RESOURCES AND LINKS
Publications || Research & Discussion Papers || Related Initiatives || Websites || Resources || Events
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Publications
An Evaluation of Families Matter (or download in 
Word format)
Report by policy and social research consultants Denis Muller & Associates. April 2006
Supplementary Report to An Evaluation of Families Matter (or download in Word format)
Should be read in association with the original report by Denis Muller & Associates. July 2007
Families Matter Information Leaflet
Families Matter Handbook
Designed to support parent/carer and family presenters in organising and running a session for other parents/carers and families.
Families Matter Support Material
Resource material for parent/carer and family presenters organising and running sessions for other parents/carers and families.
The Potential for Families Matter
This paper revisits the original community research conducted with focus groups of parents in school communities across the country in 2002, to provide context and input to the design of Families Matter.
Research & Discussion Papers
Partnerships in Learning: in the Interests of Children, Benefiting All
"This paper reviews the nature and scope of out of school learning, focussing upon the home as a learning milieu, and considers the complementarity of home and school-based learning". By Professor Sheila Wolfendale, University of East London
How to Engage Parents - and How to Evaluate that Engagement
A background information and discussion paper for MindMatters "Health Promotion & Evaluation in School Settings" Seminar, Canberra, 27-28 July 2006. By Mrs Jo Lonergan AM, Senior Research Officer, Australian Parents Council & National Director, Families Matter.
Engaging With Parents, Families and Community: The Why and How of Effective and Sustainable Partnerships
A background information and discusssion paper for MindMatters "Health Promotion & Evaluation in School Settings" Seminar, Canberra, 27-28 July 2006. By Rupert Macgregor, Manager, Families Matter
A Vision of Home-School Partnership: Three complementary conceptual frameworks
Presented at the ERNAPE Conference 2001. By Dr Rollande Deslandes, Professor at the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada.
Home, School and Community Partnerships to Support Children’s Numeracy
The federal Department of Education, Science and Training commissioned the University of Queensland to conduct a national research project to explore the links between home, school and community that support students’ numeracy development. Goos, Lincoln, Coco et al for the Numeracy Research and Development Initiative (2004).
Rolling Out and Rolling On
This paper reflects upon the operation and direction of the Families Matter initiative after two years of the national roll-out to schools, its synergies with other elements of the national MindMatters suite of initiatives; and its forward strategic perspectives. Rupert Macgregor, National Project Manager “Families Matter” Initiative (2005).
The Impact of Parental Involvement, Parent Support and Family Education on Pupil Achievements and Adjustment: A Literature Review
A review of English language literature to explore research findings on the relationship between parental involvement and student achievement and adjustment in schools. Charles Deforges & Alberto Abouchaar, UK Dept for Education & Skills (2003).
Parental Involvment in Children’s Education
A survey of parents and carers of children aged 5-16 attending schools, in order to assess parents’ and carer’s levels of involvement of their children’s education – following an earlier survey carried out in 2001. Nick Moon & Claire Ivins: UK Dept for Education & Skills (2004).
Exploring the Dynamics of Effective and Innovative Family-School and Community Partnerships across Australia
A paper to the European Research Network About Parents in Education Conference in Oviedo, Spain on 16 September 2005 by Rupert Macgregor, National Project Manager “Families Matter” Initiative.
Families Matter: Working as Partners
A paper to the Tasmanian Parents & Friends Conference in Launceston on 20 August 2005 by Rupert Macgregor, National Project Manager “Families Matter” Initiative.
Families in Partnership: A Force More Powerful.pdf
A paper to the Parents Victoria Conference in Melbourne On 24 August 2005 by Rupert Macgregor, National Project Manager, “Families Matter” Initiative.
Effective Family Engagement in Children’s Literacy Skills Development: New Zealand – The Best Evidence
Literacy skills problems can deeply affect young people’s confidence and well-being; the New Zealand research shows families matter most of all here, from as early as possible.
Professional Development for Family-School Partnerships: Revaluing Both Sides of the Coin
A discussion paper about the complementary developmental needs of both educators and parents as effective partners.
Why Families Matter!
A paper presented to the SAASSO Conference in Reynella SA on 28 May 2005 by Rupert Macgregor, National Project Manager, “Families Matter” Initiative.
Parents and Families Working in Partnership with their School: Louisiana Case Study
Drawn from a range of real life studies presented to assist in reflective learning, in the book Schools That Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents and Everyone Who Cares About Education. Written and compiled by Peter Senge, Nelda Cambron-McCabe, Timothy Lucas, Bryan Smith, Janis Dutton and Art Kleiner (2000) Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London.
Our Kids Matter: the Charters Towers Story Case Study
Inhalant misuse became a concern to residents of Charters Towers in Queensland in the early months of 2002. Prior to this it had been confined to isolated incidences or users. Welfare and other service organisations became aware of the rising problem and wanted to move quickly to contain it. A case study of how a problem became the focus of community consideration and the foundation for community action.
Related Initiatives
Family-School Partnerships
A project to develop a national framework to assist and support effective partnerships between the two entities of critical importance in raising the standards of the education of young people across Australia: families and schools. more info
Websites
Resources
Families Matter PowerPoint Presentation
Designed to support parent/carer and family presenters in organising and running a session for other parents/carers and families.
Community Matters: Working with Diversity for Wellbeing (2001)
The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Century (MCEETYA 1999) emphasises that schooling must provide a supportive and nurturing environment for the intellectual, physical, social, moral, spiritual and easthetic development of young Australians. It states that there is a strong link between students’ sense of self-worth, their social and emotional well-being, their enthusiasm for learning and their optimism for the future. The social and emotional well-being of students is supported through their sense of connectedness within their family, within their school community and to the wider community outside the school. The effectiveness of the school is fostering the learning and development of young people is significantly enhanced by developing sustainable partnerships with parents and families, and with the wider community. For this purpose, it is essential to develop an informed understanding of the community and to develop appropriate processes for establishing and nurturing sustainable partnerships. more info
The following Community Audit and Survey tools which form elements of the Community Matters material, can also be accessed and downloaded as indicated:
- Community Audit Database: Who is our Community?
The Community Audit database has been designed to help identify the community context of the individual school by mapping what cultural and community assets exist in the school and community. It asks for contact details of people within a range of community- and government-based organisations and services, as well as individuals. The database can help the group establish a set of baseline data to provide context and develop the conversation in their school community. It may be worth reviewing periodically to ensure its currency and also to facilitate a culture of reflective learning and review. - Audit: What Does Our School Do Now?
The first step to take in working through a change process is to discover what is actually happening at the particular place and time. The following audit can be used with different groups in the school (eg staff, students, parents) as a way into understanding a school’s present situation. It may be worth reviewing periodically to ensure its currency and also to facilitate a culture of reflective learning and review. - Survey: What Do Our Students Think?
Before looking at how protective factors can be developed across the school, it is important to have all the information about the issues and concerns of the students. Students are often overlooked in any consultation process, but what they are thinking and feeling is the essential complement to information that is gathered in other ways. The best people to talk about their own needs are the people themselves. It is critical to work with student-based data to discover students’ issues and the strength of their protective factors. One way to do this is to conduct a survey of student opinion and experience. It may be worth reviewing periodically to ensure its currency and also to facilitate a culture of reflective learning and review.
Events
17-18 October 2005, Canberra: ACSSO National Conference
The Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) will present a major national conference which will consider important educational issues from the perspective of building effective partnerships between parents and families and schools to support student learning, personal development, connectedness and well-being. More information is available from the ACSSO Website.
