President’s Welcome

For the many of us, things are getting closer to normal with schools already back and universities hopefully returning in semester two. Residential Colleges numbers, I hope, are on their way back up to normal, …… but what is the new normal?

I know that I, during this time, have needed to be more:

agile
creative
succinct with communication
strategic

We have changed! So, what are we going to keep and what are we leaving behind? Is your institution looking at this?

Educate Plus certainly won’t be going entirely back to where they were. With the overwhelming success of the use of Zoom for professional development and SIGS, the use of the technology will continue. The opportunity to network with other members from all over Australia and New Zealand has been fabulous. The diversity and volume of offerings has been incredible. With volunteers running the Chapter, this alone has taken the pressure off trying to find diverse presenters.

A huge thank you to Sheila in Head Office who coordinates the Zoom activity and holds our hands while we get familiar with this new technology. Our Facebook Ads webinar with Mara Roberts has had the highest attendance nationally, and Susie Gill’s Admissions SIG brought a national crowd. Thank you to both of these presenters for doing such a great job and sharing their knowledge.

While Zoom has been great, we still need face to face networking opportunities and with restrictions lifting third term (late July onwards) will see some events planned for this purpose. We will keep you posted!

In the meantime, stay safe and stay connected with Educate Plus.

Margo Bastow
WA Chapter President

Guidelines for Configuring Zoom Safely and Securely

Article from TechSoup NZ, Submitted by Sam Lloyd

As organisations increase the use of remote work tools, Zoom usage has skyrocketed. With this, some basic flaws in Zoom’s native and default security have come to light, along with increased concern over privacy. In response to this, Zoom has worked to improve its security and privacy policies.

For most usage, Zoom is safe. However, there may be times when it is necessary to gauge the sensitivity of the content of the meeting and either configure Zoom to be more secure or choose another tool altogether. Below are some ways to configure Zoom for particular use cases.

Use the guide on this page to configure your Zoom account to both maximise your privacy and optimize your experience for different types of remote meetings at your organisation.

Educate Plus Resources

Due to many contributing factors, new technology, the move to working from home, the present threat of COVID-19, Educate Plus has looked at alternative options to provide our members with the information they need in a supportive environment – a flexible learning and sharing space. We are now offering some of our PD via webinar, which is also recorded for those members who cannot attend at that time and shared as an online resource.

The response to these has been nothing short of incredible, with around 2300 registrations for the various webinars and online training received to date. Not only have these provided a live opportunity for PD, but each has been recorded and uploaded into our Knowledge bank on the website.

“Thanks for the superb series of webinars. These have been most informative and have kept me feeling part of the advancement community.”
Sonia Brennan Wenona

If you would like to view any of these, simply click on one of the links below. Note: These recordings are only available to members and you must log in to our website to view. Read member testimonials here.

Webinars to date:

Leading others through change	SEO for not-for-profit organisations	Managing yourself through change	Facebook Advertising workshops
TAX – DGR guidelines	Videos in isolation	Admissions leading practice in current times	Admissions engagement strategies
DIY Videos	How to find people on LinkedIn and Online	Marketing growth through the COVID crisis	Fundraising essentials in a COVID-19 world
Enquiry Tracker Admissions	Donor and Prospect Research in NZ	Managing the admissions process remotely	How to use video to maximise engagement

SIG’s to date:

Admissions WA	Alumni VIC/TAS	Fundraising: Coffee & Conversation	Engaging with Alumni and Donors in a crisis
Fundraising: Annual Giving ‘Show and Tell’	VIC/TAS Online Alumni SIG	VIC/TAS Online Fundraising SIG	NSW/ACT Alumni & Community Relations
Best practice in fundraising outreach and communications during Covid-19

All of these events are also offered as as audio recording/podcast if you would prefer to listen than watch a video through the podcast page.

Welcome to new members

A warm welcome to all our new members. We are delighted to have you among us and would like to extend our warmest welcome and good wishes! We can’t wait to see all that you accomplish from being part of our Educate Plus family where you get to share ideas, take advantage of new learning experiences and ask questions of your peers. Congratulations and on behalf of all the members, we are all happy and excited about your input and contribution to our organisation.

