What a year!
2024 was another year of global challenges. Schools, universities and communities all found themselves endeavouring to navigate appropriate paths through a roiling sea of emotions and passions. Education - its purpose, execution and assessment - are matters laden with expectation and hope. It is both an honour and a huge challenge to try and reflect the educational needs of young people (and adults) through involvement in a professional association like ACEL.
This year the Vic Branch hosted events relating to middle level leadership, principalship, teacher sustainability and multiple awards events.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ACEL Vic Branch for their hard work and support. All people give of their time, knowledge and energy freely and few would know the incredible commitment shown. Vic Branch members all hold senior positions in a range of organisations and their contributions above and beyond their day jobs are significant. Thank you to the following:
Kara Baxter, Hayley Dureau, Charlotte Forwood, David Gurr, Fiona Hutton, Steven Kolber,
Fiona Longmuir, Cameron Paterson, Ashley Pratt, Melissa Riley and Lauren Sayer.
I would also like to thank those panel members and speakers who contributed to our events Leaders Connect Series: Leading within your eco system (Michael Woolhouse - Mc Kinnon Secondary College, Damian Bernardo -Thomas Carr College, Kara Baxter - Strathcona Girls Grammar and Dr Charlotte Forwood - Camberwell Girls Grammar), Do you want to be a Principal? (Liam King – Partner, Fisher Leadership; Rob French - Principal, Kilvington Grammar; Karen Money - Regional Director North Eastern Region DEET; and Louisa Rennie -CEO of Mercy Education, Fiona Hutton, Managing Director, Hutton Consulting Australia). Other contributors over the year included Murrundindi, assorted principals across the state, and, of course, all members who attended events.
Next year will be another exciting one for ACEL Victoria as we acknowledge excellence and hopefully provide stimulus for many. We anticipate bringing you a range of exciting events that reflect current hot topics including developing leadership, AI challenges, new curriculum frameworks and issues of truth in our world. We are always keen to hear from members about topics that may be of interest, so please do not hesitate to reach out with ideas – romea@smbg.vic.edu.au .
I hope all in the ACEL community get a chance to reenergise and feed those positive emotions that engender hope and love over the break, ready to come back and continue the incredibly important work we have to do.
Have a great break everyone!
Warmest wishes from all on the ACEL Victoria Branch
Annette Rome
ACEL VIC Branch President