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- Interstate Conference Report - Business Manager's Victoria
- From the Chairperson
- Department Meetings
- Together Towards Tomorrow - 2019 TSAA Conference
- SBM Profile - Lucy Robbins
- Off Campus Activities
- WAMSCE - Interstate Conference Report
- Employment Management System (EMS) – Improvements to Search and Appoint
- Interstate Conferences 2019
Interstate Conference Report - Business Manager's Victoria
Report BMV Conference
On May 8th - May 10th I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 Leadership Conference in Melbourne which was held at the Pullman Hotel in Albert Park. This conference was celebrating the Business Managers of Melbourne’s 40th anniversary.
On arrival I attended the meet and greet dinner where we were entertained by Peter Rowsthorn, better known by Brett off ‘Kath and Kim’. Peter is a comedian and his presentation certainly set the scene for the conference.
Below is a brief report on each workshop I attended.
Thursday 9th
Developing the leader in you - Janine Stratford
Janine was an Assistant Principal for 4 years in a Primary School and gave up the chance to become a Principal to start her own business. She talked about 4 areas that make good role models and leaders.
- Be clear at all times about what you want to express and know your own strengths and weaknesses
- Be confident in difficult moments and always plan conversations
- Be consistent in your conversations with others and always send the same message
- Consideration to others on what triggers and annoys them
- Qualities of a good leader is to be non-judgmental, approachable, understanding, show empathy to name a few
Rethinking Relationships - Janine Stratford
Janine spoke about forming relationships within your workplace.
- How do you want people to see you? What are you good at? What do people say when you leave the room
- Everyone wants to be liked and respected. Find out what you are good at and use this skill when dealing with people
- Remember that if you want respect you must show respect to others. Be honest, knowledgeable, approachable and a good listener
Unseen Influences: How to engage the disengaged successfully - Dr Rosemary McCallum
This workshop was hard to write about as it was mainly a hands on workshop.
- We talked about the influences that people have on each other
- How do you motivate the unmotivated
- How do you help those who have a ‘don’t care attitude’
The 3 main drivers that were discussed for why most people go to work is because it is a challenge, it’s a lifestyle and for the family. We paired off and done mock conversations on different topics to test our ability to have difficult conversations when they are called for.
The afternoon session was a joint workshop.
The Power of Collaborative Leadership - Simon Dowling
Simon spoke about what it would be like if more people listened to more of the ideas that you as a leader were trying the express. Your level of influence as a leader has a big impact on your ability to make a difference in your organisation.
That night there was a gala red carpet dinner where we wore anything red and glittery.
Friday 10th
Friday morning we were entertained by our own Robyn Moore with a presentation on Beyond Informed to Transformed.
Robyn’s presentation was full of humour and information. She spoke about the re-engage, re-mind, re-create, re-fresh and re-discover.
This presentation was one that we have had at our conference in the past and it was just as entertaining as always. She had the whole room in laughter and awe with her translations of Blinky Bill.
Closing Key note speaker was Dr. Jessica Gallagher
Jessica is a vision impaired Olympic skier and tandem bike rider. Jessica lost her sight as a teenager. An Australian representative in 3 sports (athletics, skiing and track cycling), the first Australian to have medaled at a summer and winter Paralympics or Olympics. She was a competitor in downhill skiing where she skied down a mountain at 100 miles per hour and all she could see was the outline of her instructor at the bottom in a hi vis shirt and his voice coming through a mike she wore to tell her if she was on course. Would we have that courage and trust in someone when they literally take our lives into their hands? How scary would that be! The trust and courage it took her to do this event was evident in her presentation. Jessica’s challenged us to think differently and see the world from a whole new perspective.
I thank the TSAA for giving me the opportunity to attend such an informative conference.
Gail McLaren
School Business Manager
East Devonport Primary School
Welcome to
Links to all the DoE Presentations are now on our TSAA Website. Please share these with your admin teams and take the time to view and read the content and contact information. Here is the link; https://www.tsaa.asn.au/conference
The photos from the photo booth at the Conference Dinner are now online for SBM's to download.
Please log in here:
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Thank you for your support. Our TSAA Executive are grateful for your ongoing support and engagement.
