Fact Sheet 4:
Connecting sp4d with the big
picture of Australian education
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1. IntroDUCTION
“The focus of sp4d events and activities is to raise awareness of and develop the personal qualities, and
the social and interpersonal skills which are required for school leadership.”
Student Principals will gain skills and experience that aligns well with:
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the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008)
the Australian Curriculum’s General Capabilities and
The Australian Professional Standard for Principals.
2. MELBOURNE DECLARATION
On 5 December 2008, State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers of
Education meeting as the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment,
Training and Youth Affairs, released the Melbourne Declaration on
Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008) which set the
direction for Australian schooling for the next 10 years.
The goals were developed by Education Ministers in collaboration with the
Catholic and independent school sectors, following public consultation on
the draft declaration.
The Melbourne Declaration supersedes The Adelaide Declaration that was
released in 1999.
You can access the Declaration via this link:
http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Aust
ralians.pdf
A Four Year Plan was developed to accompany the Melbourne Declaration. For details about the plan go to:
http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/mceecdya/action_plan,25966.html
Goal 2 states that all young Australians become:
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successful learners
confident and creative individuals and
active and informed citizens.
The activities and opportunities presented through sp4d can support the development of the skills, knowledge and
predispositions required to achieve these goals.
This resource has been created by Principals Australia Institute for the purposes of sp4d. 2013.
www.sp4d.edu.au
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3. General Capabilities and the australian curriculum
The general capabilities developed through the implementation of the Australian Curriculum play a significant role in
realising the goals set out in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008).
They encompass the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that, together with curriculum content in each
learning area and the cross-curriculum priorities, will assist students to live and work successfully in the twenty-first
century.
The Australian Curriculum includes seven general capabilities. These are:
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Literacy
Numeracy
Information and communication technology capability
Critical and creative thinking *
Personal and social capability *
Ethical understanding
Intercultural understanding.
* These two capabilities strongly align with the objectives of Student Principal for a Day.
4. How does sp4d align with the Australian curriculum?
‘Personal and Social Capability’ as outlined in the Australian Curriculum includes three key areas that can be
strengthened by participating in sp4d:
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Self Management
Self Awareness
Social Management
Self-awareness
The Australian Curriculum highlights the value of helping students to recognise, understand and label their own
emotions, values, strengths and capacities. It involves students in knowing what they are feeling in the moment,
having a realistic assessment of their own abilities and a well-grounded sense of self-worth and self-confidence.
Sp4d will give students an opportunity to test their leadership skills in a supportive, safe and encouraging
environment.
Self-management
Self-management includes managing and monitoring one’s own learning, taking responsibility for one’s behaviour
and performance, increasing personal motivation and planning, and undertaking work independently.
Sp4d will give participants multiple opportunities to practice:
 self-discipline
 goal setting and tracking
 working independently and showing initiative
 confidence, resilience and adaptability.
This resource has been created by Principals Australia Institute for the purposes of sp4d. 2013.
www.sp4d.edu.au
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Social management
Social management includes learning to negotiate and communicate effectively with others; the ability to work in
teams and collaborate. Social management includes building skills involved with leadership, such as mentoring and
role modelling.
Sp4d will give participants opportunities to practice:
 effective communication
 working collaboratively
 decision making
 leadership skills
Critical and creative thinking
The Australian Curriculum also outlines the importance of students developing capability in critical and creative
thinking. This includes learning to generate and evaluate knowledge, clarify concepts and ideas, seek possibilities,
consider alternatives and solve problems.
Some of the skills that students may develop through their participation in sp4d include:
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Identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
Thinking criticially about options and timetabling their day
Exploring possibilities, thinking creatively and putting ideas into action
Reflective thinking: evaluating their sp4d experience and sharing it with others
For further information on the general capabilities go to the Australian Curriculum website http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ - and select the F−10 Curriculum tab.
5. Linking with the Australian Professional Standard for Principals
It is also worth noting that the AITSL Professional Standard for Principals and the Australian Curriculum General
Capabilities share the following:
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AITSL National Professional Standard for Principals leadership requirement : Personal qualities, social and
interpersonal skills.
Australian Curriculum general capabilities: Personal and social capability.
This resource has been created by Principals Australia Institute for the purposes of sp4d. 2013.
www.sp4d.edu.au
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