Parent and Citizen Term 3, 2013 Vol 65 no. 3

The Journal of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW

Public Education

Scholarships

ParentandCitizen Term 3, 2013 Vol 65 No 3

2 | Parent and Citizen

Another term hAs been And gone And we find ourselves over hAlf wAy through the school yeAr.

P&c federation’s Annual conference is once again upon us and we look forward to the debate and outcomes from the weekend. this is coupled with the delight in meeting some of our affiliates and hearing the great stories from P&c Associations throughout nsw.

it is also the time of year that our affiliate membership and insurance falls due. Please keep an eye out for your renewal papers in the mail and make sure you have the conversation with your P&c Association about your affiliation and insurance needs. it is important that you review your P&c Association's requirements to ensure that your insurance cover is adequate to cover all of your P&c volunteers, activities and assets.

As all school communities know the department of education and communities are undergoing changes within their structure. currently there is a transition from the regional framework to an executive structure. P&c federation are pleased to note the appointment of our executive directors murat dizdar, dail mcgilchrist, frank Potter and Jane simmons. i am sure you join me in wishing them well as they lead the directors, Public schools nsw within their identified principals’ networks.

As we head into term 3 i hope it is a great term for all P&c Associations, schools and students. soon enough we will know the outcome of the federal election and will have no doubt more advocacy to make for public education and our children. A commitment P&c federation has made to our communities for more than 90 years.

your is volunteering

Lyall Wilkinson

President’s message

Above: lyall wilkinson, P&c federation President and his grandchildren John, Joy, bethany, marcus and tommy.right: lyall and tommy on the farm

Parent and Citizen Journalthe Journal of the Parents and citizens Associations of new south wales

Ph: 1300 885 982

Fax: 1800 655 866

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.pandc.org.au

President: lyall wilkinson

Publicity Officer: rachael sowden

Contributors and feedback to: [email protected]

Advertising: the federation of Parents and citizens Associations of new south wales41 cowper street, granville nsw 2142

t: 1300 885 982

the views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the federation of Parents and citizens Associations of new south wales

83 derby street,silverwater nsw 2128t: 02 9748 0020e: [email protected]

ksuite 107, 20 dale street, brookvale nsw 2100t: 02 9938 5100 e: [email protected]

The Journal of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW

Public Education

Scholarships

ParentandCitizen Term 3, 2013 Vol 65 No 3

Parent and Citizen | 3

Contents

8

38 16

10

Recognising volunteer’s rights 4

Public education students strike silver 5

Local Schools, Local Decisions 6

From Classroom to Catwalk 7

Preparing for school camp 8

Make a difference. Teaching – a great career choice 10

Recognising leadership Dr Phil Lambert 12

A little bit about Stewart House 14

Garage Sale Trail 16

PJ’s for a cause 17

Member Services 18

Friendly Food 20

WAKAKIRRI 21

P&C Federation merchandise 23

How to write a submission 24

Growing Communities Together 25

Working With Children Check 27

Premier’s Awards 30

Nutrition belongs in NSW public schools 32

Peddle the Wheel Thing 33

The Public Education Foundation 34

THINK.EAT.$AVE 36

Love Food Hate Waste 38


Recognising volunteer’s rights

P&C Federation has signed on to the Statement of Principles for the Recognition of Volunteer Rights. The Minister for Citizenship and Communities Hon Victor Michael Dominello MP announced these principles to improve dignity and respect for volunteers, and improve recognition of their rights.

Pictures: lyall wilkinson attending volunteer week celebrations Pictured with the hon victor michael dominello mP

The seven principles announced are:

1 this organisation demonstrates a commitment to best practice in volunteer management and all our people respect and support this commitment

2 our volunteers are involved in the life of the organisation and are included in decisions that affect them

3 this organisation provides volunteers with clarity about their roles and is clear about expectations and policies that impact on their roles.

4 our volunteers respect the roles of everyone in the organisation

5 this organisation, recognises and celebrates the contribution of volunteers

6 our volunteers are provided with training and professional development, for their roles

7 this organisation provides all our people with the opportunity to resolve disputes with respect and dignity.

P&c federation encourages any organisation that works with volunteers to adopt these principles.


Public education students strike silver

baulkham hills high school and gosford high school proudly represented public education at the Asian Physics olympiad. the Australian team competing at the olympiad in indonesia have won three medals, breaking a medal drought at this tough competition for Asia’s best and brightest physics students. in 2013, a total of 27 gold, 16 silver, and 19 bronze medals were awarded at the competition.

the annual Asian Physics olympiads began in 2000 and is a competition for high achieving secondary students from the Asia region. the olympiad is proudly supported by monash university and the Australian government through the department of education, employment and workplace relations and the department of innovation, industry, science, research and tertiary education.

competing in mind-bending theory and practical exams, the Australian team successfully took on students from 20 countries

including china, india, malaysia, singapore, thailand and vietnam. baulkham hills high school student dmitry brizhinev and his team mates had been preparing for this competition since August last year. to earn their spot on the team they competed in national exams, attended intensive summer schools and studied in their spare time at home. “we couldn’t be more proud of the boys” said dr matt verdon from Australian science innovations, the not-for profit organisation that selects and prepares the team for international competition. “they have all worked hard and it’s great to see it pay off. it’s a very tough competition and this is, by far, one of the most successful Australian teams yet.”

year 12 student dmitry said “we were all pretty shocked when they read out the results. i knew i had worked hard, but to bring home a silver medal was way beyond what i was expecting.”

based on the students’ performance at the

Asian Physics olympiads, five will be selected to travel to denmark in July to represent Australia at the international Physics olympiads. the final team line-up will be presented with their team blazers at a special ceremony at Parliament house canberra.

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Local Schools, Local Decisions

The first half of 2013 has been very positive for public education in New South Wales.

on 23 April 2013, the nsw government signed an agreement with the commonwealth government for a new funding model for nsw public schools. based on the recommendations of the gonski review, the new arrangements mean that funding is distributed consistently, according to student need.

this week the nsw government released the state budget for 2013-14 with recurrent expenditure for the department of education and communities budgeted at $14.22 billion.

the 2013-14 budget also includes additional state and federal funding to begin implementing the national education reform Agreement from the 2014 school year.

i know how important funding reform is for the parents and communities of the 750,000 students represented by Parents and citizens across nsw. it is good news for nsw public schools who continue to focus on improving education for all students.

funding reform is also central to the local schools, local decisions reform. i encourage you to read the reform overview on the department’s website. this provides a snapshot of the key achievements so far in the journey that will give nsw public schools more authority, in partnership with their local communities to make local decisions about how best to meet the needs of their students.

Resource Allocation Modelthe local schools, local decisions team

is well on track with developing our new resource Allocation model (rAm). the model is underpinned by similar principles advanced by the gonski review and aims to distribute the nsw public school budget directly to schools and in a fairer and transparent way.

while a fair allocation of resources is a critical first step, each school will then need to make decisions about how to apply those resources. Questions schools may ask include: how can we organise our school facilities and resources to provide better support for every student? what sort of expertise do our students really need to support their learning? how can we use our resources, including funding, in the most strategic way? All these considerations are critical for improving our public schools and, most importantly, influencing what happens in the classroom for our students.

Developing strong accountabilityso how do we ensure we make the right

decisions that make important differences to the lives and choices of children and young people? drawing on the best research, we are developing strong accountability processes to support schools. research that tells us that local authority does not improve student outcomes by itself unless accountability is clear for everyone.

Simplified planninggood plans should clearly describe how

resources will be used to achieve student outcomes.

to support schools around planning, the department’s high Performance directorate has developed a new planning, monitoring and reporting template.

the template is currently being trialled with a selection of schools participating in the empowering local schools national Partnership and the feedback to date has been very positive.

further updates will be provided in the coming months on what this will offer all our schools in the future. the intention is to reduce red tape so that schools have one budget, guided by a single school plan, and an annual report focused on delivering better outcomes for students.

Online resourceswe continue to support our schools as they

move into an era of change characterised by its great possibilities for innovation.

schools have access to a range of resources. these resources are online and available to all schools. topics covered include:1. strengthening family &

community engagement 2. ethical decision making 3. school planning 4. Accrual accounting.

there is still much work to be completed before the new approach can be rolled out across the entire system. the contribution of the federation of Parents and citizens’ Associations of nsw is invaluable in advancing these reforms.

i know this change will take time but i’m confident the resources we are developing will transform schools and classrooms in ways that reflect the learning our students need to thrive in the 21st century.

you can find more information about local schools, local decisions on the department’s website: http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-the-department/our-reforms

Karen JonesR/Executive DirectorLocal Schools, Local Decisions


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Art teacher and international

fashion designer rebecca

brady explores new trends in

art with her students. Photo

supplied by Jan bartram.

