Conferences / Events

2024 CONFERENCE - 5 & 6 SEPTEMBER 2024 AT WREST POINT, HOBART

"Embrace the Journey"

This year we come together to Embrace the Journey at our 2024 Tasmanian School Administrators' Association Conference, 5 & 6 September at Wrest Point. Hobart.

Day one we welcome keynote speaker, Mitch McPherson, from SPEAK Up! Stay ChatTY. Mitch, the 2017 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year & founder of this not-for-profit organisation is passionate about suicide prevention & shares his lived experience to help spread the message that nothing is so bad you cannot talk about it!

On Friday morning we will welcome, local identity, Australian Adventurer, explorer & thinker, Justin Jones. His documentaries have received critical acclaim, winning 16 international film festival awards. Justin will share the fear, the tears, the storms, the blizzards & many valuable lessons that we can all learn from.

Delegates will have the choice of attending DECYP masterclasses over the two days. Topics and specific sessions offered will be shared with delegates closer to the date.

 Our Annual Conference Dinner will be on the Thursday evening at Wrest Point, this is included in your registration cost.

 

 Registrations are now open via trybooking; https://www.trybooking.com/CRTSE

Accommodation is available at Wrest Point, Sandy Bay Road, Hobart. Please see the web link below, the discount is 15% off best available rates, all rooms are subject to availability.

Wrest Point Tasmania

Guests can also call the reservations team (03 6221 1888) should they wish to book direct and the same rates will be offered.

As per previous years’, Aspiring School Business Managers are welcome to forward EOI's to the TSAA Committee (please contact Lucy.robbins@decyp.tas.gov.au . Nominations to be endorsed and signed by both the current SBM and your Principal. SBM’s please have this conversation with your Admin Team.

 

On Wednesday evening, 4 September, we will have an informal dinner – get-together, for those wishing to catch up with friends and colleagues prior to our conference. Please email Shelley Spong with RSVP’s for the Wednesday evening dinner. Venue to be advised. Please note, this is NOT included in your conference registration cost. RSVP’s to Shelley.spong@decyp.tas.gov.au

 

 We look forward to coming together for two full days of fabulous DECYP sessions, keynote presentations and networking with colleagues and sponsors.

DECYP Masterclasses - 24 & 25 August 2023

• Recruitment – PageUp Employment Process – (Heather McCambridge)

• Procurement – advice on the rules and how to procure appropriately – (Chris Ferguson & Brett Manning)
  
  

• Facility Services – who we are and what we do (Jason Bell)

• Risk Management tools and how to use them (Clare Povey & Janelle Whitehouse), Security & Emergency Management)

• Moving forward – Looking at system updates and new functionality, supporting you and your team in various forms of communication, resources and let’s talk about training sessions (DSI – Data, Systems & Insights, Michelle Brown)

• Recruitment – Conflict of Interest – does it apply to me? How do I manage this when my school is in a remote area? What things can I do to ensure that we are following process? – (Heather McCambridge)

• From lockouts to lockdowns; a step-by-step guide to managing lockdowns at schools” (Kate Dobson & Simon Natoli, Organisational Safety)

Annual Capital Works Submission process – how does it work and where does the information go – (Craig Grace)

• Attendance and Behaviour Policy Review – Consultation session with SBM’s, provide further information on the policy and procedure review – discussion -

  • Variability in practice and timeframes between schools
  • Ability to quickly respond to parent queries or identify further information
  • How members engage with students who are absent, or late, or returning etc. – Strategic Policy & Projects (Josh Munting & Bryn Griffiths)

• Help Transform Communication within your School – Explore different methods of communication within MS Teams. Utilise “Channel Conversations” to improve communication between your close colleagues and staff in general. Reduce back-and-forth emails between your business operations team and staff. Increase transparency and target communications – (Information Technology Services, Ian Ackerley and Chris Laycock - Regional IT Co-ordinators and Mark Steczkowicz, Business Consultant Information Management Support Services)

• Learning more about your staff’s Awards and Agreements – This session is about understanding your obligations under the award. It looks at supporting and providing clarity for you concerning changing start and finish times / adjusting cleaning areas / sharing roles and duties and other key areas. – (Learning Services – Presented by Jess Collins HR Manager and Margaret Paterson, Senior Performance Consultant)

• Page-Up Employment Processes – Recruitment, (Heather McCambridge)

• Inclusion & Cultural diversity on Educational Adjustments funding Model - Finance & Budget, Joint presentation – Introduction / refresher on Educational Adjustments, underpinning principles, requirements under the Disability Standards for Education, What this all means for SBM’s? (Kalinda Beamish & Ryan O’Halloran, Finance and Budget Services)

