Again this year, Parents Victoria (PV) Board and staff have been kept busy to ensure that parent voices are heard and included in many forums, working groups, events, submission opportunities and feedback requests from DET and government. We’ve also been busy responding to requests for comment from the media.
Meetings Overview
- 3 meeting opportunities with the Education Ministers (James Merlino and Natalie Hutchins).
- 105 meetings with DET – including meetings with Deputy Secretaries and participation in forums and working groups.
- 12 meetings with ACSSO (Australian Council of State School Organisations)
- PV Board and Operations staff weekend Planning Meeting to consolidate and agree priorities for PV’s 2022 Workplan
- 74 other meetings – including 27 with education stakeholders
- 37 written or meeting consultations – providing PV advice and feedback to DET and government
Media
We responded to 74 media enquiries for comment over the year. Many of these are reported on our News & Views page.
Events
- PV Annual e-Conference 24 October. Life is Relational – Relationship based Education (RbE)
Videos from the conference are still available. - One VCE parent briefing and discussion webinars (co-hosted with DET)
- Partnered with Lowanna College to deliver Elephant Ed Parent Webinar on Consent and Sexual Violence
Submissions, Feedback & Contributions:
Department of Education and Training
- Disability Inclusion (animated video on Profiles)
- Mental Health & Wellbeing Toolkit (x 2)
- Primary Care Vaccinations in schools program
- Draft Ministerial Guidelines for the School Community Safety Order Scheme
- Draft fact sheet resources for parents and schools on vaping
- Sustainability – Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan
- Updates to the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships teaching and learning resources (2 parent consultations)
- Schools Covid response roundtable
- Engaging families in lifting student outcomes (FISO 2.0 resource guide)
- Student suspensions & Expulsions policy
- Senior Secondary Pathways reform “Many Talents One VCE” (3 parent consultation feedback opportunities)
- Gifts, Hospitality and Benefits policy
- School Council new members’ welcome letter template
- Foundation (Prep) Enrolment Timeline
- Schools Attendance Guide
- Improving School Governance Guide
- Sexuality Education Resources (parent consultation feedback opportunity) (x2)
- School Community Safety Order Scheme resource
ACSSO
- Australian Government Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Review of the National School Reform Agreement
- Draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan
Other
- Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) – Strategic Plan
- ACU – parent presence in mainstream classrooms (supporting children with additional needs)
- Alannah & Madeleine Foundation Roundtable – aligning e-smart programs to the needs of schools
- Education Stakeholders regarding Senior Secondary Reforms
- The Age Citizens Agenda (2022 State Election re Education)
- Royal Historical Society of Victoria 150th anniversary of Education Conference
- VCOSS Roundtables
- State Schools Relief Strategic Plan
- Senate Education and Employment References Committee Inquiry into School Refusal
… and more
- 11 Issues of Parents Voice e-newsletter
- Promoted examples and good news stories on identified topics of interest to parent clubs.
- Provided 1:1 support to families under our Responsive Complaints brief in order to achieve outcomes for school-based complaints
- Provided quarterly reports and a final full year report on the Responsive Complaints work to DET – including highlighting trends/themes and recommended items for system improvement
- Provided support to schools and parents in order for parent groups to formally constitute (2019 DET Model Constitution)
- Supported parent clubs and school leaders to sustain and encourage formation of parent clubs
- Developed and published web-based articles and posts promoting parent engagement events and articles
- Promoted Relationship based Education (RbE) resources (including an information flyer for Principals)
- Developed Think, Wait, Communicate campaign for parents
- Developed PV School Lunch Order for the November 2022 Victoria State Election and for future State Budgets
- Participated in Monash University video lecture for trainee teachers on the principles of RbE
