Register on this page for the LIVESTREAM event
Please note that the QLD State Conference is an in-person event with a live-stream option for those who are unable to make the trip to Brisbane. If you plan to make the trip to Brisbane, please register for the in person option here.
Individual registration process in 2023 for Livestream event
We are excited, this year, to introduce an individual registration process. This will see staff from our CSA member schools register individually for State Conference. You can find out more information in the 'How to Register' section, below.
State Conference Overview
The theme for our 2023 events is:
A Place to Grow:
The formation of practice | the practice of formation
During our 2023 State Conferences, we will look at how the Christian story speaks to and resonates within the cultural landscape of 21st Century Australia. How does a school community most effectively embody this story?
An overview of the programmed sessions is provided below and further information about the State Conference can be found further down this page:
Session 1 Focus: personal formation and the marketplace of ideas, which can seem like a battlefield, and the beauty of the Christian story through the frame of truth, suffering and success.
Session 2 Focus: the cultural waters in which we swim, and the opportunities schools have for bringing hope and meaning by teaching and living out the Christian story in a school context.
Session 3 Focus: applying the principles discussed in session 2 within individual school/team contexts.
Detailed Event Information
The Qld State Conference will be held in person at Mueller College on the north side of Brisbane and will incorporate a livestream element for those who are unable to make the trip to Brisbane. A little closer to the date, a livestream link will be provided, which will enable you to engage with the content and be part of the event from your own school. Please contact your school administrator to ensure you are aware of how your team will participate, either at your own device or together as a group from a larger facility.
An overview of the program is detailed below:
- 8:30am Arrival
- 9:00am Session 1: Welcome, Worship and Devotions, and Keynote 1 with Max Jeganathan (via videolink).
- 10:30am Morning Break
- 11:00am Session 2: Keynote 2 with Simon Smart (live presentation)
- 12:30pm Lunch Break
- 1:30pm Session 3: Story from Schools and Keynote 3 with Craig Groeschel (via videolink) followed by closing remarks.
- 3:00pm Close of State Conference
Please note this program is subject to change.
Conference costs for the livestream event ($30 +GST per person) will be invoiced directly to each school through the CSA accounts team.
Speakers
Max Jeganathan
Max Jeganathan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity CPX. A former lawyer and political & policy adviser, Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford and is undertaking a PhD in Law. Max speaks on the intersection between faith, culture, economics, finance, technology and moral reasoning. He has spoken in businesses, universities and political institutions, including Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs and Amazon. He loves movies, good wine with his wife Fiona and making his kids laugh.
Simon Smart
Simon Smart is Executive Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. A former English and History teacher, Simon has a Masters in Christian Studies from Regent College, Vancouver. He is the co-author of For God's Sake: An Atheist, a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim Debate Religion, and was co-presenter and co-writer of the historical documentary For the Love of God: How the church is better and worse than you ever imagined. Simon’s writing has appeared in such places as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the ABC, The Australian, and The Guardian. He is the host of the Life & Faith podcast. He lives on Sydney’s northern beaches and is an inept but enthusiastic surfer.
Craig Groeschel
Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative multi-site church that began in Oklahoma. Together with his wife Amy, Pastor Craig started Life.Church in a two-car garage in 1996 as a place where people could come just as they are to experience the life-changing love of Jesus. Under Pastor Craig’s leadership, the church has become known for its innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel, launching the first church online experience in 2006 and creating YouVersion, the most downloaded Bible app in history. A New York Times bestselling author, Pastor Craig has written more than 15 books on topics like marriage, prayer, purpose, church leadership, and more. His most recent book, The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most, was released in February 2023. Pastor Craig and Amy live in Oklahoma and have six children and five grandchildren. To learn more about Pastor Craig, visit craiggroeschel.com
Your Host, Andrew Taylor, CSA State Executive Officer, QLD
Andrew Taylor, currently serves as the Executive Officer, Qld and has over 30 years' experience in a range of leadership roles in education and has spent the last 15 years focusing on building capacity in teachers and school leaders. Andrew leads the national portfolio for School Improvement and is an experienced school improvement consultant focusing on building strong foundations that underpin all school activities.
How to Register: LIVESTREAM Event
Please note that registration for the LIVESTREAM event is different to registration for the IN PERSON event.
We are excited to introduce individual registration this year! Staff from CSA member schools are able to register themselves individually to State Conference. Please follow the steps below to register for the livestream event:
- Click "register" on the right (you will need to be signed in to your account) and follow the prompts to register (ensuring you click 'proceed to checkout').
- Check your inbox for an email confirming your registration to the livestream event.
Once you have completed these steps, you will be registered for livestream version of the conference and a little closer to the event you will either be sent an individual link to join or your school administrator will facilitate you joining with us as a group.
If you're having trouble logging in to your CSA online account or registering for this event, please contact your school admin team.
Detailed Session Information
Please refer to information below about each of the sessions being presented at the upcoming conference.
