Summit explores women's leadership in schools

In Australia, only 40% of principals are women, compared to 62% of teachers.

The Australian Schools Women’s Leadership Summit is an interactive and collaborative online event for women at all levels of school leadership.

It draws together respected educators and thought leaders, and is designed to enable women in education to connect, share experiences and build their leadership capacity.

It will be held on Friday, 3 June from 8.30 am–4 pm AEST by Women & Leadership Australia, in collaboration with the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute.

“For women in particular, under-representation in leadership roles continues to impede career progression. Women are less likely to identify leadership aspirations, less likely to have female mentors and role models, and less likely to receive recognition and rewards that assist with them in gaining promotion. Women are also less likely to have an uninterrupted career path, which disadvantages them in gaining promotion,” said Suzi Finkelstein, CEO of Women & Leadership Australia.

With the pandemic placing extraordinary demands on school leaders grappling with unprecedented disruptions, immense COVID-related pressures and increased workload, the summit will also provide an opportunity for attendees to reflect on key challenges and assist them in developing strategies to strengthen their leadership practices.

“During the pandemic, schools, school leaders and teachers have had to substantially adapt their modes of delivery by offering various combinations of face-to-face, online and blended versions of learning and teaching. This has resulted in teachers experiencing extremely high levels of stress, work overload, burnout, and challenges to their health and mental health. As the COVID surges and changing rules have continually shifted the goalposts for schools, this has created ongoing uncertainty and overwhelm,” said Janet Smith, Program Director of Women & Leadership Australia.

The summit will feature inspirational keynote presentations, expert workshops, panel discussions, participant breakout sessions and online discussion forums.

Additionally, Aboriginal Elder, renowned artist, activist, writer and public speaker Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM will be accepting her recently announced Northern Territory Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership during the summit. In 1975, she became the Northern Territory’s first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/WavebreakmediaMicro