School activities
Parents can be involved in a range of school activities such as assisting in the classroom, helping with excursions and camps, or offering their expertise to help organise extracurricular activities such as sports carnivals and musicals.
School councils
Many schools have a school council that plays a more formal role in setting the future direction of the school. Parents are represented on every school council and are elected every 2 years. More information can be found at the School Council Handbook website.
Parents and Citizens' Associations
State schools offer opportunities for parents to join a Parents and Citizens' (P&C) Association. These associations are involved in a variety of school activities from policy to financial planning as well as tuckshops, fundraising, school functions and out-of-school-hours care.
P&Cs Qld
P&Cs Qld is a statewide organisation representing P&Cs. Members can help shape P&Cs Qld policy and have their views represented at state and local levels. P&Cs Qld is represented on a number of key education bodies, including the Queensland Studies Authority Board and the Queensland College of Teachers. For more information visit the P&Cs Qld website.
Tuckshops
Most state schools have a canteen or tuckshop staffed by parent volunteers. The Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) is a non-profit, community-based organisation developed to assist tuckshop workers and school communities to provide great-tasting and healthy foods. The service to members includes regular magazines, special events specifically for tuckshop workers, support for the Smart Choices strategy, and advice on tuckshop management issues including volunteer workforce strategies, menu development, pricing, healthy food ideas and marketing. For more information visit the QAST website or phone (07) 3324 1511.