Have you ever wondered who to contact or how to go about getting your ideas heard at St Joseph’s Primary School?

The two groups we have for parent representation at St Joseph’s Primary School are our PSA (Primary School Association) and our SAC (School Advisory Council).

Our PSA can be joined by any parent of St Joseph’s Primary School.  This group meets on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm in weeks 3 & 7 each term.  At the moment they meet via zoom, the link is included in the newsletter of the meeting week, or when they can meet in person, they meet in the school staffroom.

The PSA is a forum for all parents to become involved in the life of the school, with the aims of the group being:

• To work and provide, improve and maintain the amenities available for the school students, including equipment and maintenance of school buildings and grounds,
• To provide opportunities for social meetings between parents, and promote a  spirit of union and good fellowship,
• To cooperate with the Parish Priest, Principal and Staff in matters relating to St Joseph's Primary School. 

The PSA organises and supports: 

• The school's fundraising and community events, 
• Discusses and looks at our uniform options, 
• Supports and runs our canteen and 
• Talks about the student daily life at St Joseph’s Primary School.  

If you have any ideas you would like tabled at any of the PSA meetings and can’t get along in person you can email them to psa@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

The current chairperson of our PSA is Mr Adrian Benson.

Please note: the PSA does not discuss operational organisational matters. 

Our School Advisory Council is the leading advisory group for the Principal, as an active forum for parent and community participation, providing support and advice in strategic planning, school improvement, educational outcomes and stewardship of resources.  As outlined in the DOBCEL Governance Charter, SAC members do not have any financial or non-financial decision-making powers. 

The role of the Advisory Council is intended to:

• Provide a voice for members of the school community.
• Actively support, in collaboration with the local parish, the Vision and Catholic Identity of the School.
• Provide input into and support for strategic planning and directions.
• Actively support and promote child safety practices including the National Safeguarding Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
• Provide input and contribute advice in the processes of school improvement and school review.
• Support the Principal in meeting his/her responsibilities and accountabilities for educational outcomes, effective stewardship of resources, and annual reporting.
• Actively support the Principal in the encouragement of family engagement.
• Support the ongoing sustainability of the SAC and its members in its succession and learning.

Nominations for the School Advisory Council will now be sought during Term 4 each year, and will commence during Term 1 of the following year.  Each member can serve a maximum of 2 terms, with each term being for 2 years.  From 2022 this group will meet once per term in week 5.

Our current SAC members are Mark Koch (Chairperson), Peter Furphy (Deputy Chairperson), Chris McGrath, Donna Monaghan and Melissa Happ.

If you ever have a questions you would like tabled at the SAC you can contact any of the members listed above or email sac@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au