Blogs and Messages

Courage Fatigue

By Fiona Roush posted 2 days ago
2 people recommend this.
This month’s article has been written by ACELQ Executive Ms Fiona Roush. Fiona is currently Dean of Teaching at Sunshine Coast Grammar School. There was a genuine sense of community at the March ACEL Aspiring and Early Career Teacher Breakfast. A splendid gathering of early‑career educators and mentors sharing their experiences and thoughts of the joy of teaching. The event originated from the conceptual work of ACELQ Executive members Adam Kuss, Tania Leech and Bruce Addison. Head of St Hilda’s Learning Institute and ACELQ Executive member Majda Benzenati’s keynote address offered a compelling reflection on her teaching journey, affirming the ...
0 comments

WA Branch News: April 2026

By Rachael Lehr posted 9 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Reflections on Cyclone Narelle and Leadership I watched with interest recently as Cyclone Narelle took her time in travelling from the far north into more southern areas in WA, and noted the many reminders to be prepared as the cyclone track was updated. Being Perth based, it is rare for us to experience the direct impact of a cyclone, something that our members in the more northern parts of the state are much more familiar with. I did notice though, that the warnings were coming through for people even in Perth and to the south to be prepared, and while there is always a bit of tongue-in-cheek commentary about trampolines and garden chairs on ...
0 comments

Pacing the Pause in leadership

By Fiona Hutton posted 9 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Pacing the Pause in leadership I find myself in an unusual stage of life. After ten years of founding and building a business, I rewarded myself with the first Long Service Leave that I have been able to take in nearly 35 years of work. This is really only possible because I have an exceptional team working with me at HCA, who insisted that I would benefit from a break, (and did initially disconnect me from Microsoft teams!). I also have a very supportive partner who is a Director of our company and encouraged me to pause . The challenge has been in finding my own daily pace and rhythms in this time of leave. I am a driver. As a leader, I recognise ...
2 comments

QLD Branch News: April 2026

By Bruce Addison posted 9 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Ours is the Best Profession in the World: Unpacking the Essence of Teaching Good morning colleagues, and especially to all our early career teachers. It is a privilege to stand with you today as a fellow member of our wonderful profession – perhaps the noblest of professions. I want to begin with a simple but profound acknowledgment: we have the opportunity and the privilege to make a positive difference in the lives of young people daily. What an honour. Each of you brings something unique to this profession—your talents, your perspectives and your way of being in the world. In the words of a giant of our profession, Emeritus Professor Frank Crowther ...
0 comments

ACT Branch News: April 2026

By Sandra Darley posted 9 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
As Term 1 draws to a close I wish to commend the exceptional work that our profession is leading in each of our sectors. For those who are about to take a well earned break I hope that it is a time to refresh before the busy term ahead. Our Branch Executive is represented by each of our 3 sectors and we are both very excited well positioned to contribute to the work of progressing ACEL as a national and local peak body in the life of our profession. We meet regularly and are planning some exciting opportunities in 2026. The first of these is the much anticipated Ministers Breakfast on 29 May at the National Portrait Gallery between 7 – 8.30 am. We have ...
0 comments

2025 ACEL New Voice Perspectives

By Lisa Newland posted 10 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
The Australian Council for Educational Leaders is proud to present the 2025 New Voice Perspectives —a collection that reflects the strength, diversity and future of educational leadership across Australia. Each year, the New Voice Scholarships recognise emerging leaders who are not only excelling in their contexts, but who are also shaping what comes next. These are educators who are thinking deeply, acting courageously, and leading with purpose. Through this publication, their ideas extend beyond their own settings to inform, challenge and inspire the broader profession. What is particularly striking in this year’s contributions is both the urgency ...
0 comments

This year's National Inclusion and Disability Conference in Adelaide is shaping up to be our best yet!

