Educators SA Member news - Events - Association updates and more!
Inspire yourself. Read books. Go through experiences. Take risks. Ignore the judgments. Create an adventure, a special moment you’d never forget, a great memory that won’t die. Ignore the judgments. Don’t say yes when you actually mean no. Go with your own flow. Do the things that you want to do, and not what anyone else wants you to do. We insist, ignore the judgments. Get a deep sleep. Recharge your spirit. Be yourself. Feel alive because you need to and you've earnt it! - adapted from Menna Hani
Featured in This Issue
- A message from the Chief Executive
- Upcoming Events
- Association News
- PL Funding Grant information
- Upcoming Dates 2025
A message from the Chief Executive
Well team – you did it!
You made it to the end of a successful year of learning and teaching.
A year of contributing and making a difference to the education community of SA.
We toast you and your Associations for all you have achieved and all you are!
This is our final Newsletter for the year and it contains some important information for you about January events. So in between all the festivities, if you don’t have time to read it today – make a note to come back to it in the first week of January so you don’t miss out on being part of the exciting start to 2025!
From the team here at Educators SA, we thank you for being such an important part of our learning community and we wish you all the very best for the holiday season.
We love living and learning with you, and we can’t wait to continue the journey in 2025.
Take care, rest up, be joyfully with the ones who matter to you…and most of all enjoy your holiday time!
Lisa-Jane
Chief Executive - Educators SA
Thanks to all who joined us for the Celebration of Educators end of year event!
See the very happy snaps here.
A message from Rod Nancarrow
Dear Association Colleagues,
As the year closes and my time with Educators SA ends, I wanted to thank you all for your support and comradeship over the past 7 years. It has been an absolute privilege to work with each of you as you are such amazing educators who not only dedicate yourselves to your normal work but give so much to the profession as volunteers.
I want to thank you for this professionalism but importantly, I want to thank you for your friendship. While I will remember so many of the great things we have done together, it is the relationships and the people that I treasure most.
I would also like to acknowledge the Board directors I have worked with all of whom have given great support to me and to Educators SA.
Finally, I wanted to let you know what an outstanding staff team you have. They are amazing people who work so hard, give much more than expected and always do so with a smile on their faces. They are committed to supporting you, so next time you have the chance, let them know that you appreciate their work.
I wish you all the best for the future and ask that you keep doing what you do as our profession depends on your collective efforts. I hope our paths continue to cross.
Regards
Rod
Executive Director Curriculum & Learning
A message from Dr Amy Graham
Just a quick note to thank everyone I had the opportunity to connect with during my time at Educators SA.
I look forward to continuing to build relationships with everyone and encourage people to stay in touch around all things education.
Many thanks,
Dr Amy Graham
Upcoming 2025 Educators SA Events
Association 2025 Kick off Party!
I know it seems strange to be talking about "kicking off" 2025 when we are barely finished "winding 2024 down", but we want you to get this important date in your diary now! This will be a great "bonding" opportunity for your Board/Committee Members AND a great way to connect and network with other Association leaders.
So what does it involve? Bring along your Committee/ Board Members to chat and connect as you share some drinks and nibbles and have the chance to participate as a team in our "online Game Show". Hosted by Banana Life, Jaime and Tahlia had the chance to experience this activity at a recent national conference and had so much fun they thought you all needed to have the opportunity to get involved!
So lock the date in your Association diaries now and we will see you on the 22nd of January to launch the new year in style!
📍 Location: Education Development Centre, Hindmarsh
📅 When: Wednesday 22nd of January 2025 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Association Summer School
Do you want to start your 2025 Association learning year primed and ready to go?
Come and join our EdSA Association Summer School and get your minds and hearts all set to create a fantastic year of learning for and with your Members!
📅 When: Wednesday 15th January
📍 Where: Education Development Centre
⏲Time: 9am-1pm, Morning tea provided!
The learning conversations will be tailored around your interests and needs and might include exploring aspects such as:
✅ Enhance member engagement; understanding the member journey
✅ Understanding your association’s operations; what you need to know about Governance
✅ Advocacy and connecting with the right contacts
✅ How to set up your Association Board/Committee to drive your agenda
✅ Professional learning, how to deliver engaging sessions for members
So come along with some of your Board/Committee Members, connect with your fellow association leaders and kick-start 2025!
Exploring the SA Curriculum for Public Education
Do you learn and teach in a Non-Gov site?
Then this opportunity is just for you! As you know the Dept is producing the SA Curriculum for Public Education for R-10 sites and it is based on V9 of the Australian Curriculum. The heads of your sectors have already had an opportunity to learn more about it, and the CE of the Dept - Professor Martin Westwell is keen for you to have the opportunity to know more about it too.
EdSA is hosting a "fireside" Curriculum chat with Martin on Wednesday 15th January at EDC from 2-3.30pm - so if you would like to take the opportunity to chat, ask questions and learn more, then get your registration in now. This session is open to educators from non-government sites who are connected to Association Boards/Committee.
Association News
Association Service Certificates for Committee/Board Members
Thanks to all the Associations who got involved in this new initiative for 2025. Thanks to your prompt responses at a really busy time of the year, we were able to forward "Thank you Certificates" to all your Board and Committee Members in the last week.
We have already received so much positive feedback from recipients, that it has shown it was definitely a great thing to do. Department Association leaders particularly loved the fact that the Department CE - Professor Martin Westwell had signed their Certificates!
Thanks again for all you did to make it possible!
WILL YOUR ASSOCIATION BE APPLYING FOR A PL GRANT?
PL Funding Grants for Associations in 2025 are now open! Has your Association checked out the funding guide and seen the two "streams" available for funding?
Applications will close on Friday 24th January 2025 so make sure you have a process in place to get involved over the holiday break!
Looking for some holiday reading?
Then check out this article that reflects on the learning and strategic directions our SA Department is taking with their Strategy for Public Education. It should make your department members feel really proud of what they are helping to achieve!
What wonderings does it raise for your Association as you think about how to serve and support your department members in 2025?
Happy reading and reflection!
Upcoming dates for your Calendar 📆
15th January 2025: Exploring the SA Curriculum for Public Education- Non-Gov educators
15th January 2025: Association Summer School
22nd January 2025: 2025 Kick off Party!
26th July 2025: Annual Educators' Ball
Thank you to our Partners!
