Vol. 5 No. 1
In this edition
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BCE Graduate Induction Day
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Graduate Teachers How to Access Support
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Looking Back: My Experience as a Graduate Teacher
Grad News
May 2012
The newsletter for graduates
Graduates sign up to IEUA-QNT New Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) graduate teachers realise the challenges they face and understand that they can protect their interests, minimise professional risks and stay informed by joining IEUA-QNT as a member. An employer induction program in February was an opportunity for our union to offer information and support to 94 new members as they embark on their careers in education. Rachel Smith from St Augustine’s, Meg Reminis from St Joseph’s Nambour and Chloe O’Reilly from St Augustine’s with IEUA-QNT Organiser Nicole Carlill
Naomi Arnold decided to begin a career in teaching after having children, and knew that union membership was essential to protecting herself in the workplace.
“I know that I’ll always be well protected should anything happen but it’s also great knowing that my pay and conditions will be better because of our union’s collective bargaining strength,” Naomi said.
Stephanie Goebel had known she wanted to be a teacher since high school, and joined our union for professional and collegiate support. “The more people that are in the union, the more collective strength we have; I like the idea of teachers working together towards the same goal,” Stephanie said. IEUA-QNT Growth Organiser Caryl Davies said that it is vital to attract and retain graduate teachers to our union.
Member Snapshot, Hayley Wells
“Graduate teachers are integral to the collective strength of our union,” she said. During the induction day members received information to help in their first year, including fact sheets on duty of care and legal liability and salary rate comparisons. Our union welcomes these new members and is committed to protecting their interests and helping to build their career. Visit our website at www.qieu.asn.au/ graduates to find resources especially for graduate teachers. Naomi Arnold and Stephanie Goebel from St Joseph’s Primary School, Corinda
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Graduate Teachers: How to Access Support As a graduate teacher you will find support and advice from your professional colleagues and our union as you become part of a collective of education professionals that protect your interests, provide legal protection and helps build your career. As a union we provide graduate colleagues every assistance and support as the complexity of the career of a teacher unfolds.
Protecting Your Interests Union members have been successful in winning significant gains in wages and conditions across the non-government schools sector. First year teacher salaries in schools with a union negotiated agreement are up to 20 per cent more per year compared to schools without a union negotiated agreement. Like salaries, employment conditions can vary between schools. However, the Award and union negotiated agreements generally provide for: • Fully cumulative paid sick leave; • Enhanced employer superannuation contributions; • Long service leave; • Paid school vacation breaks; • Maternity leave; • Family carers’ leave; • Job share opportunities; • Salary packaging arrangements.
equity teaching and learning further increases expectations around planning, collaboration with colleagues and curriculum development. Teachers are entitled to a fair balance between work demands and their personal lives. In what is an important first year of your teaching career, graduate teachers must ensure that their work/life balance is fair and reasonable. While participation in the school community and giving your professional best is an important part of your work in schools, this must not be at the expense of your classroom teaching or personal health. Most collective agreements includes provisions for base entitlement to preparation and correction time, a maximum number of hours of directed duty and the status of participation in the extra-curricular program support.
We’re Here to Help! IEUA-QNT has a program of support for graduate teachers including a series of graduate seminars. Contact your Chapter Representative or union office for more information on FREECALL 1800 177 937. Taking an active role in the union Chapter at school can be a rewarding part of being a teacher and learning how workplace issues can be addressed collectively.
Minimising your risks An important aspect of work in schools is making certain that you have adequate legal protection. New laws and the expectation for schools to deal with a range of issues have created an increasingly complex legal situation for teachers. All IEUA-QNT members are covered by comprehensive Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance as well as legal advice from IEUA-QNT lawyers. The insurance protection and legal representation gives added protection in legal cases such as allegations against a teacher, liability for negligence for a student injury or defending a teacher against criminal or civil action. Many non-government schools have no published policy or procedure detailing how complaints are to be dealt with. You have the right for any complaint to be handled in a fair and transparent manner. Full details of the complaint should be provided and a reasonable opportunity to provide a response, with the right to seek advice from our union. If required to attend a meeting, seek to have a support person attend with you.
Expanding role of the teacher Teachers are experiencing increased expectations arising out of curriculum change. The delivery of high quality, high
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Building a career IEUA-QNT provides a broad range of professional development opportunities. The professional development sessions are free of charge to union members and details are regularly advertised in the journal and the IEUA-QNT website, www.qieu.asn.au. Utilise professional development opportunities offered by the employer and our union. Such sessions include: • Graduate teacher seminars to assist in your first year of teaching; • Legal liability issues for teachers; and • Workplace bullying and harassment. More information is available from your union representative at your school, our union website www.qieu.asn.au and our union office.
