Non-government Schools Education Council

The Non-government Schools Education Council (the Council) was established under section 106 of the Education Act 2004 (the Act).

The Council's functions are to advise the Minister for Education and Training (the Minister) on any aspect of non-government schooling and to meet with the Government Schools Education Council to discuss matters of mutual interest. Advice provided to the Minister may be initiated by the Council or may be in response to a request from the Minister. Under section 127 of the Act the Minister must present a copy of the advice to the Legislative Assembly.

Goals

The Council identified the following goals to be achieved in the 2010-11 year:

• Goal 1: To meet and advise the Minister about issues related to non-government schooling in the ACT
• Goal 2: To monitor the Risk Management Plan
• Goal 3: To liaise with the Government Schools Education Council on matters of common interest relating to schools in the ACT
• Goal 4: To clarify the role and articulate the strategic vision for non-government schools in terms of the education portfolio in the ACT.

Council membership

Council members

Ms Narelle Hargreaves OAM (Chair)
Ms Hargreaves is the Chair of the Council. Ms Hargreaves was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2008. Ms Hargreaves is a member of the Professional Experience team at the University of Canberra; Chair of the ACT Children and Youth Services Council; and Chair of the Canberra-Nara Sister City Committee and President of the ACT Children's Week Committee. In 2007, she was appointed 'Official Visitor' to Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and Marlow Cottage. In 2011, Ms Hargreaves was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in the ACT.

Ms Hargreaves has many years teaching experience, including 14 years as a principal in ACT schools. Her teaching career was followed by 10 years as Director of Schools and International Education with the previously known ACT Department of Education and Training. Ms Hargreaves holds a Bachelor of Education. She is a Fellow of both the Australian College of Educators and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACT). Ms Hargreaves is a member of the Sing Australia Choir.

Mr John Barker
Mr Barker is an education member representing the Catholic Education Office. Mr Barker has been Head of Finance and Planning Services of the Catholic Education Office for 14 years. He is a contributing member of a number of committees including the Catholic Education Commission NSW Resources Policy Committee and ACT Block Grant Authority Priorities Committee and Finance Sub-committee. Mr Barker has a Commerce (Accounting Procedures) Certificate; an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of Canberra.

Mr Mark Hogan
Mr Hogan is an education member representing the Catholic Education Office where he has been Deputy Director since 1994. Mr Hogan served as the Deputy Director and Head of Education Services of the Catholic Education Office from 1994 to 1999, and from 2000 he has served as Deputy Director and Head of Human Resource Services. Mr Hogan holds a Master of Education (Honours), Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies, Graduate Diploma of Education (Religious), Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Educational Leadership), Bachelor of Education (Secondary Science), Certificate in School counselling, and the NSW Teachers Certificate.

Mr Andrew Wrigley
Mr Wrigley was appointed as an education member for the non-Catholic independent schools and the Executive Director of the Association of Independent Schools of the ACT in May 2010. He has three years experience in management with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and with Teaching Australia. Mr Wrigley also has 13 years experience as a professional educator in the non-government and public education sectors. He holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Education.

Dr William Maiden
Dr Maiden is a community member and holds the position of Deputy Chairperson. Dr Maiden has been teaching since 1969 and is the Principal of Lake Tuggeranong College. He holds a Teaching Certificate, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Letters (Education), Master of Educational Administration, Doctorate of Philosophy (Education), and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACT). Dr Maiden has been awarded a Public Service Medal.

Mr Tony Maple
Mr Maple was reappointed as an education member representative of the parent association for a period of three years in February 2010. He is President of the Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools. Mr Maple has a Master of Public Policy, Postgraduate Diploma in Defence Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Data Processing and Bachelor of Arts (Military Studies).

Ms Michelle Narracott
Ms Narracott was appointed as a community member on 9 April 2009 for a period of three years. Ms Narracott is a legal practitioner who specialises in organisational review work in the fields of corporate governance, government policy and program performance and employment law. She is a former board member of St Edmund's College, and was a founding board member and Chair of the People and Remuneration Committee of Edmund Rice Education Australia 2007. Ms Narracott has a Bachelor of Laws, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and is admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the ACT and NSW Supreme Courts.

Mr Peter Fullager
Mr Fullager was appointed as an education member representing the Catholic Congregational Colleges of Canberra in June 2009 for a period of three years. Mr Fullager is currently Principal of St Edmund's College Canberra. He holds a Master of Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Education and has 30 years experience as an educator in the Catholic, independent and public education sectors.

Ms Lyn Renno
Ms Renno was appointed as an education member representing the non- government school union in March 2009 for a period of three years. Ms Renno holds a Diploma of Education and a Graduate Certificate of Religious Education. She has been an Industrial Organiser in the ACT Office of NSW/ACT Independent Education Union since October 2008. Ms Renno has 24 years of teaching experience in the non-government and public education sectors.

