Executive Director’s Update to Principals #38 - 14 August 2023
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by Converge International
In addition to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered via DOBCEL, Converge International provides specialised wellbeing support services. The Rapid Response Service is designed to provide tailored wellbeing support for staff impacted by significant and challenging events.
Click here for more information or contact Tania Lund, Staff Wellbeing and Engagement Advisor.
Deputy & Assistant Principals Network
This information is for Principals, Deputy/Assistant Principals and school leaders. We ask that you share this information with your D/AP and school leader and request they complete google form here if they are interested in being part of the Diocesan D/AP network.
This term DOBCEL will be re-launching the D/AP network and would like to encourage all D/APs or school leaders in smaller schools to participate where possible.
The scope and purpose of the network will be to:
- Build collegial networks
- Build capacity in understanding the contents of the Diocesan Leadership Capabilities and Principal standards, particularly in relation to the leadership requirements, vision and values, knowledge and understanding and personal qualities and undertake an assessment of skills against the standard (AITSL online tool)
- Development of a plan in response to the assessment to develop strengths and areas for growth as demonstrated in the self-assessment report
- Provide an opportunity for group Professional Learning specifically related to the demands of the D/AP role including topics such as:
- school operations and management
- staff wellbeing
- formation for mission
(these topics will be confirmed once further feedback is sought from participants and Principals)
Desired outcomes:
- A network of D/APs who feel connected to each other as a professional group and can use the network for support and learning opportunities
- Skilled D/APs who understand the Diocesan Leadership Capabilities, Principal standards and have had the opportunity to develop skills through professional learning undertaken as part of the network
- Sound knowledge of how to use the Principal standard and Diocesan Leadership Capabilities to further develop leadership skills
- Enhanced understanding of the leadership requirements for the role of Principal and ability to understand how context might impact leadership decisions
- An opportunity for group Professional Leaning and exposure to Professional Leaning that may potentially assist with progression to principalship (for those who are interested in progression to principalship)
We have scheduled two opportunities for the network to meet during Semester 2, 2023.
Term 3
- 30 min information session week 6
- Wednesday 16 August 3.35pm to 4.05pm
OR
- Thursday 17 August 8:25am to 8:55am
Term 4
- Participation in 2-day Crucial Conversations workshop
We would like to gather information from you on appropriate content to support the network.
Principals: Please click here to provide your feedback on what professional learning to believe should be included. Please contact Fiona Murphy via email or call 0447 371 177 if you have any questions regarding the network.Next Steps for Crucial Conversations Training - Putting Theory into Action!
I hope you enjoyed last week’s Crucial Conversations training and found the skills relevant and useful. Now that you have equipped yourself with these valuable tools and strategies for handling crucial conversations, it's time to think about how to put these skills into action! The key to really benefiting from crucial conversations lies in applying the concepts and skills learned to real-life scenarios. To facilitate this process, below is an outline of some next steps and additional supports available to you to really help to cement this knowledge:
- Reflect on Your Crucial Conversations: Take some time to identify recent or upcoming crucial conversations you anticipate having. Reflect on the ones that might be difficult or challenging, where emotions and stakes run high.
- Apply the Crucial Conversations Framework: Utilise the skills and techniques we learned during the training to approach these identified conversations effectively. Remember the key principles: get unstuck, master your stories, start with heart, state your path, make it safe, learn to look, seek mutual purpose and explore others' paths.
- Seek Support and Feedback: Don't hesitate to reach out to your Principal colleagues who attended the training for support and feedback. Engaging in discussions with others can provide fresh perspectives and valuable insights, helping you refine your approach to crucial conversations. Create an environment that fosters open communication and provides room for learning and improvement.
- Professional Learning Communities: More information will be sent regarding forming a Crucial Conversations PLCs next week.
- Coaching Opportunities: More information regarding Crucial Conversations coaching opportunities will be sent out next. In the meantime, if you would like immediate support related to crucial conversations, please speak with your Ed Con or Fiona Murphy.
- Embedding in your school: Please spend some time thinking about how you might like to involve your staff in the Crucial Conversations workshops as professional learning in 2024. There are two options for your staff to get involved 1. Attend a training date listed on the DOBCEL calendar or 2. Run a workshop at your school. Ideally, the 2 days would be run over consecutive days, with a minimum of 12 participants. If a consecutive 2-day workshop will not work for you, please contact Fiona to discuss options. If you don’t have enough staff or can’t have your whole staff group participating at once, consider teaming up with other schools or run more than one workshop over the year to provide all your staff the opportunity to participate. Please click here to express interest in running a Crucial Conversations workshop at your school or contact Fiona Murphy directly.
- Resources and Materials: Remember you have access to the training materials, handouts and resources shared during the sessions. These materials can serve as valuable references to reinforce your understanding and application of Crucial Conversations principles. In the coming weeks, additional resources will be shared to keep crucial conversation skills fresh in your mind.
- Continuous Learning: Crucial Conversations is a skill that improves with practice and continuous learning. By taking these steps, you will foster more open, collaborative and productive communication with your teams and school community. Remember, it's normal to encounter challenges when you are doing something new or different, but the key is to persevere and keep applying the techniques until they become natural.
If you have any questions or need further support, please don't hesitate to reach out to Fiona Murphy in the first instance. Let's continue together and create positive change in how we communicate and address crucial conversations!
EBA Update
Further to recent communication, the Catholic Education Multi Enterprise Agreement 2022 (CEMEA 2022) has been approved by the Fair Work Commission and became operable from Monday 7 August 2023.
As previously advised via Executive Director’s Update to Principals #17, MACS, CRMV and CES Limited implemented a number entitlements effective from Term 2. At the time DOBCEL decided not to follow suit for various reasons as detailed in the ED update of 4 April 2023.
Now that the CEMEA 2022 has been approved, these additional entitlements will be provided (and back-dated to the commencement of Term 1) to ensure that our staff are not disadvantaged. These entitlements include.:
- Meal allowance increase
- Tool allowance to increases
- Medical support allowance increase
- 20 days of paid Family and Domestic Violence leave
- Paid Parental Leave to increase from 14 weeks to 16 weeks
- Paid Partner Level to increase from 1 week to 4 weeks (to be taken within two Terms of the birth of the child)
- The qualifying period from 42 Term weeks to 30 Term weeks or 3 full school Terms
The DOBCEL – Implementation Guide Allowances and Parental Leave provides details of these entitlements and guidance on how to apply the changes. Further CECV Implementation Guides on the CEMEA 2022 are currently in production and will be made available once finalised.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Maree Baker, Manager: Human Resources on 0436 460 275.