August 2025 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

The last month has been a busy one for CaSPA, we have been active in representing Catholic Principals and school voices through the AERO Disability and Inclusion Project, the National Principal Reference Group Meeting with Minister Clare July 4 and the ACARA National Peak Principals Group Meeting where Stephen Neil and the ACARA Senior Executive Team discussed future strategic directions.

I was invited to attend an embargoed pre-release briefing for key stakeholders on the NAPLAN 2025 National Results ahead of publication on Wednesday 30 July 2025.  We have been contributing on two fronts to the Anti-Bullying Review. We have had an online meeting with Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM (co-chairs) and we have had online consultations as a member of the National Principals Representative Group (NPRG).

I represented us at the NSW Law Reform Commission regarding Anti Discrimination Legislation and schooling. It was surprising that no Diocesan heads were present. CSNSW was represented as well as the AIS and Christian Schools.

National Principal Reference Group Meeting   At the latest NPRG we heard from the Federal Minister as well as combined with other Principal Associations to progress the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, Principal Wellbeing, National Child Protection and Teacher Registration, AERO and their relevance, and My Schools.

We had the Asia/Oceania ICP Meeting last Tuesday and we discussed contributions to the ICP Newsletter, the call for Abstracts for the 2026 Conference in Auckland NZ, Principal and leadership formation programs in our schools and countries, AI strategies across the world, as well as examining Data Analytics approaches. The ICP Council Meeting will occur in New Delhi India this year. I encourage all Directors to spread the word regarding Abstract submission for the 2026 ICP Conference as well as encourage articles for the Newsletter. International Confederation of Principals News

Link to Newsletter

The Board met in Darwin Sunday 27 July through to Tuesday 29 July. The meeting was attended by Megan Evans (Chair of the NT Catholic Principals Association, Paul Greaves (Director Catholic Education NT), Dr Neil Carrington, Catherine Palmer and Sandra Robinson (AITSL), and Meg Brighton (Deputy Secretary Schools - Federal Department of Education). The attendance of our guests prompted additional discussion and provided the Board with much to consider regarding middle leader development, strategic directions for CaSPA, a context surrounding the success and challenges in Catholic education in the Northern Territory, and a federal understanding of educational issues. The Board also renewed its commitment to ethical practice through a signing off on our Anti Slavery Statement as well as gaining updates on all State and Territorial issues through Director Reports.

Best wishes

Dr Stephen Kennaugh GAICD

CaSPA President

Late last month the CaSPA Board met in Darwin. The Board holds their ‘in person’ meetings in rotation through the eight jurisdictions on a two-year schedule. The other meeting this year will be in Sydney. The agenda in Darwin included working with Dr Neil Carrington on finalising our next strategic plan.

In the course of the meeting the Board met with representatives of AITSL and the Commonwealth Education Secretary, Meg Brighton. Other guests included Megan Evans, the President of the NT Principals Association an NT Director of Catholic Education, Paul Greaves.

Directors have been very active in the home jurisdictions during conference season.

NT Principals President Megan Evans with the CaSPA Board

NT Director Paul Greaves with the CaSPA Board

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

Don’t be shy,if you are new or yet to be featured please complete the information below and forward this information to: admin@caspa.edu.au

Photo: Please provide a photo of quality

Name:

Current School:

Previous Position:

First Year as a Principal:

Year of Birth:

My big picture for my current school is:

The Joy of becoming a Principal is:

Favourite Book:

Favourite Food:

Interests / Hobbies:

My Favourite Well-Being Strategy:

Advice for an Aspiring Leader:

Favourite Leadership Quote:

What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book:

If you have yet to feature in our Principal Profiles you are welcome to do so, simply send me an email at admin@caspa.edu.au with your answers and a picture.

