Newsmonth issue #7 2014

The newspaper of the NSW Independent Education Union and the NSW/ACT branch of the IEUA (vol 34 #7) November 2014

Print Post: 225007/0002 – ISSN: 0728-4845

Majority vote ‘yes’ for independent schools MEAs

Best of times, worst of times P3

Prac deal sealed P5

Teachers and support staff working in independent schools will continue to receive above average salaries compared to other school sectors after the majority of schools voted in favour of a new multi-enterprise agreement (MEA).

This outcome provides consistency and certainty for members following a protracted dispute between the IEU and the Association of Independent Schools (AIS).

“The IEU welcomes the settlement of MEAs in a strong majority of independent schools throughout the state,” said Gloria Taylor IEU Deputy Secretary.

While the multi-enterprise agreement provides modest outcomes, it maintains independent school staff’s status as the highest paid in the country.

Approximately nine schools have voted ‘no’ to an MEA; the reasons vary, but relate to members’ dissatisfaction

with their side deal or lack thereof. Side deals provide increases above the MEA. “The IEU will work towards a resolution of any outstanding disputes with our members and review options including securing protected action ballot orders,” Gloria Taylor said.

More details: page 2

Support students with disabilities P14

Stop work for Catholic systemic schools A one-hour stop work will be held in Catholic systemic schools on Monday, 10 November unless there is further progress with employers.

At Newsmonth deadline there were some positive signs in the negotiations with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER).

However, there are still a number of unresolved issues, which are quite serious and warrant further industrial action.

For instance, the CCER’s proposed enterprise agreement includes a clause requiring teachers to attend PD during school holidays and weekends.

The reduction in sick leave is still

proposed, and there is no pay offer for teachers in the ACT. During the next few days members should keep an eye out for information from the Union about what form the industrial action will take if it goes ahead.

Further details see page 2

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

New MEAs for independent schools limited to a two-year time frame. The Union will embark on an early review of salary and classification structures prior to the next round of agreements.

Gloria Taylor Deputy Secretary An overwhelming majority of NSW AIS independent schools have voted yes to the Multi Enterprise Agreements (MEAs) for Teachers and Support and Operational Staff. This result provides consistency and certainty to members in independent schools across the state.

The outcomes are modest, but continue to maintain salary outcomes considerably above traditional relativities, that is other school sectors. The Agreements are

MEAs This settlement for AIS schools also continues to secure the MEA structure that was at threat during a breakdown in negotiations last term. Independent schools in NSW currently pay the highest teacher salary rates in the country to the widest number of schools. The MEA schools also have equitable access to conditions such as personal leave, parental leave and long service leave that sit well above National Employment Standards (NES).

Other states This is in stark contrast to the status of independent school agreements in other

states where enterprise agreements are generally made with individual schools, resulting in significant differences in outcomes. There are many schools on or near the Modern Award and conditions vary widely including the absence in some schools of paid parental leave.

Some schools in other states continue to seek parity with government school salary rates. The story is bleak for support and operational staff who are often not covered by agreements.

NSW coverage Nearly all non-government schools in NSW are covered by an Agreement.

A small number of independent schools have individual enterprise agreements and this number will probably grow particularly among higher fee paying schools. Currently many of these schools

are covered by the MEA plus a ‘side deal’ that provides increases above the MEA. The Union will continue to support the full range of options.

Outstanding issues The Union has been advised of nine schools to date that have voted ‘no’ to an MEA. The reasons vary, but generally relate to our members’ dissatisfaction with their side deal (or their lack of side deal).

The IEU will work towards a resolution of any outstanding disputes with our members and review options including securing protected action ballot orders.

This has been a contentious campaign in a particularly difficult financial environment. The support of our members during the campaign greatly contributed to the achievement of an improved outcome.

Stop work foreshadowed for Catholic schools

Carol Matthews Assistant Secretary The Union met with representatives of Catholic employers on Monday 20 October to continue negotiations with the employers on their proposed new enterprise agreement.

The Union outlined the key issues in our Update to NSW members at the beginning of Term 4.

The Union is now more optimistic about a successful resolution as the employers have indicated a willingness to address the concerns of the Union. However there is still a fair way to go on many of the issues between the parties. The current state of play is as follows.

