Realization of Aims
The promotion of high boarding standards will be encouraged by:
- Setting up national training schemes for boarding staff.
- Establishing professional development opportunities such as national conferences, regional networks and on-line resources for boarding staff.
- Working toward the establishing of national benchmarks.
- Promoting a base-level training course for boarding staff which will be advanced as a pre-requisite for employment in Australian boarding institutions.
- Facilitating the sharing of best practice using meetings, publications and on-line resources.
- Undertaking research in boarding.
The unification of the boarding industry in Australia will be advanced by:
- Amalgamating The Residential Schools’ Association (TARSA) with the Australian Boarding Staff Association (ABSA).
- Establishing an umbrella organisation that encourages interaction between executives such as school principals, and practitioners such as boarding staff.
- Having representation from organisations, such as The Association of Heads of Independent Schools (AHISA), and other organisations that cater for children who board in Australia.
- Establishing an organisation that welcomes government as well as non-government boarding institutions, primary and secondary boarding organisations and boarding hostels as well as boarding schools.
- Facilitating communication between members in Australia as well as with boarding organisations overseas.
- Giving appropriate independence to already existing regional boarding organisations, whilst strengthening and unifying them within a national organisation.
- Establishing State and Territorial divisions of ABSA and supporting these as they meet the regional needs of their boarding communities.
The promotion of boarding to the general community will be pursued by:
- Writing publications and establishing a web-site that promotes boarding in general and member boarding institutions in particular.
- Seeking a voice in the media.
The representing of member interests to governments and the broader community will be facilitated by:
- Establishing a national governing board which has the knowledge and experience to represent the boarding industry with integrity.
- Setting up a national secretariat which has the time and resources necessary to liaise effectively with government and other agencies on relevant boarding matters.
- Creating strong links with government and other relevant bodies.
- Founding state and territory divisions under the auspices of the National Body.
