Faculty of Education - Theses
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ItemThe preparation and development of middle leaders in Victorian secondary schools( 2021)Middle leaders in schools provide a critical link between senior leadership and teaching staff. Employing a multi-perspective case study methodology, this study looked at the common themes facing middle leaders at three Victorian secondary schools, Catholic, government, and independent, with regard to their preparation for leadership, their professional and personal development in the role, how their role is perceived by those to whom they report and those they lead, and how they determine if they have been successful in their role. At each school, the following staff members were invited to participate in the study: senior leaders, middle leaders, and teachers. The middle leaders involved in this research were actively involved in leading pastoral, academic, and/or co-curricular departments within a Catholic, government, or independent school. Semi-structured interviewing was used for the purpose of collecting their responses. The participants’ responses were analysed, and emergent themes described. A total of 56 themes with 78 sub-themes emerged from the study, covering the dimensions of preparation, development, perception, and success in leadership. Common themes raised by middle leaders were professional learning, the support provided in their role, career progression, their ability to influence school direction, level of autonomy in the role, departmental management, professional relationships, and their support of students’ achievement. The study indicates that middle leaders’ measurement of success in the role was primarily linked to student achievement in academic and social domains. A leadership development model is offered to support aspiring and current middle leaders.
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ItemMapping the landscape of language learning in Victorian independent schools( 2017)The researcher for this study was granted access to a hitherto unanalysed collection of data: the results of annual surveys on language learning of all independent schools in the state of Victoria, Australia. These surveys detailed the language learning programmes of 126,377 students in 203 primary and secondary schools in 2013. Using the methodologies of Descriptive Research and Grounded Theory, the researcher undertook quantitative analyses of the data to produce an overview of language learning across the Independent sector in Victoria, and snapshots of several languages, calculating the total number of students learning the language and schools teaching it, the location of the schools (metropolitan or regional), the average Socio-Economic Status (SES) index of the schools, the gender balance of students and the number of teachers. The next part of the study involved pursuing patterns and theories that emerged from the data. Four main issues were explored using the data from the surveys: 1. the concentration of students at primary school level in learning certain languages, and the time allocated to these languages in schools; 2. the issue of compulsory language studies, and retention rates; 3. boys and language learning; and 4. children of different socio-economic status and language learning. It was found that some languages, such as Japanese and Italian, were almost exclusively taught in primary school, but in most schools they were given considerably less than the government recommend ninety minutes per week; there was a strong correlation between the mandating of language studies and student retention, and making languages compulsory for longer was associated with higher retention rates in the final year of schooling; languages in the final year of schooling showed in general a stronger proportion of girls, but this was largely due to the strong position of French, which showed a marked imbalance between the genders; and children of low socio-economic status were more likely to learn languages in their final year of schooling than other students, but they tended to choose community languages, which had an impact on the score used to determine university entrance.
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ItemCompassionate leadership in schools( 1997)This thesis explores two concepts - compassion and leadership - and their relationship to success in suburban schools of an Australian city. Compassion is a concept - an over-arching value - that is, for most people, not immediately associated with leadership. Compassion involves more than sentimental pity for another. It also involves passionate action directed towards the relief of suffering by another. Increasingly, leadership of many organisations is being seen in far more complex terms than personality or a particular situation. The important role that the values an individual brings to their organisation, and the connection of those values to success, is emerging. Compassion is a key value that is thought to be underpinning much successful leadership. The literature underpinning both compassion and leadership are reviewed. The purpose of this study is to find out what it is that principals do in exercising compassion in schools, how that compassion affects success in the school and what life influences may have caused a principal to develop compassion. Compassionate leadership by principals is studied through the development of a model which connects eleven elements of compassion - celebrative, passionately active, justice-making, benevolently loving, creative, non-elitist, networking, transpersonal, pain relieving, transcendent and fun-filled - with the four leadership frames of Bolman and Deal (1991) - the structural, human resource, political and symbolic. A questionnaire developed from this framework provides a quantitative method to find out about compassionate leadership, in particular, how those compassion elements are influenced by the four leadership frames. This quantitative approach augments a qualitative approach which involved eighteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews concerning compassion on the part of the principal during a critical incident in the life of the school. The qualitative approach of Miles and Huberman (1994) is used to better understand the interview transcripts. The quantitative and qualitative data are then synthesised. The compassionate leadership model suggested has strong statistical support that shows the relative contribution of each leadership frame to each compassion element. For example, it is shown that the celebrative element of compassion is contributed to most by the symbolic and political leadership frames and that two of the principals in the study showed clear evidence of acting in both political and symbolic ways when celebrating the lives of dead students. This may be helpful in guiding leaders to improve their compassionate stance. The relative contribution of each element in the model to compassion is suggested, with the four most important compassion elements identified as: transpersonal, pain relieving, passionately active and benevolently loving. Success in each of the schools studied is shown to have been influenced by compassionate action on the part of the principal and a number of compassion-developing influences in the lives of the principals studied are identified, such as key adults, early personal struggle and service to others at an early age. It is recommended that the compassionate leadership model be used by leaders, in conjunction with context-rich qualitative data for specific individuals, to reflect upon, and self-appraise, their own behaviour. The model can also be used as part of course work preparation of potential leaders. Recommendations for future studies include seeking student views on compassionate leadership, investigating gender differences more closely, and finding out about compassionate leadership in other cultural contexts.
