In a lengthy interview addressing issues in the report and a spate of violent incidents between students at the college in recent weeks, Schools and Regional Services’ deputy secretary David Howes said the report was a critical first step in dealing with issues within the school and the broader community.
The report was commissioned by the Education Department and prepared by cross-cultural consultant Georgia Birch over six months.
It had been kept under wraps since November but last week the 48 recommendations were shared with indigenous and multicultural community leaders.
“We had no preconceived conclusions; if we did, there wouldn’t have been a reason for the report,” he said.
“The challenges were clear, but we wanted to come to this with an open mind. It is wanting to have that completely open dialogue from first principals and there was a very strong and positive response,” he said of the initial meeting to establish a cultural advisory steering committee to determine what actions were needed.
“I got very strong feedback that the community leaders want to contribute,” he said.
The report criticised the “all white” leadership team, wellbeing support staff and teachers but Mr Howes said those issues would be addressed.
“We are looking to employ more full-time multicultural support staff,” he said.
In establishing a new education model for Greater Shepparton one of the challenges is not to get ahead of the community it serves.
Mr Howes said how the report was addressed would be based on the advice of the steering committee.
“They are not new issues but there is an urgency to address them,” he said.
“We, (the department) and the school genuinely want to engage with cultural community groups about the way forward and the best way to do that is with a new beginning.”
Mr Howes also addressed the recent violent incidents between students, particularly at the Wanganui campus.
He congratulated parents from different indigenous and multicultural groups for coming together to help find a resolution and said the new combined school model was not the issue.
“There were a significant number of times police were called to the campuses of the four separate schools,” he said.
“All the reports we have had, including from the police, is the issues that have led to incidents at the school have happened outside the school. Not all of these issues can be solved by the school, they need to be resolved by the community.”
In 18 months’ time, Mr Howes said he wanted to be bringing educators from other schools to see the success of GSSC and how it was achieved.
“I’m not underestimating the challenges,” he said.
“We are determined to support the school to do everything that is in our control, but we are not as able to influence what happens outside the school.”
Asked if the combined school model was forcing GSSC to tackle these issues because it had fewer options for difficult students, Mr Howes said GSSC was establishing a new school culture that nurtured and benefited every student.
“I don’t know if it is forcing us to, but we want to leave no stone unturned in making GSSC a success,” he said.
“Other schools have models of asking students to leave when things are difficult; we want invest to enable the school to deliver the best outcomes for all students.”
Does that mean the school will not expel students?
“We’re not saying that at all,” Mr Howes said.
The department is supporting staff to the “fullest extent possible” and recruiting additional staff with a particular focus on indigenous and multicultural workers. GSSC had targeted incentive funding to recruit specialist teachers and construction of the new single campus is ahead of schedule.
“Having staff who are representative of the communities is important, and we are looking at increasing indigenous and multicultural employment,” Mr Howes said.
“I am 100 per cent confident the experience for kids coming onto that site on day one next year will be breathtaking.”
More stories on Greater Shepparton Secondary College:
Parents fearful after week of violence
Two teenagers arrested over school assault
Greater Shepparton Secondary College needs more resources
Wanganui Campus teacher takes leave
