After the establishment of an ACPPA National Executive that comprised a representative from each of the state and territory principal association in 1995, ACPPA now had the look and feel of a genuinely national association.

However, how ACPPA was to relate to, or be a part of, APPA was still a question requiring an answer. APPA also was at that time made up of a representative from each state charter, which could, in theory, include a Catholic school principal. And indeed, in a few cases, did so. But the reality was that APPA still had a mainly government school principal governance, and it was argued, government school focus. APPA stated quite publicly that it represented all primary school principals, and in some debates where the interests of the government school sector and the non-government school sector were in conflict, it was seen to favour the government school position. This was especially true in some of the discussions in regard to funding.

To its credit the APPA national executive and its president, who has always been from a government school, tried very hard to be as impartial as possible, but its very nature, structure and history did not make this an easy path to follow.

A major reform within the government school sector was the establishment of the Government Primary Principals’ Association (AGPPA) in the late 1990’s. APPA also made some significant changes to its constitution around this time, forming the National Executive Council, which was made up of a representative from each state or territory AGPPA, ACPPA and JHISA. APPA was now owned by the three sector association, and was constitutionally bound to represent each equally, without any perception of favouring the policy of one over the other. APPA was now an extremely powerful body, which commanded the respect and attention of educational leaders and decision makers, not only in state and federal government, but is state educational commissions and in the private sector.

In the mid 2000’s ACPPA made a move to meet more than once a year at the annual conference. The original initiative was to hold a one-and-a-half hour teleconference once a term. This had but limited success. With the new APPA structure in place, and state and territory representatives travelling to attend the National Executive Council’s meeting each term, it was decided that the ACPPA National Executive would meet on the two days prior to APPA each term. It is worth noting that the AGPPA also decided to do the same thing.

Each state and territory Catholic Primary Principals’ Association now elected two representatives to a national body, one to the ACPPA National Executive and one to the APPA National Executive Council. Initially these two representatives were seen as separate appointments. But this seemed illogical. During the presidency of Peggy Saab, our first Life Member by the way, it was formally included in the ACPPA Constitution that both these representative were members of the ACPPA National Executive, and that, while only one would attend the APPA meeting, both were there representing ACPPA.

This decision gave rise to a graphic, that is still used at each Executive meeting, to enforce this understanding of where ACPPA sits at the APPA table, and our relationship with our colleagues in the other two sectors.

ACPPA Executive at Parliament House in 2016 prior to a meeting with parliamentary members to discuss educational issues.

Mark Mowbray President, Elizabeth McDougall Tas, Kevin Clancy Topics Editor, Anthony Hockey NT, Mark de Kluyver WA, Ellie McGinness Vic, James Danaher WA, Karen Pearce Qld, Joy Matar Tas, Bard Gaynor ATC, Julie King NSW, Ros Oates SA, Fran Bonanno NSW, Karyn Prior Executive Assistant, Donaugh Shirley NSW, Catherine Gurr SA, Frank Hennessy Marketing, Mel Bowell NT, Dave Edwards Immediate Past President, John Vance ACT, Tony Falls Vic.