Leading Quality Conversations

Designed to develop high-level communication skills required by educational leaders to enhance their interpersonal effectiveness, collaboration and problem-solving capabilities, while building trust across their whole school community.  

How leaders communicate and engage with others matters. It is the quality of those conversations and engagement that determines whether leaders are successful in gaining commitment from others and building trust. This contributes to enhanced quality of school leadership, improved student outcomes and whole school improvement. 

Participants will have the opportunity to develop their skills and consolidate and embed their learning by engaging in a 2-day workshop and facilitated skill development sessions.

• Lead effective strategic conversations. Model high-level communication skills to support staff and build the professional trust required to solve complex challenges.  
• Drive continuous school improvement. Establish safe, effective environments that use quality engagement and purposeful dialogue to improve student outcomes.  
• Elevate your leadership dispositions. Critically reflect on your leadership dispositions to strengthen your leadership conversations and practice. 

This program is facilitated by experienced school and system leaders. All facilitators are trained and accredited by Dr Jacqui Patuawa and the team at Evaluation Associates. Dr Patuawa is an award-winning educational leadership expert with over 25 years of experience in education and a PhD on the impact of leadership conversations on student achievement.

Roles

This program is designed for: 

• principals
• assistant principals
• leading teachers
• learning specialists.

School sectors  

This program is available to the following school sectors:

• Victorian Government
• Catholic
• independent. 

Delivery

Over 20 hours, participants will engage in and contribute to:

• a 2-day face-to-face workshop (14 hours)
• 2 online skill development sessions (3 hours)
• self-directed learning (3 hours). 

Learning outcomes

Participants will develop the skills to:  

• lead strategic discussions and model high level communication skills to support staff, teachers and senior staff
• establish and maintain effective school environments and processes for continuous improvement in student outcomes  
• resolve complex student and staff wellbeing issues ​
• build and maintain collaborative and trusting relationships with school members and the broader community​  
• be reflective of personal practice to identify areas of strength and the next steps for personal and professional growth  
• understand and model leadership dispositions including open mindedness, interpersonal courage, empathy, and perseverance into leadership conversations and practice. 

We subsidise some program fees to align with education priorities in Victoria.

Financial support

Victorian Government school participants may be eligible for additional subsidies.

Fees and financial support