2024 CaSPA Conference

Thank you to the Principals, leaders, speakers and sponsors who committed to the CaSPA Conference through keynotes, breakouts and monetary support. Thank you to the Principals who extended the invitation to members of their Leadership Teams and senior leaders within their schools. Thank you to the conference organising committee and the work that went into the planning of the Conference. The giving up of your time to organise all aspects of the Conference such as the liturgies, the Mass, student representations, our speakers, and this wonderful location was very much appreciated.

We are in challenging times as Principals and senior leaders in Catholic Education. The diminishing teacher numbers, retirements looming for many experienced leaders, mental health of staff and students are an increasing aspect in our leadership. Increases in administration requirements, decreasing autonomy, and dealing with inappropriate parental demands to name a few of our other challenges. Despite this we have seen increases in enrolments across the country in secondary Catholic education, improved growth outcomes in student learning, and employees viewing Catholic schools as a preferred employer largely due to the nurturing and support we provide. We will be organising for the presentations and resources to be shared with those in attendance and we look forward to getting our organisation of the 2026 CaSPA Conference to be held in Sydney underway.

Minister Clare Meeting

As an Association CaSPA is committed to delivering on our key values of Unity, Voice and Service. Our relationship with key stakeholders has never been stronger with requests for consultations being regularly sought from AITSL, ACARA, NCEC, ACU/Notre Dame, and most recently our Federal Education Minister - Jason Clare. Minister Clare convened an important roundtable with the nine Principal Associations on the 28th June to discuss further support for school leaders and principal wellbeing and efficacy. In a demonstration of solidarity, the peak associations jointly developed proposals for research and professional support mechanisms to retain and sustain school leaders, and for ongoing engagement on national education policy. 

Minister Clare agreed to formalise a National Principals’ Reference Group. This was a significant achievement and will provide school leaders with a direct and ongoing opportunity to contribute to national policy.  As we know, when principals are supported and involved in the design of school policy, everyone benefits. We envisage that this collaborative approach will support initiatives, contribute to a fulfilling environment for teachers, and better outcomes for students.

CaSPA LIFE MEMBERSHIP Award - Ann Rebgetz

As part of the CaSPA Strategic Plan developed in 2023, the CaSPA Board elected to initiate a Life Membership Award category to be presented annually to a worthy recipient – one who has provided leadership and made positive contributions to their local and national Principal Associations over many years. Life membership will be acknowledged by a Gold Pin and Framed Certificate.

This year the CaSPA Board has chosen to present Life Membership to a former Director and President of CaSPA, Ann Rebgetz.

Ann has represented the Queensland Association and served on the CaSPA Board for two terms. In total, Ann has committed 10 years of service to CaSPA. As well as committing to the work of CaSPA, Ann has been an active member and a former Chair of the Queensland Catholic Principals Association – CASPAQ for many years.

Ann has been Principal at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Wadeyre 2006-2008, St Columba’s College Caboolture 2009-2018 and St James College Brisbane from 2019 to 2024 and Ann has announced that she is retiring at the end of this year. Congratulations Ann and we wish you well for your retirement.

Welcome New CaSPA Executive Officer

On behalf of the CaSPA Board I would like to welcome Michael Egan to the role of Executive Officer. We farewelled former Executive Officer, Phil Lewis, at the CaSPA Conference in Perth. Michael has just completed 15 years of principalship in NSW where he was on the ACSP Executive for 9 years and just finished 5 years as the President.

Best wishes

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
CaSPA President

• Dr Stephen Kennaugh (CaSPA President) attended the Round Table with Minister Clare and the other National Peak Principal Associations to discuss the Principal Wellbeing Report and the emerging issues for Principals and Schools.

• Faith Formation Partnerships with Notre Dame University: NDU to conduct a survey of Faith Formation programs around Australia with the possibility of NDU providing Faith Formation programs for Leaders, Teachers and Diocesan Offices.
• 2024 CaSPA Conference was well attended
• CaSPA Board facilitated the Combined Meeting with the 8 National Catholic Secondary Principal Associations. The meeting of the Associations was held on Sunday 14 July just prior to the Conference commencing.

• CaSPA will support the ACU Survey which will continue in 2024.

The CaSPA Board will continue to advocate for more acceptance of the ACU Survey data and recommendations by some sections of education in Australia.

Profiles of all the CaSPA Board are available on the CaSPA Website: https://caspa.schoolzineplus.com/current-and-past-board-members

• The CaSPA Board has expressed its sincere gratitude to all the Western Australian Principals and Committee Members for their amazing work over the year.
• CaSPA was delighted to have the Notre dame University sponsor the Awards Dinner at the Conference.
• CaSPA continues to investigate ways that it can continue to collaborate with ACPPA – recently ACPPA President and Executive Officer attended the CaSPA Combined Meeting in Perth.
• Draft Research Report to be published by CaSPA soon. The research on “Empowering Women for Principalship” has been commissioned by CaSPA and conducted by the Australian Catholic University.

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EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS

The CaSPA Leadership Excellence Award is sponsored by the CaSPA Partners and aims to recognise and celebrate the pursuit of excellence by Principals in Secondary Schools within Catholic Education in Australia. Each State & Territory Principal Association can nominate a Principal to be considered for this award.

This year the nominated Principals are:

Congratulations to the 6 Excellence in Leadership Nominees. Thank you also to the people who prepared the nominations.

From these State and Territory nominations, the CaSPA Board discerned all applications submitted by the Associations to determine the National Award winner.

The National Award winner received a crystal trophy and a scholarship to the value of $2,000.

THE 2024 EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD NTIONAL WINNER

Paul Belton, Principal of St Paul’s College in South Australia

As Principal of St Paul’s College in South Australia, Paul has led a regeneration of the College - leading a school that was struggling for enrolments and battling cultural difficulties, to one that has its strategic future in place.

Paul has delicately led a significant growth in enrolments from 560 students in 2015 to 1145 students in 2024 and has successfully transitioned the traditionally Year 5-12 College into an R-12 profile.

In 2022, after most careful planning and preparations, Paul innovatively guided St Paul’s from a college with a 63-year-history of boys’ education, into an inclusive co-education college, which has invigorated an authentic commitment to being a Catholic College in the Edmund Rice Tradition.

Students have remained at the centre of every decision Paul makes. His personal and professional measure of success is the student experience, where he has developed a pastoral foundation to establish exceptional improvements in academic outcomes.

Congratulations Paul!

The current offer Notre Dame has made to anyone enrolling to start one of our Graduate Certificates in Education in Semester Two this year, namely that the fees for these courses will be radically reduced due to the application of Commonwealth Supported Places funding.

https://www.notredame.edu.au/study/our-programs/postgraduate/csp