2024 Victorian Government Schools Principals Conference: Resources for school leaders

The 2024 Government Schools Principals Conference, hosted by the Academy, brought together over 2,700 school and system leaders from across Victoria on Monday, 29 July. With the theme "Leading together: Inspire, learn, network," the event provided a platform for principals, assistant principals, and Department of Education staff to engage with evidence-based practices, policy updates, and peer-led school improvement strategies.

Keynote addresses

Insights from top education experts

Access resources from the keynote speakers who shared their expertise on critical topics for Victorian school leaders.

Dr. Jenny Donovan: Using evidence for school-level change

• Topic: Using evidence on implementation and on practice: a powerful combination for school improvement.
• Summary: Dr. Donovan, CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), discussed how to lead school-level change by focusing on evidence-based teaching practices that are most likely to improve student learning. Her address combined research on effective implementation with insights from AERO's work in Australian schools, providing a pathway to maximise learning for every student.
  • Video: Watch Dr. Jenny Donovan's keynote address. 

Dr. Kirstin Ferguson AM: A modern approach to leadership

• Summary: A globally recognised leadership expert, author, and columnist, Dr. Ferguson was ranked by Thinkers50 as one of the world's top 50 management thinkers. Her keynote provided a fresh perspective on leadership in education.
  • More information: Learn about Dr. Kirstin Ferguson AM and her work on leadership and culture.

Official speeches

• Dr. David Howes: Deputy Secretary, Schools and Regional Services, Department of Education.
  • Video: Watch Dr David Howe's opening address
• The Hon. Ben Carroll MP: Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Education and Minister for Medical Research.
  • Video: Watch the Hon Ben Carroll MP's official opening

Workshop presentations

Professional learning for school leaders

Explore presentations from a range of subject matter experts on key initiatives and professional development topics impacting Victorian government schools.

Student wellbeing and safety

• Learn about the Victorian Child Information Sharing Scheme and Child Link with Hannah Matus and Nerida Mason.
  • Download: Working together to promote student wellbeing and safety through Child Link (PDF, 2.01 MB)

Curriculum updates

• Discover the new Victorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2 with Jason Smallwood and Leyna Buller.
  • Download: Introduction to the Victorian Curriculum F-10 Version 2 (PDF, 1.41 MB)

Senior Secondary Pathways Reform

• Scott Widmer's workshop on expanding the definition of success at school provides insights into future-focused pathways.
  • Download: Expanding the definition of success at school (3.33 MB)

Driving school improvement

• Kendra Parker and Simone Eirth from the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership on leading collaborative problem-solving.
  • Download: Leading collaborative problem solving to drive school improvement (3.25 MB)

Guest speaker workshops

Workshops featured leading experts on educational leadership, collaboration, and wellbeing discussing the following topics:

• Elizabeth Branigan: Deep Listening for Networking and Collaboration.
• Dr. Richard Chambers: Enhancing collaboration through empathic communication, conflict resolution, and psychological safety.
• Dave Faulkner: Dream Team: A practical guide to leading improvement as a team.
• Emina McLean: Leveraging literacy leadership in schools and systems.
• Mel Neil: Positive Leadership - Creating the Conditions for Flourishing.
• Emily Unity: Consultation to Co-design: Principles and Methods for Collaborative Leadership.

School presentations: Real-world school improvement stories

A cornerstone of the conference was the opportunity for principals and school leadership teams to share their journeys. These school improvement stories highlight diverse approaches to challenges and opportunities across Victoria.

Download 2024 school presentations

1. Auburn South Primary School & Alpine-Towong Network - Embedded wellbeing inquiry (PDF, 4.86 MB)
2. Banyule Nillumbik Network Primary Secondary maths CoP - Improving mathematics teaching through collaboration across schools (PDF, 1.36 MB)
3. Barwon North Central - Leading networks for impact (PDF, 2.1 MB)
4. Bendigo Education Plan - Collaborative leadership of the Bendigo Education Plan shared goals and strategic plan (PDF, 1.13 MB)
5. Bruthen Primary School - Embedding student agency in classroom practice
6. Central Highlands schools - Leading and supporting the vision of Marrung (PDF, 7.1 MB)
7. Central Highlands South Network - Our journey to a highly valued, collaborative and focused network (PDF, 1.91 MB)
8. Chelsea Heights Primary School & Chelsea Primary School - Coaching and explicit teaching in clusters of schools in Kingston (PDF, 1.5 MB)
9. Churchill Primary School - Instructional leadership: embedding low variance across the school to achieve high performance (PDF, 4.51 MB)
10. Echuca Transition Project: Strengthening transition – A leadership project highlighting collaboration across a cluster of schools
11. Euroa Primary School - Strategic School Improvement: Building Leadership Capacity (PDF, 1.02 MB)
12. Greater Shepparton Secondary College, Rowville Secondary College - Senior Secondary Reform beyond curriculum change (PDF, 4.08 MB)
13. Knox Network Boutique Schools and Lilydale District and Upper Yarra Education Plan - Strong collaboration leading to improved outcomes (PDF, 8.4 MB)
14. Labertouche Primary School - Small schools and social and emotional learning (PDF, 6.41 MB)
15. Lal Lal, Bungaree, Warrenheip & Mt Egerton Primary Schools - Small schools making a big difference together (PDF, 8.33 MB)
16. Lilydale Heights Secondary College - A numeracy improvement journey (PDF, 3.59 MB)
17. Macedon Ranges Network - Activating middle leadership - a Network approach (PDF, 2.19 MB)
18. Mount Waverley North Primary School - Zero Tolerance to Racism: a whole school commitment
19. North Central Cluster - Supporting pathways in rural areas (PDF, 7.14 MB)
20. P-12 Alliance and Country Education Partnership - Together We Thrive: P-12 principals united (PDF, 928 KB)
21. Pascoe Vale Girls Secondary College - Embedding the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework (PDF, 3.12 MB) - to positively impact school culture through evidence-based practices
22. Rolling Hills and Mooroolbark College - Working together on 6-7 transition with a focus on improving Mathematics (PDF, 7.19 MB)
23. South Melbourne Primary School - Literature rich, knowledge-based curriculum (PDF, 8.04 MB)
24. Sunbury Heights Primary School - Student, staff collaboration across Network schools in STEM programs and competitions (PDF, 3 MB)
25. Teaching Innovation Fellowship – Mount Rowan Secondary College Teaching Innovation project showcase - Improving Koorie cultural connections, agency and self-determination by applying responsive pedagogies (PDF, 1.92 MB)
26. Upper Plenty Primary School - Strengthening cognitive pathways to support student learning (PDF, 3.42 MB)
27. Western Heights College - Strengthening cultural safety for Koorie students (PDF, 7.08 MB)
28. Whittington Primary School - Trauma informed teaching and learning success (PDF, 1.85 MB)
29. Wimmera South West Schools - Establishing Learning Communities to support leaders of schools with Numeracy and Literacy Improvement (PDF, 2.65 MB)
30. Wodonga South Primary School - School Improvement practices that enable effective team performance (PDF, 4.24 MB)