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ItemLife at the top : an examination of the career experiences of female principals in the state secondary system( 2000)This thesis examines the career experiences of female principals in the Victorian state secondary education system. It explores their experiences and the career decisions which have led them to their current position. The research documents the reactions of these women to the changes to the role of the principal that were instituted by the Kennett government. Findings suggest that the concept of a planned career path focused on attaining the goal of a principalship does not fit with the experience of most of the women in this research project. Instead, career was only one of a number of competing life concerns. Their decision to aim for the principalship was taken when seeking a new challenge in their teaching career. The support and encouragement of peers and leaders within teaching was crucial. Some diminution in family responsibilities was frequently a catalyst for change. In deciding to apply for the principal class, the pattern was to limit their applications to schools which were geographically accessible to their home and which were seen as compatible with their educational philosophy. The current ambitions of the female principals were related largely to a desire to see their school as successful. The experience of female principals in the 1990s under 'Schools of the Future' highlights the multi-faceted demands and pressures inherent in the principalship. The research data reveal the resentment felt by many female principals at what are perceived to be role demands antithetical to educational leadership. The research shows also that whilst respondents espouse a participatory style of leadership, the nature of the principal's job requires a range of management styles. Whilst a majority were positive about the principal's role, many were wary of the ever increasing workload and critical of certain role demands linked to a more competitive educational climate. A desire and search for balance between the public demands of the job and the private sphere of personal life was a constant theme that emerged from the research data.
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ItemCollaborative leadership in inner city schools of Melbourne( 1994)This thesis examines leadership and its links to success in inner city schools of Melbourne, reflecting the view that the role of leaders and the process of leadership are significant contributing factors in the achievement of successful school improvement. In Victoria at the present time there is relentless change at both the school and system level. Schools are in a constant state of reorganisation with the dismantling of centralised authorities, including support services and standard operational procedures and processes. Roles and responsibilities of school principals are being revised. Many schools are being closed down as part of the government's rationalisation policy. Others are being amalgamated. Many members of staff are being required to transfer to different schools, whilst others are taking financial "packages" and early retirement. Moreover, inner city schools are confronted with further responsibilities. Students in these schools often come from low socio-economic, non-English speaking backgrounds and have special social welfare and educational needs. Staffing arrangements must serve the specific needs of transient migrant groups and innovative curriculum provision is a necessity to target the requirements of an inner city clientele. Clearly, then, skilful and imaginative leadership is imperative to cope with such a context and to bring about success. The purpose of the investigation is to establish what it is that leaders do in these schools to achieve success and school improvement, despite the prevailing difficulties. The focus is on the notion of collaborative leadership, developed and defined in this thesis as one which is transformational and encompasses distinctive elements of collaboration. Collaborative leadership is interpreted and analysed through the four central frames of leadership - structural, human resource, political and symbolic - of the Bolman and Deal (1991) typology. A qualitative approach was seen as an appropriate means of investigation, firstly, in order to provide full descriptions and explanations of the primary data and, secondly, to capture the critical features of what it was that leaders did in their daily practice to bring success to their schools. The qualitative approach described by Miles and Huberman (1984) incorporating data reduction, data display and data collection and conclusions drawing/verifying, was adopted. The findings clearly indicate that specific collaborative leader behaviour, using a repertoire of structural, human resource, political and symbolic dimensions, can lead to success in schools. Leaders used structural arrangements to establish democratic procedures which were inclusive rather than exclusive, seeing the operation of the school as a collective responsibility of teachers, parents, and, where appropriate, students. Human resource elements brought mutual respect, as well as professional and community cooperation and support. Political leadership behaviour centred around empowerment, open and frank discussion, and a striving for consensus. Symbolic dimensions contained the beliefs, values, attitudes and norms of behaviour of leaders, denoting and directing fundamental purposes and processes. In addition, the researcher has extended these findings into hypothesised causal links, which when synthesised, offer four distinctive factors as fundamental to a fully functioning collaborative culture, namely, development of educational potential, professional development of teachers, good organisational health and institutionalisation of vision. This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or graduate diploma in any tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by any other person, except where reference is made in the text.
