Program & Services Guide 2021

www.ais.wa.edu.au

2021-2022

Services & Programs Guide

IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

The Association of Independent Schools of Western AISWA works alongside all school communities,
Australia (AISWA) exists to improve educational school staff and parents and carers to achieve these
outcomes for all young Australians by placing educational goals through Professional Learning and
learners at the centre of all planning and decision support:
making. This is in alignment with the goals of the
Melbourne Declaration: y Central Professional Learning Courses/

Goal 1 Workshops: Central Professional Learning
is created each year to meet the needs of
Australian schooling promotes equity and excellence. students, teacher growth and government
policy. These courses encompass partnerships
Goal 2 with outside agencies, conferences, ongoing
projects, networking sessions, multiple day
All young Australians become: workshops and after school sessions.

y successful learners y Customised Professional Learning Onsite:
y confident and creative individuals
y active and informed citizens. Most of AISWA’s courses can be customised to
meet the diverse needs of school. Consultants
are also available to assist schools in creating
Professional Learning to meet specific needs.

y Consultation: All consultants are available

on a ‘needs basis’ to assist with queries or
concerns or to hear success stories regarding
any aspect of school life.

y Resources: AISWA is continually building

its suite of high quality resources available to
schools. These reflect latest pedagogy and
learning.

WELCOME MESSAGES

Executive Director Deputy Director www.ais.wa.edu.au
Valerie Gould Ron Gorman

Welcome to the AISWA Welcome to the new school
Services and Programs year and hoping that 2021
Guide. AISWA plans its is productive for you and all
Professional Learning children and young people at
opportunities for schools your school. This guide presents
and their teachers, leaders and the range of support for teachers
governing body members, for school improvement and and leaders in Western Australian Independent
better student outcomes. Schools across all levels of schooling.

It is hoped this guide will prompt you to visit the AISWA The opportunities are offered in line with the key
website regularly for updates on the range of AISWA agendas of the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education
support and Professional Learning opportunities in Declaration, The Western Australian Curriculum,
2021-2022. I encourage you to look through this guide, National Quality Standards and the Australian Institute
review the offerings that suit your needs and join us to for Teaching and School Leadership. The breadth
work together for excellence in schools. The path of and diversity that is available to teachers and leaders
school improvement is never e nding and one of our provides the opportunity for all students to succeed
roles is to work with schools to support your progress and thrive at school and contribute to their worlds
along that path. beyond schooling. I look forward to your participation
in the work of AISWA as it serves you this year and
Valerie Gould beyond.

Ron Gorman

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AISWA RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

The AISWA RAP: Djilba Springtime Artwork

This artwork was created by the staff at the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA),
under the watchful guidance of Noongar artist Jenny Knapp, and celebrates our strong commitment to
reconciliation and the launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

This story is of Djilba springtime season, when the bilya waterways and lakes are full and djet wildflowers are in
bloom, creating the colours of land on Noongar boodja country.

The AISWA offices are situated near Herdsman Lake, which is traditionally called Ngurgenboro. Djilba season is
part of the Noongar six seasons.

AISWA would like to acknowledge that the land we work on is Whadjuk Noongar boodja and that the Whadjuk
Noongar people are the traditional owners and custodians who have a rich social, spiritual and historical
connection to this county, which is as strong today as it was in the past.

Feel free to visit our reception area to see the artwork up close.

NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM AGREEMENT (NERA) AND www.ais.wa.edu.au
COLLABORATION ACROSS SECTORS IN WA

The NSRA is signed by all States and Territories with
the Commonwealth Government and sets out in broad
terms what the Federal Government’s expectations
are of States and Territories in terms of Education.
With the NSRA are State Bilateral Agreements which
identify what each state is committed to in terms of
implementing the NSRA over the next five years. The
WA agreement can be found at:
https://docs.education.gov.au/node/51801

In WA we have always collaborated with the Catholic
and Government sectors and will continue to do
so into the future as all sectors are included in the
State Bilateral. These documents then inform the
AISWA Work Plan which is required under the
Non-Government Representative Body (NGRB)
Support Fund. It is through this fund that many of
our consultants are partly funded, to deliver services
to schools. Increasingly we do charge for a number
of our Professional Learning opportunities and the
income from these, supplement the Commonwealth
contribution work.

Subscriptions to AISWA fund our core activities
while the bulk of the work around implementation of
Curriculum, Professional Standards for Teachers,
support for WACE courses, NAPLAN and NCCD is
funded either through the NGRB Support Fund and
income from Professional Learning activities.

