8
2.2
Statewide Services
2.2.1 Education
There have been numerous significant achievements amongst our various
education programs during 2010:
We appointed a new Statewide Senior Manager Education & Training,
Anne Smithies, and she has brought a stronger focus on curriculum and
professional development to our services.
Melbourne University Youth Research Centre assisted us to finalise our
Model of Education which is providing staff with a consistent framework
for their teaching.
With the Felton Bequest grant we received in 2009, we undertook a
study of the feasibility of establishing a third campus of the BEST Centre
in Shepparton. This study recommended that we pursue registration of
this campus.
We organised our first 2 day retreat for all education staff at which we
introduced the new Model of Education and provided a session on
understanding the educational needs of young people who have
experienced the trauma of abuse and neglect. This retreat was the first
part of a solid professional development plan for our teachers.
With Take Two, we are exploring the application of Bruce Perry’s
neurosequential model in our school settings.
In recognition of the increasing professionalism of our education
programs and to maintain some parity with teachers in the public sector,
we redeveloped our pay structure for teachers.
With two and now possibly three campuses, we recognised a need to
ensure our internal governance of the school is robust and are currently
examining a draft model currently examining a draft model that would
enhance consistency and communication across the regions.
In early 2010, the Commonwealth funded renovations at the Noble Park
campus were completed and then late in the year, IKEA refurbished all
the classrooms so the physical environment of the school is significantly
enhanced. We also received funding to upgrade our IT infrastructure.
Our partnership with the Pavilion school in the North & West Region was
strengthened this year and the Preston campus of the Pavilion is now
called the Berry Street campus, despite it being a government school.
As reported in 2009, our partnership with the Pavilion won $50,000 from
the NAB’s Schools First Awards. The funds were used to bring teachers
from New York’s KIPP School to Melbourne, with two teachers spending a
fortnight at the Pavilion and two others spending this time at Berry
Street’s school campuses. KIPP Infinity is one of the highest performing
charter schools in New York and the teachers who visited with us had all
won numerous awards. They have a strong commitment to high
expectations of students and teachers alike, despite operating in very
disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and the KIPP teachers brought this
message to our settings. We held a highly successful, stimulating public
event at the Malthouse and one of these inspiring teachers, Tom
Brunzell is keen to spend 12 months with us in 2011/12.
We continued our advocacy regarding the needs of disadvantaged
students, contributing to the Labor Government’s Flexible Learning
Options policy discussion, making comment in The Age and meeting with
the then Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike. We continue to encourage
decision makers to recognise the need for adequately funded alternate
education options for young people who have complex learning issues