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ItemImproved student learning and leadership in self-managed schools( 1998)This thesis examines improved student learning and leadership in schools under conditions of decentralisation, in a study designated the Learning Outcomes Project. In 1993, in the State of Victoria, Australia, a set of initiatives called Schools of the Future was introduced into government schools. The operation of the school system was changed from a relatively centralised system to one where much of the decision making about operations was decentralised to the school site. The impact on teachers, principals and schools has been considerable. Changes have occurred to teachers' working conditions and the accountability functions of schools through School Charters, Annual Reports and the introduction of Curriculum and Standards Frameworks (CSF) in eight Key Learning Areas (KLA). The Cooperative Research Project, a joint venture of the Victorian Secondary Principals' Association, the Victorian Primary Principals' Association, the Victorian Department of Education and The University of Melbourne, conducted a series of investigations into the processes and outcomes of Schools of the Future, including this study. The Learning Outcomes Project sought to investigate links from the reforms associated with decentralisation in school systems to improved student learning. This is a critical and vital area for research where little concrete evidence is available to support the benefits of decentralisation in relation to improved student learning. Previous studies have found the benefits of decentralisation to be mainly operational and managerial. A qualitative methodology was adopted to seek evidence of improved student learning in schools and explore leadership function under the conditions of decentralisation. Four schools that claimed improved student learning agreed to be part of the study. A conceptual framework was developed that allowed actions at school level be traced through the reforms to improved student learning. The leadership dimensions and strategies suited to schools under conditions of decentralisation were studied with the aid of a conceptual model, using a new model of educational leadership. Causal links from the reforms of decentralisation to improved student learning were mapped. This study reinforces the difficulties of making causal links. The findings indicate that improved student learning under conditions of decentralisation is evident in certain circumstances where clearly defined pathways are established from the reforms to improved student learning. It was shown that direct pathways to student learning were consistently and directly evident from Curriculum- CSF Implementation and Professional Development in all schools and were developing from Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting. The causal maps defined pathways which could be used by schools to monitor improved student learning in Schools of the Future. Leadership suited to decentralised systems was shown to require strong and balanced leadership across the six dimensional model used in this study. It was further shown that leadership dimensions that were not strong in the principal needed to be evident in other leaders for effective curriculum implementation to occur. Useful trends which may be relevant to other schools were found in this study. However, due to the favourable conditions in which this study was conducted across a small number of schools, further research is necessary to validate these findings and caution may be needed if using the findings in other settings.