Please also remember to support our fantastic 2019 conference sponsors;
- ASCA Ltd
- Compass Education
- Fairmont Furniture
- Iris Computing Pty Ltd
- Island Recreation
- Leading Image Tasmania
- Matrix Security
- Maxxia
- MSP Photography
- Office National Hobart
- Officemax / Winc
- Officeworks
- Programmed Property Services
- Projex Furniture
- Ricoh Australia
- Smart Records Group
- Sturdybilt Agencies
- Tasplan Super
- Ultimate Play
- Work and Training
Without the ongoing support of our sponsors our conference would not be possible.
Last term your TSAA representatives continued to meet and liaise with DoE Corporate and Business Teams; Education Performance Review (EPR), Finance, HR, Payroll and Recruitment, Deputy Secretary; Robert Williams, along with representatives of the Relief Absence Management System Working Group and the Intranet Redevelopment Project Group.
There are a number of very exciting initiatives underway at the moment;
Eight schools across the state from primary, secondary & college sectors will commence piloting the Relief Absence Managment System from late October with a view to go live with this new system in all schools from March 2020. View the Relief Absence Management conference presentation on our TSAA website for more information; https://www.tsaa.asn.au/conference
The Intranet Redevelopment Project is well underway with changes to search functions and responses already taking place. This will happen in stages; reviewing policies and metadata, feed search responses and tidying up anything that is incorrect along with a review of policies and templates over the next 12 months and beyond. Two home pages will be introduced, one for schools and one for non-schools, these will be constantly monitored and updated.
The DoE Finance Team are planning on rollling out GST training sessions throughout the state early in 2020. These will be 2 - 3 hours sessions offered to both SBM's and administration staff in a training style course plus supporting on-line training.
Perry Kick will be in Tasmania offering Qkr Training sessions in various locations across the state in October - see the article in this bulletin for further details.
Further commuication and discussion will be shared in upcoming SASP Updates relating to the upcoming changes to the School Budget Cycle proposed for 2020 and best practice for Debt Management in schools.
We have included in the Bulletin a new "Budget Health Check" which our Business Operation Advisors have put together.
We encourage all SBM's to join in their local Network Groups, this is a great way to meet fellow colleagues, share ideas, have mini PL sessions, provide support to each other and collaborate on initiatives and topics of interest. Our Department Project Groups are keen to attend Network Groups in the coming months to share new initiatives and receive feedback. If you are organising a Network Meeting in your area please let a TSAA Executive Member know of the details, wherever possible an executive member will attend.
All SBM's are invited to send through any articles of interest, photos or write-ups for our TSAA Bulletins. It is great to be able to share stories and events with our fellow colleagues. These could include special school events, building projects, SBM profiles etc.
For those taking leave in the upcoming holidays we wish you a well earned break. For those working over the holiday period I hope you have a productive couple of weeks catching up on tasks and making the most of the quieter time whilst students and teachers are off site. Take care and support each other as we prepare for a busy Term 4 in our schools.
Cynthia Pearce
Chairperson
Notes from our May DoE Meetings
Relief Absence Management Project; a working party will be established in the coming months with the hope to go live in term 3 – 4. This will include a number of positive changes including simplified processes for relief and additional weeks.
Additional sick leave is available for teachers under their award, up to 20 days, depending on circumstances. Medical information needs to be sent to HR for approval.
Selection panel convenors must obtain a referee report for all external applicants for DoE positions. If you are asked to be a referee when you are on a panel or a convenor it is recommended you do the report prior to the panel short listing taking place and ask other panel members to disclose their short list of applicants first. There is no right or wrong way of writing a selection panel report, as long as it is written in a way so as a non-panel member can clearly see why the successful applicant has been successful.
As a result of a recruitment audit HR are in the process of updating the recruitment and selection panel process. A new selection panel template with some automated fill-ins is to be rolled out later this year.
Fringe Benefits Tax Reporting; information was recently requested from some schools by the Finance team. Unfortunately, this clashed with the Easter Break. It is a requirement that schools report in a timely manner. This should be a straightforward request by going back to school document files and invoices for information.
