The VPA started the year well with a really productive Board and State Council Planning Seminar. The concept of the VPA being “Connected, United and Powerful” was fully endorsed. The VPA Strategic Plan can be found here.  

We aim to value and enact our three pillars:

1.      Professional Learning;
Already in term one, the VPA, along with VASSP, have delivered seven professional development sessions and two forums, “Overcoming the Roadblocks of Leadership” and “Hot Topics in School Staffing”.
Victoria is hosting an international conference - APPA/NZPF Trans Tasman Conference- Our Primary Purpose Leading Learning, at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre on September 18-21, 2012. A stellar cast of speakers featuring at the conference include Andy Hargreaves (Canada), Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Yong Zhao (China) Lucinda Hartley (Australia), Jacqui Cooper (Australia) and Kishore Mahbubani (Singapore).  Other notable speakers are Michael McQueen, Mark Treadwell, Kathe Kirby, Sam Cawthorn, E-Smart & Better Buddies, Sean Gordon, Brian Caldwell, Virginia O’Mahoney, Harriet Olney, Lin Yue and Cathy Wylie. A group discount for four or more people aimed at school teams or all staff members is available for a one day registration at the conference.  A 20% discount on a non-member one day price will apply. You can register online here.

2.      Professional Advocacy;
The VPA has a critical role in the ongoing consultative processes so that the principal class voice is heard. Our Position Papers are an extremely productive way to present and test the issues that members raise. The VPA Board and Council have produced 46 Position Papers coming from Hot Topics and member concerns - refer to Position Papers. The latest newly developed Position Papers address the issues of Notebook Leasing, Cleaning Provision in Schools and Social Media Guidelines.

3.      Professional Services and Support;
Our Field Officers Jenni Beer and Terry Howard are always available to answer questions about all aspects of school life, ranging from facilities to School Council and staffing issues and Merit Board support. A new support process of Project Services has been introduced where experienced and retired Principal Class Officers work confidentially in your school to assist in a range of ways. Visit here to find out more about VPA Project Services.

The VPA publishes a high quality national quarterly journal Leadership in Focus, with a wide-spread circulation and growing readership of educational leaders across the country. You can gain additional copies by contacting the office.

Part of your VPA membership means you are also a member of the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA), Australian Government Primary Principals Association (AGPPA) and International Confederation of Principals (ICP). AGPPA strongly represents VPA members on a national and international level. The work of the VPA and Victorian schools is recognised nationally and internationally in hosting the APPA/NZPF Trans Tasman Conference.

Through ICP connections, the VPA and VASSP have organised a Finland Study Tour this term. The VPA also has a very successful China Educational Leadership Study Tour Program operating as part of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create Professional Leadership Partnerships between the Jiangsu Education Bureau and the VPA. Click here to learn more about our China tours. 

We continue to learn and grow together as educators across the globe so that members are Connected, United and Powerful.

I look forward to working with and for VPA members throughout 2012.

Gabrielle Leigh 

The VPA provides a range of professional development programs for Principals, Assistant Principals and aspiring School Leaders each term.

Programs are designed to meet the needs of members, and are run by the Association.

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