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ItemEvaluation of a Cancer/Palliative Nursing Care subject and a comparison of processes and outcomes for traditional classroom and distance education teaching modes of delivery( 2000)This Evaluation is concerned with the educational outcomes of a postgraduate subject, 'Cancer/palliative care nursing 1'. The subject is taught in the classroom as well as by distance education in the print medium and, as well as considering the outcomes for the subject per se, the Evaluation also compares the outcomes for each teaching mode. The questions addressed in the Evaluation are: a) does the delivery of the subject (regardless of the method used) have the outcomes that might be expected of a postgraduate diploma level subject? and b) are students taught by distance education mode disadvantaged by comparison with students who are taught by traditional classroom methods? There is an abundance of literature on distance education, most of which uses, explicitly or implicitly, classroom teaching as a largely unexamined exemplar by which distance education is judged. This thesis critically examines the distance education literature and identifies factors salient to a comparison of these two methods of teaching. The Evaluation method is based on the theory-driven approach advocated by Chen (1990) and incorporates an adaptation of the program logic framework put forward by Funnell (1996). It incorporates two methods of evaluation: the subject's outcomes measured against a prescription; and, a comparison of the distance education outcomes with classroom teaching outcomes. A prescription of how the subject should be delivered and the outcomes that should be expected was developed from stakeholder interviews, informed by a critical review of the distance education literature and the evaluator's knowledge of the discipline. A method of measuring the actual delivery of the subject against the prescription (regardless of the teaching mode) was devised and a minimum acceptable standard of success established. Substantive methods used include both qualitative and quantitative data gathered by questionnaires, interviews, classroom observations and a content analysis of the study guide used by distance education students. The Evaluation findings are that on most, but not all, outcome measures the subject met the set standard of success. One outcome unspecified in the prescription (although implied) was the increased clinical confidence engendered by undertaking this subject. Students taught by the traditional mode gained from classroom interaction although the degree of interactivity was found to depend on the personal qualities of lecturers and students and the structure of teaching sessions. Distance education students were not disadvantaged by this teaching mode and on some measures, such as being able to study at their own pace or the grades they achieved, could be said to be advantaged.
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ItemAn examination of the role of the Bridging into sciences program within the Victorian TAFE sector( 2002)The intention of this study was to examine and describe the role of the Bridging Into Sciences (BIS) program, a course of study conducted within the Victorian TAFE educational sector. BIS was originally developed in 1985, as a means of providing basic grounding in biology and chemistry for mature-age students seeking entry into health science-related university courses. Since that time, it has undergone several curriculum additions and changes, TAFE re-accreditations and was now taught a four different Victorian TAFE institutes. The updated BIS program was designed to form a link between unemployment and academia, providing a suitable entry point for individuals without suitable academic background. Like the old course, the new BIS version was intended to provide learners with vital underpinning theoretical knowledge and practical skills in both mathematics and the sciences, facilitating articulation into courses of science-orientated study, at a higher level of sophistication. However, unlike the old course, the new BIS program proposed to offer learners multiple exit points, and hence, multiple academic destinations. But was the new BIS program version fulfilling its intended aims, philosophies and intentions ? What sort of students undertook BIS studies ? Was the program able to provide multiple exit point for those successfully completing it ? Were students able to successfully undertake the BIS program and fulfil their specific academic goals ? If so, in which courses of study were they able to articulate into ? Were all students successful in completing BIS ? If not, why not ? Were the aims and philosophies of those teaching in the program consistent with those of the course designers ? Could the program be improved ? If so, how ? Overall, was a true and accurate 'picture' of the role of the Bridging Into Sciences program within the TAFE sector ? A desire to address these questions and formulate true and accurate insight of how BIS was operating, provided the impetus for, and aim of, this study. To achieve this aim, data from all four TAFE institutes was sought. To establish a 'rich and thick' understanding of how the program was operating, both qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies were employed. Data was collected from three different sources - curriculum documents, ex-students and teaching staff members, via three different methods. First, relevant curriculum materials were collected and carefully examined. This established the program content, as well as overall aims and philosophies. Second, a questionnaire was designed, trialled and mailed to a select group of ex-BIS students - those having been enrolled in 1997. The mail out survey was to gather demographic information, as well as solicit opinions about their BIS experiences, from a cohort of individuals comprising of those who had successfully completed the program, and those who had not. In doing so, a 'snap-shot' of BIS, from a student prospective, would be obtained. Raw data generated was subsequently analysed using the SPSS computer software. Third, a number of teachers instructing in the BIS program, were interviewed in 'face-to-face' fashion. Teacher responses were tape recorded during interview and were later transcribed and analysed. The findings of the study revealed that in 1997, the BIS program was undertaken by students who were typically Australian-born, English-speaking females, aged somewhere between mid twenties to thirties and had at least one child. Members of the group were also likely to have completed at upper secondary school and were specifically involved with the BIS program to gain entry into either a TAFE or university course. Although almost 70% of BIS students were successful in completing at least one module, financial difficulties and seeking employment were the two main reasons for individuals having to discontinue their BIS studies. Of those successfully completing the program, almost two-thirds were found to be engaged in some form of post-BIS academic endeavor. BIS teachers were found to be a group of highly experienced professionals, averaging almost five years of involvement in the program. It was their collective belief that whilst the program was providing students with vital underpinning theoretical knowledge and practical skills, it also developed self-confidence and personal empowerment. In doing so, it was able to prepare students for studies at higher levels, both from theoretical and practical perspectives. Collectively, they agreed that the overall program was successful in achieving its aims, philosophies and objectives.
