Montmorency Primary School - Good News Stories - Flexible Work School Leaders initiative

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1105299649

[Gentle music]

[On-screen text: Montmorency PS]

Janene Worsam: This is my thirteenth year at Montmorency Primary School. And I’ve been substantively the Principal for the last six years.

Paul Wickam: Running a school is very taxing. And when I first came across, she was pretty close to burn out I think.

Janene Worsam: And as much as I have always loved my job, and I certainly wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but I did feel like I may not have had an option, until this flexible work arrangement came into play.

[On-screen text: Flexible Work for School Leaders Initiative – Teach The Future]

Janene Worsam: The Flexible Work for Leaders initiative certainly piqued my interest because it’s similar to a job share arrangement.

Paul Wickam: That gave Janene that extra bit of breathing space so she’s been able to drop down to work three days. On the Monday and Tuesday when Janene’s off, I’m in the Acting Principal role. And then on Wednesday to Friday when she’s here, I sort of slip back into that Assistant Principal role.

Janene Worsam: What is terrific about this initiative is that we are funded to have that crossover day which is really important in terms of school resourcing, prioritising the ability to communicate. If we don’t set aside that time, and that time is therefore funded and resourced appropriately, things can get lost.

Paul Wickam: There used to sort of not be much between the Assistant Principal role and the Principal role. But I think this is a great natural progression.

Janene Worsam: Often when new Principals start in a role, there are certain areas that they have not been privy to. The technological side and the backend side of the Department systems and portals, that is only for a Principal.

Paul Wickam: Having somebody alongside me who’s ridden that rollercoaster and knows what to expect that’s probably the most invaluable part for me.

Janene Worsam: He can experiment and try new things. But at the end of the day, I’m here as a backstop. As far as succession planning, it is absolutely brilliant.

Paul Wickam: So I suppose it was the best of both worlds for us. So it gave me that extra little step up, and that career progression, and it gave Janene just a little bit of space and time to breathe.

Janene Worsam: So I have the energy now and I think I have my passion back again. My family say you’ve got a lot more time obviously and headspace to just be present. What that means when I’m at work I feel like I have so much to give, our children in terms of their learning space and our families, our staff, and of course, Paul as well. Whereas pre the Flexible Work Initiative, I possibly wasn’t in that headspace. So I’m excited. I’ve got a lot more to give and I feel like I can be in this role for another ten years.

[On-screen text: Teach The Future / The Education State / Victoria State Government - Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne]

[End of transcript]

Updated 19 September 2025

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Montmorency Primary School - Good News Stories - Flexible Work School Leaders initiative

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