Queensland President’s Report | Welcome

The 2017 program is packed full of professional development and networking opportunities, always providing a way for you to connect with the Queensland members. The special interest group (SIG) for Fundraising and Admissions kicked off the year and was a great success (featured further in this newsletter). The upcoming joint SIG is Alumni and Marketing to be held on 18 May at Redlands College. The PD event to be held on Thursday 1 June at Northside Christian College is open to all streams and we are pleased to announce Dr Dierdre Tian who works with ISQ will be presenting her findings on data trends “What is the latest data telling us about the future”

We have many more opportunities to come later in the year, but the one we are most excited about is the State Chapter Conference to be held at Churchie on Monday 18 September and Tuesday 19 September. The conference team have developed a cutting edge program filled to the brim with industry leaders and pioneering ideas, all of which will challenge the thinking of even our most experienced practitioners. Hearing the committee’s discussions and plans for the conference, I am thrilled by the innovative direction being taken by the team. We look forward to sharing more about this sensational event soon. The uptake on sponsorship for the conference has been encouraging and is vital to the success of our Chapter. I would like to thank and acknowledge both the Qld Chapter conference sponsors and organizational sponsors for their support. I encourage you to cast an eye over the list of sponsors and consider their business if you have a requirement at your school or institution.

Sponsorship is a wonderful opportunity for your suppliers to grow in the education sector. If you are aware of any stakeholders who would be interested in this opportunity, please ask them to email admin support to qld@educateplus.edu.au or email me directly on glendaf@brisbane.coc.edu.au

The full list of Chapter events can be viewed on the Educate plus website, we hope to see you sometime.

Have a super year!

Glenda Fitz-Payne F.Edplus
President – Qld Chapter | Board Director

Welcome new members

Welcome to our newest members in 2017!

Natalie	Cocks	Marketing Coordinator	Cooloola Christian College

Kelly	King	Administration Assistant	Brisbane Grammar School

Kylie	Cook	Acting Head of Marketing and Development	Brisbane Christian College

David	Reed	Business Manager	St Luke’s Anglican School

Thomas	Betts	Director	Thomas Betts Consulting

Darren	Lloyd	Academic Registrar	Christian Heritage College

Inma	Beaumont	Senior Manager, Alumni Relations, Development & Philanthropy	University of Queensland
Stephen	Holden	Senior Advancement Manager – Principal Gifts & Scholarships	University of Queensland
Maria	Figueiredo	Executive Coordinator (Advancement)	University of Queensland
Kamyra	Laurenson	Advancement Manager, BEL	University of Queensland
Colleeen	Harper	Donor Relations Manager (Acting)	University of Queensland
Kelsey	Gagnon	Donor Relations Officer	University of Queensland
Rebecca	Jackson	Alumni Support Officer	University of Queensland
Tara	Turner	Senior Advancement Manager – Institutional Giving	University of Queensland
Nina	Mullins	Senior Advancement Manager -Bequests	University of Queensland
Margaret	Hammer	Advancement Manager	University of Queensland

Jess	Freiberg	Marketing Officer	West Moreton Anglican College
Donna	Rogers	Director of Marketing (MBC)	Moreton Bay College & Moreton Bay Boy’s College
Kerry-Ann	Morrell	Marketing Coordinator, Pimpama Campus	King’s Christian College
Connie	Twyford	Events Coordinator	King’s Christian College

The value of attending networking events

Fundraising & Marketing SIG Thursday 20 April 2017:

Both gifts in wills presentation and the Admission “Using your data to inform strategic business decision in marketing” was time spent well away from your desk! We think our SIG events are unmissable, but hear it from our attendees….

“A couple of things that I got out of the session was:

Understanding the value of establishing a positive relationship with those connected with the school community.
How giving to the legacy of a school has intrinsic value and individuals have a desire to give back or be remembered for that support.
The importance of maintaining records regarding each element on the donor cycle.“

Dave Rosenthal, Community Development Manager, Ipswich Grammar School.

“I had not realised the extent of the work involved in maintaining relationships with donors who may change their wills 3-6 times after having made you a beneficiary! The PD was informative and very practical/applicable in nature. Thank you.”

Anthony Vassallo, Business Manager, Redeemer Lutheran College.

“Thank you for putting on an intensive class on Gifts in Wills. It is always beneficial to hear how other institutions are managing their bequestors and gifts in wills. Insights such as what we heard today are always valuable learnings and there is always a take home element to incorporate into your own program.”

Tiffany Hardy, Director of Development, Brisbane Boy’s College.

