Independent Schools Queensland

The 2024 Queensland College of Teacher's TEACHX awards have unveiled their stellar lineup of 84 finalists, chosen from an impressive pool of 349 nominations. Congratulations to the 22 finalists from ISQ member schools! Queensland College of Teachers Acting Director Deb Jones said being short-listed for a TEACHX Award was an incredible achievement. “The TEACHX Awards continue to recognise the work of outstanding educators and their positive impact on students. “From those at the beginning stages of their careers, to experienced teachers in leadership positions, the calibre of this year’s finalists is truly impressive.” See the TEACHX 2024 Shortlist via this link https://bit.ly/3T5GoMh

The independent schooling sector in Queensland is known for its diverse range of schools and for placing student choice at the heart of educational enterprise. In this research article, ISQ Vocational Education Services Advisor Melanie Alexandra BSc (Hons) discusses current and emerging skills shortages, and the contribution vocational education and training delivered in schools makes to relieving workforce gaps. Read more https://bit.ly/3XbxCP9

Crisis media training isn't just about handling tough questions—it's about leading with confidence and clarity when it matters most. In a world where information spreads rapidly, being prepared isn't just an option—it's a necessity. ISQ’s Practical Training in Media Issues & Crisis Management course is aimed at giving member school leaders the practical skills to stand up and deliver timely and well-articulated messages to their communities in times of crisis. Thank you to the latest round of member school principals and school leaders who took part in this week’s session.

We recently wrapped up Workshop 5 of our 18-month Aspiring Principals Program, and what an incredible journey it's been! This program, designed for deputy principals, assistant principals, and heads of schools aiming for their first principal role, has offered a deep dive into the principalship through a blend of residential sessions and workshops. Workshop Highlights: ▪️ Expert Guidance: Participants were led by Stephen Scott from Ethiclead, author of Ethics Trumps Power. ▪️ Kate Mortimer from Sheldon College spoke to aspiring principals about the role of the Principal. ▪️ Networking and Reflection: The program facilitated meaningful connections with peers and a balanced mix of directed and self-directed activities, all framed within ongoing reflection. Thank you to all the participants and Stephen Scott who made this final workshop a success. Your dedication and enthusiasm have been inspiring! #AspiringPrincipals #EducationLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #PrincipalMentorship

Reflecting on a Fantastic EA Connect Professional Development Day! Last Friday, Independent Schools Queensland's EA Connect Professional Development Day brought together a dynamic group of professionals eager to connect, learn, and grow. The event offered a wealth of opportunities to enhance both professional and personal development through engaging sessions and insightful discussions. Attendees were treated to a diverse program designed to deliver actionable takeaways and foster valuable connections within our community. Whether you are new to the role or a seasoned professional, this forum provided invaluable knowledge, skill-building opportunities, and a chance to expand your network with like-minded peers. A special thank you to our distinguished guest speakers and panelists: Sarah Coomb, Psychologist, Independent Schools Queensland; Tracey Montgomery, General Manager, Pure Source Recruitment; Petris Lapis, Director, The Artisan of Change. And a heartfelt appreciation to our panel discussion facilitator, Kylie Clifford, Education Data and RTO Lead, The Industry School, who guided a thought-provoking conversation with Lisa Foster, Sandy Stegman, and Jessica Williams from ISQ Member Schools. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this event a success. Your engagement and enthusiasm were truly inspiring! #EADay2024 #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #Learning #IndependentSchoolsQueensland #CareerGrowth #Leadership

Workshop 3 of our 2024 Beginning Teacher Program for cohort 1, in partnership with YXL Institute, was a resounding success! Program Highlights: ▪️ Participants presented: Beginning teachers shared their most effective strategies to each other demonstrating their growing confidence and leadership ▪️ Networking: A fantastic opportunity for beginning teachers to connect and share experiences across the independent school sector. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to another engaging and supportive Workshop in partnership with YXL Institute. We can’t wait for our new beginning teachers to commence in 2025! #BeginningTeacherSupport #TeachingExcellence #ProfessionalGrowth #Networking