5

GOVERNANCE, REGISTRATION AND COMPLIANCE

AISWA consultants are able to assist governing
body members and school leaders meet their
governance, registration and compliance
accountabilities and responsibilities.

AISWA provides this support in the following ways:

• Provision of Governance Guidelines
• Presenting at the annual Briefing the Board

conference

• An annual Registration Seminar and presentations

to other groups as required

• A Constitution Checklist and sample School

Constitution Guide as well as a school constitution
review service

• Policy and Procedure guidelines that assist

schools to develop their own documents

• The Registration and Compliance Focus

Newsletter with information on changes in
legislation and renewal requirements etc.

• Over the phone and email support.

AISWA’s Registration and Compliance consultants
are available to visit schools to assist them in the
preparation of their renewal of registration, in particular
meeting the requirements of the Department of
Education’s ‘Guide to the Registration Standards and
Other Requirements’.

For more information contact 9441 1600

LEADERSHIP AND TEACHER QUALITY

The aim of the Leadership and Teaching Quality Consultation and assistance is provided in the
team is to support and develop leaders as they following areas:
confidently create schools where students, staff
and communities thrive. • Induction and Early Career Teacher programs
• In-school mentoring and coaching programs
Experienced, Middle and Aspiring Leaders’ programs, • Building leadership capacity
encourage leaders to start with the end in mind and • Effective staff performance development and
have the courage and information to lead change.
This has the greatest impact on student success and management programs
promotes a culture of wellbeing.
• National Certification of Highly Accomplished and
In 2021, AISWA has exciting partnerships with
universities and professional organisations to continue Lead Teachers.
to meet the needs of Independent Schools. Learning
and growth opportunities are both research-based and For more information contact 9441 1679
grounded in leading-edge principles.

www.ais.wa.edu.au

7

EARLY CHILDHOOD

AISWA’s Early Childhood consultants offer advice
to schools on early childhood matters ranging
from policy implementation, regulatory matters
and age appropriate pedagogy.

The benefits of a high quality early childhood education
has lasting effects for the individual and society as a
whole.

AISWA’s consultants focus on supporting all early
childhood teachers and schools to:

• Provide a high quality early childhood education
• Attend to the compliance requirements of the

National Quality Standards and the Quality
Improvement Plan

• Engage in inquiry and play-based approaches
• Develop STEM in the early years through the Little

Scientist program and nature pedagogy

• Access and implement  the On-entry assessment

modules PP-2

• Participate in   and engage with the Australian

Early Development Census 2021

• Deepen their understanding of Nature Pedagogy

and Nature Play.

Our team of consultants are available to support
teachers working with children from 3 – 8 through
presentations at staff meetings or mentoring teachers
and early childhood leaders.

For more information contact 9441 1664

LITERACY NUMERACY

Literacy consultants are available to provide The AISWA Numeracy Consultants can assist
support, through Professional Learning and schools on many levels to enhance teaching and
school-based planning, to: learning outcomes.

• Improve student learning in reading, viewing, • Work in schools with leadership, Professional

writing and oral language using pedagogy based Learning teams and teachers to interrogate data
on the latest research and plan

• Plan, structure and sequence literacy/English • Provide in – school workshops to further develop

learning at the whole-school level (from F-10), or mathematical conceptual understandings, such
with year groups or individual teachers, within your as place value, or pedagogical practices such as
school cooperative learning used in the engaging “Check
the Clues” series.
• Implement the Western Australian Curriculum:
For more information contact 9441 1617
English by applying literacy strategies that engage
students in learning.

For more information contact 9441 1600

www.ais.wa.edu.au

9

TEACHING & LEARNING

AISWAs Teaching and Learning team provides
support for schools to implement the P-10 Western
Australian Curriculum, the Western Australian
Certificate of Education and Vocational Education
and Training programs.

Advice, programs and initiatives aim to strengthen
and improve teachers’ knowledge and expertise to
understand and apply evidence-based teaching,
learning and assessment practices, evaluate impact
on learning and support improvements in student
outcomes.

Support for schools includes a variety of consultancy
activities, the development of contemporary and
engaging resources, and Professional Learning (PL)
comprised of flexibly designed formal and informal
activities and events to reflect the diversity and needs
of schools. From 2021, member schools can access a
variety of newly created online PL activities.

Areas of support include:

• High-impact pedagogical strategies
• Integrated teaching, learning and assessment

plans

• Developing rich and authentic assessment

practices

• Using data to inform practice
• Curriculum planning
• Vocational Education and Training
• Learning Area specific advice.

