Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/caregivers and the community

7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

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As part of Mary MacKillop's Professional Development Day, staff were involved in giving back to the community and provided service to 1 of 3 organisations. I chose to cook meals for the homeless community of Perth and this was based out of our school canteen. After the meals were made and packed, they were delivered into Wellington Square and handed out to the Perth community members waiting for a warm meal. 

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By engaging with the wider community to complete this Professional Development, I was able to not only make connections with the Perth community, but I was able to shift my focus from the needs of the children in the classroom to those beyond the classroom walls. It allowed me to see how those affected by circumstances sometime out of their control, gain access to simple amenities such as food, shelter and clothing. It presented me with an increasing awareness of the rights and needs of others and prompted me to think about my own actions and how the idea of 'gratitude' once again comes into play. 

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After the Professional Development Day, I was able to talk to the students about what the educators had participated in and how there is something each of us can take from it. We discussed being grateful for the things we have and how we can help others in the classroom and at home. The students were able to come up some ideas that were meaningful to them: 

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• Help our friends pack toys away.

• Stop and ask our friends if they are ok when they look upset.

• Ask our friends questions about their family and their activities outside of school.

• Bring in food items for the St Vincent De Paul hampers.

• Ask mum or dad to donate our old toys and clothes to children who might not have as much as them.​