A Grace-Full Celebration
in Perth
The Revd Peter Laurence OAM, Chief Executive Officer, AngliSchools
It was a great privilege to welcome almost 300 delegates from Anglican schools across Australia to Perth for the 2026 Anglican Schools Australia (ASA) Conference.
Held from 30 July to 1 August, this year’s Conference brought together Anglican school principals, chaplains, governors and other educators, together with many bishops and other supporters of Anglican schools, from across the country.
The conference theme ‘Grace-full Hospitality: Anglican Schools as Expressions of God’s Generosity’ invited us to consider what genuine hospitality looks like in the life of an Anglican school. We delved beyond hospitality as an act of welcome and explored it as an expression of faith, generosity and service.
Across three full days, we were challenged and inspired by an exceptional line-up of speakers, including our very own Archbishop, The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO DD; Professor Stan Grant, acclaimed journalist, author and academic; Mr Max Jeganathan, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity; and also Perth’s own Ms Kim Brooklyn, CEO of Parkerville Children and Youth Care. Each brought a distinctive perspective, prompting us to reflect on our purpose as Anglican educators and the contribution our schools can make to the lives of young people and to the communities we serve.
The Conference also provided something equally important… and that was time to connect. There is enormous value in bringing together people who share both the opportunities and challenges of leadership and ministry in Anglican schools. Whether through formal sessions, workshops, times of worship, meals or conversations over coffee, the relationships strengthened during the Conference are an important part of ASA’s mission and purpose.
A particular highlight was our Conference Eucharist at St George’s Cathedral, where delegates gathered in worship, followed by a wonderful reception in the Cathedral and Burt Hall. The Conference Dinner was another opportunity to celebrate our community, including recognising those who have made an enduring contribution to Anglican schools over a long time. This year, Ms Anne Ford was deservedly awarded Life Membership, ASA’s highest honour, in recognition of her generous contribution of time, experience and leadership. Anne served as Principal of John Wollaston Anglican Community School in Kelmscott for over 23 years. Currently she serves as a Perth Diocesan Trustee as well as a member of the Perth College Council.
For those of us at AngliSchools, it was also a pleasure to welcome interstate colleagues to Perth and to share some of the warmth and hospitality of our beautiful city. The strength of ASA lies in its community. While our schools differ in size, history, location and context, we are united by a shared commitment to Anglican education and to creating communities in which young people can flourish.
The Conference reminded us that hospitality is about making room for others: listening generously, welcoming difference, building relationships and recognising the worth of every person. These are principles that sit at the heart of every Anglican school and which I hope delegates have carried back to their local context.
I want to thank everyone who joined us and helped make the 2026 conference such a memorable gathering. I also acknowledge the wonderful students (and their accompanying teachers) who helped us extend truly grace-full hospitality by welcoming delegates, creating custom welcome cards, performing at the Acknowledgement of Country, creating student celebration videos, and singing in an incredible 150-student choir for the Eucharist as well as in smaller groups during daily Morning Prayer.
We look forward to coming together again in Sydney from 29 -31 July 2027, when the conference will explore the theme ‘Called to Serve: Anglican Schools - Building Bridges, Transforming Lives’.
You can view our short 2027 conference video here: ASA 2027 Conference | Videos & Movies on Vimeo. Registrations will open in March 2027. All are welcome!