Australian Parent's Council

Leo Matthew Dunne OAM, President of the Australian Parents Council (APC) from 1992 - 2004, died suddenly on Friday 28 January.

Current APC President, Ms Caz Bosch, paid the following tribute to Leo's service to education across many years and in particular his commitment to promoting the importance of the role of parents in the schooling of their children. She said:

"Leo brought a wealth of experience in schooling issues to APC, and an unshakeable faith in the importance of parents as the primary educators of their children.

"Leo's association with APC and the national education arena began in 1972 when he was elected Honorary President of the Federation of Parents & Friends Associations of Catholic Schools in Queensland. He was subsequently appointed Executive Officer of that organisation in 1982 and remained in the position until 2000.

"During the 1980s, Leo was a member of the Queensland Board of Teacher Education and a foundation member of the inter-systemic parents' committee which brought together parents of students attending government and non-government schools in Queensland.  He was also instrumental in the development of the Independent Parents & Friends Council of Queensland.

"Leo served as Deputy Chair of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission for 8 years and Deputy Chair of its Capital Grants Committee. He was also the parent representative on the National Catholic Education Commission from 1984 - 1992 prior to his election as President of the Australian Parents Council.

"His voluntary work as APC President often took him to Canberra where he was involved in countless meetings with the Department of Education, relevant Ministers and Members of Parliament, education committees and government inquiries - just as he was in his home state of Queensland.

"A tireless advocate for the right of parents to choose non-government schools for their children, and for that choice to be fairly funded by governments, he was at all times a strong advocate of well funded, quality public education.

"He was an enthusiastic builder of bridges between parents in the government and non-government school sectors due to his firm belief that schooling is first and foremost about children, not schools, systems or sectors.

"Leo was deeply committed and involved in the development of APC program initiatives to promote and encourage parent engagement in school education.

"He was instrumental in the development of the Family-School Partnerships Framework endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in 2008, and has led the development and implementation of the Indigenous Parent Factor: Successful learning in the early years at home and school (IPF) program over the past seven years.

"Designed in close collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait elders and parents, the IPF program has enabled Indigenous parents and carers across Australia to develop a new perspective of schooling and its importance to their children's personal, social and academic development. To many, he became known as Uncle Leo.

"Leo was participating in an APC - IPF program meeting when he suffered the stroke that led to his death. The day prior he had attended an APC meeting with Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, to stress the priority that parental engagement should have in schooling policy and the importance of programs run by parents for parents such as the IPF.

"Leo's contribution to education and parent engagement in education, much of which was voluntary, has been incalculable. He was a gentle and perspicacious man with a sense of humour and a capacity to see the best in people and events. A man of faith. A man of wisdom. A man who never gave up the good fight for a better world, better schooling and better schooling outcomes. A peerless advocate and effective leader.

"In 1997, Leo was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to families through his work for school parent organisations.

"At the time of his death at 80 years of age, he was still a member of various government and non-government committees in Queensland and a frequent visitor to rural and remote Aboriginal communities in his capacity as an IPF Advocate and facilitator.

"On behalf of the National Executive and staff of the Australian Parents Council I extend heartfelt condolences to Leo's wife, Joyce, and his family. We thank them for the sacrifices they made which enabled Leo to make such a significant contribution to schooling in Australia."