Work practice agreements The Union is seeking the maintenance of existing diocesan workload agreements and the incorporation of core workload provisions such as RFF, face-to-face teaching hours and class size limits into an Enterprise Agreement (EA).

The Union also wants the existing right to a 30-minute lunch break preserved.

The employers have now agreed in principle to retain existing conditions but we do not have agreement that these conditions will be enforceable through an EA. We are continuing to discuss this issue, including the lunch break, and it remains in dispute.

Promotions positions The Union wants the existing promotions positions framework maintained in the EA – including the number of positions, release time, tenure, etc.

Employers have now agreed to this claim.

Excessive requirements in relation to PD during school holidays The Union is seeking the removal of CCER proposed clauses requiring teachers to attend PD during school holidays and on weekends and other provisions that seek to unreasonably intrude into the lives of employees.

Although there has been some modification by the employers of their position, they have not withdrawn these proposed requirements.

ACT rates of pay There has been no pay offer for ACT teachers. Early learning centre staff are not included in the proposed EA. The Union will not agree to the inclusion of ACT teachers in a NSW agreement unless all matters are resolved satisfactorily.

Changes to part-time, temporary and casual teacher provisions Existing protection for part-time, temporary and casual teachers have

...where to from now?

We have asked Union chapters to meet and pass a motion calling on their diocesan director to withdraw from the proposed CCER enterprise agreement and also indicating chapter support for further industrial action.

Almost all chapters in NSW have now done this. If your chapter has not yet passed the motion and sent it

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to the Union and your director please do so as soon as possible. The Union has foreshadowed that the further industrial action would be on Monday 10 November.

The Union has advised employers that this action will occur unless there is substantial progress in the negotiations.

In particular the Union sees as essential

that existing entitlements be protected, including in relation to matters such as an uninterrupted lunch break, the right to RFF in primary schools, caps on face-to -face teaching and no reduction in sick leave nor removal of the right to take long service leave in short blocks. It is also crucial that there is no reduction in rates of pay or conditions for support staff.

been removed in the CCER proposed agreement.

The employers have agreed to review their proposed wording.

Leave arrangements CCER is proposing a reduction in sick leave and the removal of the right to take long service leave in short blocks.

This is not agreed and the employers are considering their position.

Support staff pay and conditions CCER has not yet withdrawn any of the proposed reductions in support staff conditions nor reached agreement about a new classification structure.

The employers have however agreed to further discussions on the Union’s proposals and we are hopeful that this issue will be resolved.

In addition there are many other matters still in dispute, including in relation to claims by the Union.

These objectives are not yet achieved and so at this stage we envisage the industrial action proceeding. The Union will inform members about the details of the proposed stop work action closer to the date.

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Best of times, worst of times

“The Union has engaged the membership as seldom before in a campaign to undo the drive to deregulation.”

John Quessy General Secretary However one views the last 12 months it is difficult to go past Charles Dickens’ observation that “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. It is fair to say that 2014 was, as Dickens said, both the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness.

This year our Union turned 60 and the IEU celebrated its 20th birthday.

We began our year with an ambitious agenda. The 2013 AGM set out a comprehensive claim on employers in most sectors focusing in particular on teachers and support staff in Catholic schools but seeking also to renew collective agreements in independent and Christian schools.

Our program included a commitment to ongoing agreement making with early childhood employers and with ELICOS and private colleges. It was by any measure an ambitious endeavour. Some of this has been achieved; some close to delivery but much remains unfinished business.

It would not be credible to report on the year without some mention of the key campaigns with which we have engaged.

Both the AIS and Catholic system employers have demonstrated a misreading of and

underestimation of our members working in the schools they represent. In the case of the 11 Catholic dioceses, represented by the CCER, they have behaved in a most shameful way by deliberately misleading the Union between November 2013 when they received our claim and 7 April 2014 (a day that will live in infamy) when they delivered to our office a proposed enterprise agreement that stripped away fundamental working conditions key to the fairness and equity necessary for our members to deliver quality teaching and learning in their workplaces.

For them the end result of this behaviour is that they have outraged our members, lost the trust and confidence of thousands of their employees and put themselves squarely on the back foot in resolving this dispute. In response, the Union has engaged the membership as seldom before in a campaign to undo the drive to deregulation, utilised responsibly the industrial tools at our disposal and further developed tremendous in-house expertise at campaigning. All this and grown our membership significantly.