From Classroom to CatwalkThere are not many teachers that can

inspire students to stay back two hours. However Ashcroft High School teacher Rebecca Brady's Year 11 students are happy to make that sacrifice to attend her art class.

ms brady has recently transformed her successful high school, art-teaching career into an internationally celebrated fashion design business with her creations under the label rathenart appearing on international catwalks such as fashion week in las vegas and mercedes-benz fashion week Australia.

Ashcroft Principal ted noon said as ms brady's journey had evolved, she has taken her students along with her, acting as a role model and an inspiration.

Passion leads to success"As a practicing artist, rebecca is an

example of how you can follow your passion and succeed, and this is a message that she loves to impart to her students and their parents," mr noon said.

"rebecca has a great love and passion for teaching and has gained some exceptional results with her students at Ashcroft high

school including art pieces in Art express and local exhibitions.

"the evolving elements of creativity and innovation sit well within the broader framework of student and teacher learning at our school. As rebecca continues to explore her talents and gain just recognition, so to do her students."

Student benefitsms brady said her success as an artist

and designer was making her a better

teacher as her experiences could be shared with her students.

"by sharing my art, my students get to know me better and this is how you build rapport with your class.”

"As an artist it is also important for me to stay ahead of my trade and continually explore what is happening, i am able to bring this back into the classroom for my students to also explore."

Passion translates to both fashion and students.


As an adult, do you look back on your own school camp with vivid memories? A successful school camp has the power to positively transform a student in a very short amount of time. These are the times when students and teachers are able to bond beyond the boundaries of the classroom and school setting. Looking back on your experience of your first school camp can bring smiles and laughter as you remember the stories and events that took place amongst friends.

when we think back about events past and school camps, often forgotten is the anxiety of your first big trip away from home. A child’s world is magical and menacing - full of fears of the unknown. therefore it’s only natural that there may be some anxiety about the unfamiliar world of a school camp setting. thankfully there are several practical things that carers and parents can do to ease and support their kids towards a fun and fruitful camp experience.

overnight camps offer invaluable benefits to children. they offer a strong sense of community, teaching children how to live amongst one another and share. the opportunity to live separate from parents for a period of time shows children how to be independent and self-reliant. school camps are often designed with challenging activities as a part of the program, which place students in new, unfamiliar settings; offering them a chance to build a new foundation of confidence of which the benefits extend into the classroom, and many other aspects of life. self-reliance, self-regulation, heightened social and interpersonal skills, teamwork and problem solving are all important life skills developed

in the experiences of a school camp, and these are all incredibly important to a child’s transition into adolescence and the challenges of adulthood.

christine duff, manager of hawkesbury river centres at milson island says “children enjoy the challenges that camps provide – sharing a room, embracing challenging activities, sharing responsibility for things like washing up and getting to know their teachers outside of the classroom. A trip to camp enables your children to grow as individuals”.

school camps typically expose children to outdoor recreation and learning activities in outdoor environments. research suggests that these experiences have restorative benefits and a positive effect on stress reduction and the prevention of depression. giving students a positive experience of an outdoor, active lifestyle has also been found to potentially harness children’s use of the outdoors in their life beyond camps; increasing their levels of physical activity and contributing to a range of positive health outcomes.

despite the range of positives that a school camp can boast for your child, it’s likely that there may be some challenges for them in taking that leap towards the school camp experience. common stumbling blocks for a child in happily embracing the idea of attending a school camp may include:• fear of social alienation, or ‘being left out’• Anxieties regarding their safety • separation anxiety and homesickness

these potential obstacles can be a challenge not only for the child, but for parents too. it’s not always an easy thing to let your children leave you for days, or even a week at

a time. however there are definitely things that parents can do to mentally prepare themselves and their children for the period of time away from home.

Consider past experiences.how does your child go at sleepovers or

in unfamiliar situations? depending on the camp and on the individual child, it may be too much of a leap for them to attend a week long excursion if they’re normally calling you in tears at midnight and needing to come home. consider the individual needs of your child, and if the leap is going to be unrealistic, set some goals on how you can grow their level of independence gradually.

Preparing for school camp


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Talk to your child. when the opportunity to attend school

camp arises, , ask your kids how they feel about it. Are they excited by the idea? do they have any fears? during this conversation you may be able to discern any anxieties or unnecessary mental obstacles, and reassure them with your own positive school camp experiences from your own childhood. communication with your child will help them get their head around the potential experience of a camp. be positive by saying things like this will be fun, you’ll enjoy the challenges”.

Practice ‘independence’ skills at home.

because your child is going to be away from home, there may be a list of things that need to be tackled and mastered before being released to a higher level of independence. learning to clean up their dinner plate, wash their hair, or choose and organise their clothes are all things that a child will need to be able to do before they leave. some of the more practical skills for children to experiment with can be doing their own hair especially if its long as they may need it tied up for a number of activities, learning and remembering how to apply their own sunscreen and turning

on hot shower taps can be very useful skills to bring along to camp. helping your kids to achieve these independent skills, and encouraging them along the way will heighten their confidence in being away from home.

Prepare, make lists, and pack together.

involving your child in the packing and preparation process will help them take personal ownership over their experience and increase their confidence that they’ll have a safe trip. schools will normally provide a specific list of items that your child will need to pack for the needs of their camp. rather than excluding your child from the packing process, involve them in it. reviewing and making lists and asking them all the things they think they’ll personally need will open up conversation about any fears they may have, and will allow you to reassure them that they’re going to be well prepared for any possible situation that may occur. for example, if your child is afraid of being away from home, maybe you could discuss or suggest they pack their favourite

pillow or blanket or photograph.

Keep communication with school staff.

one of the important roles of being a teacher is to maintain communication with parents wherever needed. don’t be afraid to call any of the teachers who will be supervising your child to raise any concerns, worries or practical issues that may need to be addressed. having these conversations will allow the teachers to be aware of your child’s specific needs; making their job easier, as well as reassuring you that your child’s individual needs will be met.

Keep positive. remaining positive and using language that

show’s your child that you believe they’re ready for school camp, and that they’ll have a great time will help your child to believe it too.

school camps are some of the most exciting, life building experiences that a child can have. Preparing your child through these simple steps is a great way to de-bunk any superficial fears or worries that may be preventing them from getting there, and reaping the immense developmental benefits that school camps have to offer.

To book an overnight school camp visit www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/campsLee Holmes Office of Communities

Overnight camps offer invaluable

benefits to children. They offer a strong

sense of community, teaching children how to live amongst one another and share


Make a difference. Teaching – a great career choice

Teachers make a profound and lasting contribution to the future. Few careers are as professionally rewarding, and personally satisfying, as that of teaching in our public schools. Many teachers point to the ability to "make a difference" as the reason for their career choice.

teacher training usually involves four years of study at university, such as a four-year bachelor of education, a three-year bachelor degree plus postgraduate teacher education training, such as a diploma of education or a master of teaching, or a four- or five-year combined degree program such as a bachelor of science/bachelor of teaching.

Scholarship opportunities.this year, up to 300 scholarships are

available for talented students to train as teachers in secondary mathematics, science (physics), technological and applied studies or english, and in special education. up to 80 of these scholarships are available exclusively for Aboriginal or torres strait islander students to train as teachers in primary or any secondary subject.

As a scholar, your child could receive a $5,000 annual training allowance while studying full time for a teaching qualification. when they complete their studies, they are guaranteed

permanent employment in a nsw public school in an agreed location and awarded a further $3,000 to assist with expenses such as relocation costs.

over four years, the duration of most education degrees, they will receive $23,000 to spend as they wish. As a teacher they may also be eligible for the hecs-helP benefit from the commonwealth government worth up to $1,683.19 per annum following graduation.

the closing date for the receipt of applications for the 2014 teacher education scholarship Program is 4 october 2013.

benefits and incentives for teaching in our public schools

for size, flexibility of choice and range of career development opportunities, the nsw department of education and communities is the employer of choice for teachers. the salary package for classroom teachers is valued at up to $98,259.

A career in the Country.there is a wide range of incentive benefits

for teachers who accept positions in many rural or remote areas. the benefits vary from school to school and can be substantial. these may include a rental subsidy in some isolated locations. eligibility to apply for an incentive transfer which provides priority for appointment

to a vacancy at a preferred school after serving a required number of years in a rural or remote school. A $5000 annual retention benefit. A number of locality allowances and reimbursement of certain expenses. one week of additional summer vacation for schools in the western areas of nsw.

