Overview
It’s the start of the Australian school year. For some students, the challenge is simply getting to school whilst for others, it is staying the course.
In our first peer network meeting for 2026, we will examine the implications of school suspension and consider evidence-informed alternatives. The discussion will also draw on a case study of one alternative currently being implemented, highlighting the practical challenges funders can encounter when supporting a new initiative through establishment and early delivery.
Dr Samara Hand, co-author of Disrupting the School to Prison Nexus in NSW, will share key findings and outline opportunities to strengthen school inclusion. She will:
- discuss how suspension fails to address underlying behavioural issues
- illustrate how suspension contributes to longer-term exclusion, including increased risk of criminalisation and involvement with the justice system later in life
- present recommendations for alternative responses by schools and other stakeholders.
One of the innovative approaches referenced in the report is currently being trialled by The Y NSW, with support from the Eureka Benevolent Foundation (EBF). Jess Perrin, EBF Foundation Director, will explain how the program operates and reflect on the experience of bringing it to implementation, including the challenges encountered and how these were addressed.
This session will be relevant to those interested in school attendance and inclusion, youth justice, funder–provider partnerships, and the practical realities of launching new, innovative approaches in the education ecosystem.
When
Wednesday 25 February 2025
Online attendance:
12:00pm - 1:30pm AEDT (ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC)
11:30am - 1:00pm ACDT (SA)
11:00am - 12:30pm AEST (QLD)
10:30am - 12:00pm ACST (NT)
9:00am - 10:30am AWST (WA)
In-person attendance in Sydney
12:00pm - 2:00pm AEDT
We invite in-person attendees to stay after the discussions for post-session networking, socials and light refreshments.
There are limited spots for the in-person component of the event.
Hybrid event
Online attendance: Zoom link to be shared closer to the time.
In-person attendance, Sydney | Philanthropy Australia office, Yirranma Place, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Audience
This event is for Philanthropy Australia Education Funders Peer Network members only.
We welcome Philanthropy Australia Engage (individual/ organisation) and Impact members who are in funding in education or interested in funding in education. Please register or reach out to programs@philanthropy.org.au to join the peer network.
Not at the right membership level? Please reach out to membership@philanthropy.org.au.
If you are not yet a member of Philanthropy Australia or want to find out more about the philanthropic work in this area, please reach out to membership@philanthropy.org.au.
Speakers
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Jess Perrin - Foundation Director, Eureka Benevolent Foundation
Jess Perrin is the inaugural Foundation Director of the Eureka Benevolent Foundation (EBF), a family foundation established in 2007 by Belinda Hutchinson and Roger Massy-Greene. EBF focuses on early childhood and education, and on disadvantage in the developing world, seeking to influence and empower lasting change. The foundation’s strategy is to give a small number of larger, long-term grants to support catalytic change in our focus areas.
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Jess is a seasoned partnerships and philanthropy executive, with over 18 years’ experience delivering social impact programs globally. Her career has spanned for purpose organisations, the private sector and the United Nations. Most recently, as Head of Social Innovation and Digital Inclusion at Infoxchange, and prior to that as Head of Global Programs at the Thomson Reuters Foundation in London. She holds a Masters of International Communications and Development from the City University of London and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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Dr Samara Hand - Lecturer in the School of Law, Society and Criminology, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Samara is a Worimi/Biripi scholar and Lecturer at UNSW Law & Justice. She is a co-founder of the National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition, an Indigenous youth-led organisation committed to backing the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in education. She was previously their Director of Research and Impact and has worked for the NSW Department of Education and the Aurora Education Foundation.
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Peer Network Co-chairs
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Megan Enders – Founder and Principal, Montage (WA)
Megan's interest in education has developed over many years through roles with education philanthropy Fogarty Foundation, starting as Founding Director of its innovative whole school improvement program - Fogarty EDvance - and as CEO and longstanding member of its Board of Trustees. She is currently head of a boutique philanthropic advisory practice that works with individuals, families and foundations to help them achieve positive impact through their giving. Megan is also the convenor of a West Australian group of philanthropies as part of the Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children, a collaboration between philanthropy and government. |
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Megan has expertise in the areas of collaboration, organisational leadership and change management, gained through executive roles in both the 'for purpose' and ‘for profit’ sectors. Megan has also held executive roles, and worked in the Prime Minister’s Department and for a Federal Minister.
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John Bush (NSW)
John is a collaborative, outcomes-focused senior leader in philanthropy, social impact and education, with an abiding commitment to addressing disadvantage and helping young people to thrive. Over nearly thirty years, he has developed expertise in philanthropic strategy, grant-making and evaluation, policy influence, leading education social enterprises, designing and delivering transformative social impact convenings, and recruiting and developing exceptional talent for social impact.
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John led the development of the education, school-age learning and young people strategies for the Paul Ramsay Foundation, which together delivered more than $170,000,000 in grant and evaluation partnerships. These partnerships have measurably improved outcomes for hundreds of thousands of Australian young people.
All of John’s work in philanthropy has been informed by his leadership experience in schools and start-up nonprofits and his classroom teaching experience in the United States and Australia.
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Peer Network Lead
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Bella Conyngham - Director, Engagement (NSW/ACT), Philanthropy Australia
Originally from Aotearoa New Zealand, Bella Conyngham joined Philanthropy Australia at the beginning of 2023, bringing with her experience in engagement and partnership building within the social impact and sustainability sectors. |
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As the Director of Engagement for NSW and ACT, Bella leads strategic engagement efforts with members, fostering collaboration across the region. She is deeply passionate about the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors and serves as a Board Observer for the Australian Endometriosis Foundation (formerly known as Endo Articles).
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Bella is also an active member of NEXUS, a global community of emerging philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and allies from over 70 countries, dedicated to enhancing philanthropy and social change.
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