Jumping the gun The AIS also wrongly assumed that members in independent schools would meekly accept income increases less than

the 2.5% expected in the government and Catholic sectors. When the AIS ‘jumped the gun’ by advising schools that agreement had been reached with the Union, members made their irritation clear and the very real threat of widespread rejection of the MEA forced a rethink of the offer.

The AIS MEA being put to the vote over coming weeks is certainly not a generous deal but it does come with a recommendation from the Union that it be supported.

Given the improvements on the initial proposal from independent school employers and the current low wage climate our view is that the best interests of members is to vote for the certainties it delivers.

Major win The year is not without its success stories and we have had a major win in regard to our campaign to improve the compensation for teachers supporting the professional experience program for ‘prac’ teachers. None of this would be possible without the overwhelming resolve of members; indeed almost nothing is ever achieved without the support and determination of our membership.

The last two years has seen the number of industrial disputes almost double and it is worth looking to the changing nature of disputation and what it tells us of the times in which we live, the hardening attitudes of employers and the impact of Government policy and legislation.

While we have run fewer PIPs this year, we have developed new offerings and rewritten others to keep them current and relevant.

We are working with universities to secure PD credit for those who take prac students and we celebrated our first TeachMeet during the year.

Professional development is an expanding part of the IEU work and is well appreciated and supported by our members. It is one way the Union presents itself as relevant to both members and prospective members.

It is becoming increasingly impossible to do justice to what we do on a daily basis in one report. I for one feel privileged to be part of it all and to be part of the Union.

For the full report delivered to 2014 AGM see www.ieu.asn.au

Union on verge of agreement with Christian employers

Mark Northam Assistant Secretary Christian school members should keep an eye out for information from the Union regarding the forthcoming conclusion of negotiations on the NSW Christian Schools Teachers and General Staff MultiEnterprise Agreements (MEAs).

The IEU and employers, Christian Schools Australia and Christian Education National, are on the verge of agreement following a lengthy negotiation period.

Subject to finalisation, the Teachers MEA will see teachers on Band 2 and 3 pay scales, or teachers in a position of responsibility, receive a 2.5% pay increase for 2015 and 2016.

Teachers on the Band 1 pay scale will receive a 2.25% increase.

General staff will receive a 2% or a 2.5% increase depending upon their classification.

Of great assistance to beginning teachers are the new provisions regarding

their supervision and mentoring, covering such arrangements as classroom observation.

Maternity leave arrangements will remain largely unchanged from the previous agreements. The only issue remaining in dispute is sick leave, with the Union negotiating over a proposed change in teachers’ sick leave, to ensure members are not disadvantaged.

Employers have also agreed in principle to the Union’s claim for make-up pay for the first three months of an absence on workers compensation as workers comp insurance now only covers 95% of pay. The money will be deducted from

the employee’s sick leave. The Union’s position has always been that we would hold firm to make sure members would not be worse off under the new MEAs, so the negotiations have been protracted members will be consulted about final details but we are happy to be approaching a satisfactory conclusion.

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Transition to online marking Sue Osborne Journalist The transition to online HSC marking has its pros and cons for James Rooney, but for John Martin it may be a deal breaker.

James has been marking Ancient History papers for 14 years. Last year he experienced online marking for the first time at the marking centre. This November he will mark at home.

“There are positives and negatives. It’s more convenient to get all your scripts on screen randomised,” James said.

“With paper marking you get a whole centre in a bundle and you are inevitably influenced by the quality of the centre.

Online is fairer for the students in that sense.

“The challenge of marking at home is you loose the collegial approach. There’s professional development sitting next to your colleagues to discuss papers, especially for new markers. Marking in isolation is a bit of an unknown for me.

“I wonder if the driver is cost savings and whether there will be a loss in overall quality due to that.”

John has been marking for about 17 years, initially General Studies, but also Ancient History and more recently Legal Studies.

This year he is marking Legal online for the first time at the marking centre.

“I’m viewing online with a bit of trepidation, one of my biggest concerns, like James, is the loss of collegiality.

“The opportunity to discuss scripts with colleagues is invaluable.

“I think it will also be very hard to concentrate at home. I go to the library now for some of my classroom marking. In fact I’m seriously thinking this will be my last year as an HSC marker. I may give it up after this.”

