Three representatives from the Northern Territory Principals Association (NTPA) participated in the Australian Secondary Principals' Association (ASPA) National Educational Summit held in Canberra on March 24-25. Vice President Joe Hewitt, Central Chapter Chair Joanne Alford and President Carolyn Edwards joined secondary principals and invited guests at Parliament House Great Hall for meaningful discussions on critical issues affecting secondary education across Australia.

Key Themes Explored

The summit focused on three main areas crucial to the future of Australian secondary education:

Flourishing Students

Discussions centred on equipping students to thrive in our rapidly changing world. Participants explored innovative assessment approaches, new learning models, and emerging technologies to create more inclusive and engaging learning environments. The conversations addressed how curriculum and support systems can better respond to diverse student needs while preparing them for future work and life demands. Participants also tackled issues of wellbeing, educational advantage, inclusion, diversity and equitable access to quality education.

Strengthening Leadership

Recognising that effective school leadership drives positive change and creates thriving learning environments, attendees discussed redesigning the contemporary principalship to create a more sustainable and fulfilling profession. Conversations focused on better supporting principal wellbeing and empowering school leaders to effectively manage their complex responsibilities.

Transforming Systems

This theme examined the critical role of equitable funding and effective regulatory models in shaping educational outcomes. Participants shared insights on moving beyond short-term political cycles toward long-term educational planning, developing more holistic approaches to measuring school success, and reorganizing schooling systems to enable flexible learning pathways that sustain school communities.

The summit aimed to shape an ambitious agenda for building a world-leading public education system that prioritises equity of opportunity for every Australian student while strengthening the capacity of school communities to lead this important work.

"I recently attended the ASPA conference at Parliament House in Canberra, where I was inspired by discussions on the future of secondary education, particularly the need for change in assessment and curriculum. There was a strong consensus that we must rethink traditional approaches to better support the growth and agency of young people, especially those disadvantaged by their postcode and the outdated structures of education.

Another key discussion focused on principal wellbeing, with ACU presenting alarming findings. While principals are deeply passionate about their work, it often comes at a significant personal cost. The conversation raised more questions than answers, such as: What does trust in principals truly look like? How do we acknowledge and value the emotional labour of school leaders? And how can we ensure principals feel included in decision-making rather than having policies imposed on them? These are critical challenges that require greater collaboration and thoughtful solutions."

Joanne Alford, Principal Centralian Senior College, NTPA Central Chapter Chair