By Lisa Newland posted 18 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
This year's National Inclusion and Disability Conference in Adelaide is shaping up to be our best yet — and that's thanks to you. You asked for less theory and more practice. You asked for sessions that leave you with a tangible takeaway. You asked for the chance to connect with educators who are doing this work well, right now, in real schools. We listened. The 2026 conference has been redesigned from the ground up with that feedback at its heart. Alongside our outstanding keynote speakers — including Professor Linda Graham, Sam Brain from Deloitte Access Economics, and ACARA's Kathryn Tully — you'll find dedicated hands-on workshops, practical sessions ...
0 comments

Message from the CEO, Term 1 2026

By Lisa Newland posted 12-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Lisa Newland, CEO, Australian Council for Educational Leaders Bold leadership in action: The attitude that says "we can" The opening edition of Australian Educational Leader this year invites us into a timely conversation about the purpose and meaning of schools—and the role leadership plays in shaping that purpose. Across this edition, a clear message emerges — leadership matters not because it holds authority, but because it creates the conditions for learning, belonging, and flourishing. So what does it take to lead boldly right now? Bold leadership is sometimes misunderstood as being loud, forceful, or heroic. Yet the kind ...
0 comments

Message from the President, Term 1 2026

By Elizabeth Foster posted 12-03-2026
1 person recommends this.
The Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) stands as a community in which we find our professional home. We are a place in which we can learn, challenge one another, grow and collectively advance our profession. ACEL is more than an organisation; it is a living network of educators committed to transformative learning. As we welcome new members, we extend not just an invitation to join, but an invitation to belong and contribute to the collective wisdom that resides within our community. As leaders in education, we understand that our future is not created or designed in isolation yet enabled by the collective wisdom of communities committed to learning ...
1 comment

Message from the President, Term 1 2026

By ACEL Library posted 11-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Liz Foster, (BEd, FACELQ) The Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) stands as a community in which we find our professional home. We are a place in which we can learn, challenge one another, grow and collectively advance our profession. ACEL is more than an organisation; it is a living network of educators committed to transformative learning. As we welcome new members, we extend not just an invitation to join, but an invitation to belong and contribute to the collective wisdom that resides within our community. As leaders in education, we understand that our future is not created or designed in isolation yet enabled by the collective wisdom ...
0 comments

Message from the CEO, Term 1 2026

By ACEL Library posted 11-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Lisa Newland, CEO, Australian Council for Educational Leaders Bold leadership in action: The attitude that says "we can" The opening edition of Australian Educational Leader this year invites us into a timely conversation about the purpose and meaning of schools—and the role leadership plays in shaping that purpose. Across this edition, a clear message emerges — leadership matters not because it holds authority, but because it creates the conditions for learning, belonging, and flourishing. So what does it take to lead boldly right now? Bold leadership is sometimes misunderstood as being loud, forceful, or heroic. Yet the kind ...
0 comments

QLD Branch News: March 2026

By Bruce Addison posted 05-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
It is hard to believe that Term One is well over halfway. Such is the rhythm of our school year. On Friday 20 March, ACELQ is hosting an early career teacher breakfast at Allan Border Oval commencing at 7.00 am. Our theme is the beauty and joy of teaching . We hear so much about the attrition rate of our early career teachers we wanted to host a function in which we could celebrate and affirm our new colleagues within the context of ACEL’s collegial, cross-sectoral community. As we all remember, the flight to professional maturity usually commences once a new teacher is placed in their first staffroom. It is here that professional practice begins ...
0 comments

SA Branch News: March 2026

By Martyn Anderson posted 05-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Dear ACEL SA, I hope the year has begun positively for you. One of the many strengths of ACEL is our shared commitment to celebrating the profession and recognising the outstanding leadership that exists across our state. Each year, you have the opportunity to acknowledge colleagues who are making a significant impact by nominating them for both the ACEL SA State Awards and the ACEL National Awards. These awards shine a light on the innovation, dedication, and excellence that characterise educational leadership in South Australia. As a profession, we are sometimes hesitant to pause and celebrate the exceptional work happening around us. Yet these ...
0 comments

