It certainly shows how much the legendary footballer Barry Cable values education when his granddaughter Shelley Cable was named the state's best indigenous student and ranked in the top 0.5 per cent in WA for a 99.5 ATAR score at Rossmoyne SHS. Not only has Barry's value for education been passed onto his granddaughter,his own venture working alongside Jenny Day strives to change the lives of people through education.

Read more: Passport To Success

The media thrives on the traditional “Leavers Week” with stories of booze, drugs, sex and rock and roll - and to the untrained eye there seems to be very little alternative. In November, instead of marking the end of secondary schooling at local “Leavers” celebrations 14 young people travelled to Timor-Leste to work alongside local people on community identified projects.

Read more: LEAVERS WEEK: It doesn’t have to be the way it is!

Over the final weekend in October, 9 delegates attended the second National New Educators' Conference in Adelaide and what an informative weekend it turned out to be!

The conference provided an opportunity for new educators from across the country to meet and discuss their stories, thoughts, goals and concerns. It was fantastic to be a part of this experience and to see in delegate's faces the realisation that teachers from across the country are facing similar working environments, challenges and problems.

There were certainly a lot of 'aha' moments over the course of the weekend.

The conference was opened by our AEU Federal President, Mr Angelo Gavrielatos.

Read more: National New Educators Conference

Support for the children of Timor Leste is growing rapidly with a series of projects being undertaken by a number of groups across WA.

Our union continues it’s support by asking schools with surplus desks, chairs, whiteboards, educational equipment and supplies to contact us so that instead of sending it to the tip, it can be freighted to Dili and used to give kids a chance at a proper education.

Leavers Week in Western Australia is usually perceived as a time when too many young people let their hair down too far - but that’s not the case in a couple of regions.

About twenty students from the Kalamunda area are on their way to Timor Leste to help with the upgrading of schools.

Read more: Growing Support For Timor Leste

These kids may be tiny, but they are certainly tough. Aged between 0-4, the children at Gwynne Park PS are already learning the skills it takes to survive in modern day schooling.

Many children today are enrolled in school unprepared for what lies ahead and this program has become an outlet for preparing all children and parents for their schooling years, even those at educational risk.

The Gwynnie Kids Program is designed to help educate children and their parents prior to their school years.

Once a week the group get together for a few hours to discuss parenting, behaviour issues and give their children time to interact with others and begin to learn a semi-school routine.

Read more: Gwynnie Kids: Gwynne Park PS