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EREA E-News

E-N

The e-newsletter for IEUA-QNTmembers working in Edmund Rice Education

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November 2011

Welcome Welcome to the first edition of EREA E-News, an electronic newsletter for members working in Edmund Rice Education. Enquiries relating to this publication can be forwarded to IEUA-QNT Communications Officer Clare Chapman at cchapman@qieu.asn.au.

What conference delegates said ... “It was a great opportunity to meet with others in the same positions to build solidarity across the country. The exposure to ideas, strategies and structures that arose from networking with colleagues from other chapters gives us fresh insights into what works, and what is possible.” - Chris Brisbane

Tooley,

teacher,

Inaugural conference for Edmund Rice Education Australia members a success The inaugural conference for Independent Education Union activists in Edmund Rice Education Australia was held in Sydney last month. The event was a resounding success with more than 60 participants from 30 schools around the country attending to reflect on their work as union activists and to discuss problem-solving strategies within the ethos of Edmund Rice schools and the charter for EREA schools. EREA executive director Wayne Tinsey spoke to EREA activists, referring to the work of the Independent Education Union and its long and proud history of activism around issues which affect not only the industrial and professional rights of IEU members, but also the legal, political and human rights that must prevail in any democratic and civil society. “This is the core of what we would hope any of our Edmund Rice schools should profess and advocate for,” Mr Tinsey said. IEU assistant federal secretary Christine Cooper said the conference was developed with the aim of creating a beneficial environment for EREA chapters from around the country to come together. “Creating an opportunity for members across EREA schools to strengthen their organising skills and develop networks within their chapters and nationally is vitally important as the EREA organisation develops,” she said.

Attendance at the event and workshops should meet the various requirements of teacher registration boards for professional development.

“Our schools and the work our members do within these schools is a legitimate and essential part of Australian education. Our union is about making a difference and members need to have the confidence and the rights to make that difference.” -Dick Shearman, IEU federal president

For more information about this conference and other upcoming events, visit our website www.qieu.asn.au

The Independent Education Union of Australia - Queensland and Northern Territory Branch www.qieu.asn.au


Conference aimed to identify and develop national strategies As well as providing an opportunity for members to network on a national level, the conference aimed to identify the current nature of union culture within Edmund Rice schools and develop opportunities for strengthening this culture within chapters in the future. Strategies were discussed that could be utilised by representatives to increase member recruitment and improve communication to members. Changes to the national employing body Edmund Rice Australia, were also identified and how the changes may impact on members in schools were highlighted.

The conference provided an opportunity for members to build and strengthen networks nationally across Edmund Rice Education Australia schools as well as offering workshops covering the following topics: • • • • • • • • •

Dealing with parental complaints as a chapter; Christian Borthers’ Philosophy; Building a culture against bullying; Social values of the union movement; Teacher/parent/administration interaction; Development of professional and industrial networks; Industrial and professional role of our union in educational workplaces; Consultation for change; Securing the future for our job and meeting our students’ needs through appropriate government funding Member Bill Grieves from St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon and IEUA-QNT secretary Terry Burke.

Looking Forward ... Conference delegates indentified several key elements needed to develop a strong union presence within EREA schools, and determined that it was essential to have three elements in place at every chapter; a strong membership density, educated members and a strong sense of collective identity. The upcoming enterprise bargaining negotiations were identified as an opportunity for EREA chapters to work on strengthening these elements. Chapter executives will now concentrate on developing membership growth strategies, indentifying membership training programs with their organiser and strengthening networks within each chapter and across the wider EREA network in Queensland and across the country. EREA members in Queensland have called for the re-establishment of the Queensland EREA Consultative Committee, a structure which was previously in place and was beneficial in ensuring collaborative working relationships between EREA schools. Members have called upon EREA to commit to the re-establishment of the body. For more information about the committee, or to get involved, contact your chapter executive,

www.qieu.asn.au


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