November 2023 Principals Bulletin

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Hi,

Welcome to the November edition of the Higgins Principals Bulletin, a platform designed to keep you abreast of the various federal government initiatives that are shaping the future of education.

I welcome feedback from our educators, whose attention and care turn children into scholars, sportspeople, and creatives, or a touch of all three.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

‘…children are balls of energy, curiosity and wisdom. Not far, standing like sentinels, are their devoted teachers, skilfully marshalling the life force in children towards purpose and self-exploration.’

Dr. Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP, Speech to Parliament, 20 March 2023.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP

Indigenous artwork installation official opening, Lloyd Street Primary School

New Upgrade Funding for Government Schools

In an exciting development, Australian government schools can now apply for funding of at least $250,000 to build or upgrade vital infrastructure. Round 2 of the Albanese Government’s Schools Upgrade Fund will provide $215.8 million in funding, specifically directed towards schools with the most pressing infrastructure needs.

The grants offered under this program can be utilised for large scale capital works projects such as:

· building or upgrading facilities, such as art facilities, music rooms, technical and applied studies facilities, sporting facilities.

· upgrading playground and outdoor learning facilities; and

· replacing ageing demountable buildings with permanent structures or modern modular teaching spaces.

Applications are open at www.education.gov.au/schools-upgrade-fund. Applications close 29 February 2024.

Be That Teacher Campaign

Be that Teacher is a joint initiative of the Albanese Government and State and Territory Governments. The campaign is designed to encourage more Australians to want to be that teacher, and will feature the stories of eight real schoolteachers.

As part of this campaign, teachers are encouraged to share their unique stories, experiences, and the profound connections they have forged in their classrooms. Australians are being encouraged to share their stories about the teacher that transformed their lives.

Every teacher has a story to share, and everyone has a story to share about a special teacher. To share yours, or find out more about becoming a teacher, visit bethatteacher.gov.au.

Explore our campaign videos here.

‘…Teachers do the most important job in the world… and the truth is we don’t have enough of them. Over the course of the last 10 years, we’ve seen about a 12 per cent drop in the number of young people going to university to become a teacher. Only about one in two people who start a teaching degree finish it. And about 20 per cent quit being a teacher in the first three years. And all of that’s led to a teaching shortage crisis.’

The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Afternoon Briefing, 31 October 2023

Identifying Family Violence

The Albanese Labor Government is investing in new ways to support victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence. We are investing more than $103 million in pilot programs to support victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence, run through Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia. We have a vision – to end gender-based violence in one generation. It is ambitious, but not impossible.

Recognising the signs of family violence in children can be challenging, as they can resemble signs of other issues like school bullying. It is important to know the signs that a child is experiencing or exposed to family violence:

regression (especially in toddlers)
they complain about illness (stomach ache or headache)
they have trouble concentrating on tasks
there are high levels of general distress or an inability to self soothe or regulate
they have difficulty with friendships
they act out (the ‘naughty’ child) or withdraw (the ‘quiet’ child)
they show ‘mean’ or violent behaviour toward other children or family members
they don’t want to go home
they are unable to nap or are experiencing sleep disturbances
they are watchful or seem on ‘alert’.

Signs that a young person may be experiencing or exposed to family violence:

they stop seeing friends or have difficulty with friendships
they change the way they dress
they skip school or start getting lower grades
they don’t communicate or they become secretive
they have unexplainable bruising
they get angry and aggressive at friends and family
they put on weight or lose weight
they put themselves down
they have difficulty concentrating
they feel unwell with stomach cramps or headaches
they ‘act out’ or withdraw.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, family, domestic, or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

Strengthening Inclusion in Early Childhood Education and Care

It is vital to ensure that early childhood educators have the knowledge and resources at their disposal to best support young children and their families in accessing available support, and that educators are able to work alongside families and carers to ensure consistency in service delivery. We are committed to strengthening inclusion for families and caregivers of children with disabilities or development concerns.
New resources have been developed to enhance inclusivity and bolster the capabilities of staff and educators in early childhood and education settings. Aligned with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 Early Childhood Targeted Action Plan, these resources will facilitate collaborative efforts between state, territory, and Commonwealth programs, and will be publicly available on the Department of Social Services website here.

Free NBN to Students

The School Student Broadband Initiative aims to provide complimentary internet access to support underprivileged students. The government will be offering free broadband to approximately 30,000 families for a duration of 12 months.

For more information on this initiative, visit: School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Civic Education Pack for 18-year-olds

We have valuable resources available to help empower students as they become eligible to vote. Our Civic Education Pack contains essential information on voting, civic education, and becoming active participants in our democratic process.

Please reach out to my office on [email protected] to order our Civic Education packs and advise eligible students (citizens 18 years and above) to enrol to vote at the link below:
Enrol to vote – Enrol to vote - Australian Electoral Commission (aec.gov.au)