President's Message

So who are we?

ACPPA currently has 1700 members from large schools located in metropolitan dioceses to small isolated schools in remote areas of the nation. Each diocese across Australia has its own local diocesan association that is affiliated with the state or territory Catholic primary principals' association. Representatives from the various state and territory associations make up the National Executive of the Australian Catholic Primary Principals' Association. The National Executive of the association meets regularly by way of teleconferences during the year and have a face-to-face meeting at the annual APPA National Conference.

Within this structure the ACPPA Secretariat operates. According to the Constitution the President of ACPPA appoints two other ACPPA members from their Association, as Treasurer and Secretary, to join with the Vice President and the Immediate Past President to form a Secretariat that will carry out the day-to-day duties given to it by the Executive.

What do we do?

ACPPA plays an important part in working with and having representation on the National Executive Council of the Australian Primary Principals Association - APPA, which is comprised of principals from the Catholic, Independent and Government school sectors from across Australia.

ACPPA also works in alliance with national bodies such as the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), Diocesan Catholic Education Commissions, Australian Catholic University and many other groups to help support, shape and influence the role of Catholic primary school principals across Australia.

ACPPA strives to work under the following Constitutional Objectives As well as work in accordance with our Core Principals and Strategic Plan which you can find in this Website.

• To promote the overall aims of Catholic education in all dioceses of Australia.

• To promote the professional development of Principals in Catholic Primary Schools.

• To work actively for the continuous improvement of education

• To promote an understanding of the role of the Principal in Catholic education.

• To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and the development of policies which promote the education and welfare of children and teachers.

• To facilitate communication between Principals’ Associations across Australia.

• To provide the means by which Principals, through their local Associations may confer, consult, negotiate or liase with all or any bodies or individuals which impinge upon the effective operations of Catholic Primary Schools throughout Australia.

• To provide for ways and means of implementation of policies as determined at any ACPPA Annual Meeting or conference

As a professional body we aim to keep colleagues well informed and up to date with issues and activities around the nation. All principals in Catholic primary schools receive a quarterly magazine called TOPICS Talk Of Principals In Catholic Schools, which enables principals to present and discuss issues of mutual value and importance. I know from speaking with colleagues around the nation that TOPICS is highly valued for its diversity and in particular for the professional content relevant to leading and nurturing Catholic school communities. Our hope is that TOPICS gives life to your leadership as well as bring to your communities a sense of the connections we have with each other around the nation.

It is important through this welcome that I acknowledge our major corporate sponsor Master School Portraits. Each year The Master School Portraits Award is made available to all Catholic School Principals. Through this generous sponsorship donation, $5000 is awarded for the promotion of an educational project or research in Catholic Schools. Past recipients have been able to share their work through publication in TOPICS as well as the sharing of work at the annual ACPPA AGM. Applications for the Service award can be accessed through this ACPPA Web Site.

Finally in 2008 principals from Australian Catholic primary schools will gather in Sydney for the APPA National Conference. This is a joint conference and provides all delegates attending from Catholic Schools to meet through the various Conference experiences in particular the ACPPA functions. I personally will look forward to this opportunity to meet you.

Bruno Benci
President.