The Finance Team have had discussions with the PLI regarding setting up a training course on GST for schools aimed at both SBM’s and admin clerks. This would be a face-to-face session with additional back-up training sessions on the intranet.
Other topics of discussion were;
- Debtors letters
- Writing off of bad debts
- Edi reports
The Finance Team will share further updates in upcoming SASP publications.
TSAA Website; https://tassaa.schoolzineplus.com/
Together Towards Tomorrow - 2019 TSAA Conference
2019 TSAA Conference – 26-27 August, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston
Planning for our 2019 conference is well underway and promises to be an action packed couple of days with amazing speakers, networking sessions & DoE information sessions. We still have some spots to fill so we can finalise the program however things are looking great. Here is a little info about some of our speakers :
Robbi Mack - Heart Beatz
Robbi Mack is the ‘Queen of HeartBeatz’ and has a passion for inspiring and amplifying the potential found in human connection. Robbi empowers people with the tools to integrate our
minds, with messages from the heart. An expert in emotional intelligence she innately understands the importance of self-awareness, self-management, and the power of empathy in becoming our greatest selves.
HeartBeatz lays a foundation for inspired heart-centered leadership. Understanding human connection enhances communication, strengthens teams and builds collaborative high performing cultures. At the core of business is the heart of the people driving its success.
As a speaker, Robbi is a five-foot firecracker who brings style and flare to any conference program. Spending most of her life onstage her presentations are a unique combination of enriching business content delivered with the execution of a world-class performer. Her messages are insightful, jam packed with strategies to enable personal transformation via the relationships in our lives.
Lisa McInnes-Smith
Lisa McInnes-Smith works with audiences to create a shift in attitude, behaviour and direction which helps to improve focus and lift performance within any company. She works with corporations to help improve and increase profitability and productivity.
Able to connect with any audience, Lisa works hard to communicate in a clear, concise manner to ensure that all individuals take something away from her presentation and apply it to their professional and personal lives. She is described as high energy and as a result of her popularity she has been inducted into the International Speaker Hall of Fame, being the first Australian to achieve this.
Lisa’s presentations are described as uplifting, entertaining and interactive and cover a broad range of topics including:
- Attributes that lead to great leadership
- How potential followers can learn to lead
- Important leadership characteristics and how to grow them
- Importance of choosing peer groups and how to build them
- Significance of trust in an environment
- Creating an atmosphere where individuals can flourish
- Fast tracking leadership skills
Our conference dinner will be on Monday night and the theme this year is “White Winter Wonderland”. So get creative and start thinking about your outfit! This year we are supporting White Ribbon and donations will be taken on the night, so bring some loose change.
White Ribbon Mission: To achieve our mission in creating a nation that respects women, in which every woman lives in safety, free from all forms of men’s abuse, we engage in primary prevention. We look to stopping the violence before it starts. Preventing violence against women requires a broad approach involving primary prevention educational programs, engaging men, community services and lobbying for law reforms through our advocacy work.
Further updates to come, so stay tuned!
We have rooms on hold for conference delegates – to book these rooms phone Lynda Coombe from reservations on 03 6311 1055 or email reservations@hgclaunceston.com.au to advise you are booking for the ‘TSAA conference delegate’ rate. Credit card details will need to be provided upon booking for guarantee of room. Booking reference for these rooms is #304475.
My name is Lucy Robbins and I am the School Business Manager at East Launceston Primary School and this year joined as an executive member on the TSAA. I am now in my 5th year as a School Business Manager after spending 8 years previously with the Guaranteeing Futures Team as a Pathway Planning and Youth Learning Officer. It has been a very steep learning curve but I have a wonderful team of support around me to assist in my growth and development. The role of School Business Manager is a challenging but rewarding job with not one day ever being the same! The best part of my job is definitely working with so many great people and an amazing support network!
WAMSCE - Interstate Conference Report
Report WAMSCE Conference
3 - 5 April, 2019
Andrea Miller and Sharon Sutczak
Oh! ‘What can we say?’ – An amazing conference, three very full days with entertaining speakers who gave us a lot to think about delivering their message in very engaging and fun presentations.
Michael Licenblat – a resilience expert who teaches people how to perform better under stress by bouncing back from pressures, setbacks and rejections.