“I would like to congratulate you on hosting a superb Educate Plus function along with an insightful programme for Foundation participants. I appreciated the speakers sharing their knowledge and expertise on the world of Philanthropy. After hearing the Headmaster’s address one can understand the vitality that permeated through Citipointe’s campus today. Well done.”

Jennifer Garner, Foundation and OBA Administration Assistant, Anglican Church Grammar School.

Marketing SIG:

“A fantastic session with Amanda Houston from West Moreton Anglican College. A real open and honest presentation on enrolments from the ongoing demographic analysis in the area. Amanda also shared on what is working well out at West MAC which provided some great ideas and strategies for us to take back to our own schools.”

Kelly Booth, Assistant to the Registrar, Citipointe Christian College.

Save the Date: QLD upcoming events

18 May: Alumni & Marketing SIG – Redlands College 9am

1 June: All Pillars PD Day – Northside Christian College 9am

27 July: Fundraising & Admissions SIG – St Laurence’s College 9am

18-19 September: Chapter Conference for all Pillars- Anglican Church Grammar School

13 October: Alumni & Marketing SIG – St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace 1 – 3.30pm

10 November: All Pillars PD Day & AGM – Faith Lutheran College, Redlands 2pm (registrations opening soon)

We hope to see you some time during the year!

Register Now: Alumni and Marketing SIG – May 18

Please join members of the Queensland Chapter for the joint Special Interest Group meeting for Alumni and Marketing on 18 May at Redlands College. We will be running the two groups concurrently.

When: 18 May 9am – 11.30am

Where: Redlands College, 38 Anson Rd, Wellington Point.

Marketing SIG: Beth Kitson, Marketing Officer, Redlands College and Erin Sorrensen, Director of Marketing and Community, Ipswich Grammar School.

Your social media can be a marketing tool!

Alumni SIG: Sue Russell, Alumni Manager St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and David Miles, Old Boys’ Manager, Church of England Grammar School (Churchie) will lead a discussion on “Sharing your alumni stories with the school and wider community”.

Spotlight on Erin Sorrensen
Director of Marketing and Community, Ipswich Grammar School.
After a decade working in Media, Erin Sorrensen made the switch to Education almost two years ago utilising extensive sales and marketing skills to lead a team working across marketing, communications, admissions and development. Harnessing the power of social media as a marketing tool has seen a dramatic turnaround in engagement of both current and prospective families.

Parking: Parking is available on Anson Road, just before the Educare Child Care Centre, or in the dirt car park just off the roundabout. Please come to public reception first, and the meetings will be held in the library.

Click here for a map

We hope to see you there.

Qld Chapter PD day 1 June 2017

Join us for the QLD Professional Development day on June 1, where we will be discussing what the latest data is telling us about the future.

When: 1 June 9am-12pm
Where: Northside Christian College

The program:

Session One: 9.30am – 10.30am

Topic: What the latest data is telling us about the future:

Do you know your school demographics?

More and more data is driving our decisions in the market place, where are your customers coming from, where will you target your next marketing campaign. Dr Deidre Thian will be presenting analysis information that will discuss schools future requirements. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of how demographic analysis can benefit your school.

Guest speaker: Dr Dierdre Thian

Deidre is the Director of Education Facility Planning Pty. Ltd., a company with expertise in facility planning and school demographics. Deidre has a PhD in school planning and is an expert in the processes behind how schools and governments make decisions about facility needs and the role that demographics should play in underpinning decisions. She works across all sectors. Projects for the State government include undertaking the needs analysis to determine locations for kindergartens co located with schools as well as school closure assessments, while a recent project for the Catholic sector has included assessing need for secondary school places within Brisbane City. Deidre also carries out many studies for individual schools, analysing school catchment areas.

Since 1998 Deidre has been a consultant with ISQ on a part-time basis, providing statistical analysis of data.

Morning tea 10.30am – 11.00am

Session Two: 11.00am – 11.45am

Close by 12 noon

Click here for a map
Parking: TBA

Register now: QLD chapter conference

Registrations are now open for the 2017 Qld Chapter Conference to be held on 18 – 19^th September at the stunning Anglican Church Grammar School.

