Masterclass - An Introduction to Regulatory Frameworks & Compliance in Independent Schools

Therese has worked at AISWA for a number of years, previously in the Aboriginal Schools Support Unit and in the administration of a Commonwealth funding program for the CGA. 

Since 2014 Therese has worked in the area of school registration and compliance, which involves supporting schools with their renewal of registration process and assisting all member schools with queries related to school registration and compliance with the Registration Standards and Requirements. Therese works in this role alongside her colleague, Gary Robinson.  When not visiting schools she and Gary are a contact point for school compliance queries and are involved in presentation delivery, school constitution review, the development, review and maintenance of policy and procedure guidelines, governance guidelines, production of the Registration and Compliance Focus newsletter and other documentation associated with registration and compliance.

After graduating with a Bachelor in Science (Chemistry) and a Diploma in Education Gary started teaching in 1979 as a science teacher at Norseman District High School. After teaching for 9 years in Department of Education schools in a range of subjects including Chemistry and Physics he moved to Albany, with his family, where for the next 20 years he taught at Bethel Christian School. He was Principal of the school for his last 8 years in Albany. From Albany Gary and his wife moved to Esperance to teach at Wongutha CAPS, a boarding school for Aboriginal students. Gary was offered and accepted a position at AISWA in 2007.

Gary’s first role at AISWA was to support the Aboriginal Independent Community Schools (AICS) as they took on older students as a consequence of the raising of the student leaving age. Gary then worked in the newly created Policy and Registration space for a few years before taking on the management of the AICS support team. Since 2013 Gary has been back as a consultant in the Registration and Compliance area where he works alongside Sarah Kennedy.

Prior to joining AISWA in 2017, Nigel was an officer with the Independent Education Union of WA for 18 years. 16 years of those as Assistant Secretary (Industrial Relations). 
During that time, Nigel focussed on developing strong professional working relationships with Employees, Employers and key sector participants. His key objective was to provide consistent, accurate and timely advice and advocacy.

Since joining AISWA Nigel has been responsible for providing advice and support to member schools on all things relating to Industrial Relations, Human Resource matters and Workplace Health and Safety.  He assesses and advises on ‘conflicting’ issues (e.g. industrial issues and staff welfare; duty of care and discrimination; behaviour management and discrimination; student welfare and rights as well as staff welfare and rights).

Nigel supports schools on any issue that may have legal implications. 

Over many years, Lynne has gained extensive experience in both education and small business ownership. Her teaching career in NSW and WA spans early childhood, primary, and lower secondary classrooms, as well as special needs education and music. She has also held school leadership roles, including Principal of an independent school in WA. In addition, Lynne has supported and mentored school leaders and assisted schools through the school registration process.

Since joining AISWA in 2017, Lynne has demonstrated her passion for supporting schools in the areas of special needs education and child protection. Her roles have included Inclusive Education Consultant and Coordinator, and she currently serves as a Child Protection Consultant.

In her current role, Lynne provides guidance and support to all AISWA schools in the areas of child safety and protection. She is the key contact for inquiries related to child abuse, including mandatory reporting, and delivers a variety of training programs focused on preventing and responding to child abuse, ensuring schools meet registration requirements.

Deb Martin is an Early Childhood Consultant with AISWA who has been working in Early Childhood classrooms since 2006. Her area of expertise and school support is in the area of high quality play based pedagogies, guiding young children's behaviours, Early Childhood literacy and the On-entry assessment. Her work also includes supporting leaders and in particular, their educators, in pedagogical change and embedding evidence based appropriate pedagogies including play-based and inquiry pedagogies and Reggio Emilia inspired practice. Other areas Deb presents in include; helping educators gain a deep understanding about the ever changing neuroscience and recent research related to young children and how this can be translated into high quality classroom practice, looking at the high quality interactions between children and their educators including sustained shared thinking. Due to Deb’s recent experience in the classroom, her practical experiences and rich stories help educators see the possibilities of high quality practice, including a guidance approach to managing behaviour and supporting self-regulation.