President’s Report

In what feels like a blink of an eye, can you believe it is March already? By now the working reality of the year ahead, with all the associated pressures and time constraints, will be firmly resting on your shoulders. There are always smarter ways to work, and the beauty of Educate Plus is that we can explore what works best, together. I am pleased to report the organisation continues to grow, and WA alone is reaching beyond the 200-member mark, new territory for our Chapter.

Our 2017 program is packed full of professional development and networking opportunities, providing channels for us to connect, share and learn together. A joint Alumni and Community Relations + Fundraising Special Interest Group held on Friday 24 February at Edith Cowan University’s Mount Lawley Campus, has kicked off the year. Attendees explored trends in Advancement and working collaboratively. Special Interest Groups will also be held for Admissions at Presbyterian Ladies’ College on Friday 17 March and Marketing and Communications at Perth College on Wednesday 5 April. We are also excited to announce a PD event on: How to gain a better understanding of what your data can do for you. Open to all streams, this event will be held on Wednesday 10 May at the Boulevard Centre in Floreat.

We have many more opportunities to come later in the year, but the one we are most excited about is the State Chapter Conference currently scheduled for Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 September. The Conference Committee is ably led by Margo Bastow, an experienced conference convenor who is the Director of Community Relations at Santa Maria College. Margo and the team are developing 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. If you would like to join the Conference Committee and help shape the direction of the State Conference, please contact me via my details below.

It is about this time of year that a good number of our members receive membership renewal notices from Head Office. As you consider your membership, I would like to remind you about the revised membership structures for Educate Plus with the inclusion of Institutional Membership. If there are three or more staff working in Advancement within your institution or school, Institutional Membership will give you three Full Memberships and an unlimited number of Associate Memberships. Effectively allowing you to sign up your entire Advancement team for the cost of three memberships.

The support we receive from our sponsors is vital to the success of our organisation and I would like to thank and acknowledge both the WA and organisational sponsors. 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.

I hope 2017 is proving to be an amazing year and I look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon. This is your organisation, so I encourage you to give me a call on the number below if you would like to discuss Educate Plus and any ideas you wish to share.

David Williams F.Edplus
WA Chapter President
Tel: 9377 8522
Email: david.williams@ggs.wa.edu.au

Report – JOINT Alumni and Community Relations + Fundraising Special Interest Group

Photo: Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley Campus, hosts for this SIG session

Our 2017 program of Special Interest Groups started strongly with a joint meeting for those working in Alumni and Community Relations, and Fundraising. This meeting took the form of a collaborative workshop on the value of Advancement professionals working together and the challenges faced. Members of the group identified a number of issues impacting them in the workplace, before deciding which of the most pressing issues would be discussed during this session.

Those present were divided into four teams and each team worked through one of the following key issues.

Key Issues:

        a. Where does engagement end and fundraising start?
        b. What is the value of being part of the alumni community?
        c. How to engage young alumni?
        d. Change management

To conclude the session, each team then shared their insight with the broader group, which generated further discussion.

Our gratitude goes to Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley Campus, for hosting this session.

We also thank the following participants for sharing their valuable experiences.

Participants:

Rob Blandford, The University of Western Australia
Ruth Brisbane, Murdoch University
Anna Eisenhauer, Curtin University
Amy Hold, Edith Cowan University
Jysae Hooper, Curtin University
Yoke Lim, Edith Cowan University
Ann Lopez, La Salle College
Sabrina Lynsdale, La Salle College
Lauren Major, Methodist Ladies’ College
Jessica Matta, Edith Cowan University
Clara Millet, Murdoch University
Jenn Parsons, The University of Western Australia
Kim Phan, The University of Western Australia
David Williams, Guildford Grammar School

2017 Calendar of Events

Save the date for these upcoming events. We would love to see you there.
If you would like to host a Special Interest Group for your sector, please contact Natalie Swannell via Natalie.Swannell@pc.wa.edu.au

Chapter Events

Marketing and Communications Special Interest Group

Our first Marketing and Communication Special Interest Group for the year is an opportunity for members to meet fellow education marketers, and to share your own experiences and suggestions across a range of topics. Afternoon tea will be served.

RSVP: Register via the link by Friday 31 March or to Natalie Swannell natalie.swannell@pc.wa.edu.au

Your 2017 WA Chapter Committee

Becoming a committee member for the Educate Plus WA Chapter is a voluntary role, and many hours go into planning and executing events, communications and programs for our WA practitioners.

We are pleased that a number of members have signed up for another year representing the Chapter, and are also thrilled to welcome some new faces to the Committee.

2017 WA Chapter Committee:

Welcome new WA members!

We are happy to announce a diverse mix of our newest 2017 members:

Tony Fisher  – Promotions & Public Relations Manager – Lake Joondalup Baptist College
Sally Yeomans – College Registrar – Lake Joondalup Baptist College
Lee Krug –  Business & Finance Manager – Lake Joondalup Baptist College

Karen Russell – Project Officer – Peter Moyes Anglican Community School
Sue Webb – Enrolments Officer – Peter Moyes Anglican Community School

Julie Carlton – Community Relations Manager – Helena College

Emma Gray – Marketing & Communications Officer – St Stephen’s School
Gayle Pieterse – Registrar – St Stephen’s School

Ruth Brisbane – Prizes Officer – Murdoch University
Vanessa Beal – Brand Marketer – Murdoch University
Jenny Alder – Retail Sales Supervisor – Murdoch University
Kristin Mannix – Development & Planned Giving Officer – Murdoch University
Clara  Millet – Scholarships Officer – Murdoch University
Alexandra Stewart – Administrative Officer, Alumni Relations – Murdoch University
Will Perera – Interim Director of Advancement – Murdoch University
Pamela Davenport – Financial Administrative Officer – Murdoch University
Michelle Di Lello – Development Officer – Murdoch University

Jiaranai Keatnuxsuo – Strategy & Data Officer – St Catherine’s College UWA
Conor McLaughlin – Marketing Officer – St Catherine’s College UWA
Lucy Borrill – Marketing Creative – St Catherine’s College UWA
Brooke Peden – Alumni Data Coordinator – St Catherine’s College UWA