Manager par excellence- Hampton Park Primary School’s business manager Bronwyn Minihan has been named a finalist in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards. 64021 Picture: Kim Cartmell

By Bridget Cook
A HAMPTON Park business manager has been short-listed for the prestigious Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Hampton Park Primary School’s business manager Bronwyn Minihan, who has been at the school for 14 years, is one of three finalists in the mecu Outstanding Business Manager Award category. If she wins, Ms Minihan will receive a $10,000 professional development grant to take part in a program.
School principal Christine Wakeling nominated Ms Minihan for the award, mostly for her work as team leader when the school was involved in a workforce reform field trial.
Ms Minihan said she led the design framework to assist schools to develop the leadership and pedagogical role of business managers and education support staff.
“This resource should build leadership capacity, improve communication and develop mutual respect between principals, teachers and business managers who are all responsible for student learning.”
“I even travelled overseas to see how other schools utilise support staff. We then had to report our findings back to the Department of Education.”
Ms Minihan said the school was chosen to take part in the trial, because of their existing support staff.
“Being such a multicultural school, we already had Sudanese, Chinese and Indian aides, as well technology, wellbeing, music and general teaching support staff.”
Ms Minihan said she was honoured and privileged to even be nominated for the award.
South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Education Inga Peulich said the Victorian Education Excellence Awards recognised the innovative, passionate individuals and teams who take that extra step to make these schools exceptional places to learn.
“The awards are a fantastic way to acknowledge the contribution that teachers and schools make to young Victorians,” Ms Peulich said.
“I am especially pleased that the south-east is well represented in the award nominations.”
The awards will be presented at the Crown Palladium on 13 May.