ISQ was delighted to host the Principals' Roundtable: Workforce, Attraction, Recruitment, Retention, and Planning for the Future. Key Highlights: ▪️ Daniel Pinchas from Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership (AITSL) shared vital insights from the Australian Teacher Workforce Data survey and key AITSL updates on the national landscape. ▪️ Professor Martin Mills and Professor Terri Burke from QUT (Queensland University of Technology) delivered an update on the career-change teacher research they are conducting in partnership with ISQ. ▪️ Professor Robin Shields from The University of Queensland delivered a compelling keynote on global evidence regarding wellbeing and retention in education. ▪️ The event featured engaging discussions and excellent networking opportunities. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to a successful and informative event! #PrincipalsRoundtable #EducationLeadership #Networking

Yesterday, ISQ hosted the Term 3 Curriculum Leaders Forum at the Emporium in South Bank! Leaders were treated to a lineup of amazing speakers, including Julie King from ACARA who shared insights on assessment and the ACARA work samples project. Participants also had the opportunity to attend elective sessions by Sandra Robinson from Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership (AITSL) speaking about the new Middle Leader Standards, Vicky Leighton PhD and Terry Byers from Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) speaking on their free program A Learners Toolkit, Sean Duffy from Griffith University and Stackle speaking on AI and Assessment, Amanda Watt and Jacky Dawson speaking on Meaningful Parent Engagement and Annie Wachtel from the ISQ Student Services team speaking on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Many thanks to the outstanding speakers, it was a fantastic day filled with learning, networking and inspiration for our sector curriculum leaders. Make sure you don't miss out on our upcoming Term 4 event with keynote speaker Oliver Lovell, who will be diving into the fascinating world of Cognitive Science. Register now via this link https://bit.ly/24CLT4

This week saw international education sector collaboration at its best. A School Advisors Forum was delivered jointly by Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ), Education Queensland International (EQI), and Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC). The Forum was designed for staff who advise international students in Queensland schools, including school Guidance Officers, counsellors, International Student Coordinators, Homestay Coordinators, and academic staff who are invited to attend this informative session. We had presentations from tertiary institutions about the Queensland University and TAFE admissions processes, a student panel discussion about the international student experience of transitioning from school to tertiary education, and the #employability program in development undertaken by Study Queensland that gives insights into working in some of Queensland’s top industries. We had a great turnout of representatives from member schools, both online and in person. Those that attended in person were Angelina Cheung from Coomera Anglican College, Tom Cullen from Trinity Lutheran College, Ashmore, Jennie Lubbe from King's Christian College, Roma Deo from Brisbane Boys' College, Michelle Carter from Ipswich Girls' and Junior Grammar School, Richelle Stalet and Bill Conney from LOURDES HILL COLLEGE, and Anna Wang from Villanova College. A special acknowledgment and gratitude to our presenters: Susan Schlinker, Guest Speaker from Study Queensland; Richard Pursey from QUT (Queensland University of Technology); Paula Cantieri from University of the Sunshine Coast; Samantha Milton from Griffith University; Celeste Chen from The University of Queensland; Mithun Gururaj from Australian Catholic University; Yunji Jin from the University of Southern Queensland; Hannah Kim and Joseph Theseira from Bond University; Song-Yi Baek from TAFE Queensland; Chris Jack from Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC); Student panel from QUT: Junho from Korea – an alumnus of St Paul's School and Mai from Vietnam – an alumnus of Kelvin Grove State College. Thank you to Erika Reynolds and QUT for hosting the event and our event organizers: from EQI - Luciana Silva Smith, Sarah Britton, and Yasmin Beck; QCEC - Cameron Pickering; and ISQ - Angelin Achari.

This week, Angelin Achari from Independent Schools Queensland attended The PIE Live Asia Pacific Conference. The conference had a fantastic suite of keynote speakers and panelists from within Australia and offshore, addressing the current challenges and opportunities for the international education sector. The conference agenda included school sector topics such as international education opportunities in the K-12 sector and study tours as a pivoting strategy for schools. It was great to see Study Toowoomba Inc in action, and a special thank you to the CEO, Peter Homan, who attended the conference with a contingency of member schools based in Toowoomba - Belinda Sanders from Concordia Lutheran College and Tammy Wilson from Toowoomba Grammar School who also attended in her capacity as a board member of Study Toowoomba.