Governance

WHERE LEARNING IS THE
HEARTBEAT OF OUR CULTURE.

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The Board of Directors

The School’s constitution provides for a Board of Directors.  Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School is a company by limited guarantee and operates in accordance with the Corporations  Act 2001 and Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Act 2012.

While the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the School rests with the Principal and her staff, the Board provides:

  • Policy development and ongoing review
  • Financial oversight
  • Strategic direction and planning
  • Risk management and oversight
  • Guidance in relation to the development of the School’s property planning
  • Approval of the appointment of the Principal and performance appraisals of the Principal

The Board composition reflects the diverse School community. All Board members have leadership experience; many have financial, legal, educational or marketing expertise. Some are current parents and some are past students or parents of past students. All share a collective aim of protecting and enhancing the welfare of the School, and an interest in contributing to the strategic direction of the School.

Under the constitution, the composition of the Board will consist of:

  • An ex-officio Director being the Chair of the Baptist Union of Victoria or their nominee.
  • At least five Directors.
  • One Director must be a former student of the School.
  • The Majority of the Board must consist of Directors who have been approved by the Baptist Union of Victoria.

The Board has approved a Statement of Alignment of values setting out how the School Board Directors’ values align with those of the Baptist Union of Victoria.

The Board has committees to assist in its work, comprising:

  • The Nominations and Governance Committee
  • The Finance and Risk Committee
  • The Philanthropy Committee
  • The Property Committee

Board Chair
Nominations and Governance Committee Chair: Mrs Jocelyn Furlan, BCom, LLB, FIPA, GAICD

Finance and Risk Committee Chair:  Mr Adam Stolz, BCom Hons, GAICD, FIAA

Philanthropy Committee Chair:  Mr Richard Close, BSc, MBA

Property Committee Chair: Mr Robert McFee, BArch, CertTech, Member ARB

Baptist Union of Victoria Nominee: Mrs Kristen Smith, M.Ed (Gifted Education), P.Grad Cert Ed (Gifted Education), B.Ed, Dip.T, MACEL

Ms Rachel Butler, B.Envs (Landscape Arch), M.Urban Planning

Ms Laura Loftus, BCom(Accounting), LLB (Hons), GAICD 

Mr Michael Pittendrigh, B.Bus(Accounting), CA

Mrs Elizabeth Rodriguez, Dip.Hosp & Mgmt, GAICD, MEnterprise

Mr Daniel Rosenberg, BCom, CA

 Mr Bruce Tobin, MA (Comn)

Principal: Mrs Lorna Beegan, MEDL, H.Dip.Ed, MA, BA

Deputy Principal: Ms Tracy Herft, BSc, DipEd, MEd, MInstrLead

Business Manager and Company Secretary:  Mr Jack Palumbo, BA.Acc, Certif Governance Practice & Corp Secretarial, Grad Cert Management of NFP Organisations, CPA, MBA

Senior Leadership Team

Lorna Beegan

Principal

Jack Palumbo

Business Manager & Company Secretary

Tracy Herft

Deputy Principal

Jen Buchanan

Head of Tay Creggan

Lisa Miller

Head of Junior School

Kara Baxter

Dean of Teaching and Learning

Megan Boyd

Acting Dean of Students

Keira Wills

Dean of Learning Futures

David Wyatt

Dean of Operations

Marion Cape

Director of Advancement

Joanne Wilson

Director of School & Community Relations

KJ Maan

Director of ICT

Strathcona is a not-for-profit independent school. In its policies and practices, the School supports and promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:
• Elected government
• The rule of law
• Equal rights for all before the law
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of speech and association
• The values of openness and tolerance.

  • We are committed to advancing education within a Christian learning community and operating in a manner which bears witness to the Christian faith having regard to the School’s Baptist foundation.
  • We are committed to offering our students the best education possible, and allowing each student to realise their full potential.
  • We are committed to offering the best academic environment possible. To do this, we support each student’s learning and ensure that each student can learn in an environment free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
  • We are committed to caring for each student’s emotional and pastoral needs. To do this, we have a pastoral care framework and provide support such as counselling services and education on resilience and mental health.
  • We are committed to allowing each student to achieve in areas of their own interest. To do this, we accommodate each student’s interests, allowing them to balance curricular and extra-curricular activities, and encourage them to pursue their interests.
  • We are committed to fostering leadership in all of our students. To achieve this, we have programs and activities which encourage each student to lead among their peers.
  • We are committed to allowing each student to live a healthy and active lifestyle. To do this, we provide education on a healthy lifestyle, and encourage sporting and other co-curricular activities.

Our philosophy is enacted through our teaching and care for students. Our philosophy guides our teaching, strategic plans and governance decisions.

To ensure that current and prospective staff, students and parents understand the philosophy of our School, we publish this philosophy in our:

  • Prospectus
  • Website
  • Strategic plan

The Annual Report covers the previous academic year.  It forms part of the School’s compliance with government requirements and standards, reporting on:

  • Expenditure on and participation in professional development
  • Student attendance and retention
  • Parent, student and teacher satisfaction
  • Results of NAPLAN testing for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9
  • VCE results and post-school destinations

View Annual Report 2022 here

Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School is registered by both the Commonwealth and State Governments to provide Primary, Secondary and VCE education services in Victoria. The Victorian Education and Training Reform Act 2006 sets minimum standards and other requirements for school registration. The process of validation of a school’s compliance is overseen by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority. The School is subject to periodic registration renewal programs and various government legislative acquittals and compliance obligations.

The ELC is registered as a licensed provider of early education and kindergarten services by ACEQA and the Department of Education and Early Childhood in accordance with the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and 2011 regulations.

Please find details of Strathcona’s Privacy Policy.

Please find details of Strathcona’s Parent Code of Conduct here

Strathcona Implements the Ethical Advocate online whistleblower service

Strathcona has partnered with Ethical Advocate, a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance solutions, to provide an online whistleblower service for our employees and other system users.

Ethical Advocate provides a secure and anonymous online platform for system user to file reports of unethical behavior and/or business practices. Strathcona values the input of our stakeholders and is committed to building a robust and relevant ethics program. We recognise that having an online whistleblower service brings greater compliance and empowers and builds employee and stakeholder trust.

For further details on eligibility and reporting procedures, please refer to our Whistleblower Policy.

About Ethical Advocate

Ethical Advocate, and its parent organization KJAS, provide systems to manage confidential data and information for corporate, government, and educational institutions. Ethical Advocate provides leading governance, risk and compliance solutions supporting Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, and many other regulatory and reporting needs. Persons desiring to report incidents, indiscretions, or suggestions can do so securely, online, 24/7/365, with privacy and anonymity. For more information, visit the website at www.ethadv.com.

Online Whistle Blower Service:  Ethical Advocate

Policy:  Whistleblower Policy and Procedure

Please find details of Strathcona’s Complaints Handling Policy here

 

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing
All children and young people who come to Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School have a right to feel and be safe. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We are committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe and are able to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives. We have a zero tolerance for child abuse and other harm (including discrimination and racism) and are committed to acting in students’ best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The School regards its child safety and wellbeing responsibilities with the utmost importance and is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintaining a child safe culture. Each member of the School community has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually, and collectively, to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all that they do, and every decision that they make.
 

Please click here to view our Child Protection and Safety Policy →

Please click here to view our Adult Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct →

Please click here to view our Student Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct →

Child Safety Reporting Obligations Policy

Child Protection Reporting Procedure 

Reportable Conduct Policy

Professional Boundaries

Volunteers’ Responsibilities

WWCC Policy

Child Safety and Wellbeing Complaints Management Policy