Some tips from Michael:
- Maximise your influence
- Use collaborative cultures
- Don’t tolerate bad behaviour – “Adults are kids in drag, trying to work out what they can get away with.”
- Say what needs to be said – be clear
- You can’t change people, the only person you can change is yourself
- Need to work out the pattern that sits behind the person
- Let the tension out – need to understand the emotional impact
- Control the conversation – Start à End
- The standard you set is how people will treat you
Helen Robinett – is masterful at helping leaders and aspiring leaders to increase confidence and create influence in how they present and behave.
- A creative collaborative culture is a way of being not any one thing.
- We see the visual - values drive behaviour
- Sharing
- Punctuality
- Pride
- Creative thinking
- Transparency
- Sharing ideas
- Own decision and outcomes
- Trust
- Humans are highly visible – in the blink of an eye you win or lose creditability
- You can build trust by being consistent -
- People with presence look confident and comfortable
- They reflect on their emotions
- Accept responsibility
- They real, genuine character
Mark Donehue – Lecturer in Education, Education Business Leadership – Deakin University. Mark has been instrumental in delivering the Cert Grade Certificate qualification to many School Business Manager’s in a number of mainland states. He is very passionate in his belief that School Business Manager’s should be an integral part of any leadership team in their school and he works hard to raise our profile with Principals and Education Departments.
“A collaborative culture is a learning environment which is a constant motion. It’s energizing and transformational, it’s self –perpetuating” – Patricia Hatley.
Changing school environments have the following impacts on leaders:
- More pressure
- Increased expectations and responsibility
- Need to develop skills and greater capacity to meet ongoing challenges
Collaboration divides the task and multiplies the success.
Teams are more innovative, effective and productive when everyone contributes so its critical to ensure that each individual plays a well-defined role.
Tips to assist you
Never give up Make it Happen Think Positive Dare to Dream
No pain no gain Do it now! Don’t worry, be happy.
Great leaders build trust and collaboration while focusing on developing people’s capacity rather than focusing on their limitations. (Leithwood ETAL, 2004)
Children are the Priority
Change is the Reality
Collaboration is the Strategy
Be Fearless
Be Confident
Be Positive
Be Motivated
Be Dedicated
Peter Bell - is the former Captain of Fremantle Dockers, a TV and radio AFL commentator, presenter of ABC 720’s Breakfast Program and former President of the AFL Players Association. Peter holds sound communication skills making him articulate, intelligent and entertaining. Renowned for his sense of humour, Peter combined his experiences with a healthy measure of anecdotes to create an inspiring and entertaining presentation. His sense of humour allowed him to inject fun into his presentation and entertained and engaged us all.
Lisa McInnes-Smith – Wow!! What can I say, she is amazing? – Lisa works with her audience to create a shift in attitude, behaviour and direction which helps to improve focus and lift performance within any company. She works with corporations to help improve and increase profitability and productivity. Able to connect with any audience, Lisa works hard to communicate in a clear, concise manner to ensure that all individuals take something away from her presentation and apply it to their professional and personal lives.
Lisa’s presentation was full of wonderful quotes:
‘Who you are dictates what you see.’
‘We give life to whatever we give our energy to.’
‘Ask, “Do I still love what I do, or am I just doing what I do?’
‘Enlarging others makes you larger!’
‘Collaboration is something you need to work with.’
‘The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ – Nelson Mandela
‘Leadership develops daily not in a day.’
‘Anyone can steer the ship but it takes a leader to steer the course.’ – John Maxwell
‘Most people don’t lead their lives they just accept them.’ – John Cotter
‘Do what’s right and the feelings fine.’
‘Perseverance is not a long race, it is many short races one after the other.’
‘You will never change your life until you change something else.’
‘Faith is knowing it can be done.’
Anh Do – is without doubt, one of Australia’s most talented and in demand keynote speaker and entertainer. Anh Do’s ups and downs, trials and tribulations, difficulties and successes as a refugee over three decades makes for an incredible and amazing inspirational tale that has audiences gripped with emotion one minute and howling with laughter the next. The result is always a room transformed; from language difficulties to divorcing parents, from being broke to very successful, overcome bullying, from becoming a lawyer to becoming Comedian of the Year and an award winning artist, Anh uses his life’s experiences to entertain and inspire.
