Dear Colleagues

 It was greatly appreciated to see a good representation of Principals from across the country join us for our recent virtual AGM. At this meeting an amendment to our ACPPA Constitution was passed which will allow State and Territory Associations to become a Branch of ACPPA for a range of reasons including size, finances, and viability. This move will offer support for smaller associations if they choose, and give a greater stability to the work of each Association across Australia. The amended 2021 Constitution can be found on our website.

It was wonderful to acknowledge our valued partners who have continued to support us even during this very difficult year which has impacted each of them in some way. I encourage you to connect with our partners and give them the opportunity to promote their products and services to you and your schools. Without their strong support we would not be able to achieve what we do each year.

It was also nice to receive thanks from our Associations for the steps ACPPA took in 2021 to reduce affiliation fees in response to the impacts of the pandemic.

During our last Board meeting for the year, our Directors spent some considerable time in both reviewing and renewing our strategic plan. We are now in the process of creating new priorities and goals for the 2022-2024 period to ensure we are meeting your needs in both action and advocacy for Catholic school leaders across Australia.

As you have seen we have delayed our national benchmarking survey until 2022 due to the pandemic. However, we encourage you to answer 3 simple questions to keep us focussed on the task. Details are below and I urge you to support us in this way.  

Congratulations and thanks to all of you who participated in our Initial Teacher Education (ITE) research project this year. Despite the pandemic we were able to reach far and wide in our consultations and are now preparing a report to the Board, ACU, UNDA and the NCEC later this month. We will disseminate the main findings to you all in the new year.

It was also great to see Principals interested and participating in our Wellbeing webinar series that took place in October. We have received really positive feedback which is included in an article in this journal. Our thanks to our Premium Partner, Australian Catholic Superannuation and SuperFriend, who worked with us to create a bespoke presentation for our leaders. We are now looking at new support initiatives for 2022.

Lastly, I am stepping down as President of ACPPA at the end of the year after 4 years in the role and moving into a leadership role in the Canberra/Goulburn Diocesan office next year. Peter Cutrona, one of our current Vice Presidents, has been elected the new President of ACPPA for the next 3 years. Peter is a Principal in Western Australia and has been a strong advocate of the Western Australian Catholic Primary Principals' Association. This appointment is a good indication of our truly national footprint  and brings with it both new opportunities and ways of operating. Congratulations, Peter.

I truly appreciate the dedication and contributions of the ACPPA Board of Directors. These school leaders give their time, energy and advice for the benefit of over 1240 ACPPA members, attending meetings each term, as well as, advocating for their state or territory, representing ACPPA at state and territory meetings, speaking with the media and attending other important functions and meetings.

I would especially like to thank Paul Colyer, our Executive Officer, and Karyn Prior, our Operations Manager, for their support, determined commitment and hard work.

I have been involved with ACPPA for nearly 10 years and I am proud of what the association has achieved in recent years. I have witnessed firsthand the incredible work ACPPA has done to support Principals and to raise the profile of our association across all sectors.

My involvement with ACPPA has been some of the most rewarding professional learning anyone could ever participate in and I have had the opportunity to meet and work very closely with outstanding leaders from across the country. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities ACPPA has provided me professionally and personally, and will certainly miss the national scene, the work, the collegiality, the humour and the social aspects of gathering when we could.

I wish Peter and the future ACPPA Board every success in the future.

‘So that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.’

1 Kings 2:3

Kind regards

Brad Gaynor 

President