Qld schools to play a role in reducing vaping
The Parliament Health and Environment Committee report from the inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use in Queensland has released recommendations targeting schools in Queensland.
The report highlighted the need for an organised whole-community approach to increasing awareness about e-cigarettes, as well as more vaping-specific teaching resources and specific approaches for students in schools to manage addiction and support quitting.
Of the 14 recommendations, the following focused on schools:
Recommendation 5: The Department of Education assess the adequacy of the current vaping education resources for schools and supplement them where required to ensure that Queensland’s schools have access to high-quality, evidence-informed, age-appropriate teaching resources, as well as access to professional training to assist in delivering the program effectively.
Recommendation 6: The Department of Education and Queensland Health prepare guidelines for all Queensland schools on interventions, such as interactive online courses, that can be used as an educative alternative for students found vaping or with vaping products, rather than pursuing punitive outcomes such as suspension.
Recommendation 7: The Department of Education and Queensland Health prepare guidelines for all Queensland schools for identifying and supporting students who are nicotine dependent, including the use of support services and referrals to help students to quit vaping. Read the report here. https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2023/5723T1212-BEB3.pdf
Schools subject to Royal Commission recommendations
The Disability Royal Commission released its final report last month. The report made 222 recommendations on how to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Some recommendations relating specifically to schools include:
• providing equal access to mainstream education and enrolment;
• preventing the inappropriate use of exclusionary discipline against students with disability;
• improving policies and procedures on the provision of reasonable adjustments to students with disability;
• stronger oversight and enforcement of school duties; and
• complaint management.
The closure of the Inquiry marks the commencement of a significant body of work in determining how recommendations from the Royal Commission will be enacted through policy and procedural reform.
In brief
QLD: With the transition away from the Educational Action Plan (EAP) to a the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability NCCD informed state funding model for students with disability, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) has been working with the Office of Non-State Education and Independent Schools Queensland to untether key programs, policies and procedures that have historically been dependent on EAP verification as the eligibility criteria.
Applications are open for the eSafety Youth Council. This is great opportunity for young people to share their voices with industry leaders and government to help us understand what a safer online world could look like, ensuring it resonates with and protects younger generations.
Congratulations to Catholic educators who were among this year’s Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award winners: Dr Annette Morphett, Teaching Fellow, St Mary Mackillop School, Wallaroo, SA; Matthew Millikin, Early Career Teacher, Marist College, Pearce, ACT, and Matthew Esterman, Teaching Fellow, Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta, NSW.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is keen to hear from principals, teachers, parents and carers about their NAPLAN experience this year following a number of changes made in 2023. Please share your thoughts in a quick survey.
What’s On
Australian Catholic Education Symposium: online with special guest speaker Prof Anne Graham followed by a panel discussion.
Topic: Are we listening? How can Catholic schools respond to student views for wellbeing, faith formation and learning.
Wednesday, 25 October 2023; 3.30-4.50pm (AEDT), 3pm (ACDT), 2.30pm (AEST), 12.30pm (AWST)
Register.
Building Leadership in Aboriginal Education across Catholic Schools (NSW/ACT): Participants can expect to learn ways to facilitate greater learning outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and leave with an increased awareness of ways in which they can create culturally safe learning environments for their students. The symposium will be held from 8.30am-3.30pm on 2 November at the Raddison Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney. Register here.
AI in Education Mini-Conference: Explore the possibilities and challenges AI presents in education, build capacity in using AI technologies for learning and teaching, and hear from experts in the field, including Prof Matt Bower from Macquarie University. Hosted by Western Sydney University’s School of Education.
Time: Monday, 13 November 2023, 8.30am-3.30pm
Register.
Registration to participate in Jesuit Global Discernment Circles now open: From 11-30 September, education delegates, school presidents and principals, board members, teachers, pastoral staff, and any other staff members of Jesuit schools worldwide are cordially invited to sign up to participate in Jesuit Global Discernment Circles. This global event will take place online on 9 November 2023. Find out more.