Government Schools Principals Conference 2023: Visual Reflections

At the Government Schools Principals’ Conference 2023, we heard from some great keynotes and workshop facilitators. Check out these graphic illustrations that capture the inspiring messages from three keynotes and two workshops held on the day.

First Nations Perspectives: Partnerships, self-determination and truth telling

Description: Image is of visual notes displayed in a mind map of orange and blue connected bubble and graphics titled “First Nations Perspectives: Partnerships, self-determination and truth telling”.

In the centre is text, “Aunty Geraldine Atkinson in conversation with Angela Singh”, above the text is a sketched picture of a woman (Angela Singh).

To the left of the picture is a section in orange on ‘providing advice with an Aboriginal perceptive’ which includes ‘VACG & VAEAI – by regions, 30 representatives throughout the state, pending advice on education policy, YALCA, Foundation Chair – First Peoples Assembly.

To the right is a section in orange on ‘we want Koorie students to reach their full potential’ which includes ‘it’s about listening, make personal connections, schools and community work together, to support our children, understand inter-generational trauma, community understanding and safety training’.

In the centre is a section in orange on ‘we have to start somewhere’ which includes “Education supports self-determination, is not about control of the whole system, it’s about choice, Koorie student at the centre.

Scattered throughout the graphic are blue text bubbles including: “importance of voice – Koorie students and Koorie families, do your research on the Voice education from birth to death – to feel proud and connected a continuum to our history, Are you in contact with your local Aboriginal education consultative group.

Michelle Gibbings: Find your leadership edge

Description: Image is of visual notes displayed in a mind map of orange and blue connected bubbles and graphics titled “Michelle Gibbings: Find your leadership edge”. 

Top left there is a sketch of a woman with ‘Michelle Gibbings’ written underneath, to the left of the sketch is a section in blue “how to adapt your leadership style in a changing environment” which includes a series of connected bubbles: ‘stress, hypothalamus, adrenal glands, physical response, you go to what you know, breathe, pause and reflect, choice’. 

Along the bottom of the image is a series of connected orange bubbles: ‘shift in emphasis in skills, how we learn is changing, learning never stops, stress levels rising, the complexity gap, we want work that has meaning – autonomy, mastery, purpose’. 

In the centre is a section in blue “Leadership is a choice” which includes a series of connected bubbles: ‘three million leadership books, the myth of the perfect leader, leave people in a better place, persevere and have courage’. 

Scattered throughout the image are blue and orange bubbles: there is still much that we can do that computers can’t - for now, our brains are amazing but not infallible – pattern seeking, be brave, check your lens, explore our own biases’.

Professor Lea Waters

Description: Image is of visual notes displayed as a mind map of orange and blue connected bubbles and graphics titled “Professor Lea Waters”. 

In the top centre of the image is a sketched picture of Lea Waters, there is an orange bubble to the left with the text ‘replenishing staff wellbeing without depleting leader energy’. 

To the left of the image is a section in orange “Brief Emotional Uplift” with a cluster of words and icons ‘smiley faces laughing, hands clapping, fists bumping and brain break’.  

In the bottom left corner is a blue bubble ‘66% teachers say their job is managing emotions’ connected to an extended orange arrow with the words ‘hope, connectedness, joy & laughter, empathy, contentedness’ pointing to an orange bubble with the text ’into the future’. 

Below the sketch of Lea Waters is a cluster of connected orange and blue bubbles ‘they are already happening, what can we add in, FISO 2.0, learning and wellbeing (linked by circular arrows)’. 

Along the top of the image is a series of connected orange bubbles ‘brief moments can have, big impact, to help us deal with, big issues’. 

To the centre right of the image is a section “examine scientific evidence” with a cluster of connected blue bubbles ‘change our brain, expand our perspective, explore wellbeing back accounts – a resource/deposits/ withdrawals, the undo effect, metacognition – stress and recovery cycle, proactive effect, apply BEU practices – strength spotting/woven into pedagogy/just dance’. 

Bottom left of the image are a series of blue bubbles ‘positive emotions, are the pathway into, engagement and learning.’  

Susan Ogden: Leading school improvement in 2023

Description: Image is of visual notes displayed as a mind map of orange and blue connected bubbles and graphics titled "Susan Ogden: Leading school improvement in 2023”. 

Top centre of the image is a sketched picture of Susan Ogden with the text ‘Principal Dandenong High School’.

To the right of the sketch is a series of connected blue bubbles ‘now, our work is, continuing to lead our schools, whilst, taking care of our people’. 

In the centre of the image is a section on “three learnings” which includes: “Learning one: leaders as learner” with connected bubbles ‘space for all staff to learn’ and ‘how to sustain? Develop a user manual, when I’m at my best, when I’m under pressure, to bring out the best in me colleagues should…, to build trust with me colleagues should…, creating opportunities to be your best self’. “Learning two: failing forward” with connected bubbles ‘healthy risks, creativity, language matters, be deliberate, responsibility does not equal blame’.  “Learning three: reconnect with your purpose – you can be the principal that you allow yourself to be”.    

University High School: Using leadership to shift culture

Description: Image is of visual notes displayed as a mind map of orange and blue connected bubbles and graphics titled ‘University High School: Using leadership to shift culture’.  In the top left of the image is a sketched picture of Kia Foster, Principal of University High School.   

Below the sketch of Kia is a cluster of connected bubbles ‘work in progress, sharing our story, to offer you, a framework for thinking about your context’.  Below the sketch is a series of connected blue bubbles ‘Parkville, 1850 students, 234 staff, diverse community, strong tradition and history, mix of new and experienced staff’.

To the right of sketch of Kia is a series of connected orange bubbles ‘new principal, COVID, fires, challenges, also opportunity for connection.’ 

On the right half of the image is a section “Reflect the four frames” with four themes divided into a quadrant: ‘1. Structural, 2. Human resource – trust, building leaders, team norms, shared professional learning, 3. Political – build the case, role not person, 4. Symbolic – what is leadership, redefine, vision, what does leadership look like in our organization and how do we bring people along?’