This year the conference is designed for both teaching and non-teaching staff, with the theme:
Who are we becoming?
For the first time since COVID-19, the WA State Conference will be gathering, in person, at a one-day event in 2024. This will be a celebration and a great opportunity for all our school staff across the state to gather for celebration, collaboration, learning, and networking. Due to the large numbers within our WA member schools, the conference will be held across two venues.
Venues:
- North Perth Location ~ Kingsway Christian College, 157 Kingsway, Darch WA 6065
- South Perth Location ~ Kennedy Baptist College, Farrington Road, Murdoch WA 6150
Program, Theme and Content
Who are we becoming?
Sessions include the following topics. Order may vary as to the location.
The Cultural Compass: What’s Shaping Identity?
In order to effectively speak into the lives of young people with the biblical story, we need to understand how the influences of the broader culture are forming us. This session will explore the pervading ‘cultural stories’ which are shaping us and the young people in our schools. It will ask the questions, ‘What are we being told about who we are and what we should desire, and what impact is this having on identity formation in our cultural moment?’
Understanding our formation in the light of the Biblical story
Formation occurs within the context of story. Stories help to form our identity, meaning and purpose, and allow us to make sense of our place in the world. They provide a vision of who we are, why we are here, where we are going and what constitutes the good life. The story we live out of becomes the lens through which we see, interpret and engage with the world around us. This session will explore how the biblical story provides a compelling alternative to our culture and how it reshapes our imagination around identity and purpose.
From formation to transformation: a practical approach
In a culture of competing narratives that seek to shape us, Christian schools have the opportunity to invite students to know, understand, imagine, embody and expand God’s story. This session will introduce a practical, whole school approach to being intentional in the creation of opportunities which enable people to find their own story within the bigger story of God’s kingdom.
How to Register
To register your school for this event, simply follow the steps below by Friday 14 June 2024.
- Create an excel spreadsheet with the details of all staff who will be attending the conference. Please remember to exclude from your spreadsheet any staff who will be on leave or will not be working on the day of the conference (to avoid being charged for staff who are unable to attend). The spreadsheet should have the following columns:
- First Name
- Last Name
- School email address
- Dietary requirements: Gluten free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian or Vegan (or any combination of these).
- Click on the register button, which will open an email for you to attach the completed spreadsheet of information. Please also advise which venue your school will be attending (North or South) in the registration email.
- Once received, a confirmation email from our WA office will be sent to you, as well as an invoice for the event costs.
Please note that only the dietary requirements listed above can be catered for. Staff who have any other dietary requirements will need to make arrangements to bring their own food on the day of the event. We are able to provide a discount for the event for these specific staff members.
The conference is suitable for all staff (teaching and non-teaching), and the registration cost of $75 +GST, per person, includes catering for the day, as well as all session materials and information.
Please reach out to Lili Croote on [email protected] if you have any queries.
Speakers
Mark Ryan
Mark Ryan has been part of the CSA team since 2019 in the role of Executive Officer, SA. Mark has previous experience in leadership roles at Temple Christian College and has degrees in both education and theology. He has also held pastoral roles in a number of churches. Mark serves as a Director on the Board of Compass and with such an excellent grasp of biblical literacy, worldview and its application to culture, learning and vocation, is well-placed to lead CSA's national portfolio of, Christian Formation.
Rev Dr Melinda Cousins
Melinda is the Director of Ministries (State Leader) for Baptist Churches of South Australia. She served as a local church pastor for 15 years, and as a lecturer in Biblical Studies at Tabor for 10 years, where she taught Old Testament, New Testament and Biblical Languages, as well as leading study tours to Israel. Prior to her current appointment, she served the Baptist movement in SA in the areas of global mission, and in training and accreditation of pastors.
Melinda completed her PhD through Charles Sturt University in 2016 after receiving a Public and Contextual Theology scholarship. Her thesis is titled “Pilgrim Theology: Worldmaking through Enactment of the Psalms of Ascents (Ps 120-134)” and considers the role of emotions, imagination, and embodiment in engaging with the Scriptures.
Melinda’s two great passions are God’s Word and God’s world – particularly, hearing how God has spoken and continues to speak to us; and seeing people respond by worshiping Jesus in their own unique cultural contexts. She has taught Old Testament intensives in Zambia, China, and Indonesia. She loves to travel any chance she gets and is hoping to continue adding to her current tally of 50 countries visited.
Dr Steve McCready
Steve is the Senior Minister at Riverview Church, in Perth. Originally from Belfast, where he led the work of Youth for Christ Northern Ireland, Steve lived and ministered with his family for ten years in Canada, serving large Baptist churches in the roles of executive and senior pastor. Steve and his family moved to Australia in 2021 to join the leadership team at Riverview.
Although resident in Australia, Steve has maintained his connection to North America, through his seminary work with Kairos University, where he works as faculty, guiding MDiv and DMin students through their programs. He currently supports the educational journey of pastors in Canada, the USA, Kenya, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
His passion for learning has recently taken Steve into a Doctor of Theology program where he is focusing his studies on the restoration of theologically informed leadership in large churches.
Steve is married to Rebecca, a primary teacher, and has two children. The McCready family has three citizenships (UK, Ireland, Canada), a passion for travel and adventure, and a shared love of sunsets and walks on the beach.
Qualify for CPD Hours
At the conclusion of this event, a certificate of professional learning, for self-accreditation, will be made available to participants, via your member dashboard. The event will address the following AITSL standards and Christian Distinctive Focus areas:
AITSL Professional Teacher and Leadership Standards:
» 6.2 Engage in Professional Learning and Improve Practice
» 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice
» 6.4 - Apply professional learning and improve student learning
» 7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities
Christian Distinctive Focus Areas:
» 6A Engage in professional learning which aids the development of a philosophy of Christian Education based in Biblical principles
» 7A Knowledge about and engagement with the school, its Christian ethos and vision
» 7B Contributes to the development of distinctive Christian practice in the school, profession and wider community
Want to learn more about the CSA Christian Distinctive Focus areas? Click here.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be made in writing to the Event Organiser. Unfortunately, no refunds will be issued after 14 days out from the event. Any cancellations made after this date will be charged the full registration fee. 'No Shows' to the event will be charged the full registration fee.
Please note that registration fees do not include insurance to cover loss of any fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the event or through cancellation of the event itself. A full refund will be issued if the event is cancelled by the organiser (CSA) due to any reasons out of the organisers control.
The event program is subject to change and we may not be able to provide prior notice.
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