History of ASPA 1968 to the Present

Formation and Early Years: The Australian Secondary Principals’ Association (ASPA) traces its origins back to 1968. At that time it was known as the Australian High Schools Principals’ Association (AHSPA), a national body uniting state secondary school principals.

At the Annual Conference of the Victorian High Schools Principals Association in January 1968, it was decided that the V.H.S.P.A. would initiate the formation of an Australian association of principals of high schools. In March 1968, the Secretary of the V.H.S.P.A., Mr Roy Manley, wrote to the Directors of Education in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, asking for information about Associations of High School Principals. From replies received, invitations were sent in April, and the first national conference of Associations of High School Principals was held during the May vacation, 1968, in Melbourne at Brighton High School.

The AHSPA began publishing a journal called Australian Principal in 1970. As the education landscape evolved, with many states adopting the term “secondary” instead of “high” school, the association’s name shifted to Australian Secondary Principals Association by the 1990s. The core mission, however, remained consistent: to serve as the “principals’ voice” for government secondary education in Australia, advocating for school leaders and public education excellence.

Development and National Collaboration: By the mid-1990s, ASPA, in concert with its state and territory affiliates, had established strong collaborative structures. A notable example was the launch of Principal Matters, a professional journal produced jointly by the secondary principals’ associations across all Australian states and territories. This publication, described as “the official journal of the Secondary Principals’ Associations in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia,” reflects how state bodies worked together under a national umbrella. Through such collaboration, ASPA provided a platform for school leaders to share expertise and influence education policy.

Advocacy and Leadership: Over the decades, ASPA became a respected voice in national education debates. ASPA leaders regularly engage with federal policymakers and media on issues affecting secondary schools. ASPA played a role in the Gonski reforms of 2011; in the establishment of the national curriculum, ACARA and AITSL, and in the formulation of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan and the Better Fairer Schools Agreement. Ensuring equitable funding for public schools, addressing teacher and principal workforce challenges, and improving student outcomes have been common themes in ASPA’s advocacy. The association has consistently pressed for needs-based school funding and better resourcing of public secondary schools, as well as initiatives to support principal wellbeing and leadership development over the years.

ASPA’s influence extends beyond Australia through its involvement in the International Confederation of Principals (ICP) since the early 1990s. ASPA’s past presidents and board members have been prominent education leaders domestically. They came to the national role after leading state principals’ associations. Past presidents Andrew Pierpoint previously led the QSPA, Rob Nairn led WASSEA, Sheree Vertigan led the TPA, and Andrew Blair led VASSP. This continuity ensures national advocacy is well-informed by grassroots school leadership experience.

Organisational Structure: ASPA today is constituted as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, with its members being the affiliated state and territory secondary principal associations. Each state/territory association contributes to ASPA’s governance through representation on ASPA’s Board. This federated model has existed in various forms since the association’s early days, allowing a balance between national coordination and state-level autonomy. The ASPA national office works closely with these affiliates to formulate policy positions and submissions to government inquiries, ensuring that regional perspectives inform national stances.

Unified Advocacy and Principal Voice: In recent years, ASPA has proactively built alliances with other principal associations to amplify school leaders’ voices, an effort that culminated in 2024 with the establishment of a formal National Principals’ Reference Group. This coalition unites government, Catholic, independent, special education, primary, and Indigenous principal associations, enabling a coordinated approach to national advocacy. On 28 June 2024, Education Minister Jason Clare convened an inaugural roundtable with nine peak principal bodies and committed to ongoing collaboration through this Reference Group, ensuring “the voice of the nation’s principals” is heard in shaping education policy. ASPA President Andy Mison hailed the new forum as “a new partnership between policymakers and those on the front lines of education”, noting it fulfilled ASPA’s long-held vision for direct principal input into federal policy. The formalisation of the National Principals’ Reference Group stands as a significant milestone, underscoring ASPA’s commitment to unified advocacy and giving principals a direct voice at the highest levels of government.

Current Status: ASPA continues to be “the leading voice for secondary education in Australia,” focused on achieving equity and excellence in secondary schooling. Its activities include conducting annual national conferences/summits, publishing research and policy briefings, and partnering with education agencies. The Association’s 2025 Policy Briefing, for example, outlined strategies on issues like principal health and wellbeing, teacher shortages, funding equity, and inclusive education, reflecting the contemporary priorities of the organisation. ASPA is working collaboratively with federal authorities to ensure the insights of school principals inform government policy.

The Australian Secondary Principals Association has evolved over more than five decades from its early incarnation as a “High School Principals” network to a modern, incorporated peak body. It has played a pivotal role in representing government secondary school leaders, championing public education, and shaping national education agendas. ASPA’s history demonstrates an enduring commitment to advocacy, professional collaboration, and leadership development on behalf of Australia’s secondary school principals and the students and communities they serve.