For more information contact 9441 1652

ICT AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

AISWA consultants are available to assist Additional support/communication is also provided
schools with planning, licensing agreements, hire through the following channels:
equipment, curriculum advice, digital literacy of
staff and the pedagogical integration of digital • Scootle (ESA) school registration (free online
technologies/ICT across the curriculum.
learning materials)
Consultants offer a variety of professional learning
• AISWA Online Learning (search Technologies)
opportunities tailored to schools’ needs in areas such • AISWA website (members area) – Technologies,

as: ICT Capability and STEM (under Teaching and
Learning), Governance and Leadership (IT
• The SCSA requirements of the Technologies Procurement)

subjects – Digital and Design • Regular AISWA tech news web-mailing lists – ICT

• Coding, robotics, data skills and understanding (as Integrators News & PL, IT Managers

required by the curriculum) • Hire equipment: e.g. iPads and Surface Pros,

• ICT as a General Capability (i.e. cross-curricular KodeKLIX/STEM in Practice electronics kits,
BeeBots and ProBots, Ozobots, Spheros
‘digital literacy’)
• Social media channels:
• iSTEM projects, including the ‘STEM in Practice’
Facebook and Twitter @AISWATech
(KodeKLIX) program
For more information contact 9441 1656
• Specialist events for licensing partners, e.g.
www.ais.wa.edu.au
Microsoft, Adobe, RTG (digital privacy, safety and

security)

• Learning area leadership events
• Courses available at AISWA Online self-paced

learning

• See https://www.ais.wa.edu.au/professional_

learning_calendar

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INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

The focus of AISWA’s Inclusive Education team
is to empower and support teachers and schools
to provide education and consultation that is
both proactive and responsive to diversity of all
learners. Both Professional Learning and ongoing
consultation is provided to encompass both
prevention and intervention strategies.

Inclusive Education Professional Learning, Support
and Consultation is available in the following areas:

• Teaching students with disabilities and learning

difficulties

• Gifted Education
• Child Protection – training in Child Abuse

including Mandatory Reporting of Sexual Abuse
and Grooming; Keeping Safe: Child Protection
Curriculum; consultation in Child Protection
matters

• Policy support for student enrolment and

participation including legislation

• Funding – State and Federal funding (NCCD) for

students with disability

• Documented plans and curriculum development

including differentiation

• Transition to secondary and post school options
• General school support including classroom

observation and teacher consultation for students
with disability and gifted and talented students.

For more information contact:

9441 1666 - Inclusive Education

9441 1601 - Child Protection

PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES

AISWA provides psychology services to schools Professional learning, consultation and support can
through several programs currently including the be provided across a range of areas including but not
Clinical Psychology service for CARE schools and the limited to the following:
broader AISWA School Psychology Service (ASPS).
• Suicide prevention - eg. Gatekeeper, MHFA short
The role of AISWA School Psychology Service
(ASPS) is to provide psychological services to assist courses
independent school communities in their mission of
supporting, engaging and educating their students. • Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
• Psychological First Aid and planning for ECIM
ASPS provides psychological services to assist • Social and emotional learning (selecting &
independent schools in the following main areas:
implementing, and Aussie Optimism training)
• Learning;
• Attendance, behaviour and engagement; • Staff and student well-being
• Wellbeing and mental health; and • Behaviour (and positive behaviour)
• Emergency and critical incident management. • Trauma informed teaching practices
• Neuropsychology of behaviours and regulation
ASPS does this by drawing on the wide range of skills
and competencies of the psychologists, utilizing best development
practice and evidence-based interventions. ASPS
values the independence of the Schools being served • Learning Disorders and other neurodevelopmental
and is respectful of both their autonomy and diversity.
disorders.

For more information contact 9441 1632

www.ais.wa.edu.au

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SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Commonwealth Capital Grants Program Future Footprints

The AISWA Capital Grant Association is the AISWA’s Future Footprints program supports
authority for non-Catholic Independent schools Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
in Western Australia administrating the Capital attending participating boarding schools in Perth.
Grants Program on behalf of the Australian
Government. The goals of the program are to:

Approximately $8.5 million of Commonwealth • Support participating schools to empower
funds are available for distribution to non-Catholic
Independent Schools in Western Australia each year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people,
The next round of applications closes on 18 March families and communities to prepare, transition
2021. and thrive

For more information call (08) 9441 1616. • Support the engagement of Aboriginal and Torres

State Government Low Interest Loan Scheme Strait Islander young people with their secondary
education journey.
The State Government makes available low interest
loans to assist non-government schools with Through the program, AISWA supports schools by
capital development projects. Applications close coordinating initiatives and events that bring together
on 30 September each year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
from participating schools; and supports schools to
The AISWA LILS Committee assesses all applications build and deepen cultural capability, reflexivity and
and makes recommendation to the Department of safety.
Education in November each year. The scheme is
administered by the Non-Government School Funding For more information contact 9441 1687
Branch at the Department of Education.