• 2 July Meet George re CaSPA Data Projects
• 4 July CaSPA Conference- Graphic Design Concepts
• 7 July Met with Ben Maher and Justin Hodges- Full Spectrum Education – Elevate Program
• 8 July Met Brett Burcher re wellbeing Breathing
• 10 July Safeguarding Training 2 hrs
• 15 July Asia & Oceania Regional Meeting ICP

CaSPA Board engaging with Meg Brighton, Secretary Commonwealth Department of Education

CaSPA Board engaging with Sandra Robinson and Catherine Palmer from AITSL regarding Middle Leader Standards

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by The Educator 25 Jul 2025

Originally funded for three years by the Department of Health and Aged Care, under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program, the Seasons for Life Initiative from MacKillop Seasons has recently been awarded additional government funding until June 2027 to support secondary school communities across Australia with evidence-based loss and grief education following a suicide, or other loss event.

The fully funded initiative which has been offered to secondary schools since July 2022 strengthens the capacity of young people, and the adults supporting them, to understand and respond well to change, loss and grief. To date, almost 900 schools across Australia have engaged in the initiative, with  approximately half of these schools located in regional and remote areas.

Wrap-around holistic supports

The wrap-around initiative supports students, staff, families and school communities, offering a range of programs which schools can engage in, including small group sessions for students, as well as programs for parents and carers, and a session for staff to build capacity so that they can recognise and effectively support young people experiencing loss and grief, including a loss by suicide. "The Staff Professional Learning sessions in particular have been highly sought after, as they really set the foundation for a whole school and community shift to grief awareness and support,”  Keeva Mostyn (National Lead, Seasons for Life) told The Educator.

Director of MacKillop Seasons, Fiona McCallum, who is also part of the National Postvention Leadership Group (NPLG), along with key representatives from headspace Schools &  Communities, Thirrili – Indigenous Suicide Postvention Service, and Youturn (Standby Support), participated in a panel discussion at the National Suicide Prevention Conference in Perth in May 2025. “The objective of this partnership is to improve postvention supports by actively aligning services and resources that enable the system to work more effectively for local communities and Seasons for Life plays a key part in this,” Fiona commented.

Keeping Spirit Strong

As part of the wrap-around supports offered to schools, Keeping Spirit Strong resources have been created with the support and guidance of First Nations community members and experts, to build the cultural knowledge, confidence and skills of staff to provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families experiencing loss and grief, including loss by suicide. Resources include a directory of wellbeing supports, a booklet, and an eLearning to aid adults to support the grieving and healing journey for First Nations young people.

Evidence-based at the core

At the core of the Seasons for Life initiative is the Seasons for Growth program, which was developed in 1996 by Distinguished Professor Anne Graham AO, Director of the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University. “The Seasons for Growth educational program has supported almost half a million people worldwide for almost 30 years now, and is currently being run in nine countries,” Fiona McCallum told The Educator.

To celebrate the positive impact of Seasons for Life over the last three years, MacKillop Seasons have created a video, The Seasons for Life Story, which includes the voices of facilitators, wellbeing staff, school leadership and most importantly, young people who have participated in programs.

Seasons for Life is overseen by a national Advisory Group and is currently being evaluated by the University of New England. Interested schools can find out more about the Seasons for Life initiative by emailing seasonsforlife@mackillop.org.au.

https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/critical-student-wellbeing-funding-for-secondary-schools-extended/287627?hsmemberId=140008315&tu=&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=20250724&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8fwDxIqIe5OgfskWOWsFKU8ArXnmic_w5wlxdxC1wQnDFHShidJ314xSYO9oTE274i4_vMfAe_JkIk6Usz0rGquyT3fQ&_hsmi=372901975&utm_content=&utm_source=

ICP ANNUAL COUNCIL 2025

There are 65 delegates registered for the Council from the following countries and Associations:

• Africa: Ghana (CHASS), Kenya (KESSHA), South Africa (SAPA), Eswatini (EPA), Nigeria (ANCOPSS), Uganda (ASSHU)
• Americas: Canada (OPC, BCPVPA), Argentina (ESSARP)
• Asia & Oceania: Australia (AGPPA, APPA, ASEPA, ASPA, CaSPA, IPSHA, NSWSPC), Singapore (APS), New Zealand (NZPF), India (Salwan Education Trust)
• Europe: Ireland (IPPN), Finland (SURE-FIRE)

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