• Information Technology – Technology hardware – purchasing & disposal (What’s in scope – which devices ITS help to provide and support, where to get advice about purchasing hardware to ensure it fits the location, is value-for-money and is the best option, purchasing and installation – things to consider for smooth, safe setup, Planning for disposal, and the benefits of e-waste) – (Brooke Maddox, IT Administration & Support Services )

• Staff pathways to supports - This topic will cover information about the different options for staff to access wellbeing supports, where to find out more information and the role of the Staff Wellbeing team based in People Services and Support. Samantha Lawrence)

• The process of employment of a new staff member, from the time you inform the new staff member they are successful till their first day sitting down to commence work – Collaboration ITS and HR (Chris Watson, Senior IT Support Officer, (Richard Farley, Senior IT Consultant))

• Practical information about disability workplace adjustments -This topic will cover practical information about workplace adjustments, what they are, why they matter and the keys steps involved in putting in place a workplace adjustment for a staff member. (Jennie Gorringe, Senior Consultant, Workplace Wellbeing Inclusion and Engagement, PSS)

• Understanding your communication style - Being respectful and kind when faced with your most difficult staff member is one of our biggest challenges, this topic looks at ways and means of doing this respectfully whilst understanding some tips on communicating with others. – (Learning Services – Presented by Jess Collins HR Manager and Margaret Paterson, Senior Performance Consultant)

• Information Management – schools recordkeeping update (Latest updates to procedures and requirements for retention of school records, transfer, archive and disposal – what you can do to make it easier, common questions, what resources are available and where to go if you need help) – (Mark Steczkowicz, Business Consultant Information Management Support Services)

2023 Annual Conference

"Inspiring Futures - Moving Forward"

24 & 25 August 2023

Paranaple Convention Centre

Devonport

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Access Trybooking for delegates - https://www.trybooking.com/CIKFK

Promo Video - Lorin Nicholson

 

Following an incredible career performing in over 4500 concerts and keynote addresses, to well over a million people around Australia, New Zealand and the USA, the TSAA are pleased to announce that renowned blind guitarist and motivational speaker Lorin Nicholson OAM, has been invited to be our M.C. and motivational speaker, at this years annual conference

Lorin’s highly acclaimed motivational keynote address and contribution to our two day conference, promises to be engaging, educational, entertaining and highly inspirational.

As a highly accomplished blind person, Lorin is a true example of leadership and how success can be achieved despite life’s hardships and challenges.  During his keynote address titled; “Clarifying YOUR VISION – Don’t BE Blinded”, each person not only has the opportunity to see and hear Lorin’s inspirational music and powerful life experiences, but more importantly will receive fresh new perspectives and a hands-on approach to achieving real success and life balance at home and in the workplace.

 

Over recent years Lorin has been recognised as an;

• Golden Guitar finalist
• Australian album producer of the year
• Australian of the Year nominee
• Queensland service award recipient
• Batonbearer for the 2018 Queens Batten Relay
• First blind person to ride pushbike across Australia
• Industry leading Remedial Therapist, practitioner and trainer
• Motivational speaker at the Invictus Games 2018.
• Order of Australia Medal OAM recipient 2021

As a happily married father of four children, businessman, educator, author, musician, athlete and motivational speaker, Lorin not only talks about success, he personifies it and looks forward to sharing his inspirational music, unique insights and life experiences with every member of the audience.

 

Our second keynote speaker is Ngaire Hobbins. Tasmanian identity,

Ngaire Hobbins is a dietitian skilled at sharing the science of nutrition, ageing and brain health in everyday language. She is an author and speaker as well as a clinical practitioner.

Ngaire’s presentations aim to help people live their best lives, especially those looking ahead towards or already embracing their later years. Advances in medicine have delivered us decades more than our grandparents enjoyed and we all want those years to be good ones – that is what Ngaire talks about. Ngaire is an engaging and informative speaker and will offer, practical, sensible guidance on thriving into later life and reducing dementia risk. There will be time for audience questions during the session.

DECYP Master Classes

Delegates will be offered the choice of attending DECYP Master Classes throughout our two-day program. These sessions will be smaller groups on specific focus topics run by Corporate Business Units and their teams. A Microsoft Forms document will be emailed to delegates closer to the event to register your preferences.

In coming weeks we will email information for Administration Staff who would like to submit an Expression of Interest to attend our 2023 Conference. 

Have you booked your conference accommodation as yet?

We recommend staying close-by at the Devonport Novotel; https://www.idem.events/r/tsaa-2023-conference-tasmanian-school-administrators-association

or the Gateway Hotel, Fenton Street; Gateway Hotel, Devonport, TAS (gatewayinn.com.au)

Parking is available at both sites along with generous three storey parking adjacent to the Paranaple Convention Centre.