A practical guide for P&Cs and school communities
ACT Parents’ School Resourcing Survey shows many of the issues families are raising at their own schools - staffing gaps, ageing facilities, and loss of specialist programs - are being experienced across the ACT.
This page is designed to help P&Cs and parents and carers to support school-specific advocacy that also contributes to a stronger, system-wide case for change.
Your school’s story matters. When many schools raise similar concerns, decision-makers can no longer treat them as isolated problems.
What we’re asking P&Cs to do
Choose the issue or issues that most affects your school right now, and help families raise them directly with ACT politicians by:
- Sharing this page with your community
- Pointing families to the most relevant template letter/s
- Encouraging them to add a short example from your school
Below you will find template letters focused on:
- Staffing shortages and Split Classes
- Ageing and Inadequete Infrastructure; and
- Access to Specialist Programs at ACT public schools
Please cut and paste from the template. You don’t need to coordinate responses or collect copies. Your role is simply to make it easy for families to speak up.
Template letters to ACT MLAs
Template 1: Staffing shortages and split classes
Subject: Staffing shortages are disrupting learning at ACT public schools
Dear [MLA’s name],
I am writing as a parent/carer at an ACT public school.
ACT Parents’ recent school resourcing survey highlights widespread concerns about staffing shortages, including unfilled vacancies and limited access to relief teachers. These shortages are leading to split or collapsed classes and disrupted learning for students.
At our school, this looks like:
[Add a short example here – for example, how often classes are split, missed specialist lessons, or the impact on your child.]
While school staff work hard to manage these pressures, the impact on students and teachers is significant. Families are concerned about the long-term effect on learning and wellbeing.
I am asking you to advocate for resourcing that ensures:
- A qualified teacher in front of every class
- Adequate relief staffing to prevent frequent class splits
- Sufficient learning support staff to meet student needs
Thank you for taking the time to consider how this issue is affecting students at our school.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[School name]
Template 2: Ageing and inadequate school infrastructure
Subject: School infrastructure issues affecting students at ACT public schools
Dear [MLA’s name],
I am writing as a parent/carer at an ACT public school.
ACT Parents’ survey shows that many families are concerned about ageing and inadequate school infrastructure, including buildings, heating and cooling, and bathroom facilities. These issues directly affect students’ comfort, health and ability to learn.
At our school, this looks like:
[Add a brief example here – for example, unusable facilities, extreme temperatures, or ongoing maintenance issues.]
Major infrastructure issues are beyond the capacity of individual schools or P&Cs to resolve. Families are seeking confidence that these problems are recognised and addressed at a system level.
I encourage you to support:
- Long-term planning for school maintenance and renewal
- Funding that reflects the real condition of school facilities
- Timely responses to infrastructure issues affecting student wellbeing
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[School name]
Template 3: Loss of specialist programs (languages, arts, PE)
Subject: Access to specialist programs at ACT public schools
Dear [MLA’s name],
I am writing as a parent/carer at an ACT public school.
ACT Parents’ school resourcing survey highlights growing concern about reduced access to specialist subjects such as languages, music, arts and physical education due to staffing and budget pressures.
At our school, this looks like:
[Add a short example here – for example, a program that has been reduced, cancelled or unavailable.]
Families value these programs as part of a well-rounded education and are concerned about the long-term impact when access is inconsistent or lost.
I am asking you to advocate for:
- System-level planning to ensure access to specialist teachers
- Funding models that protect specialist programs
- More consistent access to these subjects across ACT public schools
Thank you for considering the experience of students at our school.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[School name]
A final word for P&Cs, parents and carers
Your role isn’t to have all the answers - it’s to open the door for families to speak about what’s happening at their school, knowing those voices contribute to a bigger picture.
ACT Parents will continue raising these issues at a system level, informed by what school communities are experiencing on the ground.
Email Contact Details for ACT Politicians
Brindabella (Tuggeranong)
- Deborah Morris MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Laura Nuttall MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Mark Parton MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Caitlin Tough MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Taimus Werner-Gibbings MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ginninderra (Belconnen)
- Chiaka Barry MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Yvette Berry MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Peter Cain MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Tara Cheyne MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Jo Clay MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kurrajong (Inner North & South)
- Andrew Barr MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Thomas Emerson MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Elizabeth Lee MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Shane Rattenbury MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Murrumbidgee (Woden, Weston Creek, Molonglo)
- Fiona Carrick MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Ed Cocks MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Jeremy Hanson MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Marisa Paterson MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Chris Steel MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Yerrabi (Gungahlin)
- Andrew Braddock MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Leanne Castley MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- James Milligan MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Michael Pettersson MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Suzanne Orr MLA - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.