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ItemChanging paradigms in public management : the case of Victoria 1992-99( 2003)The approach of the Coalition Government in Victoria to the management of the State's affairs between October 1992 and September 1999 has been viewed widely as being revolutionary. Some of the more salient features of the government's approach include privatisation of public utilities, downsizing of the public service, increased outsourcing and use of contracts, greater decentralisation and devolution of government functions, the implementation of competition policy across government functions and a move to results-based accountability of government activity. This approach appears to share many of the features of what has been called the New Public Management which has been manifested in other Western countries over the last two decades. The contribution of this thesis to the literature on public sector management is that it is the first systematic account of senior public managers of the reforms of the Kennett government in the state of Victoria during the period 1992 to 1999. The opinions of senior managers and theoretical analysis conducted by the researcher indicate that the Victorian reforms are generally consistent with New Public Management (NPM). The thesis also sheds light on the particular characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of NPM. It examines the manifestation of NPM in Western countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, in the 1980s and 1990s and sets out a working model of NPM for analysing developments in Victoria. The thesis explores the historical development, theoretical underpinnings and major features of NPM and assesses the claims of NPM to the status of paradigm following the classical bureaucracy and corporate management paradigms. The historical development and evolution of public management is explained in terms of the social systems theory of Habermas. This leads to a description and evaluation of Integrated Governance, a possible successor paradigm to NPM.
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ItemTeacher perceptions of the transformational leadership style of female principals in independent schools as measured by the multifactor leadership questionnaire( 2003)Teacher perceptions of the leadership of their principal were explored in seven independent girls' schools in Melbourne, Australia. Teacher ratings of principal leadership and principal self-ratings were gathered using Bass and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5x Revised). The ratings were compared to teacher characteristics including gender, age, years of teaching, years at the school, work locus of control, school division, and school. There were differences between teacher and principal self-ratings and notably more so than in previous research. It was found that the principals were rated as being high in three of the five transformational behaviours, idealized attributes, idealized behaviours and inspirational motivation, but lower in intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration and the transactional behaviour of contingent reward. Teachers also rated their actual. principal lower in all three outcomes (extra effort, effectiveness and satisfaction). This differed from principal self-ratings in that principals believed themselves to be high in all five transformational leadership behaviours, contingent reward and all three outcomes. There were significant differences in teacher perception of principal leadership associated with teacher characteristics of age, years of teaching, tenure at the school, school division, gender, and work locus of control. Variation in teacher work locus of control, gender and division were particularly notable, although, overall, variance in perception of principal leadership explained by teacher characteristics was low, accounting for approximately 8% of variance on most leadership behaviours. However when school was included with teacher characteristics, up to 25% of the variance in teacher perception of principal leadership was accounted for, suggesting that the work context principals find themselves in can have a large impact on perceptions of their leadership. Teachers were also asked to rate their ideal principal. Compared to ratings of their actual principal, teachers rated their ideal principal higher in intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, contingent reward and all three leadership outcomes, and at similar levels for management by exception active and passive, and non-leadership. Teacher division, gender, and work locus of control were all significant in variance in perception of ideal principal leadership. Secondary teachers recorded significantly higher idealized attributes in their ideal principal than did primary teachers. Female teachers recorded significantly higher idealized attributes, inspirational motivation and the outcome of extra effort as compared with male teachers in their ideal principal. A teacher with a higher work locus of control rated their ideal principal as using more non-leadership and rated the outcomes of ideal leadership as lower than did a teacher with a low work locus of control. The complexity of responses is noteworthy, more so because this is the first instance of the MLQ being used to record perceptions of ideal leadership.