Inside NSW Secondary Principals’ Council wellness-focused annual conference

High school principals will spend three days this week at a “hippie retreat” while their schools struggle to find teachers to put in the classroom. Here’s what they will be learning.

High school principals will kick their feet up at a three-day “hippie commune” listening to lectures on spiritual enlightenment while their schools scramble to fill teacher vacancies left by flu and Covid hit staff.

The NSW Secondary Principals’ Council annual conference will run from Wednesday until Friday, under the theme “phosphorescence, where educators will listen to presentations on “finding your light” and “rekindling your internal flame”.

Another session, held at the Novotel in Wollongong, talks education boffins through “self-care” and choosing their “own adventure”.

The getaway came as the number of sick days taken by teachers so far in 2022 rose by more than 60 per cent compared with the same period in 2020 — leaving staff stretched to the limit.

The number of calls for casual teachers has also gone up by 16 per cent year-on-year.

Upper House MP Mark Latham called the event a “pathetic distraction” from the responsibilities of principals grappling with staff shortages.

The three-day getaway organised by the Secondary Principals Council is at Wollongong’s Novotel hotel.

“If you asked someone who is hosting this event, they would say it’s some hippie commune up in Nimbin not run by those who are supposed to be leading public education,” he said.

“If you look at the speakers, there are two from the ABC, one from Headspace, an Indigenous poet, a doctor and someone who is a happiness expert. It has nothing to do with education.”

Promotional pictures of Novotel in Wollongong. It is the location in which principals will learn how to find their “internal light”.

The event, which principals themselves pay $1000 each to attend, will also shine “the light on climate change” according to its program.

Keynote speakers include journalist Julia Baird, who will encourage attendees to “keep placing one foot on the earth, then the other, to seek out ancient paths and forests, certain in the knowledge that others have endured before us,” according to the event’s website.

Secondary Principals Council President Craig Petersen said the conference was planned 12 months in advance and was timed around the annual general meeting.

“Twelve months ago we didn’t know quite what the circumstances would be around the flu and the staffing situation,” he said.

Journalist Julia Baird is among the keynote speakers.

The Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.

The Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.

The Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.

The Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.

“Most teachers will spend the public holiday travelling to the conference.”

“We’ve made a deliberate decision that we need to support our leaders to look after themselves.

“If we don’t look after those physical and psychological needs, then learning will be impacted.”

Mr Petersen said the event was only for high school principals and they were non-teaching staff.