The success of the first combined conference organised by a committee of principals from the government, catholic and independent sectors in Perth, identified some issues with the structure of the Australian Primary Principals’ Association (APPA), the Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association (ACPPA) and the Association of Heads of Junior Schools which represented the Independent School sector, but included Junior Heads of some of the order owned Catholic schools.

In 1992 John Willett, a former ACPPA National President, and at that time President of the WA Catholic Primary Principals’ Association, presented a paper that raised some questions about APPA and its relationship with ACPPA. At this time, although most non-government school principals’ associations where affiliated with APPA, there was little involvement of the non-government sector in the leadership or governing structure of APPA. John Willett’s opinion was that if APPA was to fulfil its potential as a national voice for all Primary Principals then it must give witness to this breadth in its structure and management.

John Willett pointed out that the key group in the APPA structure was the secretariat, which up to this time consisted almost entirely of principals from government schools. It was usual for delegates to come to the APPA Annual General Meeting with positions on the secretariat already pre-selected, and often without any consultation with the non-government delegates. In making these observations John Willett provided five changes that he saw as necessary if APPA was to meet its potential as representative of all sector primary principals.

• One member of the Secretariat should be from a non-government affiliated body;
• State Chapters should meet prior to conference to consider secretariat positions;
• Executive members should be elected by State Chapters following the AGM;
• The State Liaison Officer should be rotated amongst affiliated members and elected by State Chapters;
• Decisions concerning dates and venues for the annual conference be made by the host State Chapter.

In a concluding statement to his discussion paper, John Willett stated, “If the anomalies in the current structure and management of APPA are not addressed, then the future does not look so bright. It would seem logical that ACPPA and JSHA would be better served to concentrate on their own associations where they have influence and withdraw from APPA. The net result of such an act would only serve to weaken the potential of an association to promote the work of primary education in this country. If APPA is to be regarded as a united and representative voice for all primary principals, then it must reflect this representation in its management and operation.”

Over the next decade APPA did accept this challenge, and while it was not all smooth sailing what eventually evolved is the current APPA, a very deliberately representative and a powerful association working for primary education in all its varied manifestations whether that be in the far and isolated outback or a large urban school.

Another outcome from John Willett’s paper, and highlighted during the combined conference of 1993, was that ACPPA’ structure was not working either and needed urgent attention. This is a story for next time.

The Western Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Executive in 1993, Michael Smith, Secretary, Sr Catherine O’Connor, Treasurer and John Willett, President.