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 do not manage the day to day running of the school.  That job is reserved for the Principal.

Parents are welcome to attend and observe School Council (please contact the Principal in advance) 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.

Membership

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

• President
• Vice President
• Executive Officer
• Treasurer

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 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.

2024 School Council Members:

Parents

• Andrew Newman (President)
• Paul Gregg (Vice President)
• Alison Thistlethwaite (Treasurer)
• Jess Elliott
• Tess Sketchley
• Evie Bohan
• Casey Wright
• Sonia Vuddamalay
• Katie Berman
• Clare Mitchell-Crowe - Parents Association representative
• Alicia Madden - Parents Association representative

Staff

• Brendan Millar (Executive Officer)
• Liz Beasley
• Carolyn Lockie
• Bec Grieve
• Towela Sinkonde

Sub-Committees of school council and their convenors are:

Finance: Sandra Campbell

Facilities: Brendan Millar
Communication & Policy: Carolyn Lockie