Session One: Living Faith on the Battlefield of Ideas with Max Jeganathan
In a world increasingly polarised and uncertain, the marketplace of ideas can seem more like a battlefield. How can personal formation play a role in enabling us to meaningfully engage with the big issues of the day? In this session (provided by videolink), Max Jeganathan will consider the philosophical, sociological and cultural currents shaping 21st century society. He will then set out the relevance and beauty of the Christian story through the frame of three fundamental issues that are central to our cultural moment: Truth, Suffering and Success.
Session Two: Telling a Better Story with Simon Smart
The pace of secularisation has left many Christians feeling bewildered, defensive, and increasingly disconnected from the surrounding culture. How should we respond? Simon Smart makes the case for schools being uniquely positioned to not only proclaim but to embody a life-giving alternative to the dominant cultural narratives of our day. In this session, Simon will illuminate key aspects of the Christian story that speak to universal human longings with compelling answers that are found nowhere else. We will explore a vision of life that is not only coherent, but uniquely appealing.
Session 3: Lead like it matters with Craig Groeschel
Our relationship with God affects our leadership and influence. Our faith influences everything we do and has direct impact on others and how we lead. Formation of our faith is foundational to who we are and how we lead in Christian schools. In this session (provided by videolink), we will hear a little bit around Craig's own personal and spiritual formation/development, as well as hearing some of the principles from Craig's recent book, Lead Like it Matters, This session will specifically look at your personal formation and how to hold onto it.
Qualify for CPD Hours
A certificate of Professional Learning (for 5 CPD Hours) will be issued following the event and accessible via your member dashboard. The event will address the following AITSL standards and newly released Christian Distinctive Focus areas:
AITSL professional teacher and leadership standards:
» 6.2 Engage in Professional Learning and Improve Practice
» 6.3 - Engage with colleagues and improve practice
» 6.4 - Apply professional learning and improve student learning
» 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities
Christian Distinctive Focus Areas:
» 6A - Engage in professional learning which aids the development of a philosophy of Christian Education based in Biblical principles
» 7A Knowledge about and engagement with the school, its Christian ethos and vision
» 7B Contributes to the development of distinctive Christian practice in the school, profession and wider community
Want to learn more about the CSA Christian Distinctive Focus areas? Click here.
Cancellation
If you are needing to cancel your State Conference registration, please ensure you make contact through your school administrator. Schools may notify us of cancellations to the respective CSA state office in writing. Unfortunately, no refunds will be issued after 15 days out from the event start date. Any cancellations made after this date will be charged the full registration fee. 'No Shows' to the event will be charged the full registration fee.
The event program is subject to change and we may not be able to provide prior notice.
Please note that registration fees do not include insurance to cover loss of any fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the event or through cancellation of the event itself.
A full refund will be issued if the event is cancelled by the organiser (CSA) due to COVID-19 restrictions or any other reasons out of the organisers control.
COVID-safe Information
We are committed to the health and safety of our member community and are following government guidelines regarding the spread of COVID-19.
Learn more about how we are keeping you safe at CSA events.
Event Sponsors
We are so grateful to our conference sponsors who have helped to make this event possible.
Platinum Sponsors
The School Photographer
The School Photographer is currently enjoying 36 years of operations throughout NSW, ACT, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. We pride ourselves on producing high quality photographic student packages from our modern production facilities and superior customer service. Our innovative “360 Virtual School Tour” and our “Fly Through Video” products are proving to be an invaluable marketing tool to showcase the very best images of your school. Additionally, we can produce for your school a wide range of marketing products such as window film, pull-up banners, fence banners, tear drop banners, school prospectuses, report folders, stationery and much, much more. We have implemented COVID-safe measures throughout our company to ensure the safety of schools and their communities.
Essential Assessment
Essential Assessment is a leading provider and a trusted assessment and curriculum partner with over 2,000 Australian schools. We provide a unique Australian Curriculum, Victorian Curriculum and NSW Syllabus numeracy and literacy assessment and curriculum model for a whole-school approach to formative and summative assessment. Our online program assesses your students to create a personalised curriculum for growth from their current point of understanding. Our resources include My Numeracy + Sunset Maths, My Literacy + My Spelling, a suite of online activities to complement paper-based curriculum resources for learning consolidation across your school.
Mercer
At Mercer, we believe in building brighter futures. Together, we’re redefining the world of work, reshaping retirement and investment outcomes, and unlocking real health and well-being. We do this by meeting the needs of today and tomorrow. By understanding the data and applying it with a human touch. And by turning ideas into action to spark positive change. For over 75 years, we’ve been providing trusted advice and solutions to build healthier and more sustainable futures for our clients, colleagues and communities. Welcome to a world where economics and empathy make a difference in people’s lives. Welcome to brighter ...
Premium Sponsor
Modern Teaching Aids
Modern Teaching Aids carries the largest range of teaching resources and education supplies available in Australia for primary schools, high schools, secondary schools, childcare centres, daycare centres, preschools and OOSH. The MTA range includes robotics, digital technologies, art & craft, mathematics, literacy resources, developmental products, school consumables, STEAM, classroom stationery, science equipment, STEM, sporting gear, school furniture, books, play and educational toys.