Conference Schedule:

Day 1: 8am registrations open

Keynote Speaker: Matthew Ames

Matthew Ames was 39 years old when what started as a sore throat resulted in the loss of all four of his limbs. He had contracted a streptococcal infection resulting in toxic shock and was never expected to survive. Matthew has now beaten the odds, spurred on by the fact that he is the father of four young children and husband of a very dedicated wife determined to grow old with him. Matthew has been an invited speaker to over 20+ events, had a number of media appearances and has been awarded Australia Day Ambassador (2015), Pride of Australia Award State Winner and National Finalist, Courage category (2013) and Father of the Year Award finalist (2013). Website: www.renovatingmatthew.com Twitter: @renovatingmatt

Sessions covering all pillars will run from 9am -5.30pm concluding with the Conference Awards.

6 – 8pm: Cocktail Networking drinks

8pm: Conference dinner at the Norman Hotel (register now for the dinner, pay on the night)

Day 2: 8am registrations open

Keynote Speaker: Lynne Schinella

Speaking with confidence is Lynne’s day job.Her speaking invitations put her in front of audiences of all types all over the world. Lynne presents to Boards, to executive committees, at business workshops and to hundreds of delegates at corporate conferences.
Lynne is also a teacher of speakers who is called on to coach C-level executives for critical business presentations and keynote speeches.
But Lynne’s true value in this space goes beyond her decades of experience. Through her desire to constantly learn and grow as a professional speaker, Lynne is able to continually put her teaching into practice. Her coaching for speakers is current and real – it reflects what she sees and hears as well as what she does.

She learns it, lives it, shares it.

A full program will be available soon on the conference website.

Sessions covering all pillars will run from 9am – 3pm concluding with a closing message from Glenda Fitz-Payne F.Edplus President – Qld Chapter | Board Director

Educate plus QUT scholarship awardee: Catherine Williams from QLD

About the Scholarship:

The Educate Plus ACPNS Scholarship is designed to assist members of Educate Plus to undertake study through The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) to further their careers and enhance their contribution to the Australasian education and nonprofit sectors.

Congratulations to Catherine, Director of Development, Faith Lutheran College Redlands to be awarded the Educate plus QUT scholarship in 2017.

A note from Catherine,

“It is my great honour to be awarded the Educate Plus Scholarship 2017 for my postgraduate studies in Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at QUT.

When I thought about enrolling at QUT, I did not know of this scholarship, it was a chance conversation with Glenda Fitz Payne who informed me of its existence. For many years I have dreamed of going to university but the cost held me back. At the beginning of this year I decided to apply to be a student at QUT and apply for the Educate Plus Scholarship.

On my first day at QUT, I felt like any other student, excited, a little scared, not quiet knowing what to expect and a tear of joy that I was here. I also took a few selfies with the QUT sign. In my application I wrote – I have the passion, I have the drive and now I need the knowledge. That is what this scholarship is giving me, the opportunity for knowledge.

I would like to thank the Qld Educate Plus Executive who created this scholarship with QUT. Please know that it has changed my life. I look forward, with excited anticipation, to the two years of study ahead of me, without the huge financial burden hanging over me.

I am also looking forward to a continued close and proactive relationship with Educate Plus.”

Catherine Williams

Want to know more about this scholarship? click here

Old school apps leaking private information

Most schools are unaware that their school app lacks important data security, meaning anyone worldwide has access to student, parent and school’s private information and pictures, which is cause for alarm.

MGM Wireless has released a new app called School Star to combat this and other critical problems found with all older school apps. They guarantee that all school communication reaches all users – even those that don’t have the school app installed on their smart device.

In 2002, MGM Wireless invented and pioneered School SMS solutions. Now with over 1400 school clients, 1.7 million parent and student users and 15 years in business, there is no other experienced and trusted provider of school communications in Australia.

The most effective way to deliver school communications to parents is on their mobile phone, and there are many ways to achieve this, such as; phone calls, mobile websites, email newsletters, emails, social media, SMS and apps.

Here are some alarming facts:

99 per cent of schools that are using other school communication apps, other than School Star, have no idea that the app is insecure, (to verify this for yourself, download any school app from Apple or Google Play and you will be able to access sensitive information and pictures stored from any school you choose;)
Other apps only rely on mobile data to deliver messages, so if mobile data fails, messages won’t be delivered, this also includes social media apps like; Facebook ,Whats App, We Chat and others;
Some people don’t use apps, so they will never receive messages if sent via an app;
In an emergency ‘lock down’ situation it’s difficult to notify parents via other school apps, phone call or social media without causing public alarm, in this situation, an email would also be too slow;
School’s private information, messages, news, student photographs, and parents’ names are public using all other school apps, which can be damaging to the school’s brand, students, parents and alumni.

