News and Events | AISSA
Compass Wellness Experience – 2025 Winners Announced
We are delighted to officially share the recipients of the 2025 Compass Wellness Experience, following the formal announcement at the 2025 AISSA Governance Conference on Friday, 20 June.
This initiative, delivered in partnership with Compass Education, an AISSA Priority Partner, seeks to give back to the people who give so much – school staff.
After reviewing many thoughtful and heartfelt submissions, we’re pleased to congratulate the following winners:
- Isobel Murphy, Immanuel College
- Lara Matters, Trinity College
- Kristen Heath, Pilgrim School
- Angela Branford, Calvary Lutheran Primary School
Each recipient has won a bespoke on-campus Wellness Experience for their staff, including a smoothie bar, chair massages, and personalised wellness packs – designed to offer meaningful care and promote wellbeing.
Thank you to all who applied, and congratulations again to our winners. Your dedication to creating supportive, healthy school environments is what this initiative is all about.
AISSA Bulletin No. 4: 11 June 2025
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AISSA Bulletin – Special Edition State Budget 2025-26
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AISSA Bulletin No. 3: 14 May 2025
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New Priority Partnership: the AISSA Partners with Swanbury Penglase
The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia is delighted to welcome Swanbury Penglase as a new priority partner.
Swanbury Penglase is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning architectural practice headquartered in Adelaide, and working with clients both locally and nationally. The firm has worked alongside schools to deliver strategic campus master plans as well as designing engaging places of learning for ELC through to Year 12 students and University students.
“School campus planning and building design is a key factor in creating functional and effective learning environments,” Anne Dunstan, Chief Executive of the AISSA says.
“For many years Swanbury Penglase has been working with schools across South Australia to design campuses and buildings that support their long-term goals and enhance student outcomes.”
“We are delighted to welcome Swanbury Penglase as our newest priority partner, and to harness their expertise to support Independent schools across our network.”
Andrew Phillips, Director at Swanbury Penglase says, “We are thrilled to partner with the AISSA, and to work with the Association and its broader network of partners to support Independent education across the state.”
“Education has become a key portfolio in our business. Across our 36 years we have worked with and engaged a diverse range of school communities to help them realise their goals. We look forward to working with the AISSA to share these learnings across their member schools, and to support their broader work.”
Swanbury Penglase is a multi-discipline design practice offering design consultancy services in the fields of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and heritage architecture. The practice has developed long term relationships with education organisations and during this period services provided have included architectural and landscape architectural master planning which incorporates a strong focus on school and community consultation, compliance audits of buildings, heritage advice, refurbishment of existing buildings and new builds to create contemporary and engaging learning environments.
Swanbury Penglase joins the AISSA’s priority partnership network; a group of allied businesses dedicated to supporting Independent schools across the state. With the support of partners and sponsors the AISSA will continue to offer the vital development opportunities for leaders and teachers that underpin a thriving and vibrant Independent school sector.
For more information about the AISSA visit: ais.sa.edu.au
For more information about Swanbury Penglase visit: swanburypenglase.com
Contacts
Lucinda Pow
Senior Manager Partnerships, Events and Communications
Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
(08) 8179 1423
Andrew Phillips
Director
Swanbury Penglase
(08) 8212 2679
0414 466 903
ISA Budget response: Fair funding for all schools essential as families face growing pressure
Independent Schools Australia (ISA) has welcomed aspects of the Federal Budget but says more must be done to ensure a fair and inclusive education system that supports all students, in all schools. See the complete media release.
AISSA Bulletin – Special Edition Federal Budget 2025-26 (March)
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AISSA Bulletin No. 2: 12 March 2025
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The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and Compass Education form Priority Partnership
Compass Education, a leading student information system, and provider of school management software, and the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA), the peak body for the South Australian Independent school sector, announce a new Priority Partnership for 2025.
The AISSA has been providing vital support, advice, advocacy services and development opportunities for the Independent school sector for 50 years. Independent schools educate nearly 20 percent of all school-age children in South Australia and employ 21 percent of the State’s teachers. The AISSA is proud to have 100 percent of Independent schools in South Australia as their members.
Compass is the school management system of choice for over 3,000 schools and 3 million users. For 15 years they have been supporting schools to improve operational efficiency and enhance community engagement through an integrated cloud-based platform and mobile app connecting staff, parents, and students.
Through this partnership, the AISSA and Compass will collaborate on targeted events and activities that engage school leaders and senior staff. These initiatives will focus on key areas such as business administration and school improvement, aiming to create value for the AISSA’s member schools.
Anne Dunstan, AISSA’s Chief Executive, stated, “For 50 years the AISSA has been supporting Independent schools in South Australia. Through our new partnerships program, we are exploring new ways to create value for our member schools.”
“Our new Priority Partnership with Compass provides us with an opportunity to facilitate conversations between our schools and a leading education technology company, aiming to support our schools to explore solutions that best meet their needs.”
Compass’ Chief Executive Officer, John de la Motte, emphasised the importance of understanding the unique challenges faced by schools, “The long-term success of schools and the organisations that support them is paramount to our own success. Our partnership with the AISSA will allow us to support their purpose, whilst providing opportunities to connect directly with schools. This will help us understand their strategic challenges and deliver product enhancements that meet their needs.”
This partnership represents a significant step towards empowering Independent schools in South Australia with the tools and resources necessary for continuous improvement and success.
AISSA schools will be invited to celebrate the new partnership at a special event in the coming months.
For more information about the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and Compass, please visit https://www.ais.sa.edu.au/ and https://www.compass.education.
Media contacts:
Hannah Goldsmith
National Marketing Manager
Compass Education
hgoldsmith@compass.education
Lucinda Pow
Senior Manager, Partnerships, Events & Communications
Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
powl@ais.sa.edu.au
AISSA Bulletin No. 1: 6 February 2025
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AISSA Bulletin No. 1: 6 February 2025