Associate Outlook
The e-newsletter for IEUA-QNT associate members
September 2012
Welcome Welcome to the September issue of Associate Outlook, the e-newsletter for associate members. Enquiries about the Associate Outlook can be forwarded to IEUAQNT Communications Officer Elise Cuthbertson at ecuthbertson@qieu.asn.au
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How to Find a Job in the Non-Government Sector Our union aims to support members in the Fellow associate member Emma Kann said beginning and early stages of their careers. she enjoyed the networking experience and discussion generated by the presentations. A ‘How to Find a Job in the NonGovernment Sector’ information session, “Attending the information session was a held in June, provided pre-service teachers great opportunity to network, as is being with a range of advice about how to involved in our union more broadly,” she said. kickstart their teaching careers. IEUA-QNT associate member Kirsty Wharton said the session provided a good overview of the issues pre-service teachers will face when seeking employment.
Do you have a friend at uni who would like to become an IEUA-QNT member?
Presentations at the session included “How to get noticed - resume and interview tips and techniques”, “Handling behavioural issues in the classroom”, and “The importance of union membership”.
Please go to www.qieu.asn.au to download a copy of our IEUA-QNT Associate Membership Form. Or let your friend know that they can phone 1800 177 938 to speak with one of our Industrial Services Officers.
Have you Applied for a IEUA-QNT Bursary yet?
Kirsty Wharton, Emma Kann, Briana Thompson and Stella Hoy picked up job seeking tips at our union’s ‘How to Find a Job in the Non-Government Sector’ information session.
Our union is currently offering four bursaries of $1,000 and one $2,000 bursary for eligible pre-service teachers to help support their studies and kickstart their teaching careers. Visit www.qieu.asn.au/bursary for full entry requirements and to download an application form.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 28 SEPTEMBER 2012!
Online Resources Click here to visit our union’s webpage with resources for our associate members
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Job Hunting Tips 1.
Job hunting should be your full time job - Research schools of interest, attend professional or industry meetings, network, customise your resume and cover letter, and explore employment options other than the print media.
2.
Stay healthy - Eat sensibly, exercise and minimise stress.
3.
Volunteer - Make new contacts, develop your skills and demonstrate your sense of community/work ethic.
4.
Make weekly plans - If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
5.
Have a support network - Friends are your primary ‘networks’ and can provide a second opinion on your application letters, resume, and interview outfit.
6.
Alternatives to full-time work - Part-time or fixed-term contract work will build your experience and help you to make professional contacts.
The Independent Education Union of Australia - Queensland and Northern Territory Branch www.qieu.asn.au
Associate Outlook
The e-newsletter for IEUA-QNT associate members
September 2012
My Experience as a Graduate Teacher IEUA-QNT member Julian Leinenga reflects on the beginning of his teaching career at St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane.
There are a few challenges that I have encountered as a Graduate Teacher. Firstly, I struggled with knowing just how much to plan.
I planned ten week term units for my primary students and it has taken me about a semester to get through what I envisaged I graduated from the University of would take a term. Queensland in December 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts (Music) and a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and started my employment in January this year. I have a few tips that I would give to Pre-service and Graduate I have only been teaching for one teachers. First of all, ensure that you create expectations from semester, though it feels like a lot longer. I was very daunted by the very first lesson. my first day of teaching. There are a lot of expectations placed on you. It is true that what you let go in terms of behaviour in the first week, you will have for the rest of the term or even year. The school staff expects you to perform as they have placed a lot of faith in you. The students are judging you from the very first Set homework in the first lesson and ensure you mark it the minute and will no doubt be comparing you to their previous next, otherwise depending on the school getting students to do teacher. homework could be very difficult.
Julian’s Tips
You feel quite disoriented, you remember key landmarks from the school tour a few weeks ago but as soon as you leave your classroom or department you become completely lost in a mass of concrete and buildings.
Remember you can only get done what you can get done. A term plan and a lesson plan are just that - ‘plans’. There are so many factors out of your control which limit how much you can get done during the term.
Waiting outside for the students to arrive on my first day many things were going through my mind. Am I adequately prepared? Will the students listen to what I have to say?
As per the syllabus and curriculum requirements there is content that needs to be covered, but you need to be flexible to constantly amend your planning throughout the day, week, term, semester and year.
Will the students accept me as the new person into their classroom community? Thankfully I was able to answer yes to all of these questions. Friends and family often ask me “How is teaching going?” The response I usually say is “It’s good, it’s busy…. But it’s good”.
Create good relationships in and out of the classroom with the students. Get involved in co-curricular activities such as music, sport or dance.
This shows the students that you are a person outside of the classroom. It enables them to relate to you on a different level Anyone who says teaching is a 9am to 3pm job with 12 weeks and build stronger relationships. holidays a year is delusional. The amount of planning and preparation as a first year teacher is immense. To me union membership is very important. My philosophy starting out is that if I put in a lot of effort into If anything happens whilst you are employed in a school, it well-structured planning and detailed lesson plans now, in the is good to know you have someone on your side. coming years the workload won’t be as high, as I will just be modifying lessons and terms, rather than starting from scratch. Our union is there to provide support which starts with a network at the Chapter level and also includes professional Teaching can be one of the most rewarding careers. Like representation and dispute resolution in times of need. any job however, there are the good days and the bad days. I believe it is all about finding the balance, as long as I have one good period or moment throughout my day it keeps my spirits high. Follow and Like IEUA-QNT
The Independent Education Union of Australia - Queensland and Northern Territory Branch www.qieu.asn.au