About us

Governance

Lutheran Education Queensland (LEQ) is a department of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District (LCAQD).

LEQ operates under a governance structure led by LCAQD, outlined in the LCAQD By-Laws Part B Version 2023:1.

This governance framework supports LEQ’s mission to nurture, strengthen, guide and uplift students and educators alike, ensuring educational services provided by LEQ are high-quality, supportive, comply with all legislative, policy and regulatory requirements, and reflect our Lutheran values.

Our Governance Structure – A Summary

  1. District Church Board (DCB): The Governing Authority
  • The Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District (“District”) is the legal and governing body for Lutheran Early Years Services, Schools, and Colleges in Queensland.
  • The District Church Board (“DCB”) are the board of the District, and hold ultimate accountability for governance, risk, and compliance matters affecting these learning communities.
  • Between LCAQD Conventions of the Synod (CotS), the DCB oversees governance across these learning communities, primarily through the structures of the Council of Lutheran Education Queensland (CLEQ, who oversee LEQ) and School / College Councils.
  • The District acts as the Approved System Authority for government funding, distributing these funds to Schools and Colleges through the LEQ Office based on needs-based funding principles in compliance with the Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth).
  • The District also acts as the Approved Provider for Early Years and OSHC Services, ensuring the quality of education and care across services meets or exceeds requirements set out in the National Quality Framework, and funds received towards the education and care of children are used for the given purpose.

Governance chart showing the structure from LCAQD Synod to Lutheran schools and services, with color-coded boxes indicating committees, councils, and management, and connecting lines illustrating reporting relationships.

  1. Lutheran Education Queensland (LEQ): The Coordinating Body

LEQ, governed by the Council of LEQ (“CLEQ”), acts as the operational arm supporting Lutheran Early Years Services, Schools, and Colleges in Queensland, on behalf of the DCB. It comprises:

  • Council of Lutheran Education Queensland (CLEQ)
    • Provides policy planning, strategic direction, and coordination across Early Years Services, Schools, and Colleges.
    • Oversees key functions such as staffing, financial systems, compliance with regulations, and public relations for all learning communities.

A graphic introducing the Council of Lutheran Education Queensland members, with photos and titles: Andrew Stanke (Chair), Dr Emily Ross (Vice-Chair), Grant Cummins (Secretary), Rev Greg Priebbenow, Ray Ebert, Rodney Krenske, and Sue Kloeden.

  • Lutheran Education Queensland (Executive Director, and Office staff)
    • The Executive Director leads the LEQ Office, who implement governance and operational support across Early Years Services, Schools, and Colleges.
    • The Executive Director reports to the DCB through CLEQ.

Organisational chart for Lutheran Education Queensland, showing reporting lines from the Executive Director to various departments including Education, Finance, Human Resources, ICT, and associated services with detailed team roles.

  • Schools Assembly
    • Includes representatives from all Lutheran Schools and Colleges in Queensland (excluding some primary schools owned and governed by separate congregations).
    • Schools Assembly is a regular gathering of its representatives gives a forum to discuss and review certain recommendations of CLEQ to DCB that affect Lutheran education in Queensland.
  1. School and College Councils: Local Governance

Each School and College has its own Council, appointed by the DCB, that governs day-to-day operations at the School / College.

  • School / College Council:
    • Appoints and oversees the Principal (who acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the School/College).
    • Implements DCB and LEQ policies while tailoring operations to the local context.
    • Maintains direct communication with CLEQ for alignment and reporting.
  • Exceptions: Some primary schools owned by separately incorporated congregations are outside the direct governance of LCAQD By-Laws, though they may still engage with LEQ for advice or services.
  1. Lutheran Education Australia: Teaching & Learning Support

Lutheran Education Queensland also works under Lutheran Education Australia, and alongside Lutheran Education Victoria, NSW & Tasmania and Lutheran Education NT, SA & WA.

This national network of support benefits all our education and care teams, as we share in contemporary learning best-practice and learn from one another.

Flow of Governance

  1. Strategic Oversight – DCB sets the overarching governance framework and legal accountability.
  2. Operational Coordination – LEQ develops policies, coordinates resources, and provides system-level support.
  3. Local Implementation – School and College Councils apply these policies at the local level and manage daily operations.
  4. Communication and Reporting – Information flows upward from Early Years Services, Schools, and Colleges through LEQ to CLEQ to the DCB, and guidance flows downward from DCB to CLEQ through LEQ to Early Years Services, Schools, and Colleges.
Logo of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District with a cross, stars, and red flames. Text reads: Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District, where love comes to life.
Lutheran Education Australia logo with a blue cross, stars, and flames in a circle, next to the words Lutheran Education AUSTRALIA in blue and red text.