Need more information?the department’s teach.nsw team can

provide further information on becoming a teacher. their website, www.teach.nsw.edu.au is the best place to start as it contains everything you and your child need to know about how to pursue a career as a teacher in our schools. Aboriginal and torres strait islander applicants for a teacher education scholarship can contact the department's Aboriginal employment and career development team on telephone 02 9836 9103 or by email at [email protected] to obtain further information and assistance. All other applicants should contact the scholarship team on telephone 1300 301 435 or by email at [email protected].

John WilsonManager teach.NSW



Recognising leadership Dr Phil Lambert

Dr Phil – A professional perspectiveit is easy to start paying a tribute to Phil

lambert in only a 3 minute speech, but it is difficult to know where to end. Perhaps the citation on his 2009 Australian college of educators (Ace) fellowship Award might be a good place to start. it honoured Phil’s “outstanding transformational leadership skills at primary, secondary and tertiary level and also, as an agent of change, (who) has shaped the direction and delivery of curriculum, policies and programs in nsw schools.” these words found echo in the citation for Phil’s award of the nsw Public service medal.

Phil’s Australian council of educational leaders (Acel) fellowship citation opened the lens wider when it noted that Phil “has authored and co-authored books and presented a number of papers and keynote speeches at state, national and international conferences covering a range of topics.” i myself have both privately and publicly asserted that one of the very best pieces of writing on the goals and aspirations of 21st century education is Phil’s “2010-2020: ten Propositions for the decade”, which he delivered at the future of education forum in both melbourne and sydney in April

2010 and which was published later in the Australian college of educators notepad issue 4, of that year.

As demonstrated by his being Patron of the early childhood education council, Phil has a particular commitment to early childhood education. he has also been notable for his commitment to Aboriginal education, for students from disadvantaged social-economic backgrounds, and for students with disabilities. he has a strong commitment to social justice. for example, he is a white ribbon day Ambassador – indeed, he was selected as a finalist for the 2010 national white ribbon Ambassador of the year.

Phil has developed strong links with academe. for example, as a fellow Adjunct Professor in the faculty of education and social work at the university of sydney, i have been able to see at first hand the esteem in which he is held by our academic colleagues.

he is also a member of the board of the Australian children’s television council – a role i know he fully enjoys as much as i did nearly 2 decades ago.

but Phil’s educational horizons are even wider. the Australian council of educational leaders has publicly praised Phil for his “commitment to global connectedness” through his practical and personal support of some education communities in Asia. in particular, he has strived to create effective and fruitful relationships with the city of yangzhou in china. he is an Adjunct Professor at nanjing normal university. And now he is to extend this Asian commitment by his short term appointment as visiting Professor at taiwan southern university, commencing later this month. incidentally, i wonder how many of his senior executive colleagues have been learning mandarin over the last 3 years!

to finish, i can find no better words than those written by the former President of Acel,

noel west, in his citation for Phil’s Acel fellowship. “ .. it is through Phil’s deep and genuine sense of care and respect for the dignity of each individual, that he is held in the highest respect by the entire education community”.

Phil we will miss you. but i am sure that your highly important role as AcArA’s general manager will keep you well and truly connected with us. so, Phil, it’s not goodbye - but rather good luck!

Dr Paul Brock

Dr Phil – An educational perspective

Phil lambert is a smart man, he knows the value of relationships and he understands the importance of integrity and honesty. but the smartest thing is his choice of teaching as a profession, where he demonstrates these values and beliefs to the highest degree.

there is no prouder leader than Phil lambert at the annual sydney region awards, our drama, dance and music festivals, the deadly Kids awards, not just a brush student art showcases, student poetry exhibitions and public speaking events at Parliament house, and the announcements of hsc and nAPlAn results, especially when our kids do better than private schools, or indeed out rank north sydney.

when you are in a position of influence, as Phil clearly is, you might argue innovation is easier to ignite, but the true test is if it can be sustained. even though Phil has moved on, the legacy he has left behind is seen in the incredible culture of leadership, the celebration of achievement, the belief in public schools, their teachers and their communities and the understanding that we truly do make a difference.

Virginia Elliot


Dr Phil – A Parent PerspectivePhil was Principal of marrickville Public

school, in the 1980s, when i first knew him, my daughters attended a nearby school. both schools had vibrant multi-cultural populations and were on the disadvantaged schools Program funding at the time.

during his time at the board of studies we liaised on Primary education matters especially the Arts on my part. it was during that time that he first showed me photos of his wife Anne and newly adopted daughter, Kandy, from sri lanka, who i have watched grow into a beautiful young adult. her education was entirely in the Public education system.

our paths kept crossing when Phil was policy director and Assistant director-general, but when he was appointed regional director of sydney was when we really began to collaborate. Phil was a great support in assisting the P&c team to establish the sydney regional council of P&c Associations when i was an office bearer for P&c federation and the region. At our first meeting, when it came to the potential election of P&c representatives to regional committees, Phil declared that if three parents were interested in attending a particular committee then he would welcome them all.

Phil supported us by attending nearly all of our meetings, or sent a school education director (sed) in his stead, and reported extensively on the regional achievements and trouble spots. he answered all the questions he possibly could and always followed up on those that required further information, parents attending meetings always appreciated his input. his team always made accommodation available for our meetings. Phil attracted

excellent personnel to his team and he inspired loyalty.

i was honored to be appointed by Phil as the chair of the sydney region Arts Planning group, i am not aware of other parents being asked to do such a task. the region presented excellent dance, music, visual arts, drama and public speaking performances and exhibitions.

Phil never liked having a problem in any of his schools and was always approachable and acted on complaints from parents promptly. it was not unusual for him to call me, if i was advocating on behalf of a P&c Association, into the evening or on a weekend if his working week was too busy. sometimes he would have a strategy in place for a certain situation before the parents had asked me for support. he always had the support of the seds in these situations.

in more recent times as a P&c federation member support officer Phil met with a Principal and myself in his holidays, i am assured by his staff that was not unusual for him.

one of Phil’s many initiatives that gave delight to parents across the region was the opening of the school year, held initially in the sydney town hall and later the city recital hall, it celebrated the past years’ achievements and set goals for the coming year. it gave many students an opportunity to showcase their singing, dancing and public speaking.

Among other popular events were the deadly Kids Awards, where Aboriginal students were recognised for their contribution to the school community and the expanding horizons Program which had many links with Asia, china in particular.

i think that what Phil really enjoyed was

his regular school visits, these were of course popular with students and parents also, he demonstrated that although he has climbed a long way in bureaucracy he still has the power to enthrall kids.

in 2010 sydney regional council of Parents and citizens Associations nominated Phil and he was successful in becoming the inaugural recipient of the regional director/ school education director of the year Award presented by the federation of Parents and citizens Associations of new south wales at their Annual conference.

i am just one of many parents and citizens to wish dr Phil lambert well in his time with AcArA.

Jennifer Barker

Phil lambert accepting the regonal director award at P&c federation Annual conference 2010

Phil lambert with rodney Johnson, P&c federation’s

senior vice President.

Phil lambert with Jennifer barker


A little bit about Stewart House

Stewart House came into being more than 80 years ago. Stewart House was firstly a place for unwell and undernourished children from the public schools of NSW. It actually began as a ‘preventorium’ – a NSW Public Hospital. The land where the original buildings are located was donated by NSW government and MP philanthropist, Sir Frederick Stewart paid for construction, NSW Teachers Federation agreed to fund its day to day operation from teachers’ salaries.

stewart house has grown up to the top of the cliff face back in freshwater. the original building remains in use, almost on the beach at south curl curl.

today’s children who are nominated by their schools, for a multitude of social, emotional and health issues, have their 12day stay within the dormitories of stewart house.

they attend school in school hours where there is a modified program taught by department of education and communities staff. out of school hours they have play, craft, games, visits to the Zoo, sydney harbour bridge, beaches and more.

children eat in a beautiful dining room with views to the ocean. many students have not experienced a holiday ever before. in fact some have never been away from home. stewart

house’ s experienced and caring personnel who provide 24/7 supervision know this and plan accordingly.

stewart house is funded through the staff (teachers and support staff) of nsw public schools.

the provision of salary deduction scheme – a joint undertaking of nsw dec and nsw teachers’ federation – ensured a reliable income to fund each child’s stay, an amount of approximately $1200 per child. stewart house hosts over 1800 students ranging from year 1 – year 10 from all over nsw. there is no cost to families at all, even travel costs are covered.

i retired in 2003 (the first time!) and had been the Principal chairperson of the sydney met west committee. in the 1990s i led meetings where i challenged my local schools’ principals to raise at least $1000.00 per school (additional to the teacher deductions) as then each school would raise enough money for the cost (then) of one student to attend the program.

At the stewart house board Annual meetings i attended it was a pleasure to see so many friendly faces of colleagues and students who were there to collect their trophies and to tell their stories of fund-raising. recently i was at castle hill Public school, a long-time recipient of trophies, pictured here are 3 which are displayed in their school foyer.

