Independent Schools Queensland Independent Schools Queensland

Philanthropy and Schools by Independent Schools Queensland

Parent engagement is widely considered one of the last levers to be pulled in education in terms of improving school performance and increasing student, staff and parent wellbeing.

In this episode of The School Bell, we speak with Amanda Watt about the work she and her team are doing to enhance connections between families and schools as part of her role as the Executive Director of the Queensland Independent Schools Parent Network.

Amanda discusses what the QIS Parents Network does, what parent engagement is and looks like in specific school settings, the landmark findings from their longitudinal research project and how schools can effectively and sustainably engage parents.

We also hear from two independent school teachers from Fairholme College and Samford Valley Steiner School discussing the small but significant tweaks they’ve made to their communication with parents which has led to tangible benefits for them, their students and parents.

Wendy Mills is a clinical nurse and Ed-LinQ Coordinator which comes under the Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. Wendy joins The School Bell to discuss mental health and wellbeing, the support Ed-LinQ provides to schools and how ISQ is working with Ed-LinQ on behalf of the sector. Practical strategies for schools, teachers and parents on how to manage young peoples’ screen use is also discussed.

Rarely in recent history has school leader and staff mental health and wellbeing been so tested as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof Donna Cross discusses school leader and staff wellbeing as a critical factor for student success. In her recent research report, School Leaders’ and Staff Wellbeing is Critical for Student Success, Prof Cross presents an evidence-based perspective on what promotes or erodes school staff wellbeing, which is one of the first in Australia to make links to student wellbeing.

Louka Parry works globally as a speaker, learning strategist and education futurist. In this podcast, Louka discusses the need for a critical rethink of contemporary schooling to break the engagement epidemic turning students off learning, and a reboot that extends far beyond a couple of tweaks to curriculum.

Felicity Furey skyrocketed to the top to lead some of Australia’s most innovative mega infrastructure projects. Her engineering mindset is primed to help school leaders reignite performance, reframe challenges as opportunities and redefine what’s possible in the future of business and leadership. She will discuss the impact teams can have when experienced workers collaborate with millennials and younger staff.