2024 School Advisory Council Members

Advisory in nature
School Advisory Councils are advisory bodies which form an important expression of the educational
partnership that exists between parents, schools, parishes and the wider community to support all students.
This partnership is reflected in the ex-officio membership of both the principal and the parish priest on the
council. What the council does is directed by the MACS board through the Terms of Reference for School

Advisory Councils.
The School Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where parent voice and
community perspective are available to influence and support the decisions made by the principal and parish
priest for the good of school and parish where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are paramount.
Enhance relationship between parish and school
At the heart of our Catholic tradition lies relationship. The relationship between the parish and the school in
the provision of Catholic education is crucial to the faith development and learning outcomes of students,
the enlivening of parish life and the development of community. It is important that schools and councils:
 recognise, develop and maintain fruitful relationships within the parish
 recognise the role of the school in the overall mission of the parish
 recognise the contribution of parish to school
 support the relationship between school and parish
 play an active role in the life of the parish.

What they do
The following are some examples of ways the School Advisory Council may support the school and the
principal:
 ensuring that, at the local level, Catholic schools remain ‘actively embedded in the life of the faith
communities of the local Church, which in turn is tangibly manifest in the life of each school’
 articulating and enacting the school’s mission and vision, and promoting the school’s Catholic ethos and
culture by promoting faith formation and development
 encouraging the partnership and participation of the school, parish and wider community in the life of
the school and parish
 providing advice to the principal on school improvement, school reviews, the annual school budget and
other financial matters, the school master plan, capital resource planning and maintenance
 contributing to the selection process for the school principal via membership of the selection panel as
per MACS and Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) policies and guidelines
 contributing to the panel that guides the process of principal appraisal as per MACS and CECV policies
and guidelines
 receiving reports from the principal to be informed as per requirements in various MACS and CECV
policies and guidelines
 having a process of discernment that provides the foundation for the induction of council members
 developing processes of consultation and providing a forum for discussion and discernment, where
parent voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the principal
and the parish priest for the good of school and parish where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are
paramount
 understanding and acknowledging that any initiative that materially affects the school’s land and
buildings or other areas of parish property must be approved by the parish priest, who represents their
parish as the beneficial owner of the school’s land and buildingsSchool Advisory Council Manual – v1.0 – 2022 6
 acting within the parameters of the MACS Terms of Reference for School Advisory Councils

School Advisory Councils:

 are not the governing body of a school
 do not have a decision-making authority (WTiM)
 do not have a legal identity
 do not become involved in the day-to-day management of the school
 are not a forum for parent advocacy or special interest representation
 are not a parents and friends association
 are not a fundraising forum or fete-organising committee.

School Advisory Council Manual for all MACS schools 2022