Across South Australia, a powerful network of dedicated educators, learners, families, employers, and leaders is stepping further into their crucial roles in shaping the educational landscape. On the 27^th of March, Governing Councillors from across the state converged, both in person at the Education Development Centre in Adelaide and online. This was following an invitation from Educators SA, the peak body for professional educator associations in SA, for a vital discussion focused on the newly developed Public Education Strategy from the Department for Education.

The energy in the room and the virtual space was palpable as over 130 attendees, representing more than 120 governing councils and school communities.

The core message was clear: “Governing councils play a pivotal leadership role. By learning and leading in partnership with school leadership and staff teams, they are instrumental in fostering learning and teaching environments where every child, young person, and educator can flourish, achieve, and prosper”, said Lisa-Jane, Chief Executive at Educators SA. The call to action was resounding: “Get involved and embrace these leadership responsibilities now!”

The highlight of the evening was the opportunity to engage directly with the Department Chief Executive, Professor Martin Westwell. He facilitated a dynamic exploration of the Public Education Strategy, guiding attendees to collectively envision a future where every public education community is deeply connected and actively implementing the strategy in meaningful ways.

As Professor Westwell articulated, the development process was rooted in the voices of those who matter most: our learners, their families, educators, and the broader community. The strategy’s foundation lies not solely in data, but in a clear purpose: to empower South Australian kids to learn and thrive, to be able to enter the world beyond the classroom to live a satisfying and fulfilling life of their choosing.

The overarching areas of impact include well-being, equity and excellence, learner agency, and effective learning. “We can do anything, but we can’t do everything,” stated Prof Martin Westwell. “While the strategy focuses on these areas, that might look different for each school, depending on what they have been doing, what kind of communities there are and what needs their children have. So it’s about making good choices and identifying unique areas of growth in a collaborative way.”

The evening concluded with a networking session, allowing attendees to further connect, share ideas, and build stronger relationships within the South Australian public education community.

Have you checked out the new parent hub on our website yet? Parent are the first educators and as such, are critical partners and collaborators in the learning cultures of preschools and schools. With this in mind, we have launched a new parent agenda designed to ensure that we are supporting parents. The parent hub provides you with resources, connects you with a parent network and advertises events just for parents: https://educators-sa.sa.edu.au/for-parents/

See more photos of the night here.