Using data wisely: A workshop with Professsor Alex Bowers

By David Gurr posted 05-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Using data wisely: A workshop with Professsor Alex Bowers Educational organisations in Australia and elsewhere are awash with data. However, turning data into useful information which may inform policy and practice is not easy and not often done. There are also cautions about data and just because we can collect data and link it together and analyse it in ways not possible in the past, is not a reason to do so unless you are sure it makes sense and you can mitigate the unintended consequences that can arise. When My School began in January 2010 there was a lot of concern about the positive and negative impacts it might have. I remember an article ...
0 comments

NSW Branch News: March 2026

By Paul Kidson posted 05-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
It's a very mixed moment writing this newsletter, my final as NSW Branch President. Last week I notified the National Board Chair, Liz Foster, and our NSW Executive that a combination of family and work matters have altered the time and energy available for this work, at least in the foreseeable future. I’m delighted that Corinna Robertson has agreed, with the endorsement of the Branch Executive, to hold the position until the elections later in the year. The elections are an opportunity for wider members of the Branch to consider serving in a strategic leadership role for the Association. Perhaps you might consider responding to the call for nominations ...
0 comments

WA Branch News: March 2026

By Rachael Lehr posted 05-03-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
What Have You Dumped This Year? Reflections on Leadership, Courage and Clearing the Way Last week, a group of educational leaders rose early to join the ACEL WA executive team for a delicious breakfast overlooking the picturesque Mount Lawley golf course. It was not the food or the view that urged leaders to start the day much earlier than typical, but the opportunity to hear from our Minister for Education, The Honourable Sabine Winton, alongside system leaders Annette Morey (Executive Director, CEWA), Steve Watson (Deputy Director General – Schools, DoE) and Kris Stafford (Director Curriculum & Pedagogy, AISWA). While the coffee was hot and strong, ...
0 comments

Generative AI briefing for teachers

By Lisa Newland posted 11-02-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
We are delighted to share an exciting new chapter for ACEL with the announcement of our partnership with the University of Sydney—a collaboration that brings timely, high-impact opportunities for our members and subscribers. This partnership includes free Generative AI sessions for educators , alongside the upcoming AI Fluency Sprint and the micro-credentialled AI Dexterity course. Together, these offerings respond directly to the realities facing today’s leaders and educators, building confidence, capability and ethical fluency in the use of AI in education. The first session begins on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 . Secure your place now for these brief 30-minute ...
0 comments

NSW Branch News: February 2026

By Paul Kidson posted 04-02-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Welcome back to a new academic year. By now, most students are back to school, although some in the far western parts of the state still have a few more days before they start. For some teachers, it’s already been a few weeks since rolling out of bed into those first few professional learning days. For leaders, some have already clocked up even more days than that. Early childhood educators and many tertiary educators have already been back for quite a few weeks, too. Whatever the rhythm of the start to your year, I trust you’ve been able to find time to refresh and recharge over the summer. It’s certainly a gift to be able to do so, and yet while time to ...
0 comments

QLD Branch News: February 2026

By Bruce Addison posted 04-02-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
New Beginnings: The Hope of a New Year Another year is off and running. This quote always speaks to me at the start of another academic year. “...and suddenly you know … it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings”. (Meister Eckhart) In 2026, Eckhart’s sentiments are particularly prescient. They give permission to pause, focus and rethink. Schools are, by their very nature, places of new beginnings. Every new year provides opportunities for a restart with opportunity, optimism and possibility. Lingard, Hayes, Mills and Christie (2003), in their book Leading Learning , described leadership in schools as ...
0 comments

Tracing the Through-Line: Focus, Coherence and Improvement at Dayton

By Ray Boyd posted 04-02-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
Over the recent holiday break, and as I often do, I immersed myself in reading. While many were non-fiction, several were educationally focussed. One of these being ‘The Pruning Principle’ by Dr Simon Breakspear and Michael Rosenbrock 's (2024). This was a second read for me to ensure that the content was fresh for an ACELWA Book Club conversation that took place in late January. While reading the book, I found myself making connections to two other books I have read, Viviane Robinson 's (2018) ‘Reduce Change to Increase Improvement (2018) and Peter DeWitt, Ed.D. 's (2022) De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works’ ...
0 comments