Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2022
Introduction
I was delighted to be appointed as the Chief Executive of the Conservatorium in September 2022. The Conservatorium is an amazing place, with a rich history and a committed body of students and teachers. I will let other contributors reflect on the first part of the year, so in my remarks I am concentrating on the period towards the end of the year. It will be no surprise to anyone that the Hume Conservatorium- like it’s peers – had been through a tough period leading up to and during 2022. The effects of Covid were still being felt until mid-year, and staff turnover (with a variety of reasons) meant that many staff were fatigued, while doing their best to keep the conservatorium functioning.
My main focus in the last quarter of 2022 was providing a sense of stability and direction for the years ahead, together with starting to improve the business systems relied upon by teaching and administrative staff alike. Improving the quality and consistency of our administration will remain a focus in 2023. Initial administrative changes by the end of 2022 were to improve our accounting system and to prepare for an adjusted approach to the timetable. We will assess the impact of the changes for the 2023 report.
Another significant factor affecting the Conservatorium for some years has been difficulty in attracting teachers. A range of factors will influence recruitment and retention, with the big 3 probably being the suitability/availability of work, culture/environment, and remuneration. While all of these were focus areas, culture and remuneration are most amenable to influence, and will also tend to create demand. Fortunately, my predecessor (Jacqui Smith) and the staff had already done a lot of work on culture and promoting the Conservatorium as a friendly, community-focussed place, and I have been happy to continue and foster the directions she had already set.
Staff remuneration however remained as a difficult problem. In consultation with the Board I have taken the stance that we have to be paying people appropriately and competitively. Being close to relatively wealthy communities in Canberra and the Southern Highlands we need comparable rates of pay where we can. This both a pragmatic and principled position: arts/cultural workers should remunerated consistent with their professional skills, qualifications and industry experience. At the end of 2022 we put in place new pay scales which will halve the gap between our recent pay rates and those available in more major centres.
As we approach 2023 there is a complex year ahead for the Con, with a mixture of familiar and new features:
·A new teaching timetable
·Fee increases to teachers to enhance our ability to attract and retain staff
·Fee increases for parents, removing covid subsidies, accommodating inflation impacts across the board and longer lesson times for many students.
·Increased spending on overdue maintenance
·Pursuing stronger partnerships for the benefit of our students and the community
·Introducing/reintroducing instrument lessons, ensembles, and workshops which are not currently on offer
·Pursuing funding for building renewal and infrastructure updates to current standards such as heating, cooling and accessibility.
Looking to the coming years, Goulburn’s growth and increasing prosperity is encouraging for the Conservatorium, but we will remain mindful of the need to provide opportunities for smaller communities who face greater disadvantage in accessing services. We will also maintain a focus on programs for less advantaged communities and people – who deserve the opportunity of a musical education.
Finally, it will always be the quality and enthusiasm of staff which attracts students of whatever age to take up and invest their time or energy in experiencing and learning new skills. In the coming years I aim to broaden and deepen what we offer our communities. Our vision of inspiring, connecting and enriching our communities through music requires it.
George Brenan
Chief Executive 
Highlights of 2022
Privacy policy   Terms and conditions   Contact   Credits
© 2022 Hume Conservatorium
ABN 53 635 556 875
We acknowledge the traditional Custodians of this Land, where the Aboriginal People have performed age-old ceremonies of storytelling, music, dance and celebration. As a traditional meeting place, many first nations peoples came to this region. Underneath our buildings and roads this Land always will be traditional Aboriginal Land. in the same way, all music making genres and practices come from our musical elders, so we acknowledge those on whose skills and wisdom we draw.
   
  