Chairs Report
When reflecting on the events of the past year, we are often tempted to look for
the year’s high profile events or experiences. In doing so, it is sometimes easy
to overlook the ‘blindingly obvious’. In this case the blindingly obvious was, for
me, the sheer hard work, time, effort, and brain power of rural educators who
provide students on a daily basis with experiences that challenge them, enrich their
lives and stretch their expectations. This is something, which can all too easily be
taken for granted. CEP’s Rural Learning Declaration, which we revised and refined
during 2014, articulates the key areas of focus as an organisation in supporting rural and
remote schools.
Over recent years we have been developing a range of partnerships and alliances with various
organisations and individuals to extend our support and provide coaching, mentoring and facilitation
services to rural and remote communities. We are grateful for the continuing generosity and commitment of
these ‘Friends of CEP’ in supporting rural and remote schools and their communities. I would especially like to highlight the
outstanding Energy Breakthrough initiative and thank our partners RACV and Central Goldfields Shire who make this one of
the best education partnerships in Victoria.
During 2014, we have continued to support Rural District Learning Alliances in Nathalia, Far East Gippsland, Korumburra and
St Arnaud as pilot programs. This will continue to be a focus for us in 2015 and we hope that we can expand this work to
support other rural and remote communities in providing quality education.
Professional support and enrichment has been, and continues to be, an important aspect of our focus. We were pleased to
host Sir John Jones in June/July and Maggie Farrer in September, both of whom challenged, inspired and provided practical
strategies to improve practice. Over the first two weeks of Term IV, a group of 13 educators from rural Victoria was involved
in the UK Education Leaders Tour that also provided a fantastic professional learning experience for rural education leaders.
Behind the scenes, we have been continuing to develop and maintain relationships with decision makers (political, strategic
and operational), attending meetings with key stakeholder groups, developing briefing papers and creating as many
opportunities as we can to ensure that the opinions of those in rural and remote communities are heard.
I would especially like to mention the 2014 Rural Youth Ambassadors who have provided a very powerful youth voice into our
discussions and deliberations throughout the year. Having this voice representing rural and remote communities at a state
level has been highly valued, not only by CEP, but also education sectors, governments and our key partners. Thank you to
you all.
Finally, I wish to thank and acknowledge the outstanding contribution made over 7 years as Chair by Wendy Graham. Her
wisdom, leadership and guidance have left the organisation in a strong position and we look forward to her ongoing support
and contribution to CEP in our endeavours.
Once again, thank you to all who have been involved in supporting CEP during 2014. I look forward to continuing to work with
you and on behalf of you during what promises to be an exciting 2015.
Michael Cavanagh
Thanks
As you are aware, we are a lean organisation so we rely heavily on the goodwill and commitment of members. Thanks to all those rural and
remote education communities who make CEPs role such a valuable one.
I wish to acknowledge the work of our Board and Executive members for their generosity of intellect, time, spirit and
good humour. They have made a huge contribution to CEP and rural and remote schools in Victoria.
We are also fortunate to have staff of the calibre of Louise Kilgour and Trish Hodge to support the work of the
organisation. Their efforts, often unseen by many, play a significant role in the success of CEP in
providing support to schools.
I would like to acknowledge the work of our “Consultancy Team” who has provided valuable support to
both CEP and rural and remote communities throughout 2015 across a range of projects. I would also like
to thank and express my sincere appreciation to our indefatigable Executive Officer, Phil Brown for his
contribution to our rural and remote schools across and beyond the state and especially for the
way he has eased me into the role of Chair of CEP.
We are also fortunate to have as Patron, Mr. Baillieu Myer and I wish to thank him for his
ongoing support, interest, guidance and insightful questions and challenges.
I would also like to thank and acknowledge the Department of Education and Training and
Catholic Education Commission Victoria for their ongoing support and commitment as we
work together to support and enhance the opportunities for students, their families and
communities in rural and remote Victoria.
Mission and Purpose
Collaboratively use its resources in rural education and communities to
challenge and support them in their:
• planning and delivery of high quality learning and
• the provision of opportunities for all students.
Shared Values
• Collaboration
Collaboration that fosters inclusiveness, participation, sharing and a responsiveness to members
• Leadership
A leadership that is proactive, professional and consultative
• Achievement
A focus on development, challenge, excellence and celebration
Core Functions
1. Leadership, Advocacy and Communication
• Supporting the development and provision of high quality learning for rural communities
• Supporting the development of a high quality rural education workforce
• Providing leadership in rural education, professional learning and research
• Developing strategic links with key organizations and representatives
• Leading the CEP statewide, nationally and internationally
• Promoting, advocating and communicating information and action about CEP and rural education
2. Learning Provision
• Facilitating quality learning for all students in rural communities
• Supporting provision of 0-18 years and beyond learning
• Supporting a “place based” whole of community approach to development and provision of learning
• Enhancing provision through clustering
3. Creative and Innovative Partnerships
• The formation of partnerships that will fulfill the CEP mission• Focus on developing innovative responses to rural education challenges and opportunities
• Developing different solutions to existing and new challenges and opportunities.
