Vol. 4 No. 3
In this edition
•
Applying for Full Teacher Registration
•
Social Networking with IEUA-QNT
•
Why You Should Retain Your IEUA-QNT Membership
•
•
•
•
Job Hunting - Online Resources Dealing with Fixed Term Contracts Problems with Preregistration Testing
Member Snapshots
Grad News
October 2011
The newsletter for graduates
Reaching the One Year Milestone: Time to Consider Full Teacher Registration Teachers who reach one year of service should apply for full registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Attaining full registration is an important step in building your professional recognition as a teacher. This registration means that you’ve met certain expected professional standards and can move from provisional to full registration with QCT. In this context, one year of service is defined as being 200 days or 1,000 hours of teaching experience. This experience does not need to have been completed in one location. It is important, however, that you are working with a principal who has sufficient knowledge of your teaching practice as they will need to complete a recommendation report as part of your application. This recommendation report is a vital component of your application, though it’s important to remember that QCT makes the final decision. However, if a recommendation is made for the continuation of provisional registration or a cancellation of registration, you are able to appeal this.
Members can also seek advice and assistance from our union when dealing with this situation.
Steps to Receiving Full Registration 1. Visit the QCT website at www.qct.qld.edu.au and make an account (if you don’t have one already). You can then access the “apply online for teacher registration” section. 2. Complete the relevant online form and submit to QCT - along with the appropriate payment. 3. Print out your application form and sign it, ensuring your signature is witnessed by a Justice of the Peace (or equivalent). 4.
Have all documentation necessary to your application certified and post to QCT, along with your application form. Remember: documents cannot be faxed or scanned to QCT.
5. After receiving your correct application and corresponding documents, QCT will begin assessing your application. 6. QCT will make contact with you regarding the course of your application.
Connect with IEUA-QNT IEUA-QNT has made keeping in touch even easier with the development of our social networking profiles. By becoming “friends” with IEUA-QNT on Facebook or “following” us on Twitter, you will always know what’s happening in your profession. Visit our website at www.qieu.asn.au and click on the Facebook and Twitter icons to start following us. Or search for “IEUA-QNT” on Twitter and Facebook to find us.
We’re now on Facebook and Twitter!
ws Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News
Why Ongoing Membership with IEUA-QNT is Important Many of our graduate members will soon be needing to renew or continue their membership with our union.
Professional Advice
Your union is ready to support you across the entire length of your career. While you may have had no workplace issues in your early years of employment in the non-government education sector, you may face issues in the future where union support will be invaluable.
Our union staff is on hand to offer you timely and relevant advice when you face uncertainty in the workplace. This support helps to ensure that your employment entitlements are just, now and in the future. Our union will support you in all times, not just during collective bargaining negotiations.
Retaining your membership will provide you with many benefits.
Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance
Professional Development Our union will support you in building your career skills through professional development. Retaining your membership will give you the chance to attend training sessions held by, and subsidised by, IEUA-QNT. Taking advantage of professional development can help put you ahead, and advance your career now and in the future.
All education professionals need to be aware of the possible legal implications they can face during the course of their employment. Remaining a member of our union ensures that you are automatically covered by public liability and professional indemnity insurance should you ever need it. And as an individual, you will not always be able to control situations involving legal action being made against you. For example, if a student or parent lodges a complaint against you, your union should be your first point of call to receive advice and legal assistance. Similarly with issues relating to Duty of Care and disputes with your employer, being a union member makes it easier to safeguard your job in the unfortunate event that legal action is taken against you.
Member Benefit Organisations Collective Support Continuing to be a union member also means continuing to be part of a growing collective of your colleagues. Campaigning alongside our union’s educated and active cohort of members will provide you with better professional and working rights.
There are many money saving opportunities available for financial members of our union. As a continuing member, you will have access to organisations such as Teacher’s Union Health, Union Shopper, and Members Equity. If you would like to discuss your membership, any of these member benefits, please phone our union on FREECALL 1800 177 937 to speak with one of our friendly staff members.
Job Hunting - Essential Online Resources Whether you’re already working as a teacher and hoping to find a new position or hunting for your first employment opportunity, there are many resources available to help secure the job that is right for you. There are a range of online resources that you should be aware of, as well as consulting the job pages in the newspaper. Remember to check both your metropolitan and local newspaper’s employment section. However, online employment resources are the best way to keep upto-date with what job opportunities are on offer. The following websites are a great general starting point: * www.careerone.com.au * www.seek.com.au * www.teachers.on.net There are also helpful online resources if you’re hoping to enter a particular sector of the non-government education industry.
Page 2
The following websites may be helpful for you. * * * * * *
www.catholicjobsonline.net.au (Catholic) www.ascqld.org.au (Anglican) www.lutheran.edu.au (Lutheran) www.csa.edu.au (Christian) www.aisq.qld.edu.au (Independent Schools) www.candk.asn.au (Early childhood)
Further information about how to secure the right job for you can be found on our website at the following link:
www.qieu.asn.au/ membership-sectors/ graduate-andassociate-members/
News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad Ne
Dealing With Fixed Term Contracts If you started your teaching career on a fixed 12 month appointment, your contract may be nearing expiration. While starting in a fixed term position is a good way to gain experience (and help you ultimately move into permanent employment) there are a few important points to remember about these contracts. It is firstly important to note that fixed term appointments are only to be made when there is an “identifiable short term need” within a school. This short term need could be because there is: a special project ongoing at the school, increased short term funding, nominated leave of an existing employee, fluctuating enrolment numbers, class size issues, maternity leave, and proposed school closure. If you believe that you were engaged in a fixed term contract without the presence of an “identifiable short term need”, you should make contact with our union. A fixed term contract should never be treated as a probationary period for a teacher.
