The AISSA Board begins the search for a new office as part of the revised strategic directions and long-term financial planning for the Association.

Alongside the office search, the Board invests in new technology to enhance service support to member schools and improve the management of associated risks.

In 2014, the Senior Educational consultant (SEC) team is established. Each school is assigned an SEC to support them in their school improvement journey. The approach is designed to enable the AISSA to be responsive to the context and needs of each individual school. The SEC becomes a ‘critical friend’ and ‘go to person’ to support the national school improvement agenda, quality teaching, and learning and establishing preconditions for change.

Initial feedback for the model shows a positive impact on member schools, particularly the one-on-one support for school leaders.

“It is great to have one person to coordinate the educational support for our school. Our SEC supported the school’s strategic plan with suggestions for ways the resources and knowledge of the AISSA could add value to the school.”

 (Feedback from School Principal, AISSA Annual Report 2014)

Replacing the ‘Better Schools’ funding, the AISSA’s member schools gain access to the new ‘Students First’ funding. The AISSA successfully negotiates additional funding to be distributed across the sector to compensate for the loss of Targeted Programs and National Partnerships. Schools transition to their full funding allocation over 6 years.

The South Australian government adopts the same model for allocating funding, becoming the only State to do so. Due to the financial pressures facing the State government, very little money is allocated in Years 1-4 of transition, which results in South Australian schools being amongst the worst-funded in Australia.

The AISSA advocates on this matter throughout 2014, including raising awareness with school communities and South Australian political representatives about the implications of this decision.

The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is an iterative process of staff consultations that lasts for over a year in 2014, where the RAP Working Group (RWG) refines the RAP in response to feedback. The members of the RWG include Carolyn Grantskalns, Chair, Lynda Secombe, Rosemary Kadow, Barbara Murray, Marilyn Wall and Monica Williams.

The RWG designs and implements learning opportunities that broaden and deepen the staff’s knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

Once the RAP is drafted, the AISSA engages with an external Aboriginal consultant to provide expert advice before its final publication and implementation.

The AISSA releases its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2015 – 2018 titled Innovate. Throughout this year, the AISSA also supports its member schools in developing their own RAP.

The AISSA bases its Innovate RAP 2015-2018 on 3 main actions: Relationships, Respect and Opportunities

A Memorandum of Understanding for the joint establishment of the South Australian Teacher Certification Committee (SATCC) is signed, enabling teachers to be assessed as Highly Accomplished or Lead Teachers in accordance with the Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework.

AISSA provides support to potential applicants regarding requirements of this rigorous process. See the Teacher Certification guide HERE

Targeted Programs (begun in 2001) cease and are replaced by Government Priorities under the Australian Education Act 2013. This Act establishes the new funding model (‘Gonski 2.0’), which includes a per capita payment for each student and additional loadings for indigeneity, disability, low socio-economic background and English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD). There are also loadings based on school characteristics; thus, small schools and rural and remote schools attract additional funding.

The overall aim of these changes is to ensure a focus on school improvement, and the AISSA receives funding to support schools on their improvement journey.

2013 proves to be a challenging year for the AISSA and its member schools, as they face frustration over the lack of clarity and transparency regarding the new funding model.

Outgoing Chief Executive, Mr Garry Le Duff announces his intention to retire in early 2013 after 17.5 years serving the AISSA. After his outstanding leadership, the Association is in a very strong position as a high-quality service provider, a leader in shaping the education debate, and well placed to deal with challenges ahead.

Mrs Carolyn Grantskalns, former member and Chair of the AISSA Board, is appointed as the new Chief Executive, formally commencing her appointment on 18 February 2013. She brings a wealth of experience in the Independent sector, school leadership and school improvement and education.

Mrs Carolyn Grantskalns identified that the biggest challenge she faced when taking over the Chief Executive position was that targeted programs and national partnerships were coming to an end

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is established in December, which added further regulatory requirements for schools and the Association.

On a State level, the new Education and Early Childhood Services Registration and Standards Board commences operation. There is considerable negotiation about the criteria to be used to determine the standards that schools would be required to meet for registration purposes. For the first time in South Australia’s history, government schools are to be subject to the same processes as non-government schools in regard to registration.

The Review of Funding for Schooling, colloquially known as the ‘Gonski Report’, is released in December 2011. An initiative by the Australian government, headed by Mr David Gonski AC, the review proposes the establishment of a funding system, which enables every child to have access to high quality education regardless of background, education need or location.

Mr David Gonski AC’s letter to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP. Read the full report HERE

The Board commissions a consultant to identify the AISSA’s accommodation requirements due to the increasing demands of new Australian government programs and the expansion of early childhood services.

A property search is underway in the following year.