Online Conference 11 October: Save the date!
The Parents Victoria Annual Conference will take place online this year, on Monday 11 October.
Our theme this year is "Recipes for Great Schools".
Program
- 10:00am - Conference Opening and address by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education & Minister for Mental Health, James Merlino.
- 10:30 am - Caring through Connection with Dr Elspeth Stephenson, University of Tasmania
- 12:30am - Parents Victoria AGM A necessary part of the PV program
- 1:00pm - Collective Conversation on Consent facilitated by Debbie Ollis, with special guests Chanel Contos and Katrina Marson.
- 2.00 pm - Conference close
Details and brochure coming soon.
Staged return to the classroom: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun reported today on how the staged return to the classroom will work for Victorian school students.
PV Executive Office Gail McHardy is quoted in the article.
Gail said some parents would be relieved “and others would’ve hoped for more students to be onsite sooner than later, but unfortunately the virus is the determinant”.
She said that if there was any confusion before October 6, parents should call the DET Covid Hotline on 1800 338 663.
The Herald-Sun article is available online to subscribers only.
A summary of the staged return to the classroom is available in the State Government 'Roadmap' document.
Remote learning incentives: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun reported today that a Melton secondary school is using retail and movie vouchers as incentives to improve remote learning engagement.
According to the article, "Kurunjang Secondary College is putting the names of senior students attending for 75 per cent or more of class time in draws to win."
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article.
Gail said incentives to get technology working and students engaged might help by providing rewards and fun.
“PV would expect the school leadership team would know their community to know what supports and incentives are therefore best placed,” she said.
Message from Education Minister James Merlino
This video message from James Merlino is worth watching all the way through. Mr Merlino covers a range of issues that will be 'front-of-mind' for parents of senior students, including:
- A 10-day vaccination blitz for final-year students starting 7 September - call 1800 434 144 for bookings.
- Rescheduling of the GAT to 5 Oct
- Exams taking place 4 Oct - 17 Nov
- Results 16 Dec
Mr Merlino also discusses the Consideration of Educational Disadvantage process.
Vaccinations give hope: PV media comment
A recent article in the Age focuses on COVID vaccinations for school-aged children. Titled 'Our only way out': Families relieved about vaccinations for children, the article gives responses from parents and other groups.
Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said schools were an important conduit of government health advice, on vaccines and COVID-safety more broadly, for families and communities.
“Schools are the predominant social institution in our societies, so their communication on this is critically important,” she said.
She said schools and parents needed to work together to give hope to students fatigued by the pandemic now that vaccinations were available.
“We need to change the narrative from fear to optimism. If we can amplify optimism we will get through this,” she said.
Return to the classroom: PV media comment
Most parents are keen to get their children back to on-site learning at school. But there's also concern about the spread of COVID-19, especially the impact of the Delta strain on children.
This report, from the ABC's AM program, features:
- Gail McHardy, executive officer, Parents Victoria
- Correna Haythorpe, President, Australian Education Union
- Craig Peterson, President, NSW Secondary Principals' Council
The report also covers the issues of priority for teacher vaccinations and improved ventilation in classrooms.
Helping children with their mental health
- Are you a parent/carer who has experience caring for a child aged 5-12 years with a mental health problem while in primary or elementary school?
- Are you an advocate for better mental health?
University researchers need you to help them develop new guidelines on how to provide mental health first aid to children.
Rapid antigen testing in schools: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun published an article yesterday under the headline, "Rapid antigen Covid-19 testing can keep kids in school, experts say". The article explores the use of rapid antigen testing in schools overseas, and quotes experts in support of the method being used in Victorian schools.
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said, "Parents Victoria would expect our medical experts and governments would be assessing various models used elsewhere in order to minimise Covid impact on us all,”
Gonski: what happened to equity in schooling?
Remember the Gonski Review, first announced back in 2010? Trevor Cobbold from Save Our Schools (SOS) says, "It made the biggest commitment to improving equity in education in the history of school funding in Australia."
Trevor has just published a Working Paper that tells the story of Gonski: its strengths and flaws, and how it has been 'unwound' by successive governments.
The paper is available on the SOS website, along with several other papers on the topic.
On the SOS website:
- A Review of the Gonski School Funding Inquiry and Report (August 2021)
- The Coalition Govt Sabotaged the Gonski Funding Model
- Gonski Gone: Morrison Abandons Public School Students
- Morrison Puts More Nails in the Coffin of Gonski
Vaccine rollout in schools: PV media comment
According to an article in today's Herald-Sun, "Victorian kids are set to receive the Covid-19 jab at schools across the state before the end of term four."
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article.
Gail said some parents were keen to give priority to secondary school students, after all essential workers including teachers were vaccinated.
But she said the jury was out on vaccinating under 12s, as medical trials continued.
“Young people have been identified as potentially at greater risk from Delta variant than previous strains,” she said.
“It’s all a matter of who gets prioritised in the community. If Australia had enough appropriate vaccines for all, it wouldn't be the same issue.”
In other comments not quoted by the newspaper, Gail said, "PV can only hope Victorians will heed medical advice and act selflessly in order to protect everyone."