Comittee of Management 2014
Michael Cavanagh
Mark McLay
Glyn Milner
Philip Scambler
John Sciacca
Geoff Cooper
Anthony Fowler
David Griffin
Baillieu Myer
Chair
Deputy Chair, St Arnaud PS
Secretary, Rosedale PS
Treasurer
Nathalia SC
Lorne Aireys Inlet College
Warracknabeal SC
Manangatang College
Patron
Matt Attwater
Sarah Johnstone
Reuben Johnson
Bronwen Martin
Kaitlyn Pappin
Adam Torney
Helen Ramsdale
Mike Stephens
Adam Smith
St Marys PS, Rutherglen
Nambrok Dennison PS
Our Lady of Sacred Heart PS, Elmore
Dederang PS
Tempy PS
Drummartin PS
CECV representative
Co-opted
Co-opted
“..the leading voice on rural education”
www.cep.org.au
0428171145
[email protected] PO Box 1255, Wangaratta, 3676
COUNTRY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
ANNUAL REPORT 2014
cep.org.au
2014 Activities
The Country Education Partnership (CEP) has continued its support and
representation of approximately 400 rural and remote learning communities’
across Victoria throughout 2014. It continues to work across all education
sectors, advocating for, and supporting them in building their capacity to provide
enhanced and improved student opportunities and outcomes.
Approximately 75% of these rural education communities were financial members of
CEP during 2014 with a growing number of Associate members contributing to the
organization.
LEADERSPHIP, Advocacy and Representation
CEP has continued its role in representing the interests of rural and remote communities through its involvement
in statewide reference groups; meetings with Regional Directors and Directors of country DEECD regions/CEO
diocese; meetings with central education managers; discussions with state government Ministers; presenting to
parliamentary inquiries relevant to rural education; and participating in state government advisory committees
and key stakeholder forums.
CEP has maintained links with a number of key stakeholder organizations including VICCSO, VASSP, VPA,
AITSL, Parents Victoria, and VicSRC throughout 2014.
In addition, CEP has involvement with the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal where it is a member of
the reference group supporting the Rural Education Australia Program.
Rural Youth Ambassadors
The 2013 Rural Youth Ambassadors presented the outcomes of their deliberations in March 2014 to the then
Minister for Education, The Hon Martin Dixon. They also presented their deliberations to a range of senior
personnel within the education sectors, as well as to the 2014 CEP Annual Meeting.
Their presentation centred on the key areas of encouraging education sectors and other key stakeholder groups
to see that rural education provides a range of outstanding outcomes for young people; the desire for schools to
work together to provide a broader base of learning opportunities; the desire to encourage quality teachers to see
rural communities as a great place to teach; and to support young people having access to the opportunities that
their urban peers take for granted.
During 2014, the Minister for Education established a small Working Group representative of all the Youth
Ambassador groups, to provide a direct student voice for him on rural and remote education.
The 2014 Rural Youth Ambassadors were elected in June 2014 and they have come together in a number of
forums; represented rural young people on the State Governments Rural Education Reference Group; met with a
number of senior education managers; participated within the CEP Rural Forum with Maggie Farrar and
presented at a number of forums and seminars.
Communication and information
CEP has continued to support an interactive website and the production of a regular electronic
newsletter (Bush Voices) as a key communication strategy to ensure that information, great
education programs, research and issues are shared with rural and remote learning
communities across the state.
In addition, CEP established a Twitter account and a Facebook page during 2014 as
strategies to promote the work of CEP and also share information relevant to rural and
remote education.
Rural Learning Declaration
CEP continued to develop the thinking that was begun at the 2013 Rural Learning
Summit, which identified a number of key areas that rural educators, rural
community people, key stakeholder groups and education sectors identified as
key to the provision of a quality education across rural and remote Victoria into
the future.
These areas were further developed throughout 2014, with an updated
Declaration being completed in November of 2014. A copy of the Rural
Learning Declaration is available on the CEP website.
Rural Teaching Academy
Earlier in 2014, CEP worked in partnership with four rural clusters (Mallee
Track, St Arnaud, King Valley and Korumburra) and two Universities
(Federation and Latrobe) to apply for the establishment of a Rural Teaching
Academy. The proposal was based on the successful Rural Educators Network and
Rural School Centre of Excellence that had facilitated a range of partnerships between
rural clusters and universities over a period of five years. The focus of the proposal was to
encourage final year pre service teachers to work in teams across a rural cluster, specifically
working over a period of time on a learning area identified by the cluster, thus providing an
onsite experience of teaching within a rural and remote community.
The proposal was successful, and the Rural Teaching Academy will begin in 2015.
Education Leaders Overseas Tour
CEP continued to provide a high quality education leadership tour to Europe with twelve education leaders from across
Victoria undertaking a range of school visits, forums with world leading educators, and meeting with researchers who
provided a range of valuable insights into the education developments occurring through places such as England and
Scotland over a period of two weeks.
