What is the Hub Leader Exchange Program?
We are excited to announce the Hub Leader Exchange Program, being piloted this year. The program is a CHA-funded initiative where hub leaders can connect, share, and learn in a different hub to their own as part of their professional development.
Eight hub leaders – four hosts and four visitors – will be selected to participate in the exchange program. Hub leaders are invited to apply for the unique opportunity to visit a host hub for an immersive three-day peer-to-peer learning experience between 29 July and 9 August, 2024. During the three-day visit, host and visiting hub leaders will share successes and challenges in the hub, and exchange ideas about hub programs and partners, and ways for building engagement with the school and the community.
The exchange participants will reflect on what was learnt and what can be shared with the network as part of being a national community of practice. The exchange program will enable all hubs to apply new and shared ideas that will help build and maintain a thriving community hub network.
The visiting hub leaders will experience the environment and culture of another hub, observing the way the host hub leader works with participants, the school, the support coordinator and service providers. Host hub leaders will have a chance to showcase the programs they run and share their successes and challenges with another hub leader. All exchange program participants will share their knowledge and experience and gain ideas to apply to their own hub.
The participating hub leaders will have the opportunity to attend hub activities, and school and stakeholder meetings for three consecutive days between 29 July and 9 August, 2024. They will be responsible for completing pre-exchange preparations and post-exchange reflections in their own time. As participating in the exchange program sits outside of the normal hub leader role, and may impact normal hub operations, it is important that hub leaders have school leadership approval before applying. Participating hub leaders will be expected to travel and work during their normal hours and receive their normal pay during the three days. Pay for any additional hours worked by hub leaders as part of the exchange program is at the school principal’s discretion.
Exchange participants will work together to build an agenda for the period of exchange based on the sample agenda below:
DAY ONE – Connect
DAY TWO – Share
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Principals will support their hub leader in offering an immersive learning experience for a visiting hub leader, welcoming them with a tour of the site, and including them in events such as school assembly, staff meetings (where relevant), and hub programs across the three days.
Hub leaders who wish to apply to visit another hub need to discuss the opportunity with their Principal and must have their full support before applying. The hub leader and Principal will also need to discuss any necessary arrangements for the running or rescheduling of hub activities during the hub leader’s absence. The Principal (or other leadership representative) will be asked to complete a form to support their hub leader’s application, and to act as a referee if the hub leader is shortlisted. A description of the roles and responsibilities of visiting hub leaders can be found here.
CHA will select hubs to act as hosts, and invite all other hub leaders to apply for the role of visiting hub leader.
Applications to be a visiting hub leader will be through Smartygrants and open to all hub leaders (except those at host hubs) from 6-28 March, 2024. To find out more about this professional development opportunity for hub leaders, watch the online information session here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1TaaRuRHXw
Once applications have been received, they will be reviewed in the following stages:
1. Application reviewed
2. Nominated references contacted
3. Shortlist invited to interview
4. Application outcome
Irrespective of CHA’s final decision, all hub leaders will be notified of the outcome of their application.
To view frequently asked questions, refer to this document. If you have any further questions to add to the document, email maianelson@communityhubs.org.au.