School Council Elections are held each year. Thomastown West Primary School is calling for Nominations for the 2026 School Council. A  Schedule 3 2026 Notice of Election, a nomination form and some frequently asked questions about School Council are included below. There are a  number of  vacancies so I hope you will consider supporting the school by joining School Council.

Would you like to  know more about School Council:

✅ It is a legally formed body that is given powers to set the key directions of a school.

✅ Is the major governing body of the school

✅ Plays an important role in school accountability and  improvement processes

✅ Endorses the key school planning, evaluation and reporting documents

✅ All School Council decision-making takes place within a framework of legislated powers, Ministerial Orders, directions, guidelines and Department of Education policy objectives

✅ Assist in the efficient governance of the school

✅ Ensure students’ best interests are primary

✅ Enhance the educational opportunities for students

✅ Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulations Fundamental Function Establish the broad direction and vision of the school within the school's community

✅ Participate in the development and monitoring of the school strategic plan

✅ Develop, review and update school policies

✅ Develop, review and monitor the Student Engagement Policy and the School Dress Code

✅ Raise funds for school-related purposes

✅ Approve the annual budget and monitor expenditure

✅ Maintain the school’s grounds and facilities

✅ Enter into contracts (e.g. cleaning, construction work)

✅ Report annually to the school community and to the Department of Education.

✅ Generally, stimulate interest in the school in the wider community

Schedule 3

 2026 Notice of Election and Call for Nominations for School Council

An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Thomastown West Primary School.

✅ Notice of election and call for nominations Tuesday 24^th February 2026

✅ Nomination forms may be obtained from the school.

✅ Closing date for nominationsTuesday 3rd March 2026 by 3.00pm

✅Date by which the list of candidates will be share with the school community 6^th March 2026

✅ If a ballot is necessary, date by which ballot papers will be prepared and distributed 9^th March 2026

✅ Close of ballot 16^th March 2026

✅ Vote count 17-19^th March 2026

✅ Inform the school community of the outcomes of the election 20^th March 2026

✅ School Council Meeting 24^th March 2026

The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows:

If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school.

Sandi Young

Principal

The categories of membership explained:

1. A mandated elected Parent category - more than one-third of the total members must be from  this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent  members at their child's school as long as they are not engaged in work at the school.
2. A mandated elected DET employee category - members of this category may make up no more than one-third of the total membership of School Council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.
3. An optional Community member category - members are co-opted by a decision of the council  because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be  Community members.

Generally, the term of office for all members is two years. The term of office of half the members expires each year, creating vacancies for the annual School Council elections.

Why is Parent membership so important?

Parents on School Councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the    direction of the school.

 Those parents who become active on a School Council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

How can you become involved?

The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant. This way you have input into who will be representing you.  

The other way is to nominate yourself or nominate someone you would like to see on School Council.

School Council Elections 2026

Schedule 5A: Self-nomination Form for Parent Member Category

I wish to declare my candidacy for an elected position as a parent/guardian representative on the Thomastown West Primary School Council.

Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Residential address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Home telephone: ………………………………   Business telephone ……………………………

Email: …………………………………………………………………………………………………...………

I am the parent/guardian of …………………………………who is/are currently enrolled at this school.

I am an employee of the Department of Education.      Yes / No (please circle)

I am prepared to serve as a Parent member of the above-named School Council.

I hereby declare that I am not an undischarged bankrupt and that I am not currently serving a sentence for an indictable offence.

Signature of Candidate ……………………………………………………  Date      /     /

You will be notified when your nomination has been received.

✅ Personal information provided in this form is collected as part of the School Council election
nomination process. The information may be used to determine your eligibility as a candidate. Your personal information may be disclosed as a result of inspection prior to the commencement of voting or at any time up to one year from the declaration of the poll.

✅ Your name will be included in a list of School Council candidates and nominators (where applicable) posted in a prominent position at the school and for candidates, on a ballot paper (where applicable).

✅ You can access your personal information by contacting the principal on 94654317

✅ You may choose not to give some or all of the information requested; however, your nomination may not be accepted. If you have any queries about the School Council nomination process, please contact the principal, Sandi Young