Public school communities can assist to ensure the ongoing service of stewart house. Parents and citizens Associations can assist by informing members about the need to support “the public school’s number one charity”. nsw school communities can request visits from the schools’ liaison officer. teaching staff can increase their salary deduction to $4.00 per fortnight as this amount will now fund one child’s stay. of course this activity s a full tax-deductible.

tell people about stewart house. show them this article.

stewart house is very grateful for the wonderful and generous support of nsw families, schools and staff over more than 80 years. thank you all. stewart house is a wonderful and unique place. let’s celebrate this and keep it going for the children of nsw Public schools.Denise Whelan


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15P&C JOURNAL


Garage Sale Trail is a

national Council-enabled,

people-powered program

that’s about sustainability,

community, fundraising

and fun. By organising

communities around

Australia to hold garage

sales on the same day

we aim to reduce waste

to landfill, enable new

neighbourly connections,

provide a platform for

fundraising, inspire

creativity and facilitate

fundraising.

Garage Sale Trail

A National Fundraising Platform with Local Relevance

the first ever garage sale trail happened in bondi during may-2010 in partnership with waverley council as an idea to create awareness around illegal dumping and promote reuse.

since its local bondi debut the garage sale trail has grown into a truly national program. in 2012 there were 7,732 registered, 150,000 participants nationally (buyers & sellers), 624,432 items listed for sale and 48% contributed some of their funds to a cause or charity of their choice. best of all, the average participant made 6 new neighbourly connections via the day.

the garage sale trail program provides a platform for schools to fundraise - for either themselves or for a chosen charity. in 2012 schools made an average of $2,094, with one school making upwards of $10,000. Projections for 2013 see these numbers double, with a projected $500,000 to be donated to charity and a whopping 300,000+ participants nation-wide. And - we’re looking to work with 20 forward-thinking schools around the state on achieving some record-breaking results in 2013.

the program provides an opportunity for engagement between parents, students and teachers, as well as with the local community.

garage sale trail gives kids a taste of commerce and fundraising for something bigger than themselves. it promotes hands-on backyard sustainability and encourages practical grassroots initiatives. not only this, but the intergenerational connections made by working towards sustainability and fundraising as a community have invaluable worth. the day also encourages creativity and makes sustainability fun, viable and tangible! what a great teaching tool as well as a practical tool of change.

in nsw the garage sale trail is being supported by the state government by the hon. minister for community and citizenship victor dominello, and the hon. minister for local government don Page.

from an awards and accolades perspective, the program has been humbled to receive several local, national and international awards over the last 2 years including a prestigious international green Award (oscars of sustainability), green marketing of the year and community contribution of the year amongst others.

for more information, please visit our website www.garagesaletrail.com.au. for specific information on how your school can partner with garage sale trail in 2013, please email darryl at [email protected].


PJ’s for a causeOn Thursday the 20th June

P&C Federation staff wore their pyjamas to work for a good cause.

All staff were involved in this fun mufti day and wore their sleeping attire. some even travelled to and from work on public transport!

the day had a serious note as we reflected on and made a donation to stewart house, our favourite charity, in recognition of their wonderful work for our kids in public schools. we invite P&c federation affiliates to embrace the idea of a “mufti day” to raise funds for your charity of choice. get your P&c Association together and organise a fun day that brings attention to a charity or issue that is important to you.P&c Associations – inspired communities.

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KEEPING RECORDSP&c Associations can have changes in

officer bearers on a yearly basis. sometimes because of this potential annual turnover it can be hard to keep track of the P&c Association materials and documents. there is a legal requirement for all financial paperwork, including all audit reports, to be kept for a minimum period of 5 years. copies of the minutes for the P&c Association are to be kept indefinitely for historic reasons and can be kept in either paper form pasted into a book, or in electronic form. other materials are not required to be archived and can be discarded after being tabled at a P&c Association meeting. remember to have a handover of all of the documents when your P&c Association officers change so that nothing gets lost in the transition. P&c federation provides an email address for each affiliated P&c Association in new south wales (contact david at lost dog it - [email protected] for your Association details). you may only be a part of your P&c Association for a short while but down the track when your organisation celebrates 100 years of service to your school it will be hard to track down the information that the committee might want to use, to help them celebrate.

APPLYING FOR GRANTS

there are many grants available to organisations such as P&c Associations, it is important that you are well prepared for filling out a grant application so that you can make a strong case for your P&c Associations wishes. your P&c Association must be incorporated

to be able to apply for grant funding, a non-incorporated association is not able to enter into a legal agreement with any other organisation, you may be able to auspice an application under P&c federation whilst applying for incorporation however you need to contact the office for approval prior to submitting the grant. when filling out a form you will be required to enter the type of entity your P&c Association is. P&c Associations fall under other incorporated entity. An incorporation number is then normally required, P&c Associations are incorporated under the ‘ Parents and citizens Associations incorporation Act 1976’ as such, individual incorporation numbers are not issued for each association, in this section all is required is n/A. make sure that you fill out the application with as much detail as possible.

it is very important that you read through the grant guidelines to make sure that the application and what you are requesting fits within the guidelines. there are normally rules around the type of items that grant funds can be spent on, timeframes that are required to be adhered to and reporting mechanisms to acquit funds. grants can be extremely useful for associations in order to purchase larger items and undertake initiatives that may have otherwise been out of reach. many P&c associations have used grant funding to introduce new or improve old learning environments for students and purchase assets for the use of volunteers in their activities.

you can keep track of the grants that are available through many avenues, local members of Parliament are often great sources of information when it comes to local and state grants, most government departments have regular updates that you can subscribe to, in which you will often find details of grants available through their department. As always P&c federation try to keep our affiliates updated with what is happening, feel free to contact our member services officers for help or information when looking or applying for grants. happy grant writing.

AuDIT REPORTS As an incorporated Association it is a

requirement under the ‘incorporation Act’ that all Audit reports are forwarded to P&c federation for archiving within one month of your P&c Association’s Agm. this is not simply for filing purposes but serves a purpose when matters arise that require the documents to be presented to other organisations, for further auditing or investigation. if your P&c Association has failed to keep these documents for your own records, sending them to P&c federation can be a helpful back up plan. even if your P&c Association is not incorporated P&c federation are happy to keep your audit reports for future reference.

Member Services

P&C ASSOCIATIONS AS EMPLOYERS

All P&c Associations that have employees should know that along with having your employees sign on and off from each and every shift, a time sheet is required to be filled out so that payslips can be produced for their wages. electronic funds transfer (eft) is the preferred method of payment to employees as it can be hard to make the required arrangements with banks to have immediate clearance on wage cheques. to ensure your P&c Association is doing things “by the books” register with the fairwork ombudsman (13 13 94 or www.fairwork.gov.au) for regular updates.


Ask yourself this, would you be able to afford $5,000 for a knee reconstruction if your child injures themselves playing basketball? if the answer is no the student injury insurance may be the cover your school families need. As an insurance broker we are hearing about more and more injuries that occur on excursions or on the sporting field during school. in most cases the parent is left to pay for the costs associated with the injury. the intention of this student insurance injury policy is to cover children whilst they are engaged in school activities. this includes authorised sports and excursions which extend to cover direct travel to and from these activities. there is also an option to extend the policy to cover activities that your children participate in outside of school hours. this extension covers your children 24 hours 365 days a week. that’s right – 24 hours day, not just school activities.

SCHOOL ExCuRSION INVOLVING TRAVELdoes your school travel interstate or overseas

for excursions, camps or exchange programs?have you ever thought about the financial

impact of replacing lost baggage? or perhaps emergency medical expense incurred whilst away on school travel?

marsh can provide a solution to cover the

financial burden these unexpected events pose.Please contact P&c federation for more

information.Note: All covers offered are subject to the

terms and conditions of the policy wording which is readily available on P&C Federation’s website.

uPDATE FROM MARSH RENEW NOW!AFFILIATION AND INSuRANCE ExPIRES AuGuST 2013

Keep an eye out in the mail for your renewal documents for your P&c Association’s 2013 - 2014 Affiliation and insurance. if you prefer to access the documents online all renewal documents and policy wordings are available on P&c federation’s website www.pandc.org.au/insurance.seo.

All P&c Associations should choose their affiliation based on their school student population. your affiliation with P&c federation allows you to access many member services as well as the optional insurance covers that P&c federation offers. Please make sure that your P&c association has a conversation about the insurance covers required to make sure you cover your assets, activities and volunteers adequately.

if your P&c Association operates a canteen, oosh or uniform shop, consider looking at our tailored insurance Packages that provide the extra levels of cover needed for these activities.

