SSTUWA - State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia

ACSSO Conference: Parents : Partners in Education

The conference is open to parents, grandparents, community member, teachers, community liaison officers, school support staff and anyone with an interest in education.

Te conference will take place on Thursday and Friday, 13th – 14th October 2011 in Sydney.

The Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) is the peak national organisation representing the interests of the parents, families and school communities of more than two million children attending government schools throughout Australia. ACSSOs formal structure currently comprises comprises nine State and Territory peak government school organisations and their membership networks.

ACSSO was formed in 1947 to develop national parent organisation policies in education and to represent these policies and the interests of its affiliates at the national level.

ACSSO Conference: Parents : Partners in Education

• Thursday and Friday, 13th – 14th October 2011
• William Wilkins Gallery,
• Department of Education and Communities,
• 35 Bridge Street, Sydney
• 9am – 5pm, each day (tea and coffee available from 8:30am)

Presenters

The Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG

When he retired from the High Court of Australia in February 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia’s longest serving judge. While he has had a diverse and notable legal career it is his support of human rights, and in particular public education, that he was invited to speak at this conference.

In particular, he has publicly defended the secular nature of our public education system at a time when this underlying principle is under threat.

He is a powerful advocate for public education and strongly believes that public education is the cornerstone underpinning our society.

Professor Peter Freebody

Peter is a Professorial Research Fellow whose interests are literacy education, educational disadvantage, classroom interaction and research methodology.

In addition to serving on numerous state and national advisory groups he has authored or edited 10 books and over 20 research reports to government.

He is currently a member of the NSW State Literacy and Numeracy Advisory Board and is the Australian Commonwealth Government’s nominee on the National Literacy and Numeracy Expert Group.

Other presentations include:

Margaret Hunter: Co-ordinator, Partnerships, Priority Schools Program, Department of Education and Communities (NSW). Margaret has had a long career in schools as both a volunteer and member of the Priority Schools Program in the area of community engagement. Margaret is currently working with DEEWR and the National Parent Engagement Taskforce in the development of resources to support schools in the area of engagement with their community

The Songroom: a national not for profit organisation that provides free, tailored, longterm music and arts-based programs for children in disadvantaged and high need communities. Conference will be entertained by Songroom participants and hear about their recent research findings regarding music and community / student engagement

Panel of Stakeholders:

• Sheree Vertigen, President of Australian Secondary Principals Association
• Angelo Gavrielatos, President Australian Education Union
• Gabrielle Leigh, President Australian Government Principals Association

Best Practice

Examples from Principals, teachers, students in community engagement.