The focus of the tour this year was to explore how learning communities throughout the UK had developed a “culture of
improvement”, especially through the formation of collaborative alliances. The many places visited provided numerous
ideas and strategies that could be utilized within their own learning communities – and many participants have.
The group this year also met with education leaders including Sir John Jones, Maggie Farrar and Robert Hill.
Rural Education Forums
CEP sponsored the involvement of two internationally renowned education presenters in facilitating a
number of forums located throughout rural Victoria for rural and remote education leaders, teachers
and community members to be involved.
Both Sir John Jones and Maggie Farrar were engaged by CEP to provide inspiring and challenging
full day forums in a range of locations across rural Victoria focusing on the themes of:
• what really matters in engaging learners;
• the impact of collaboration on student learning;
• the critical role teachers can provide in enhancing learning.
In excess of 400 participants from rural and remote education communities were involved in
these forums.
Learning Provision
Rural District Learning Alliances
Throughout 2014 CEP continued its work in developing locally determined collaborative partnerships as a key strategy for
rural and remote communities to provide quality learning into the future.
Known as Rural District Learning Alliances, CEP received resources from both the government and catholic education
sectors to support four rural communities in establishing cross-sectorial collaborative approaches encompassing early
years and schools. The four communities included Far East Gippsland, Korumburra, Nathalia and St Arnaud.
The clear focus of these four alliances centred on the development of strategies and approaches to support the
enhancement and improvement of teaching and learning for children and young people within each of them. A
coach/critical friend was provided to assist each Alliance to encourage them to collaboratively use their resources and
expertise in improving the teaching and learning for all students within the Alliance.
Throughout this work, CEP has developed a range support materials providing a valuable resource for each Alliances
development.It also developed strong partnerships with international organisations such as the Centre for Best Teaching
in the UK to access high quality research and resources focused on supporting collaborative partnership within education
along with participation in professional development.
These Alliances have already established a range of strategies that they believe will result in improved student learning
outcomes in the very near future.
Throughout 2014 CEP was invited to present the Learning Alliance approach to a range of clusters and networks
throughout Victoria, as well as presenting to forums and conference in other states, especially those who are supporting
a partnership approach to learning provision. As a result many rural communities have indicated their desire to form
Alliance approaches within their communities.
eKids Blended Learning Initiative
Building on the successes of previous years, CEP worked closely with the Mallee Track to support them in
providing a Blended Learning approach to the provision of learning within two identified learning areas – namely
VCE Physics and Middle Years Science.
The initiative involved 18 students and five staff from five schools within the Year 12 Physics program, and in
excess of 100 students and five staff across four schools within the Middle Years Science program.
The program comprised three key elements:
• the provision of high quality professional development for the staff involved;
• the provision of learning through a blended learning approach incorporating face to face class time,
regular online forums across the five schools, and web based resources made available through a
secure platform;
• the support of a high quality coach.
The reports gained from both students and staff within the program this year indicated the real value that such an
approach provided for students to mix with a greater number of students, and to have access to staff with a broad
range of expertise, knowledge and interests. Staff reflected that students seemed to be more engaged in their
learning and were eager to work with student from neighboring schools.
Innovative and Creative Partnerships:
Energy Breakthrough
Energy Breakthrough continues to grow in numbers and recognition. This great partnership between Central Goldfields
Shire, RACV and CEP continues to gain accolades throughout Victoria and beyond – winning a State Tourism award for
the third time in 2014, and receiving a Bronze medal at the National Tourism Awards in 2014.
The 2014 RACV Energy Breakthrough event involved 370 student teams; approximately 6,000 students from primary and
secondary schools across Victoria; 600 volunteers; and generated an estimated $4 million within the Maryborough
community.
During 2014, CEP, along with the RACV and Central Goldfields Shire gained resourcing through Regional Development
Victoria to develop a sustainable plan and Strategic Framework for the event into the future, to ensure that its success is
maintained. This report will be completed by March 2015.
Virtual Learning Initiative
In a partnership with DEECD, CEP was engaged to:
“…develop a Framework for a planned, strategic and co-ordinated approach to Virtual Learning in Victoria to
improve student learning outcomes and build teacher capacity.”
CEP undertook a number of consultations with organisations who had conducted research in this area; representatives
from the various current providers of virtual learning; and education communities across Victoria. It also facilitated a one
day forum involving current providers and interested people to explore the potential future of the Virtual Learning area
within Victoria. As a result CEP developed a proposed framework and has presented this to DEECD.
Bastow Institute of Education Leadership
Throughout 2014, CEP met with representatives from Bastow Institute to explore what strategies could be developed
to ensure that rural and remote education leaders and educators gain access to the various programs and services
offered through the Institute.
Towards the end of 2014, CEP developed a partnership with Bastow to:
• facilitate the delivery of programs based within rural and regional Victoria;
• explore the potential of establishing “Professional Learning Hubs” within rural and regional locations;
• ensure that current education leadership programs offered through Bastow are inclusive of rural and
remote education contexts;
• researching the needs of Acting Principals, and propose a possible support strategy for such
education leaders.
This partnership will be implemented in 2015.