When Mr Rhys Vallance joined SCEA in October 2022 as the Risk & Compliance Manager, he was keen to learn more about our Christian schools and how the educational sector looks after its workers, students and families.
In his first six months, he has overseen the Work Health and Safety (WHS) audits across each of the SCEA sites, worked with the SCEA Board in the area of risk, and helped appoint Health & Safety Representatives (HSR) at each of our SCEA sites.
This excellent work in regards to facilities management is what earned Mr Vallance a coveted LinkedIn photo in the high-visibility vest and hard hat with Mundaring Christian College’s, Mrs Charmaine Ladner! It also celebrated the ‘2023 World Day For Safety & Health At Work’.
This week, Mr Vallance has gone a step further with the first group of SCEA staff beginning their ‘Mental Health First Aid’ training through Mrs Rachel Tyrer from the Willow Training Centre. The training emphasised that mental health issues can require first aid, just as physical injuries can, and provided tangible guidance on how to provide support to those who may need it.
Our schools require staff that are passionate and hard-working, but they also need professionals who can teach generations of young people and be excellent examples of God’s love to everyone they come into contact with.
In addition, Mr Vallance also takes part in the ‘Senior Support Team (SST) Visit Days’, which occur once per week during each school term at each school workplace.
This week, it was the turn of Ellenbrook Christian College (ECC) to host the Head Office team, with Mr Rhys Vallance chairing a meeting surrounding Risk & Compliance issues for the K-12 school. ECC now has enrolments of more than 700 students under the tutelage of Principal, Mr Mike Pitman, Head of Primary (and Acting Principal, with Mr Pitman on leave) Mrs Michelle Cockrell and Head of Secondary, Mr Matthew Dufty.
Also present with Mr Vallance, Mrs Cockrell and Mr Dufty in the photo, are Mrs Kylie Smith (Business Manager, ECC) and SCEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Graeme Cross.
The work Mr Vallance has instigated is crucial in all our schools for our teaching and non-teaching staff as they work with our students and families in our quest for life-changing results. Please continue to hold him and the rest of the Senior Support Team in prayer as they work to aid each of the SCEA schools to present a gospel-inspired approach to Christian schooling in the suburbs of Perth.