Dear colleagues,
It’s back to school for NSW this week. Hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy some rest and time for reflection on Term 1.
As the busyness of a term gets underway, the impact of the rest can quickly dissipate. Perhaps, though, you might find a new strategy to build into your routine, perhaps an extra ten minutes to spend quietly, perhaps an extra walk around the block to clear your head. As the challenges below highlight, sustaining ourselves for the task of leading is critical at the best of times, and perhaps feels even more so at the moment.
The start of this term brings a welcome opportunity to pass on positive suggestions to principals’ associations about how to provide for more sustainable workloads, and the associated impact on health and wellbeing. Last week, all education State and Territory ministers and the Commonwealth minister received presentations from the Australian Primary Principals Association and the Australian Secondary Principals Association “on the wellbeing of principals and school leaders”. This is a very positive step, and one that should be taken up with vigour, particularly given the ministers “asked officials to work with stakeholders and provide advice on further actions that could support principals and school leaders”. Rarely does this type of opportunity exist; let’s take it while it’s here. If you’re a school leader, let your views be heard; if you work with a school leader, pass on your advice. The same meeting noted that ministers were all progressing legislation on the regulation of vaping, an issue that has impacted many school communities and added to the pressure on workload for teachers and school leaders alike. It’s sometimes easy to criticise political leaders for not doing enough to help, but in these two instances there should be credit given where it is due. Full details of the meeting are available here.
Finally, we need to spare a thought for the scores of schools who will be returning this week and dealing more directly with the impact of the awful violent attacks that have scourged NSW these past few weeks. The trauma will be acute for some, and others will find the news of these events distressing, even if they were not closely associated or present.
Added to this was the remarkable outpouring of community support this last weekend to get better outcomes on the inexcusable acts of violence against women. Schools, teachers, and school leaders are often deeply integrated into complex family situations. Supporting vulnerable families is challenging, and our collective support for school leaders who do this is another practical way to strengthen positive school communities.
Another term of privileged service is underway. Thank you for your continued commitment to our great profession.
Paul Kidson
ACEL NSW Branch President