing parent activity in area of National Curriculum guidelines
• Drastic education cuts in State and Federal budgets
• In 1993 VFSSPC lost all government support
• Major school closures and teacher redundancies
• Most State and regional committees discontinued
• VFSSPC continued to oppose increasing demands for parents to pay for 'free' education
• Numerous media interviews on voluntary levies'
• Opposition to compulsory testing programs such as LAP
• Parents 'Club Information Kit launched and distributed to affiliates, very warmly received
• Federation joined in successful campaign 'Save Our School Nurse'
• Strong campaign for 40 kmph speed zones around schools
• Rallies in support of Public Education
• Action to ensure rights of parents' clubs to continue to make own decisions are maintained.

1980s

• Federation policy on confinement leave for teachers adopted
• School Improvement Plan established -State Board of Education with parent membership
• In line with VFSSPC policy corporal punishment in schools abolished, new disciplinary procedures set up
• School Council selection of principals, a long standing Federation policy
• Integration of disabled children into normal schools introduced, another Federation policy
• Strong parent/teacher action to improve staffing of schools
• VFSSPC opposed some aspects of school re organisation and restructure of the Ministry of education
• Federation membership of new Curriculum and Assessment Board to plan and deliver VCE
• Membership of numerous State and regional committees
• Campaigns against school fees and increasing costs to parents
• Concern at abolition of Schools Commission.

1970s

• System of annual grants to schools introduced
• Federation's president represented parents on new Australian Schools Commission
• Federal funding for capital and recurrent expenditure in State schools and special programs
• VFSSMC received its first government grant
• Federation deputation and submission called for improvements in special education
• Committee of Enquiry set up
• First school crossing supervisors employed
• Libraries to be provided for all schools above 225 students
• mobile libraries for small country schools
• VFSSPC ran first government funded parent in service program
• First School Councils established with elected parents and teachers
• Regional building and other committees including parent members.

1960s

• First Mothers' Club Regulations finally gazetted
• Much activity regarding safety of children on school crossings
• National Conferences of parents and teachers in Melbourne and Sydney called for Federal funds for Stale Schools
• VFSSMC stressed the need for improved buildings
• Provision of libraries in all schools
• Smaller classes
• More specialist teachers
• Clerical assistance in schools
• Improvements in School Medical and Dental Services
• Better and safer bus services for children
• Direct grants to schools to replace subsidies.

1950s

• Severe shortages of classrooms and teachers
• VFMC gave support to sex education with 'mother and daughter evenings' throughout the suburbs
• VFMC called for better opportunities for migrant children
• Demands for Federal funds for State education
• Great pressures on Mothers' Clubs to raise money.

1940s

• VFMC stressed need for Child Endowment
• Mothers' Clubs very active in war work
• Immunisation again an issue
• VFMC President appalled at conditions at Kew Cottages
• Much concern about slum housing
• VFMC part of a large delegation to the Minister demanding that more money be spent on education

• A 'Great Education Rally' in Town Hall was organised,  which became the first Education Week

• At the conference the Premier congratulated the mothers of Victoria on their magnificent work for the younger generation
• Clubs gave great support to 'Food for Britain' Appeal
• Many prominent women speakers at VFMC conferences.

1930s

• VFMC undertook to furnish a dormitory at Travancore, a residential school for children with intellectual handicaps.
• 200 conference delegates formed a deputation to the Minister to ask for more control over funds , raised by Mothers' Clubs.
• VFMC invited to join in formation of a Children's Cinema Council
• Calls for better School Dental services.
• Mothers' Clubs very active in provision of school lunches and clothing for needy children in Depression years.
• Raised concerns regarding:
  • Dilapidated school buildings
  • Huge classes
  • School fees
  • Excessive homework
  • Examination stress

• Adoption of first VFMC Platform
• Many country clubs joined VFMC and first Regional Networks were formed
• First interstate conference of State School organisations.

1920s

• Members from 19 Mothers' Clubs adopted a constitution and formed VFMC (Victoria Federation of Mothers Clubs)in November.

• Concerns about:
  • Immunisation against diphtheria,
  • The need for sex education in schools,
  • Excessive weight of children's book loads

• Support for alteration in Public Service Act to provide equal pay for equal work.

What is PV?    Vision    History

Funding for Parents Victoria

After ongoing negotiations with DET ( Department of Education and Training) we have secured a service agreement. This will allow Parents Victoria to put in place a number of initiatives.

• Conducting parent forums to gauge parent response to AIM ( Achievement Improvement Monitor). The parent forums will also focus on reporting and homework.
• Providing support for parents within the Government school system through a new web site and a 1800 number.
• Providing data through literature and information seminars.

Parents  Victoria    Home | About PV | Membership | Newsletter | Contact | Issues | Links | Media | Conference