Similarly, if there is a period of maternity leave (or other approved leave) exceeding 12 months, the length of a fixed term contract can match the length of this leave.
Fixed term contracts should also not exceed 12 months, except in exceptional circumstances.
Finally, in the presence of a continuing short term need, you can elect (at the end of your 12 month appointment) to enter into another fixed term contract. However, this second appointment cannot exceed 12 months in duration.
For example if the employer has received special funding for an identifiable period that exceeds 12 months, the length of a fixed term contract can match this period.
If you have any concerns about your contract, or would like to clarify any of this information, please contact our union on FREECALL 1800 177 937.
Government Rethinks Pre-registration Testing Plans The concerns of IEUA-QNT associate members have been factored into the Government’s plans on pre-registration testing.
The QCT will still be responsible for constructing the content of the pre-registration test.
The Government had intended to implement a pre-registration test for aspiring primary school teachers through the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT).
IEUA-QNT Associate members who stood together to address this issue are to be congratulated.
However, this initial plan would have meant that students who graduated at the end of this year would be forced to complete the test before being able to apply for work. These graduates would not have been able to take this test until November at the earliest, and would also have been burdened with up to a five week wait to receive the results. The collective action of our members to voice their concerns and bring the issue to the attention of the QCT and Minister of Education, Cameron Dick, has resulted in a positive outcome. Minister Dick explained that the implementation of the test would be delayed by six months, with universities and centres of higher education having agreed to Final year education students Kate Ansell, Samantha Finch and Tami Lucas, and our union Organiser Patrick Meikle discussed pre-registration testing at JCU Cairns campus earlier administer the test through the initial teacher training this year. process.
Page 3
ws Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News Grad News
M ember S napshots
Samantha Collier
Why did you want to become a teacher? I became a teacher for a few reasons. I love children. They are like sponges ready to absorb as much as they can. The other reason is more personal. I had a few years in Primary school where I struggled.
Why did you want to become a teacher? I’m very passionate about my teaching areas (English and History), and realised that teaching would give me the opportunity to share my passion with others. Needless to say, most students still don’t enjoy Shakespeare as much as me.
When did you decide teaching was the right career path for you? I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember.
How did you feel on your first day starting as a teacher? I wasn’t too nervous actually - just excited and keen to begin. I was pretty tired by the end of it, though.
All Saints Parish School, Albany Creek
How did you feel on your first day? One word - nervous. I was nervous about everything. What would the children be like? What would the parents be like? Did I have enough planned? Would the children enjoy themselves? There was so much racing through my mind but I was still really excited. To be honest I hardly remember the details of my first day except for the nerves and few deep breathes I remember taking right before I opened the door. What experience did you gain from undertaking a prac placement during university? My final prac teaching placement was at St Anthony’s Catholic School in Toowoomba. I was in a Year One class and had an amazing experience. What sort of teaching challenges do you think you will face in the future? I was very fortunate to get a position at a school that is very supportive and a class of students that are eager to learn. I know that in the future I will be in challenging situations but I look forward to dealing with those and growing as a teacher. What advice would you give to others who are considering becoming a teacher? Teaching is a hard but rewarding career. You need to be focused, flexible and patient. It’s commonly thought that teachers work nine to three and have heaps of holidays. What they don’t mention is the hours of planning you do after the children go home and the days you give up to make sure you are giving your students the highest quality education you possibly can. Why do you feel it is important as a new teacher to be a member of our union? I joined the union to make sure I was covered if anything unexpected ever happened. As a member of our union, what support or benefits are you now glad you have? Peace of mind. It’s comforting to know that there are people on hand to help me, and that I can trust in their advice and support.
Daniel Ashton
St John’s College, Nambour
Did you undertake a prac teaching placement at university? My prac experience was at Coorparoo Secondary College. I was lucky enough to get experience teaching a range of subjects and year levels, and to observe several experienced teachers. I still use some of the things that I learnt there every day. What challenges do you think teachers will face in the future? Digital technology. I thought that I was pretty tech savvy until I saw what some of these students can do. Incorporating digital technology into education in a way that is conducive to learning, and isn’t distracting, is going to be an on-going challenge for all teachers. What advice would you give to others who are considering becoming a teacher? That it’s definitely not just a nine to three job. It can be incredibly rewarding, but it requires a lot of energy, and a lot of passion for what you teach. Seeing that you’ve had a positive impact upon a student - especially those first few times - makes all of those hours of marking worthwhile. What would you say to other graduate teachers who are thinking of joining our union? I’d say that it’s very worthwhile. You obviously hope that most of the time you won’t need the support of the union, but - as I’ve learnt first hand this year - schools can be pretty unpredictable. Even though you may never need it, it’s great peace of mind knowing that you have the support and assistance of our union. 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
Page 4