Planning for the future

DR PETER MILLER, PRINCIPAL

As a school with a long history, it is our College values that have shaped us over the last 163 years. I also believe that will continue to set our trajectory into the future. However, it is not enough to name our values and leave it at that.

Our College values have long been identified, and it is our ongoing responsibility to put them into action by determining the most effective and appropriate ways to ‘live’ these values.

This means that decisions about resource allocation, operational choices regarding students and staff, and opportunities pursued or foregone must all be informed by our values.

In effect, we strive to give voice to our values through our actions by enacting them thoughtfully and purposefully. Our experiences have enabled us to develop a strength and resilience that will guide us, with planning and foresight, into the future.

In this year, with a focus on “Stories of Change,” we look to the future with optimism and hope.

Change is essential for growth— healthy organisms evolve and adapt if they are to thrive. By this definition –The Geelong College is a vibrant and healthy example of change.

We have certainly seen a great deal of it during our history – and even during my time here.

The biannual publication of Ad Astra captures moments of College life and documents our history – and the changes that come with it.

Although each edition stands on its own, together they tell the shared story of our College.

Recent editions have highlighted both historical and forward-looking perspectives on change. In this 50th year of co-education, we have chosen the theme “Stories of Change” to recognise the evolution of the College and the stories captured in Ad Astra. The marvellous July edition of this year celebrated our past, focusing on co-education and acknowledging other transformations at the College –a theme that continues in this current edition.

In contrast, this edition introduces our newly developed Strategic Plan, which will guide our actions into the future.

As we reach the end of 2024, I would like to again direct our attention to change as we look ahead, guided by the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.

This plan has now been published and is available for review. It sets forth considerable aspirations for the College.

At the heart of ‘Our Purpose’ is the commitment to providing a balanced and inspiring education for our students, one that shapes their personal development and prepares them to make positive contributions to society throughout their lives.

Our ‘Collective Ambition’ is to ensure we equip our students with the social, academic, and moral skills necessary to thrive beyond their school years.

Further to this, we have a Strategic Challenge: to encourage our College community to understand, and champion, this ambition. The Strategic Plan fosters this shared understanding, defining our four Strategic Imperatives – Our Reason, Our Responsibilities, Our Resources, and Our Relationships. Each Imperative is animated by specific Initiatives designed to bring these ideals to life.

Finally, the entire framework is guided by our College Values.

I believe the resilience we build as an organisation reflects our aspirations for our students.

They attend The Geelong College seeking change and growth through a structured, values-based, and wellinformed educational experience, one that equips them to adapt to an evolving world. Our Purpose as a College assumes this growth in our students, facilitated by their experiences here.

It is a joy to tell these Stories of Change in Ad Astra, celebrating the transformative journey that lies at the heart of the College experience.

You can view the Strategic Plan online at: bit.ly/TGC_StrategicPlan