Being a member of Footscray West Primary School Council is a rewarding way to be involved with the school and the community.

All Government schools in Victoria have a School Council. School Councils are legal entities with responsibility for:

• Developing the school’s Strategic Plan
• Approving the Annual Budget
• Setting and Reviewing policies

School Councils oversee the goverance of the school, but they do not manage the day to day operations.  This aspect is the role of the principal.

Parents are welcome to attend and observe School Council or sub-committee meetings, (with the exception of Finance) but only elected members are eligible to vote.  Times and dates of upcoming meetings are available in the weekly Newsletter, the Calendar, or by contacting the office. Please contact the Principal beforehand to make a request.

Membership

Our School Council is required to have fourteen members.  At Footscray West this includes four office bearers:

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Executive Officer (Principal)

Members consist of parents and Department of Education and Training (DET) employees.  The majority of members are required to be parents.  There is also an option to co-opt a member from the wider community who may have skills or experience of value to the school.

Sub-committees

Footscray West Primary School Council currently has three Sub-committees:

• Communications & Policy (ComPol)
• Finance
• Facilities

Councillors are expected to join at least one sub-committee.

There is also a Parents Association, which is accountable to School Council.

Elections are held at the start of each year.  Each sitting member serves a term of two years, enabling half the membership to come up for election each year.  Notification of upcoming elections is made in the school newsletter.

Prospective councillors must complete and return a nomination form to the Principal within seven days of a notice of election being posted. If more nominations are received than there are vacancies a ballot will be conducted two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Contact the office for further information or if you wish to stand for election.  Further details about School Councils are available from DET, or you can contact the office and make an appointment to speak with the School Council President or the Principal.

2026 School Council Members:

Parents

• Andrew Newman (President)
• Paul Gregg (Vice President)
• Alison Thistlethwaite (Treasurer)
• Casey Wright
• Evie Bohan
• Andrew Jago
• Natalie Cassar
• Kate Riley
• Stuart Balloch - Parents Association representative
• Wessene Jackson - Parents Association representative

Staff

• Brendan Millar (Executive Officer)
• Liz Beasley
• Carolyn Lockie
• Towela Sinkonde
• Caity Gray

Sub-Committees of school council and their convenors are:

Finance: Alison Thistlethwaite

Facilities: Brendan Millar
Communication & Policy: Carolyn Lockie