P&c federation reminds all incorporated P&c Associations that there is a constitutional requirement to maintain your Affiliation with P&c federation. this is an agreed condition of your incorporation under the incorporation Act.

STuDENT INJuRY INSuRANCE

As part of P&c federation’s services, we also offer student injury insurance. in order to be eligible to take up a student injury policy, a P&c Association is required to be affiliated with P&c federation and maintain their affiliation for the whole period of the student injury policy. it is important to note that the student injury policy and the Affiliation renewal falls over different periods, if affiliation lapses the student injury insurance policy will be invalid. Please make a note of renewal dates and ensure your P&c maintains both policies.

P&c federation insurances, providing cover for our volunteers for over 90 years.

for all enquires please contact ela comertpay on 1300 885 982 or [email protected]

Food allergy and intolerance is a real hot topic. There seems to be an ever-increasing number of children being diagnosed. It causes much debate in our school as we discuss Food Allergy Policies – should we ban products containing nuts and eggs from our lunches and canteens? And how bad can a bit of peanut butter or chocolate hazelnut spread be, anyway?

Friendly Food Being aware of Food Allergies and Intolerances

According to the Australian society of clinical immunology and Allergy, up to 40% of children in Australia are affected by allergic disorders some time during life. the nsw food Authority states that food allergy occurs in around 1 in 20 children in nsw. that’s approximately 65,000 children in nsw alone. in fact, Australia has one of the highest allergy prevalence rates in the world, and it tends to run in families. food intolerance is even more common. surveys indicate that up to 25 percent of the population believes they have some sort of food intolerance.

A food Allergy is an immune-system response to a food, causing an immediate reaction, which can include life-threatening anaphylaxis. According to nsw food Authority, the top most common food allergens are cow’s milk, hen’s egg, soy, peanuts, sesame seeds, fish and shellfish.

A food intolerance is an adverse reaction to a food, usually affecting digestion. while the symptoms of these are often very unpleasant, they are not life-threatening. the most common intolerances include milk and lactose, gluten, wheat, food preservatives and colours, and naturally occurring compounds in foods such as caffeine. All of the food allergens are required by law to be declared on food labels.

Allergies and intolerances certainly run in my family. we avoid wheat /gluten and dairy. we also find that refined sugar upsets our digestion. my eldest son is also allergic to peanuts and was allergic to eggs when he was younger. he was 5 years old before we realised the full extent of his intolerances. despite gP's assuring us that his life-long eczema was 'incurable' i wasn't convinced. A change in diet has almost completely eradicated his eczema. the change of diet has also significantly increased his energy levels and eliminated his constantly sore stomach and horrible bowl motions. After being on the journey for 5 years, i wanted to share with others don't be afraid of the changes that you will need to make in your food preparation the benefits truly outweigh the costs.

As for whether or not to ban nuts from schools...i'll let you debate that one out amongst yourselves. but i do know this: food allergies and intolerances are real. the symptoms are awful to live with. concern and thoughtfulness for those who live with it is always appreciated.

Karen StevensonPresident Blackhill Public School P&C Association.



WAKAKIRRIMAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT

on the world around you

So, does your school have a Story to tell? Wakakirri is searching for the best Stories in Australian Schools. The Search is ON!

wakakirri is a national story sharing Arts event challenging schools to create and present a story. A successful story from a school shall be sustainable and enable sharing of the story with as many people as possible.

wakakirri runs three events the wakakirri story dance challenge, the creative Arts challenge and the secondary school challenge.

story dance combines creative movement, drama, dance and Acting in a 3-7 minute story performed live on stage. it’s a wonderful opportunity for students to develop teamwork and performance skills, culminating in an exciting performance held at professional venues across capital cities and selected regional areas.

the story dance challenge is a unique

event allowing and providing for all schools and students a Performing and creatives Arts learning opportunity. the challenge is to take part- to create and present a story whether it is original or known and share it with Australia.

the cross curriculum element to wakakirri, particularly with the sustainability priority, is one of many ideal links to the national curriculum. encompassing the learning Areas of the Arts, english, health and Physical education, languages, technologies, civics and citizenship, history and more, wakakirri offers an applicable and engaging learning tool to today’s education.

connecting each parent community through participation in wakakirri. Parents are encouraged to take part in any way they can. whether it be car-pooling, running rehearsals, catering, make up and hair design, costume and set creations, supervision roles or simply as audience members, the wakakirri challenge

unites and nurtures the parent-student-school relationship. this linking process greatly improves student’s educational outcomes, environmental and community awareness.

wakakirri is committed to being accessible to every school and wants to make sure that schools in regional or remote areas can still take part. story dance dvd has this in mind allowing schools that are more than 2 hours away from a performance venue to film and send their story dance item by post.

inspiring teachers with skills, objectives and online workshops and guidelines, wakakirri provides schools with support throughout their wakakirri journey.

if your school would like to register for the 2014 challenge, please email [email protected] with your contact information. we want your story! so, do you have a story to tell?Angela Zangari


from school fetes to carnivals write to the p&c federation about your schools spirit! be a part of our p&c quarterly journal by

simply emailing your great school

stories to us! tell us about your school

community activities. email us now for your free copy!

‘get involved with p&c’


P&C Federation has a range of merchandise available. Have you got dedicated members

that deserve life membership? We supply badges and certificates. P&C Federation

merchandise range includes:

DOES YOUR P&C ASSOCIATION WANT TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO A TREASURED VOLUNTEER?

Why not CHECK it out on our website at www.pandc.org.au

First Aid Kit $5.00

Outstanding Service Badge $15.00 P&C Pen $2.00 Certificate of Appreciation $5.00

Life Membership Certificate $5.00 P&C umbrella $10.00

P&C Key Ring Torch $5.00 Public Education Badge $6.00

Charlene Nassim Administration Officer

P&C Join your Brochures PK 100 $15.00

How to write a submission

From time to time working parties request submissions from the wider community or anyone interested in voicing their opinion on a specific subject. This process is an integral part of hearing the voice of the stakeholders and affected parties in the decision making process.

working parties are established to undertake enquiries into different policy or legislation. often these parties request submissions as the first part of their investigations. submissions are requested through many ways including, questionnaires, essay type submissions, multiple choice, or spoken submission. this is often the first part of the inquiry and the working party generally sets a “terms of reference” these are key issues, or directions that the working party is interested in or feels are particularly relevant to the terms of reference.

once submissions have closed the working party collates the different submissions and takes the feedback and tables a report on the inquiry. sometimes the working party holds hearings for the inquiry, this involves those stakeholders or interested parties that have presented submissions speaking in person to their submission. if you are lucky enough to be invited to speak at a hearing it is an opportunity to cement your views on the terms of reference and let the working party know face to face what is important to you.

P&c federation receive many requests for submission on an annual basis, these inquiries range from road safety to curriculum implementation and many in between. P&c federation makes submissions on these

enquiries on behalf of Parents and citizens throughout nsw. it is important that we all play an active part in policy and legislation decisions when we are given the opportunity.

At a local P&c association level or even a personal level consider having your say next time there is an enquiry that may affect your children or their schooling or in fact the educational environments for generations to come you should make a submission and have your voice heard.

when writing a submission make sure you read the terms of reference and any additional information that is presented with the inquiry. map out what you are going to say and the tone in which you want to say it. Planning your response always makes a difference in its cohesiveness.

Address the terms of reference that are relevant to you or your P&c Association (ensuring that if you are writing on behalf of your organisation you are representing the views of the P&c Association and not your personal views) make concise and clear statements and then explain or expand on them. use references to relevant documentation or reports if you feel it necessary.

make sure you don’t contradict yourself and definitely proof read it before you submit. if you can’t find someone to proof read it for you, try printing the submission and reading it in hard copy with your “proof reading” hat on. look for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and most importantly make sure it makes sense.

working parties often give you a deadline that is not negotiable so ensure you submit on time, there are normally a couple of ways you can submit, by mail, online, fax or email, check the details on the website for the enquiry to find out your options and make sure you leave enough time for your preferred submission method.

most enquiries offer how to guides when making a submission, take note of these and use all of the resources provided.

finally, don’t be afraid to have your say, who knows you might influence policy or legislative decisions. remember why we are all here; our children. Kelly MacDonald



Growing Communities TogetherThe Benevolent Society’s Taste

Mobile Kitchen recently won the Service category of the Australian International Design Award®. Benevolent Society CEO said it is an honour for the Taste Mobile Kitchen to win one of the longest standing, most prestigious design awards in the world.

the taste mobile Kitchen is currently based at banksia road Public school in greenacre. manager of the growing communities together program, cathy Quinn, explained that the kitchen “runs ‘produce-to-plate’ cooking classes in this and other schools. students and their families learn how to prepare simple, healthy and affordable meals using fresh produce from the school’s vegie patch and explore

how one ingredient - vegetable, herb or spice – is used by a variety of cultures.”