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Looking Back:
My Experience as a Graduate Teacher Teaching is somewhat of a family business for Sarah McGhee, so it was no surprise when she too embarked on a teaching career. “My parents are both teachers so that was probably a big part of why I wanted to be one too,” she said. “I always looked up to them when I was younger; my mother was actually my year five teacher and my father was my principal all throughout primary school.” Sarah was also influenced by a number of relatives who are educators, as well as particular teachers who inspired her during her schooling. “When I was in year six I can remember writing a list of my primary school teachers thinking when I became a teacher I would try to remember their techniques and emulate them.” Sarah graduated from the University of Queensland in December 2010 with a double degree in Arts Education, majoring in Drama and History.
“In teaching, change is progress.” After completing this study, Sarah began her teaching career in 2011 at St Mary’s College, Maryborough where she taught Religion, History and English. Sarah said that joining our union was a key priority for her when she started her teaching career. “I think it’s really important for graduate teachers to join our union because teaching can be such an unpredictable profession - there are so many variables.” Sarah found it a little confronting as a new teacher to handle her workload and undertake busy playground duties, but said the support of colleagues was invaluable in building her skills. “My union chapter was really a great support at this time, especially at branch meetings.” After leaving St Mary’s, Sarah began teaching at St Patrick’s College, Gympie. “The move was hard. My last school was a wonderful environment and I really loved the pastoral approach that was embedded within the school. It was also difficult to say goodbye to relationships I developed with both staff and students.” “In a way though, the move enhanced my growth as a teacher. Beginning again with fresh faces meant I was able to make a second first impression as a teacher, and I found I changed the way I did things after reflecting on my first year.” After completing her graduate year and also moving schools, Sarah feels she has changed considerably. “I have developed in just about everything that has to do with teaching. But to me, growth is a part of teaching and teachers need to be as flexible as the students are temperamental in front of them!” “Every classroom is different and so is every combination of students, which means I have to change my pedagogy for every lesson.” “In teaching, change is progress.” Sarah looks forward to continuing to grow in her profession, and hopes to take her teaching skills overseas in the near future.
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Member Snapshot What has been your most memorable teaching experience so far?
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I think whenever you see a child have that lightbulb moment that you have been working towards, it is a great feeling. That look on their face when it all clicks into place makes you remember why you are a teacher! What are some key issues for graduate teachers? Gaining employment, particularly permanency as that seems to be harder and harder to achieve. What advice would you give to others who are considering becoming a teacher? If you love children and are ready to put in the hard work, I would say definitely do it! Why do you feel it is important as a new teacher to be a member of our union? It is great to know that advice is only a phone call away. There are so many new situations that arise everyday when beginning teaching, so it’s great to know that you can ask questions and get help if you need it. As a member of our union, what support or member benefits are you now glad you have?
Hayley Wells
Sacred Heart Primary School , Sandgate Why did you want to become a teacher? For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a teacher. I have great memories of my teachers throughout schooling, some of whom really inspired me so I hope to do the same through my teaching career. When did you decide that teaching was the right career path for you? I always played ‘teacher’ with my family from when I was young, but I decided in year 10 definitely that teaching would be the study path I would take. How did you feel on your first day starting as a teacher? I have a had a bit of a different journey, doing relief teaching for some of last year and completing a contract for the end of the year. I am teaching a class for the whole year this year, so that was a different feeling! I don’t think that the ‘first day jitters’ ever go away in a new situation. Did you undertake a prac teaching placement at university? I did my prac at various schools on the Sunshine Coast and they were truly the most rewarding part of my study. Seeing wonderful teachers in action and teaching and planning for a ‘real class’ was just so exciting. Do you have a mentor this year? I don’t have an official mentor; however, my teaching partners have taken on that role. Everyone in the school has had a part in making me feel welcome, supported and valued.
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Knowing you have legal advice and support at hand is wonderful and access to the Teachers Union Health is nice too! What would you say to other graduate teachers who are thinking of joining our union? There is no reason not to! It is affordable and allows me to sleep easier knowing that I have access to support if I need it.
Join Your Union Today To join IEUA-QNT, download a membership form from our website www.qieu.asn.au or call our membership department on FREECALL 1800 177 937.
ISSN: 1835-9612 Grad News was prepared by Elise Cuthbertson Editor: Mr Terry Burke, Branch Secretary IEUA-QNT PO BOX 418, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 PHONE: 1800 177 937 FAX: (07) 3839 7021 Email: enquiries@qieu.asn.au Website: www.qieu.asn.au ABN: 74 662 601 045