The following is information that you might find of interest in your consideration of membership of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia.
What Full AISWA Membership Provides for your School
AISWAs member services are constantly under review to ensure that the best possible breadth of service is available. The Association has recently reviewed how it levies subscriptions, which has resulted in a more equitable distribution of cost amongst members. We believe that these changes alone make membership of the Association more advantageous than ever for independent schools.
Membership of AISWA will give you access to all member services (including industrial advice and representation at hearings and conferences) and inclusion on the distribution list for AISWAs email service, electronic information bulletins and quarterly AISWATCH magazine. It also entitles you to access, at significantly reduced prices, to Microsoft software and Curriculum Corporation materials (AISWA negotiated a 30% discount on SCIS library cataloguing software for member schools).
Access to the industrial service and discounts on these purchases alone can save a school the cost of an average annual membership fee.
Resources
AISWA has produced two manuals as guides for member schools and which are updated on a regular basis:
Governance Fact Sheets - is a collection of fact sheets designed for new and existing governing body members to help put into practise the many principles of governance. The range of issues covered is varied from the importance of strategic planning to how to read a balance sheet.
Policies and Procedures Guidelines for Schools - This file is designed to assist an independent school when developing policies or procedures for a range of important issues affecting a school. Topics range from "Complaints Procedures" and "Family Court" to "Child Protection" and "Excursions, Incursions, Camps and Tours".
AISWA Membership and National Representation
AISWA is a non-profit organisation established in 1962 that is regarded by Federal and State Governments and non-government organisations to represent and promote the interests of independent schools in Western Australia. It is continually called on by Government and education authorities to represent independent schools and has representatives on most major committees dealing with primary and secondary school matters.
AISWA surveys members for their views on major educational issues to ensure that these are reflected in submissions and responses to enquiries and reports (ie State and Commonwealth funding issues, the Post Compulsory Education Review etc.)
Professional Learning
AISWA conducts an annual conference entitled 'Briefing the Board'which is held in March and this year's Conference was held on Saturday, 24 March 2007 at Hale School, Wembley Downs. The keynote presentations for this conference were:
- The Governments Agenda in Education by the Hon Julie Bishop, Minister for Education, Science and Training.
- Internet Safety; Issues for Schools Mr Greg Gebhart, NetAlert
- State of the State by Mrs Audrey Jackson, Executive Director, AISWA.
- Curriculum Matters by Ms Valerie Gould, Manager, Curriculum and Deputy Executive Director, AISWA.
AISWA also conducts seminars and PD on current issues affecting independent schools and of particular relevance to board members, principals and teachers (ie post compulsory education, special education, teacher registration, etc). As a member school, the vast majority of these seminars or PD sessions are inclusive of your membership fee. The only time that AISWA charges members for these sessions is to cover substantial speakers fees, accommodation and airfares.
2007 Workshops were:
- Why a gifted and talented programme?
- National Safe Schools Week
- Students with Disabilities
- The National Testing Agenda
- Duty of Care
- Emerging Trends in Industrial Relations
- Developing a Buildings Master Plan
- Mental Health Issues for Schools
- School Planning
- Planning your Budget and Understanding School Finances
- Senior Secondary Schooling - What it Now Means, Raising the School Leaving Age, Recent Changes
- How do you Know - The True State of Affairs
AISWA conducts seminars and PL on current issues affecting independent schools and of particular relevance to board members, principals and teachers (post compulsory education, special education, teacher registration, etc). As a member school, the majority of these seminars or PD sessions are inclusive of your membership fee. The only time that AISWA charges members for these sessions is to cover substantial speakers fees, substantial catering, accommodation and airfares (the members fee for the full day Briefing the Board 2007 conference was $77 GST inclusive).
Information that can be supplied to you, upon request, in addition to that available on this website is:
- A current AISWA Member Schools booklet,
- The latest AISWA Annual Report,
- The latest editions of the AISWA Opinions publication,
- Information on our national body, the Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA).
Application for Membership
If you are interested in applying for membership you will need to complete our online registration form and School Profile.
Upon lodgement, your completed application form will be submitted for formal endorsement at the next AISWA Council meeting; however, we can make full services available to you upon receipt of your application form, once eligibility for membership has been confirmed.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Membership Secretary on 9441 1611 if you require any further assistance.
