This organization has operated under this name since mid 2011. Prior to that it existed mainly under the name "Western Australian Principals' Federation" WAPF, and for a brief time in the late 90's as "WA Federation of School Administrators' Association."
The Recent Name Change was about reconstituting the orgainzation as an identity in law, to enable the Federation as a new identity, with new rules to advance to registration in the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
The purpose of the federation since 1994 is to best represent, initally, all school administrators until the early 2000's and since then all "principal class officers" in the industrial arena. The historical move to the notion of "principal class" was to align with Victoria and seek registration federally. In WA terms this means all principals, deputies and associate principals are eligible as members of the "principal class".
The term is about inclusivity representing those whose work is similar who have similar responsibilities and end of line accountabilities, and while some may teach a little, most of the work is in leadership and management of schools and people.
The essential reason for the existence of "the Federation", is to be an industrial advocate for the "principal class", both as a collective i.e., in industrial negotiations and also as a body to support individuals dealing in dispute matters that arise in their employment either with the employer or with other employees.
The Federation exists solely to support the industrial interests of the principal class officers. It is in a sense the Union for principals and when registered can practice alongside other registered Union organizations. It is not against other Unions, but it clearly believes that it's singular focus lead to best representation for principal class officers.
The PFWA, the "Federation" exists alongside the professional assosciations. Members of WAPPA, WADHSAA and WASSEA, can and do become members of PFWA. The Federation is also working to change its rules to accomodate Education Support Principals who wish to join.
The Federation, PFWA, in a metaphorical sense is the obverse side of the principal representation coin. The professional association can fulfill functions and enter into professional agreements with DOE and others for the betterment professionaly of the member. It has a "professional mandate". The industrial association, the other side of the coin does what the professional associations cannot do i.e., deal with DOE (the employer) in all matters collective and individual that impact the member industrially. This is the role of the PFWA.
The governance structure of the Executive of the PFWA constitutes 4 members from each of the professional associations WADHSAA, WASSEA and WAPPA.
In 2011 our membership was in excess of 800 but since the name change and reconstituting to PFWA, with a requirement for each existing member to fill in new forms, we are slowly climbing back to that number.
All WADHSAA Members are invited to join the PFWA and the only requirement is to fill in the forms below. As a WADHSAA member who joins PFWA you need to be aware it does not attract an additional cost. Along with the membership package is the rules and regulations of PFWA please make sure you read these before joining.
A copy of all the information above and more is provided also within the package.
