School Council

All government schools in Victoria have school councils.They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school. In the performance of their role, school councils are able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.  Within guidelines provided by the Department of Education and Training, the Footscray High School council has responsibilities for developing such things as:

  • the school strategic plan which sets out the main goals and priorities of the school for three years
  • the annual implementation plan which puts into practice the strategic plan
  • the school’s budget which shares out the available resources to make sure that the goals/targets of the strategic plan are carried out
  • the general educational policy of the school
  • the physical appearance and maintenance of the school’s buildings and grounds
  • the student code of conduct which provides a safe and orderly environment for learning
  • an annual report on the school’s achievements. 

Footscray High School Council meets eight times a year. If you want to attend a School Council meeting, have a matter to raise or want to find out more about the work of the School Council, please contact the School Council President or the general office.

Annual Reports

It is a legislative requirement that all Victorian government schools prepare an Annual Report by 30 April each year, for publication on the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority State Register.

The Annual Report provides principals and school councils with an opportunity to share the year’s achievements and progress with the school community. This includes reflecting on the school’s performance and explaining the impact of school improvement efforts on student outcomes.

Annual Reports are presented to the school community via a public meeting of the school council.

2024 Annual General Meeting is scheduled on the 20th August at 6.30pm at our Kinnear Campus.

Membership of School Council

Parents & Carers

Parent members must comprise more than one-third of the school council’s total membership. Parent members within this category are elected by parents of students currently at the school.

‘Parent’ includes a guardian or person with parental responsibility for the student. A parent of a student at the school who is a Department of Education and Training employee but does not work at or for the school is included in the Parent electorate. These parents are classified on school council as ‘DET parents’.

DET Employees

Members of the Department employee member category make up no more than one third of council membership according to the constituting Order.

Department employee members are elected by Department employees at the school (except for the principal who is an automatic Department employee member of school council as the council’s executive officer.)

Student Members

For all government schools with a Year 7 cohort and above, a mandated student member category (2 positions) is required.

Student members of school council have the same role and responsibilities as other council members including full voting rights. However, student members are not eligible to hold any office bearer position.

To be eligible to run in the student member category, that person must be a current student Footscray High School student. There is no minimum age requirement. These members are elected by all students enrolled at the FHS.

The Footscray High School Council

The Footscray High School Council is made up of elected and appointed members in four categories:

  • parents and carers (6 members)
  • principal, assistant principal, teachers and school staff (4 members)
  • students (2 members)
  • community members (up to 2 members)

Elections are held annually to fill vacancies for parent, student and teacher members.

The term of office for elected and co-opted members is not more than two years unless the term has been varied by a Ministerial Order. The term of office commences the day after the date of declaration of the poll and ends on the date of the declaration of the poll held two years later.

FHS School Council Standing Orders

DET School Council Policies

MEMBER NAMEMEMBER CATEGORY
Jillian EnglishDET Executive Officer
John BoxDET
Kellie CataneseDET
Carly ClementDET
Alison Langley Parent (President)
Liz JamesonParent (Vice President)
Kirsty Allen Parent
Mimma De LucaParent
Erika Jonsson Parent
Keith RandallParent
Herbie GrarockStudent
Simon TaylorCommunity
Sara Coward Community