All classes are led by locals, giving student and adult participants some real inside knowledge, giving residents an opportunity to gain qualifications and work locally, and giving the region’s businesses a boost at the same time. All profits are reinvested into community development projects.

“the Kitchen is a social enterprise designed to strengthen community connections, bridge cultural divides, build community pride, break down negative stereotypes and develop local employment and training opportunities.”

it’s the first kitchen of its kind in Australia, running as a social enterprise. the income generated from commercial hire pays for community activities, so we don’t have to rely on donations or government grants to keep it going in the long term; the kitchen is hired on weekends, with the income subsidising the kitchen’s activities in the school. because it folds compactly into a shipping container, it can be easily transported for events like festivals and food fairs.

taste mobile Kitchen excellence in design, excellence in community sustainability.

As you might have noticed, our Parent and Citizen journal has undertaken a facelift. At P&C Federation we are committed to servicing our Affiliates and non-members and ensuring the best possible outcomes for all students in Public Education in New South Wales. As part of this commitment we thought it was time to change things a little and give our members a product that reflects the commitment they give to their children, schools and communities.

so we would like to welcome a new designer and printer who share the same values as your organisation and are very excited about making the Parent and citizen journal a greater resource for P&c Associations.

this is an exciting time for webstar to be chosen to produce the Journal for P&c federation and give it a big and beautiful facelift. webstar is the high quality web division of the bluestar Print group and we specialise in producing high quality publications for some of Australia’s leading publishers.

kKyso is thrilled to be working with

the P&c on this publication. At Kyso we'll remove all the hassles and make the design process easy (and effortless) for you.

Kyso: we'll Knock your socks off.



Working With Children Check

Information For School Communities

The new Working with

Children Check (WWCC)

process commenced in

June 2013. The WWCC is

in accordance with the

Child Protection (Working

with Children) Act 2012

and the Child Protection

(Working with Children)

Regulation 2013.

Existing child-related workers in schools

the new process will not have an immediate impact on existing employees, volunteers and contractors in schools. they will not be required to meet the new wwcc requirements until the following dates:• 31 december 2016 – for existing

employees, volunteers and contractors in secondary schools; or

• 31 december 2017 – for existing employees, volunteers and contractors in primary schools, central schools, schools for specific purposes (ssP), infant schools, hospital schools and environmental education centres.

New child-related workers in schools

new employees, volunteers and contractors (i.e. those to be newly employed or engaged from June 2013) will be required to meet requirements under the new wwcc process.

the department of education and communities is currently finalising the revised working with children check Policy and associated procedures and forms. these will include a checklist for school Principals to assist schools in implementing the wwcc requirements for new employees, volunteers and contractors.

Further information on the new WWCC process is available at www.kids.nsw.gov.au.


Exemptions

If you are in child-related work but you qualify for one of the following exemptions,you do not need to apply for a Working With Children Check:

• Administrative, clerical or maintenance work, or other ancillary work, that does not ordinarily involve contact with children for extended periods.

• Work with minimal direct contact or unsupervised contact with children, done for no more than five days in a calendar year.

• Informal domestic arrangements not carried out on a professional or commercial basis.

• Work with close relatives of the worker (not including work as an authorised carerfoster carer or other authorised carer of children in statutory and supported out-of-home care).

• Volunteering by a parent or close relative:

- of a child in activities for the child’s school, early education service or other educational institution; except where the work is part of a formal mentoring program or involves intimate personal care of children with a disability

- with a team, program or other activity in which the child usually participates or is a team member; except where the work is part of a formal mentoring program or involves personal care of children with a disability.

• A visiting speaker, adjudicator, performer, assessor or other similar visitor at a school or other place where child-related work is carried out if the work of the person at that place is for a one off occasion and is carried out in the presence of one or more other adults.

• A health practitioner in private practice, if the practice does not ordinarily involve treatment of children without one or more other adults present.

• A health practitioner who is working in and visiting NSW from outside the State, if the period of work does not exceed a total of five days in any period of threemonths.

• A co-worker or work supervisor where a child works.

June 2013

Part 4, Clause 20 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Regulation 2013.Exemptions

If you are in child-related work but you qualify for one of the following exemptions,you do not need to apply for a Working With Children Check:

• Administrative, clerical or maintenance work, or other ancillary work, that does not ordinarily involve contact with children for extended periods.

• Work with minimal direct contact or unsupervised contact with children, done for no more than five days in a calendar year.

• Informal domestic arrangements not carried out on a professional or commercial basis.

• Work with close relatives of the worker (not including work as an authorised carerfoster carer or other authorised carer of children in statutory and supported out-of-home care).

• Volunteering by a parent or close relative:

- of a child in activities for the child’s school, early education service or other educational institution; except where the work is part of a formal mentoring program or involves intimate personal care of children with a disability

- with a team, program or other activity in which the child usually participates or is a team member; except where the work is part of a formal mentoring program or involves personal care of children with a disability.

• A visiting speaker, adjudicator, performer, assessor or other similar visitor at a school or other place where child-related work is carried out if the work of the person at that place is for a one off occasion and is carried out in the presence of one or more other adults.

• A health practitioner in private practice, if the practice does not ordinarily involve treatment of children without one or more other adults present.

• A health practitioner who is working in and visiting NSW from outside the State, if the period of work does not exceed a total of five days in any period of threemonths.

• A co-worker or work supervisor where a child works.

June 2013

Part 4, Clause 20 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Regulation 2013.


• Work by an interstate visitor:

- in a one-off event such as a jamboree, sporting or religious event or tour, if the event is the only child-related work carried out by the worker in NSW in that calendar year and the period of work does not exceed 30 days

- who holds an interstate working with children check, or is exempt from the requirement to have such a check in his or her home jurisdiction, whose child related work in NSW is for no more than 30 days in any calendar year.

• NSW Police or Australian Federal Police officers in their capacity as police officers.

• Home carers accredited with a current police certificate for aged care, for home care work where the clients are not primarily children.

• People under the age of 18.

Some work is not considered to be child-related, which means it will not require a Working With Children Check. This work is set out in

Clause 6 (4) Work as a student in the course of a student clinical placement in a hospital or other health service is not child-related work

Clause 7 (3) Work as a referee, umpire, linesperson or otherwise as a sporting official or a groundsperson is not child-related work, if the work does not ordinarily involve contact with children for extended periods without other adults being present

Clause 8 (2) Work in providing respite care or other support services primarily for children with a disability is child-related work; but it is not child-related work if the work does not ordinarily involve contact with children for extended periods without other adults being present.

Clause 11 (3) Providing food or equipment at or for a sporting, cultural or other entertainment venue or providing a venue is not child-related work

See also:

FACT SHEET: What is child-related work?FACT SHEET: Which sector do I belong to?Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012Child Protection (Working With Children) Regulation 2013

Part 2 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Regulation 2013.

Disclaimer: The material provided in this Fact Sheet is an information source for the guidance of users only. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate, current and not misleading. However, this cannot always be guaranteed and no warranty is given that the information is free from error or omission. Users should exercise their own skill and care with respect to the use of the material. The information is also not a substitute for independent legal or other professional advice and users should obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. The Office of the Guardian does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability whatsoever for any act done, omission made, loss, damage, cost or inconvenience arising from, connected to, or as a consequence of, using or relying on the material contained in this Fact Sheet


Premier’s Awards Award for Individual Excellence and Achievement

being recognised for excellence in the delivery of public service is an affirmation of the teaching profession. teachers believe that they can make a difference through the power of education, in the lives of their students and to better society.

mardi croke is a proactive, insightful, caring teacher whose understanding approach in developing and driving a parent support program for families of children with special needs children at Jerrabomberra Public school was recognised with the Premier’s Award for individual excellence and Achievement. delivering results for individuals and the nsw community is what inspires mardi.

mardi changed family lives for the better with this program. they have not looked back and go from strength to strength. mardi has built trust and confidence between individuals, families and the school.

“it recognises the services that we do for children and students in nsw which is fantastic! they deserve the recognition.” mardi croke 2012 individual excellence and Achievement award winner.

“This year be proactive and make a difference, put forward someone that you think is worthy of a nomination for the 2013 awards. If nothing else it will show that you appreciate their contribution to the things they are passionate about. I am so pleased that I was nominated and it makes me feel valued in my school community. Visit http://www.publicserviceawards.nsw.gov.au/home” Mardi Croke mardi croke with Premier barry o’farrell



Department of Education and Communities Policy

Nutrition belongs in NSW public schools

Nutrition in Schools PolicyAll schools should promote and model

healthy eating and good nutrition in school programs and activities relating to or involving food and drink. school canteens are required to implement fresh tastes @ school.