Anthony Laye - Mind Power, People Power – He believes that quality of life is directly related to one’s ability to make effective decisions and build quality relationships. Anthony dedicates his presentation to helping people exceed at both and he walks his talk. Anthony is all about proving that you don’t need to be a mind reader to build rapport and gain influence. Whether it’s leading a team, securing that new client, building customer relationships or winning a sale; delegates walk away with practical tools to make stronger decisions, crate meaningful relationships and have better rapport with the people in their lives.
Robbie Mack – Leading with the Heart – Never before has emotional management of a team been more important in order to ensure the happiness of the people who create the pulse of an organisation. As Clown ‘Dr Have-a-Chat’ working in Sydney’s Children’s Hospitals, Robbi developed the tools of humour, empathy and connection. Today she uses these same tools to empower individuals and organisations to activate ‘HeartBeatz’; the ability to engage hearts and minds in our daily lives. Emotional intelligence allows us to take personal responsibility for the choices we make in regard to human engagement in our personal and professional lives. Her quest and long term vision is to connect people to themselves and others creating vital individuals, teams and organisations. Robbie is a very funny lady, she had the whole room mesmerised.
Glenn McGrath – Winning Instinct – Glenn is one of Australia’s most loved cricketing legends. Since first wearing the baggy green cap in Perth in 1993, he has gone on to become the most prolific fast bowler in test cricket history, spearheading Australia’s bowling attack for over a decade. Glenn entertained the delegates with his cricket stories with his mate, Shane Warne, the topic of much amusement.
Glenn’s wife, Jane, was diagnosed with breast cancer and together they established the McGrath Foundation, with an aim to provide funding for the breast care nurses on a national basis and provide greatest public awareness of breast cancer, particularly amongst younger women. Glenn now speaks passionately about his experiences.
The TSAA are seeking expressions of interest from SBM's who would like to attend an interstate conference in 2019.
The following Conferences are available;
WAECSSA | WA | 12 - 14 June |
SASSAOA |
Adelaide |
7-9 July |
SAASPA | Sydney | 22-23 August |
TSAA |
TAS |
26-27 August Launceston Hotel Grand Chancellor |
ACTSBMA |
ACT |
No conference in 2019 |
NT |
NT |
No conference in 2019 |
SBMAQ |
QLD |
26-29 August |
If you are interested in attending please apply using the selection criteria below: Please send your application to Gail Reeves via Ogilvie High School.
Selection Criteria:
- Applicants must be a permanent School Business Manager, currently employed by the Department of Education, Tasmania working in a Tasmanian School/College with at least one year’s service as an SBM. In your application include your employee and position number, as well as your School/College.
- The applicants’ school must be financial members of the TSAA.
- Applicants must have the support of their School/College which must be verified in a signed, written statement by their Principal.
- The applicant's School/College must be prepared to make up any shortfall in costs. If not then the applicant must be prepared to do so from their own, or other available private funds. Either case requires a commitment from the School/College or the applicant. This must be given in writing in the application.
- Applicants must nominate which Conference they will attend and must use the funding to attend only that Conference.
- After their return applicants are required to write a full report that will be posted on the TSAA Website and be presented at a TSAA Executive Meeting.
- All applicants must be prepared to represent, in a positive manner, the TSAA, the Department of Education and Tasmania Education in general.
- Applications must include a statement on how they feel the experience will be of benefit to them, their School/College and to other School Business Managers.
- Any person will only be eligible to receive a grant once in every three years.
- All successful applicants must apply for a travel warrant.
- All applications are reviewed by the TSAA Executive.
Consideration needs to be given acknowledging our budget and to encourage and provide an opportunity to ALL School Business Managers.
If you have attended a conference within the last three years you are still able to attend another conference at your own or your school’s expense. TSAA will contribute to one conference within this period of time. This is professional learning and can be claimed as a tax deduction if you pay the cost yourself.
This is a great opportunity to compare practices, network and build on your knowledge and leadership capacity both in yourself and within your school teams.
Cynthia Pearce
School Business Manager / TSAA Chairperson