Board Communique May 2021
Dear Members
Principals Australia Research Foundation Ltd’s (PARF) Board met via Zoom on 18 May 2021. The meeting agenda included 5 key matters:
1. Risk Management Register and Plan.
2. Finance and Investment Committee update
3. Research and Development Funding for 2022
4. 2021 Research Projects update
5. Planning for the Annual General Meeting
Risk Management Register and Plan.
The Board adopted the revised Risk Register. A copy will be forwarded to both Members for their exclusive information.
Finance and Investment Committee Update
The Investment Portfolio manager, JBWere, provided advice on modifications to the wording in PARF’s Investment Policy arising from their internal changes. The Board endorsed the revised Investment Policy. The Board endorsed the 2021-2022 Budget. The Board endorsed revised terms of reference for the Finance and Investment committee.
Research and Development Funding for 2022 and Projects Update
The Board allocated up to $80,000 for funding research projects in 2022. The Board amended the Research and Development Funding Guidelines for 2022, Research and Development Funding Application 2022, the Research and Development Funding Agreement 2022 and the timeline for research and development funding applications. Documentation will be sent to members and made available on the website by 1 July 2021. Applications close 30 September 2021.
2021 Research Projects Update
NSWPPA: Participant and principal facilitator survey instruments have been developed and applied to gain insights into the program design and impact. The principal facilitator survey has been completed and the data analysed. Focus interviews of principal facilitators have been conducted. The survey application and analysis for the most recent program participants is nearing completion. The data to date is providing strong insights into the program methodology and the impact on the emergence of school leaders as system leaders. The data collection phase has been severely disrupted both by the pandemic and as a result of systemic policy changes to school accountability. As a result, the research is still in the data gathering phase with program participants. This process should be completed within the next month. The aim is to have sufficient data to ascertain program impact and gain insights into participant career progression. The final report should be available in July.
SASPA: The Thriving Principal program was successfully launched in March. Leaders are working in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) to share their problems, experiences, solutions and wisdom related to the 7 tensions outlined in Dr Chris Dolan’s research. Every PLC has met at least once, with the goal to have held 6 meetings before a Plenary Event on 10 September 2021. This event should allow sharing of highly effective principal practice within the various paradoxes in principal’s work.
QASSP: The project committee has been working closely with USQ and will meet again on 12 June 2021. The literature review is almost completed and should be finalised this month. The researchers are currently developing the survey instrument, which should be tested with a pilot group in the next few weeks. Sending the survey out will then follow. The researchers are in the process of getting ethics approval and are seeking clarification with the department. The process for approval from the system may take up to 10 weeks.
ASPA: Funding agreement has been signed and planning is underway.
2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Board confirmed the AGM for 12 October 2021. Arrangements were agreed for the necessary reports for the AGM.