Objectives – Policy Statement • Any activities and programs within the

school setting relating to or involving food and drink should promote healthy eating and good nutrition to students.

• implementation of fresh tastes @ school is mandatory for all canteens in nsw government schools.

• All sugar sweetened drinks that exceed the nutritional criteria for ‘occasional’ foods are not permitted for sale in school canteens and school vending machines at all times.

• the teaching of nutrition education is part of the Personal development, health and Physical education (PdhPe) key learning area and is mandatory for all students from Kindergarten to year 10. teaching and learning and all class activities in all other key learning areas should reinforce healthy eating and good nutrition wherever possible.

• All school activities that involve the provision of food and drink to students should be consistent with fresh tastes @ school.

• off site school activities that involve the provision of food and drink to students, including excursions, camps and school functions should be consistent with fresh tastes @ school.

• where school activities involve the provision of food and drink to the wider school community consideration should be given to modelling and promoting healthy eating.

• All canteen operators are required to notify the nsw food Authority of their food activity details. All canteens will provide a safe and hygienic food service and comply with national food law, food safety standards (2002), food Act 2003 (nsw) and food regulation 2010 (nsw).

• schools with preschools are required to follow the protocols of the children’s services regulation 2004 (clause 68) ensuring that students are exposed to healthy eating practices.

• school activities that involve the provision of food will address the requirements of the Anaphylaxis Procedures for schools.

Audience and applicabilityAll nsw government schools and

preschools, parents/caregivers; the wider school community.

Contextthe health and wellbeing of students is

relevant to their learning and is important to schools. the present and future health of students can be enhanced by quality learning and positive experiences at school.

the nsw government state Plan Priority s3 healthy communities (obesity): improved health through reduced obesity, illicit drug use and risk drinking, identified ‘healthier schools’ as a key priority in preventing childhood obesity in nsw.

the Australian dietary guidelines for children and Adolescents are designed to help young people and their families choose food and drink for a healthy life.

Legislationnational food law, food safety standards (2002). food Act 2003 (nsw) and food regulation 2010 (nsw). children’s services regulation 2004.

this policy should be read in conjunction with:student health in nsw Public schools: A summary and consolidation of policy infection control Policy and guidelines (intranet only) sponsorship Policy and guidelines curriculum Policy standardsstudent welfare Policy

Responsibilities and delegationsPrincipals are responsible for ensuring the

requirements of departmental policy, guidelines and relevant legislation are met. Principals are responsible for ensuring that school policies and practices are consistent with the nutrition in schools policy and are responsive to local needs, including cultural diversity.

Contactdepartment of education and communities leader, health and wellbeing, student engagement and interagency partnerships (02) 9266 8258.


FEDERATION OF PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATIONS OF NEW SOUTH WALES

www.pandc.org.au

P&C Federation—Proudly serving communities for 90 years

1300 885 982

HAVE YOU HEARD?

We offer insurances for schools and community groups.

We offer a wide range of insurances to approved member and non-member groups, Government and Non-Government Schools.

Policies are available to cover:

Public Liability

Personal Accident for Volunteer Workers

OOSH and Vacation Care

Cash and Property

Student Injury

Visit our website

www.pandc.org.au/insurance.seo

or call our office on 1300885982

for more information

Peddle the Wheel ThingA bike bus was launched at Rutherford

Public School to celebrate ‘Ride to School’ day and was so successful it is expected to become a regular event.

the principal sean Andrews is passionate about bike safety so launched a regular bike bus to help students practice their skills and to spend more quality time with them.

each friday students and teachers will don their helmets and ride to school together. wet weather alternatives are conveyed through the school's facebook page so those wanting to join will know if the bus has been cancelled due to rain.

looping around the local school area on the inaugural ride, principal sean Andrews and four of his teaching staff were joined by more than 30 students in the early morning parade.

the teaching staff, who rode at the front, back and sides of the group wore coloured vests, and brought along mobile phones and whistles as safety precautions. the students and their families were responsible for ensuring the bikes were roadworthy, tyres were pumped and their safety gear in perfect condition.

the bike lessons, which began in term 1, were kicked off with an assessment of the students' riding abilities. throughout the term

the students learned about brake testing, correct seat height and general road safety.

"the group i have currently has a huge diversity from kids who can outride me to kids on training wheels," said mr Andrews. "we're at the stage now where we can venture on to the bush track - we've done a fair bit of variety of riding. the classes may be streamed to support the students' different abilities."

mr Andrews said the lessons gave him the opportunity to spend time with the students.

"the idea of the bike safety classes was my effort to really get involved with the kids. being the principal of a large school community i don't have much of an opportunity. i wanted to have a way to positively meet and engage with the stage 2 and 3 kids," mr Andrews said.

rutherford Public school wheelie, wheelie successful.Photo: Rutherford Public School principal Sean Andrews with teachers and students on the inaugural bike bus tour. Photo supplied by Rutherford Public School.

Work experience at P&C Federation Office

in term 2, 2013 carly joined the P&c federation office for a two week work experience period.

carly, a year 10 student from rooty hill high school approached P&c federation to gain work experience in an office environment as part of her record of school Achievement (rosA) accomplishments. during the two weeks carly gained experience in many aspects of office work including mailing, filing, electronic filing, report writing, formatting of documents and answering the phone and taking messages. it was a pleasure having carly in the office and it was great to see her confidence grow over the two weeks as she became more familiar and comfortable in our office environment. well done carly, we hope you enjoyed your work experience and gained some tools that will be valuable to you in your future.


The Public Education Foundation

The Public Education Foundation (PEF) is a young and exciting organisation dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to students in public schools. The PEF helps students – particularly those facing individual difficulties – to realise their full potential.

readers of this journal are all too aware of the multitude of equity factors that often combine to make progress difficult for some students.

despite their best efforts some students have circumstances that cause them to struggle to make academic progress and stay engaged in schooling. the offer of a scholarship sends a powerful message to students - reinforcing that they are valued, there is high expectations of them and they can fully participate in schooling.

while many of our scholarships target areas of disadvantage, others help students to both overcome barriers and pursue excellence in a particular area of the curriculum.

one of the many scholarships offered by the Public education foundation is the ‘friends of Zainab’ scholarship. this scholarship financially supports refugee students studying in nsw

public high schools and also supports refugee students in their first two years of university.

the scholarship was originally established in 2002 by dorothy hoddinott Ao, Principal of holroyd high school to support a young iranian girl, Zainab Kaabi to complete her hsc. since then it has supported dozens of refugee students through their last two years of high school and into university. the young people supported through this scholarship are nothing short of extraordinary.

nahid Karimi was a beneficiary of the ‘friends of Zainab’ scholarship while studying at holroyd high school and then into her first year of university.

nahid arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in september 2001. she and her family were in Port hedland for 8 months before moving to sydney on temporary protection visas. she was 13 years old when she enrolled at holroyd high school intensive english centre. she could not speak english and she had no formal education having been home-schooled by her mother in Afghanistan. when she entered the gates of holroyd high in 2002, she had never attended a school before in her life. in 2006, with the help of the friends of Zainab

scholarship, she finished her hsc and is now close to completing a bachelor of medical sciences at the university of western sydney.

nahid’s story is a tribute to the power of education and of giving people a chance to succeed.

the Public education foundation believes public education needs to be celebrated. its teachers, principals and staff need to be honoured and recognised for the incredible work they do.

the Public education foundation along with the nsw teachers federation, the nsw department of education and communities, the teachers mutual bank and the teachers health fund host an annual Awards night to celebrate the achievements of public education.

talented public school students dazzle the audience throughout the evening, with performances in music and dance. scholarships are also awarded to teachers and students.

there has rarely been a better time to strengthen the supporter base for public schools. the Pef invites former students of public schools to demonstrate their support for public schooling and the Pef by registering as a member of the Pef public schools alumni. by registering you will


not only be showing your support, you will also receive newsletters and have access to a range of opportunities to participate in Pef activities. Please visit www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au and complete the alumni form.

..... I was educated in public schools .........

My debt to my teachers and to my fellow

students is deep. I never cease to acknowledge it. ..... It behoves those who enjoyed the benefits of public education in their youth to speak up for the schools that educate the

majority of citizens.the hon michael Kirby Ac cmg, former

Justice of the high court of Australia and current ambassador for the Public education foundation

extracts from a speech in 2009 in Praise of excellence in Public education

the Pef depends on the generosity of individuals, corporations and other not-for-profit organisations. if you would like to provide a donation you can do so by visiting our home page at www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au and clicking on the ‘give’ icon in the bottom right hand corner. the Pef ensures that at least 90% of money donated goes directly to scholarships.

the Pef welcomes inquiries from people wishing to support particular types of scholarships. we can also assist people who are interested in making a bequest - a great gift to the next generation.

for more information please contact the Public education foundation on 02 9266 8681 or [email protected].