15 www.ais.wa.edu.au

SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS OF SCHOOLS

Support for Aboriginal Independent Community Schools Curriculum and Re-Engagement (CARE) Schools

AISWA provides significant support to the 13 Aboriginal AISWA supports a CARE School Network for
Independent Community Schools in the sector. The Independent and Catholic CARE Schools.
majority of the schools are in very remote locations
and there are four AISWA consultants who have This is done through:
as their main role providing support to this group of
schools. • Network meetings of Principals of CARE Schools
• An annual CARE School Conference
Support includes: • Dedicated CARE school staff Professional

• Dedicated support school leaders and governing Learning opportunities

bodies of the school through school visits and • Access by schools and their staff to the AISWA
online support
Executive Team and all AISWA consultancy
• Dedicated consultant and professional learning services

support for Literacy and Numeracy through school • Access to all AISWA Professional learning
visits and online support
programs
• The Aboriginal Independent Community Schools
For more information contact 9441 1608
(AICS) Annual Broome Conference for principals,
leaders, teachers and education assistants

• The Annual AICS Governance Conference in Perth
• Centrally held Professional Learning support at the

start of the school year

• Access by schools and their staff to the AISWA

Executive Team and all AISWA consultancy
services

• Access to all AISWA Professional Learning

programs

For more information contact 9441 1660

Small Schools Collegiate Group

Schools that form part of the Small Schools Collegiate
Group are smaller schools that see the benefit of
meeting with small schools that often face similar
challenges due to their size. Schools in this group have
a particular education philosophy such as Montessori
or Steiner, or have developed from a community that
wanted a school that suited what they wanted for their
children.

Support is provided through:

• Network meetings of principals of small schools
• Network meetings of business managers of small

schools

• Access by schools and their staff to the AISWA

Executive Team and all AISWA consultancy
services

• Access to all AISWA Professional Learning

programs

For more information contact 9441 1603

www.ais.wa.edu.au

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ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO
WESTERN AUSTRALIA IN 2017-18

CONTRIBUTION TO THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY

1.1% $2.87 billion

of Total Industry Contribution Contribution to Western Australian Gross State Product (GSP)
to GSP in Western Australia

Including

$1.225 billion

Direct Contribution

greater than direct contribution of Western Australian
industries such as air transport, structural metal
manufacturing, automotive repair and maintenance,
and accommodation

JOBS AND INCOMES SUPPORTED

18,600 $1.73 billion1.6% of total FTE jobs

= =in Western Australia
full time equivalent (FTE) jobs Paid in Household Incomes

in Western Australia (through wages and salaries)

SAVINGS TO GOVERNMENT AND TAX PAYERS

$661.9 million Saved $784.0 million $122.1million

Saved in recurrent education costs in expenditure Saved in infrastructure costs for
for providing education services provision of schools in
to Western Australia’s students For Australian and Western Australian Governments Western Australia

ENHANCED EDUCATION OUTCOMES Independent Schools in Western Australia also:

Enhanced education outcomes provided Had higher mean PISA test scores
by Independent Schools contributed Provided 20 of the top 50 median Australian Tertiary Admission Rank scores
for Western Australia
$181.1 million Accounted for 28 of the top 50 schools in Western Australia in terms
of proportion of eligible students that achieved the Western Australian
to growth in Western Australian GSP Certificate of Education

https://www.ais.wa.edu.au/news/just-released-economic-sig- www.ais.wa.edu.au

Download the full report nificance-independent-schools-western-australian-economy

Produced by AEC Group Pty Ltd (AEC) on behalf of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA). All content presented in this infographic is supported by modelling and 19
analysis undertaken by AEC for the 2017-18 financial year, based on 2018 Independent Schools data provided by AISWA and a range of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other
agencies. Additional details are contained within the final report titled ʻEconomic Significance of Independent Schools to the Western Australian Economy, 2017-18ʼ, completed in October 2020.

Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia
Suite 3, 41 Walters Drive, Osborne Park WA 6017​

www.ais.wa.edu.au