Dr Janet Smith
Dr Smith is a community member and is an educator, consultant and an Associate Professor (adjunct) in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canberra. Prior to becoming an academic, Dr Smith was a high school teacher for 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education (Secondary), a Master of Education and a Doctorate of Philosophy.

Ms Meg van Beurden
Ms van Beurden was appointed as a community member on 9 April 2009 for a period of three years. Ms van Beurden has extensive teaching experience in both the public and non-government sectors. She has worked in schools in rural NSW, Sydney and with a number of schools in the ACT. Ms van Beurden has also been a committee member on the ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee. Ms van Beurden holds a Master of Arts, a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Language and Reading.

Criteria of membership

Section 109 of the Act requires the Minister to appoint the following Council members (11 in total):

• a chairperson
• four people who represent the views of the general community (community members)
• six people who represent the views of the non-government school sector (education members), including:

        - three education members chosen from nominations of organisations representing Catholic schools
        - one education member chosen from nominations of organisations representing non-Catholic 
          independent schools
        - one education member chosen from nominations of the non-government school union
        - one education member chosen from nominations of organisations representing parent associations
          of non-government schools.

Appointment of members

The Act outlines the conditions under which the Minister may appoint or terminate the appointment of a council member. As a statutory appointment the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs is consulted on proposed appointments.

Council membership and attendance at meetings

During the reporting period, the Council met seven times between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011.

Table NGSEC 1: Role of council members and the number of meetings attended

Source: Non-government Schools Education Council

Remuneration arrangements

Remuneration for the chairperson (the Chair) is determined by the ACT Remuneration Tribunal in accordance with the provision for section 10(1) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1995. The current determination took effect on 1 November 2009. The chairperson is the only member to receive remuneration.

Financial controls

The Council has no funds for which it is responsible therefore the Council does not prepare financial statements.

Internal audit and risk management

The Risk Management Plan was reviewed by the Council in November 2010. The Plan has continued to be monitored by the Council during the financial year 2010-11.

Ethical standards

The Act specifies the obligations of members should a conflict of interest arise. Council members are required to sign a standard ACT Government Code of Conduct agreement. A declaration of disclosure of interest is called for at each council meeting.

Resources

The Directorate provides secretariat and advisory assistance to the Council. The Council may call on directorate staff to address council meetings or meet with members to discuss particular issues or programs relevant to the work of the Council. This process occurs on a regular basis. If required, the Council has access to legal advice through the ACT Government Solicitor's Office.

Council operations and achievements

Key issues for consideration by the Council in 2010-11 were as follows:

• Strategic Directions
• National Partnerships
• Joint meeting with the Government Schools Education Council regarding the ACT Teacher Quality Institute – July 2010
• 2011-12 ACT Government Budget
• My School – Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority national reporting website
• National Curriculum
• New funding model in offering – Australian Government funding – scrutiny and understanding to keep abreast of the issues.

Minister's visit to the Council

The Council appreciated Minister Barr's advice and contribution when he attended the September 2010 and June 2011 meetings of the Council.

Early childhood schools in the ACT

The Council wishes to congratulate the ACT Government on the provision of early childhood schools and the Child and Family Centres which are now operating successfully in the ACT.

ACT Curriculum Renewal Taskforce

At the invitation of the Minister, the Chair participated on the taskforce reconvened to support the ACT's input into the development of a national curriculum for kindergarten to year 12.

Registration of new non-government schools

The Council responded to requests from the Education and Training Directorate for comments on the possible impact on existing ACT schools including the proposed additional campus of Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo.

Budget 2011-12 recommendations

In September 2010, the Council responded to an invitation to participate in the Treasury Budget Consultation. A copy of the council submission to the ACT Government 2011-12 Budget process was provided to the Minister.

Council of Australian governments

The Council of Australian Governments agenda is of high priority in monthly discussions at council meetings, including the Building the Education Revolution, National Curriculum and National Partnerships. The work done by Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority around the My Schools website was also regularly monitored and issues arising debated by the Council.

Cross-sectoral collaboration

The Minister advised the Council that the Government would continue to make every effort to ensure the Council is kept informed of current initiatives, programs and processes affecting all educational sectors in the ACT.

Strategic directions

The Council's key focus for 2010-11 was regarding the development of Strategic Directions for Non-government School Education in the ACT. This position paper was presented to the Minister at the September 2010 Council meeting.

A joint meeting of the Council and the Government Schools Education Council took place in July 2010 in keeping with the Act which requires the Council to meet with the Government Schools Education Council to discuss matters of mutual interest. Discussions were focused on the National Professional Standards for Teachers.

For more information contact:
Non-government Schools Education Council
c/- Non-government Education Section
Education and Training Directorate
PO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Secretariat to the Non-government Schools Education Council
02 6205 9328
ngso@act.gov.au

Ms Narelle Hargreaves OAM
Chairperson
Non-government Schools Education Council
c/- Non-government Education Section
Education and Training Directorate
PO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Non-government chair letter