Molly Atterton I Marketing Coordinator I Wesley College
Tanya Brooks I Fundraising Coordinator I Penrhos College
Lexi Costello I Registrar & Alumni Officer I Sacred Heart College
Michelle Cronin I Community Relations Officer I Foundation Christian College
Denise Fry I Media Coordinator I Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School
Sharon Gamble I Administration Officer I St George’s Anglican Grammar School
David Kyle I Director of Admissions, Engagement and Communications I Scotch College
Samantha Leung I Digital Marketing and Publications Coordinator I Scotch College
Ilse Lorenzen I Head of Admissions I Methodist Ladies’ College
Caroline Risah I Alumni and Foundation Assistant I Perth College
Nicola Russell I Admissions Officer I St George’s Anglican Grammar School
Samantha Scott I Manager of Prospective Students I Scotch College
Louise Sheehan I Marketing and Events Officer I Emmanuel Catholic College
Lizzie Warburton I EA to Director of School Development and philanthropy I St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls

Featured member – David Kyle

David Kyle, Director of Admissions, Engagement and Communication at Scotch College, Perth

1. How long have you been in your new position and where have you come from?

I have come from the classroom! I arrived at Scotch College in 2014 and have been a Humanities Teacher as well as holding roles as a House Head and most recently, the Director of Service and Citizenship. Prior to Scotch, I taught at Friends Seminary in New York City and St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth.

2. What are you enjoying most about this position?

It is all new for me, so I am enjoying learning about new areas and bringing a teacher’s perspective to the role. The collegiality amongst professionals in the area has been very welcome and the options for professional development (particularly online) too.

3. What has been you biggest challenge during COVID-19?

Both my wife and I have been extremely busy during Covid-19. She moved to full time from three days and I have stepped into a new role, so we have found the juggle of a young family while building a house to be quite challenging. At Scotch, the move to Scotch College Online Teaching (SCOT) was extremely well managed but our school is a busy place with extensive community involvement and missing events and the people that make them happen has been disappointing for everyone.

4. Who would you like to have lunch with and where?

Ernest Shackleton, Barack Obama and Jim Collins at the Quokka Arms.

5. Motto or person mantra?

Never waste a moment.

Featured Member – Laura Kendall

Laura Kendall, Director of Marketing at Emmanuel Catholic College, Perth

How long have you been in your new position and where have you come from?

I started at Emmanuel Catholic College at the beginning of the 2020 school year. My background is in marketing, community relations and engagement, across not-for-profit, government and more recently schools. Prior to Emmanuel, I was at Iona Presentation College for 6 years in their Community Relations Team.
What are you enjoying most about this position?

The staff at Emmanuel is very supportive and welcoming. I have really enjoyed getting to know a new staff cohort and learning all their interesting stories. The passion and enthusiasm our staff put into their teaching is incredibly inspirational and to have the privilege of sharing those moments with our wider Emmanuel community certainly makes coming to work each day easy. I am also enjoying looking at the marketing and communications of the College from a more strategic point of view and finding to ways we can continually improve the journey our students and families undertake with us, from enrolment through to Alumni.
What has been your biggest challenge during COVID-19?

Keeping connection and effective communication with our community was our priority during COVID-19. Navigating this, whilst only being a few weeks into the position, certainly provided for a quick learning path!
Who would you like to have lunch with and where?

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister seems to be so open, honest, positive and kind in her leadership of NZ. She doesn’t always take the easy path and is not afraid to speak her mind, she is very inspirational. I’m not hugely into politics, but I’d love to talk to her about all things communication, her empathetic leadership style and being a woman. As for location, I think it would be pretty powerful to be in the NZ Parliament Building to really get a feel for how Jacinda interacts with and commands respect from her peers.
Motto or person mantra?

As a family with two young boys, our family values are Be Kind, Be Caring, Be Courageous, Be You.