Applications for our 2014 scholarships open on monday 29 July. our website has details of the scholarships on offer. spread the word around your school communities.Verity Firth


THINK.EAT.$AVEWorld Environment Day was held on 5

June 2013. This was a day to celebrate and raise awareness for the need to make a positive change to our environment. Think.Eat.Save was the theme for this year and its aim was to highlight the amount of food that is wasted worldwide. It is estimated that 1.3billion tonnes of food is wasted every year worldwide, Love Food Hate Waste is a NSW Environmental Protection Authority initiative and aims to educate our children about the amount of waste that is produced and ways to minimise it.

to celebrate the day the minister for the environment the hon robyn Parker attended an event at cringila Public school to showcase the importance of the love food hate waste program and show our students how much impact we have on our environment. representatives from P&c federation were also in attendance at the event.

As part of the celebration the minister announced successful recipients of the love food hate waste grants, as an applicant P&c federation were pleased to be in attendance to be named a successful applicant in the program. P&c federation will start an awareness campaign around reducing food waste and how as parents and carers we can start the change in small ways at home.

the campaign ‘leftovers to lunchbox’ is a joint movement between P&c federation and the republic of everyone, encouraging the use of leftovers in creative and inspiring and healthy way to fill lunchboxes.

cringila Public school was a great location to hold the event and show just how

involved students can be in our environment. the students, crini kids, as they are more affectionately known, are an inspirational and enthusiastic group of students who are committed to learning and changing the environment for the better. As you walk into the school grounds you are immediately met by a sprawling garden with many variety of plants and trees all surrounding the wonderfully welcoming kitchen learning environment that has been built for further educating children in the value of fresh produce and how fun and tasty it can be.

it was great to see the students bursting at the seams with enthusiasm to show all of the visitors attending the event their garden. cringila Public school Principal lorna Kaer was pleased to showcase her school and the wonderful garden ambassadors that maintain the garden while learning valuable lessons

about food and our environment. the garden ambassadors have the job of maintaining the garden, worm farms and compost facilities. this allows for a greater understanding of how it all works together and what great produce they can harvest from a bit of hard work. the school has a Kids teaching Kids initiative where older students mentor younger students to pass on the knowledge they have gained whilst being garden ambassadors.

it is a credit to all involved at cringila Public school as it really shows how valuable hands on learning is for our children.

we are proud to have attended the event, enthusiastic about the leftover to lunchbox initiative and excited about the learning environments and practices our children are experiencing in public schools in nsw. Kelly MacDonald

P&c federation representatives with the minister for the environment robyn Parker and students from cringila Public school

cringila Public school garden Ambassadors with minister for the environment robyn Parker


Kathy Deacon – NSW Public School Principal

Gonski schools funding will provide an extra $5 billion for NSW schools

over the next six years. For our school of 280 students, that means over

$1.5 million to spend on:

Go to igiveagonski.com.au or scan this QR code today and tell Tony Abbott

to guarantee Gonski.

N·S·W·T·F·

QUI DOCET DISCIT

Guarantee Gonski, Mr Abbott.

This funding can change a child’s life. It will help

us build a stronger, brighter future for our nation.

The O’Farrell state government put politics aside

and signed up for Gonski. What we need now is

for Tony Abbott to do the same in Canberra –

put our children first and guarantee that, if he

wins the federal election in September, he will

go ahead with Gonski.

Smaller class sizes

More individual attention and support for students

Specialist teachers for children who need extra help

Programs to extend higher achieving students

Intensive literacy and numeracy programs

More reading books and maths resources

for classrooms

Professional learning for staff

New technology and equipment

Authorised by Jenny Diamond, General Secretary, NSW Teachers Federation, 23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills 2010.

cringila Public school garden Ambassadors with minister for the environment robyn Parker

Paid Advertisement


If you ask a child to name their favourite meal it’s

likely pizza and burgers will be at the top of the list.

This issue we’re featuring some Love Food Hate

Waste Friday night favourites that the family will

enjoy. These recipes are healthy, easy to make and

are sure to be crowd pleasers when you children

bring home friends for a Friday night sleepover. These

are also great recipes for using up any ingredients

that you have leftover at the end of the week.

love food hate waste aims to raise awareness of the food waste problem and provide tips, tools and recipes to help you waste less food, save money and our environment.

every year in nsw alone households throw out $848 million worth of fresh fruit and vegetables. most of that food is wasted due to the fact it has not been stored correctly. the life of many fresh foods can be extended by following a few simple tips, for example:

Herbs: if you need to store fresh herbs, trim the stems then place then in a jar with about one to two centimeters of water in the bottom. to refrigerate herbs, place a plastic bag over them, then refrigerate.

Mushrooms: look for freshness, firmness and colour. withered mushrooms are a sign of age. mushrooms are best stored in a brown paper bag in your fridge crisper (plastic makes mushrooms ‘sweat’).

Tomatoes: select bright coloured tomatoes. store tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight to allow for natural ripening. to avoid over-ripening tomatoes can be stored in your fridge crisper.

following simple tips can really make a difference to the amount of food that gets wasted in your household. for full details of the best way to store fresh fruit and vegetables, and many other types of food, visit the ‘save it’ section of the love food hate waste website lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au.

love food hate waste is an initiative of the nsw government and is managed by the nsw environment Protection Authority.

recipes from healthy food fast © state of western Australia 2013, reproduced with permission.


A fun and tasty way to use up food items in your fridge. 10 mins preparation + 40-60 mins cooking

Ingredientsdressingequal quantities of low-fat natural yoghurt and reduced-fat ricotta cheese, and a few chopped chives

toPPing suggestions sliced avocado and lemon juice baked beans chopped tomatoes and olives salsaroasted eggplant strips roasted capsicum strips sliced and sautéed mushrooms ratatouille chilli con carne

lean ham and pineapple creamed corn and tuna

Preheat oven to 220°c. scrub potatoes and brush skins lightly with oil to ensure a dry crisp surface. bake on a tray for 40-60 minutes depending on size, until cooked. slice potato in half. spread with a spoonful of dressing and spoon over desired toppings.

Hintfor an alternative way of serving, make a cross on top of potato with a knife. Press from the base to open up potato. top as above

Variationwrap potatoes in foil squares for soft melting skins. open foil and fold down to fill with toppings. serve hot in foil.

Tasty chicken burgers that the whole family can prepare and enjoy.15 mins preparation + 5 mins cooking. Serves 6

IngredientsPattie recipe500g chicken mince 100g mushrooms, roughly chopped 1 stick celery, roughly chopped 1 onion, roughly chopped 1 large sprig parsley 1 egg 2 teaspoons reduced-salt soy sauce ½ -1 cup fresh breadcrumbs A little flour to shape patties olive or canola oil spray

To serve6 wholemeal rolls, cut open and spread with sweet chilli sauce

3 lettuce leaves, shredded 1 tomato, sliced ½ cucumber, sliced

This recipe contains 8 serves of vegies.

Place mince in a large bowl and process all other ingredients in a food processor until smooth. mix with chicken mince and enough breadcrumbs to make a soft but manageable texture. divide mixture into six and shape with a little flour to round patties larger than the width of the rolls. spray a non-stick pan with oil and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side until brown and cooked through. serve on a roll with lettuce, tomato and cucumber slices.

Variationfor a beef burger, substitute 500g lean minced beef for chicken. substitute low-fat cottage cheese or labneh for the sweet chilli sauce.

Everyone will enjoy making this pizza and it's quicker than ordering take-away. 5 mins preparation + 10-15 mins cooking. Serves 4

Ingredients25cm pizza base or turkish bread ¼ cup tomato pasta sauce 100g ham, chopped 225g can pineapple pieces (in natural juice), drained 1 medium red or green capsicum, seeded and chopped 100g mushrooms, sliced 100g grated mozzarella cheese 1 tablespoon chopped herbs (parsley, oregano and/or basil) or a pinch of dried mixed herbs

This recipe contains 5 serves of vegies.

Preheat oven to 200°c. spread pizza base with pasta sauce. top with ham, pineapple, capsicum, mushrooms and cheese. sprinkle with herbs. bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through and browned.

Variationon top of the tomato sauce pile sliced onion, cooked red kidney beans, mushrooms, olives, cooked sliced potato and rosemary and top with cubes of reduced-salt feta cheese.

Hintmake 8 mini pizzas using 4 halved english muffins as bases.

Tropical pizza

Chicken burgers

Baked Jacket Potatoes


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Private Schools 2012.indd 1 26/09/12 1:39 PM

Documents

Parent and Citizen Term 3, 2013 Vol 65 no. 3