PSM
1989-2007 Principal Cyril Jackson Senior High School & Senior Campus
Lorraine Hams, PSM was raised in the wheatbelt town of Tambellup and studied to become a teacher. In a career of over 40 years Lorraine worked as a teacher and administrator in a number of schools in Western Australia. Her initial principalship was served at Kambalda Senior High School in the Goldfields and she commenced at Cyril Jackson Senior High School Lorraine Hams, PSM was raised in the wheatbelt town of Tambellup and studied to become a teacher. In a career of over 40 years Lorraine worked as a teacher and administrator in a number of schools in Western Australia. Her initial principalship was served at Kambalda Senior High School in the Goldfields and she commenced at Cyril Jackson Senior High School.
As Principal of Cyril Jackson SHS Lorraine realised that the demographics of the Bassendean and surrounding areas would not support a sustainable secondary school of some 1,000 students. A student population of around 1,000 students provides depth of curriculum choice and opportunities for students. Schools with a declining population face difficulties giving broad subject offerings to students.
As an innovative leader, Lorraine realised that with changing social and economic patterns students leaving school at the end of Year 10 as was the pattern in the late 1980s may have found employment, however, many jobs were low-skilled and not supportable in a dynamic and changing economy. A number of young adults, facing unemployment and structural challenges in retaining employment in changing times, realised that they needed to improve their skills and seek credentials that would establish them in a career for life. The schooling system did not have an answer to such young people and TAFE may not be the answer to all.
The concept of a second chance for young people provided a base for students to gain qualifications and prepare them to seek entry to TAFE or university. Lorraine led the argument to establish second chance school in Western Australia. The operation of such a school could not be within a traditional mindset. It would need to be different to a typical senior high school and to support young adult learners. For example, the concept of school uniform has a place in a mainstream school, however, it may have been seen as disengaging in a second chance institution. The learning culture needed to be reflective of young adults and not children. Lorraine led the development of a mature learning environment as part of a second chance methodology.
The esteem in which she is held as a national and state educational leader and her active involvement in a range of social justice issues including Aboriginal education, disability programs, refugee and migrant education, the WA Supported Accommodation and Assistance program and gender equity leadership has resulted in Lorraine being the recipient of many honours and awards. This includes being awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day 2002 Honours List. Other accolades include being named Principal of the Year in 1993, the Woman of Achievement for the Department of Education in 2006 and several other principal awards at district level. She was the first recipient of the Outstanding Leadership award for the WA Secondary School Executives’ Association and in 2008, awarded Life Membership of WASSEA and now, the inaugural Champion of CJ.