Up to 130 principals and public school leaders from across the Mid North Coast and beyond will converge on Port Macquarie today as part of the NSW Department of Education’s annual Schools Roadshow.
Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie Campus is hosting the event, with leaders travelling from as far afield as Barrington, Boambee, Uralla and Urunga to take part in the gathering, one of 10 roadshow stops across NSW this year.
The college operates across two campuses, Port Macquarie and Westport, and is home to 175 teachers along with support and administrative staff. Its curriculum includes shared senior subjects across both campuses, giving students a broad range of pathways and the ability to study subjects not available at their home campus. nswnsw
The roadshow is the department’s key platform for engaging directly with school leaders and bringing the NSW Plan for Public Education to life at the local level.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said hearing from those closest to students was central to building a stronger system.
“It’s inspiring to see so many school leaders coming together with a shared purpose to improve outcomes for every student,” Mr Dizdar said.
“When we listen to the experiences of principals and leaders on the ground, we build policies that are more responsive, more effective, and more deeply connected to the communities we serve.”
The department’s senior executive team attends each roadshow stop to engage directly with principals and deepen their understanding of local opportunities and challenges.
At the Port Macquarie event, Mr Dizdar will highlight key achievements across NSW public schools, including strong student growth in NAPLAN and the expansion of the Inspire program for high potential and gifted students.
“We are committed to ensuring every student, regardless of their postcode or background, has access to a world-class public education,” Mr Dizdar said.
“Bringing leaders together like this strengthens professional networks and builds a more connected, resilient public education system.”
Mr Dizdar said the roadshow reflects the department’s commitment to genuine collaboration with school communities.
“This is about genuine partnership. We listen, we learn, and we lead together,” Mr Dizdar said.
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