CEO of MGM Wireless, Mark Fortunatow says,

IT’S AMAZING THAT MOST SCHOOLS ARE TOTALLY UNAWARE THAT ANYONE CAN DOWNLOAD AND ACCESS SENSITIVE SCHOOL INFORMATION LIKE STUDENT NAMES, PICTURES, PARENTS NAMES, SCHOOL NEWS AND MUCH MORE. IT’S JUST WRONG. SCHOOL’S RISK EXPOSURE IS MASSIVE AND IT’S A DIRECT BREACH OF STUDENT, PARENT AND SCHOOL PRIVACY LAWS.

The other key difference between School Star and other school apps on the market is that others only rely on mobile data to send and receive messages. The exciting thing about School Star is that in the event of a mobile data outage, School Star will ‘Auto Switch’ to SMS messaging, meaning messages will always be delivered to every registered user’s mobile phone, even if mobile data is disabled and even if they haven’t installed the app. “We don’t know of any other message provider that has these abilities”, Fortunatow says.

However SMS messaging still remains the only reliable way to ensure messages are delivered. It works on all phones because it cannot be disabled. So, for more urgent communications like, informing parents of student absences or emergencies, SMS capability is crucial.

School Star also allows school staff to see which parents are using the app, and which news articles and messages they are reading and “like’’ most. This gives schools the data and feedback to further refine and improve their communication and engagement strategies.

Important Facts Schools Should Know About School Star:

The School Star app is 100 per cent secure (meaning the sensitive information stored can never be accessed without the school’s permission;)

School Star offers 2-way in-app messaging with ‘Auto Switchover’ to 2-way SMS delivery (this means schools, parents, students and carers can receive and respond to messages at all times;)

Auto Switchover technology ensures that even if parents, students or carers don’t have the School Star app installed they will always receive an SMS message with important information;

School Star provides the school with data on who is using the app (this allows schools to see the name of the person using the app and what they’re using it for;)

The app includes analytics and graph tools, storing data on click through rates and user engagement (this is a great way to see if the school is reaching readers with the messages and content shared;)

Parents can choose to read posts in any language, always making communication accessible (ideal for students with family overseas;)

Student safety is paramount, if a student does not attend school with permissions; parents or carers are immediately notified via app or SMS message using a customised message based on individual circumstances;

School Star’s unique features allow users to configure the app, allowing a highly personalised experience, resulting in better user engagement.

Free consultation for Educate Plus Members

Contact MGM Wireless to book your complimentary 1-hour consultation to discuss and review your school’s communication and parent engagement process.

Fundraising: 7 last-minute improvements to your annual appeal

You are nearly set to go with your annual appeal letter. Here are seven simple improvements you can make to raise more money, suggested by AskRIGHT fundraising consultants.

1. Launch

Phone your top 20 donors and invite them to attend a small reception to launch the annual appeal. Indicate you are asking them because of their previous support, and that you will ask them to make the annual appeal response before the launch as the Principal can announce a “Gifts so far” total at the launch. Ask Board members and senior staff to attend also and to make early responses.

2. Phone

The week before mailing, phone your best 100 donors from last year to tell them you really appreciated their support for the last appeal, and ask them to look out for the appeal in the mail next week.

3. Email

Email all those not contacted for launch or by phone, and tell them you really appreciated their support for the last appeal, and ask them to look out for the appeal in the mail next week

4. Match

Try to find a donor, or get internal agreement for internal funds to match donations from a certain group of donors (perhaps last year’s school-leavers). Let the group know that donations made by a specific date will be matched. This is a good way to get first-time donors.

5. Thank

Build the culture of philanthropy within the school or college by the easiest job of all, thanking people. Set up phones in the staff common room for one hour of phoning after school. Simple scripts: “I am … . I am phoning to thank you for your support of the school and our students through the annual appeal. It is really appreciated.” Accept pledges of further support if offered.

6. Record

Finish the thank-you phone call with “Do you mind telling me what motivates you to support the school?” Write down the answers and record it on the database on each individual record. When you review the annual appeal results, analyse the motivations, and use these to inform next year’s appeal.

7. Persist

Build in come reminders – don’t just rely on the initial request, and make you motto “no donor left behind.” Keep contacting the donors from the last two annual appeals until you get either “Yes” or “Hell, no”.

When it is all over:

Plan to test any changes to next year’s appeal before full implementation;
Write into the EducatePlus Queensland newsletter and let your colleagues know how you went.

AskRIGHT fundraising consultants have more than 100-year combined experience. Since 2004, AskRIGHT has helped many schools raise more money for their important project. Visit the AskRIGHT blog for more articles on fundraising and to talk to a fundraising consultant about your strategy and challenges.