DAY 1: 13:30 - 14:20
Meaningful meetings: Enhancing your team and your leadership

Presented by: Dr Hugh Gundlach
Organisation: University of Melbourne (VIC)

How many meetings have you attended that you can truly say were a productive use of everyone's time and achieved their purpose? How many meetings have you run yourself that did that? Would your team say the same? Leaders spend much of their time in meetings and running a meeting is arguably the most visible example of a leader's management style. Most meetings follow a traditional format that has not kept pace with the modern workplace in terms of technology and culture. Innovations to meeting organisation can have significant positive impact on team effectiveness, efficiency and motivation. In this workshop we will explore how to best structure meetings to generate ideas, make decisions and share information.

DAY 1: 13:30 - 14:20
Leading system change: a multi-layered strategy

Presented by: Stacey Quince, Jady Walker, Wayne Sawyer
Organisations: Department of Education (NSW), Western Sydney University (NSW)

The NSW Department of Education is focused on supporting teachers to deliver outstanding teaching and learning for improved and equitable academic student outcomes. In 2020, the Department embarked on a system-wide approach for improving learning outcomes for senior secondary students through the HSC Strategy. A critical component of this strategy is that it positions teachers as key leaders of change within a ‘nested communities’ model. It recognises and supports teacher leadership expertise in the scaled use of: high-impact subject-specific pedagogies; ongoing evaluation and refinement of teaching practices; action research to embed change; and implementation support for school leadership teams. This session will provide multiple perspectives on the Strategy from academic partners, system leadership and teachers leading practice within their own schools and across NSW public secondary schools. The presenters will demonstrate how the Strategy, with equity at the core of design, was built and delivered, and speak to evidence of impact to date on teaching quality and student outcomes.

DAY 1: 13:30 - 14:20
Leading with Inclusion and Respect for all Humanity

Presented by: Dr Annette Rome
Organisations: St Margaret's Berwick Grammar (VIC)

This session will share for discussion Annette Rome’s PhD findings linking to ‘International Mindedness’ (IM) as well as developments across the OECD PISA for Schools and PISA Global Competencies reports. Development of IM is a core objective of many schools as a way of navigating cultural differences and dissonances so that children of all backgrounds are celebrated. Schools, however, may benefit from some clarification regarding which understandings may assist with developing Internationally Minded (IM) worldviews in students and staff. Crucial is developing common community understandings of IM as well as exploring teacher selection and capacity. This presentation will explore which metrics might aid schools in developing frameworks for competencies that may reflect a move towards being our best selves for all humanity and the planet. Further, how might the results shape teacher selection processes and the structure of student programs and opportunities that may foster IM.

DAY 1: 13:30 - 14:20
Reimagining Education - Innovation in Action

Presented by: Paul Watson, Ernie Ayala
Organisation: Emmanuel Catholic College (WA)

With the commencement of a new Principal at the beginning of 2022, Emmanuel Catholic College has focused on introducing educational transformation on a large scale. With the strong belief for the imperative need to enhance student engagement and improve the health and wellbeing of staff, significant pedagogical and operational change was required. The College’s efforts in an incredibly short period of time have proved unprecedented. At the commencement of 2023 the College introduced a ‘optional’ four-day week for Year 12 students and moved away from the traditional 6 period a day timetable to a mix of 100- minute and 50-minute learning blocks. This presentation will be the story of the College’s Journey over the last 18 months detailing the significant educational transformation that has taken place, highlighting both the process undertaken by the College in instituting such change and the impact those changes have had on the school community.

DAY 1: 13:30 - 14:20
Leading for Tomorrow: Leading Strategy and Pedagogy in International STEM

Presented by: Chris Buswell
Organisation: STEM Punks (QLD)

This presentation explores the fundamental question: How might we educate the students of today to ensure they are ready for the world of tomorrow? This session delves into lived stories from leading international STEM contexts within Australia, Middle East and Papua New Guinea. It will showcase the transformative power of human connection in education and the historical perspectives shaping future perceptions of education. Additionally, it examines the global shift in skills demanded by a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, along with the rise of AI and technology and the consequential emphasis on soft skills.

DAY 1: 13:30 - 14:20
Leadership Matters: The Academy Leadership Excellence Framework

Presented by: Kendra Parker, Kate Morris, Simone Eirth
Organisation: Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (VIC)

There is compelling evidence that the quality of school leadership matters. It has a critical impact on student learning, wellbeing and achievement. The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership has developed an Academy Leadership Excellence Framework and associated set of tools for schools. Working with Emeritus Professor Viviane Robinson, the framework sets out the practices, capabilities and dispositions required for excellence at all levels of educational leadership. It provides an evidence-based model for schools, networks, and systems to identify and develop current and potential school leaders. In the current environment of workforce stress, the Framework supports the development of a pipeline of leaders to ensure the future of school leadership and system-wide improvement. It highlights the agility and deep knowledge required by educational leaders at all levels to work collaboratively to solve complex problems of practice and improve student learning and wellbeing.