Welcome to Parent Talk
Wayne Davie, Chair CCSP and I along with our newly appointed Executive Officer, Jenny Scepanovic, attended the CSNSW Cross Country event at Horsley Park in Sydney where hundreds of students accompanied by their parents and carers competed at this state level. CCSP were delighted to be able to supply parents and carers with complimentary tea and coffee while we shared the vision of CCSP. We enjoyed meeting with and speaking to many parents and carers.
As part of CCSP’s advocacy I attended the NESA Disability Education Forum to discuss ways students with disability can be better supported. Wayne Davie and I also met with the CEO of NESA, Mr Paul Martin to talk about a range of issues including improving access to information for parents and carers.
I am pleased to report an increasing number of families getting involved with the CCSP education program; over 2000 families registered to hear renowned child psychologist Dr Justin Coulson present on the topic of Anxiety and Resilience. CCSP thanks the eSafety Commissioner for presenting the interesting and informative webinar Getting the most out of online gaming.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee assisted in the planning of a literacy event. We were fortunate to engage Corey Tutt OAM, a proud Kamilaroi man and Young Australian of the Year 2020 as well as the winner of the 2023 Premier’s Literary Award - Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature - to read from his book The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia’s First People. If you were unable to attend the event you can watch the event here. Corey is a wonderful advocate for building the capacity of our families to improve outcomes for students.
The Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee, Jason Allan, represented parents and carers at the Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service in Hyde Park, Sydney. We are so pleased Jason was able to be there, representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families as we honoured the sacrifices and service of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans.
I was delighted to attend P & F Association meetings and support groups in schools in the dioceses of Broken Bay and Maitland-Newcastle as well as Rosebank College in Five Dock. I presented on the work of the CCSP as well as the importance of, and a deeper understanding of appropriate parent engagement.
I have met with Education Directors at their Diocesan Directors meeting as well as Principals from a diocese and presented to them on the difference between engagement and involvement, the work of the CCSP and strategies to build engagement.
I presented to early career teachers in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle on the topic of “Parents and School Working Together”. This full-day presentation was well received and provides staff with support to engage appropriately with parents and carers, identify challenges and barriers to communication, tips on building positive relationships as well as strategies to deal with difficult situations involving parents and carers.
We thank the volunteer parents and carers who represent their diocese on the CCSP Council and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee. They are supported by Executive Officers from each diocese. The group provides an authentic family voice as they direct the work of CCSP. We are delighted to have welcomed representatives from the independent schools as well as some new faces from dioceses around NSW during the Term 2 meetings.
We are working on the 2024-2026 CCSP Strategic Plan; last week we launched a survey to gather feedback from parents and carers. There is still an opportunity for you to provide feedback here.
As Term 2 draws to an end I wish you and your families a restful holiday so you can return rejuvenated for Term 3.
Thank you sincerely for your ongoing support of the CCSP and parents and carers across NSW and the ACT who have children enrolled in Catholic schools.