Newsmonth caught up with both men at the recent AGM. James is Lansdowne Branch delegate and John Central Metropolitan Branch.

Both said this year had been one of the most challenging to be a Union Rep due to the Catholic dispute.

“It’s been hard trying to stay on top of the negotiations and communicate that to the staff, getting the message right,” James said.

John said it had been an invigorating year, and it was good to see younger members becoming engaged with the campaign.

“Everyone has felt the frustration of these negotiations, especially when they came back with a new document that looks the same as the first one,” John said.

James Rooney

John Martin

Union wins new HSC award Under the 2014 Award HSC markers will receive 0.5% above the NSW Government’s imposed wage fixing policy. This has resulted from agreement that online marking will be expanded.

Changes to the Award also allow for more flexibility around the length of the meal break.

This could involve a later than normal start or an earlier finish or a combination of

both. This change legitimises some of the unofficial arrangements that have been in place for many years at some centres.

The changes will allow centres to stagger the times that markers start and/ or finish, hopefully enabling a smoother and faster exit or entry to marking.

The meal break cannot be any shorter than 30 minutes and any variations must be agreed upon by a vote of markers at the centre.

Look at the ‘Resources’ section of the IEU website for information on HSC marking. In addition, BOSTES has agreed to allow the information to be posted on the Markers Online website: www.bosho.boardofstudies.nsw.edu. au/links/markersonline.html.

Feedback forms and pay rates for all HSC markers, and registration forms and contact detail information for IEU elected representatives are available to download.

IEU HSC marking centre Reps will receive a 4GB thumb drive as a thank you for returning the registration and contact details once they have been received by the IEU. (Allow three weeks for packing and postage.)

BOSTES has agreed to allow markers time out of marking (usually on the first day) for the election of Union representatives at the various sites.

2014 Higher School Certificate Marking Rates Of Pay (As at 1 July 2014) Supervisor of Marking Weekday Rate $116.25/hour Weekday Supplementary $107.13/day Weeknight/Saturday Rate $129.49/hour Sunday Rate $174.43/hour

Assistant Supervisor of Marking Assistant Officer in Charge HSC Inquiry Centre Weekday Rate $104.96/hour Weekday Supplementary $96.72/day Weeknight/Saturday Rate $116.90/hour Sunday Rate $157.38/hour

Senior Marker/Senior Examiner HSC Inquiry Centre – Inquiry Officer Weekday Rate $90.76/hour Weekday Supplementary $83.62/day Weeknight/Saturday Rate $101.07/hour Sunday Rate $136.15/hour

Marker/Examiner

Weekday Rate $73.14/hour Weekday Supplementary $70.88/day Weeknight/Saturday Rate $81.47/hour Sunday Rate $109.66/hour 4

newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

Government and Non-Government Teachers Weekday Compensatory Allowance-Rate C (Weekday Supplementary Rate/5.5) Supervisor of Marking $19.48/hour Assistant Supervisor of Marking $17.59/hour Senior Examiner $15.20/hour Examiner $12.91/hour

Allowances Meal Allowance $27.70/session Travel Allowance ($0.296 x 40km $11.84/session

Onscreen Floor Rates (Corporate Marking) Weekday Rate $72.44/hour Weekday Supplementary $70.20/day Weeknight/Saturday Rate $80.70/hour Sunday Rate $108.61/hour Weekday Compensatory Allowance-Rate C $12.76/hour

Onscreen Per Unit Rates (External Marking ) Per 3 Hour Paper Basis $26.25 3 Unit Additional Paper (Extension) $32.80

Allowances Onscreen Marking ICT Allowance $11.59/engagement

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Prac deal sealed

All 12 major universities in NSW have reached agreement with the IEU on practicum supervision.

From the start of next year teachers will get $28.50 per day for supervising a prac student from any university, rising to $29.25 in 2016 and $30 in 2017.

The NSW Council of Deans, the IEU, the Teachers Federation and BOSTES are also working towards making the supervision of prac an accredited professional development opportunity which would contributes to a teacher’s maintenance of accreditation.

Charles Sturt University Faculty of Education Executive Dean Toni Downes, University of Technology Head of School Education Peter Aubusson and IEU Assistant Secretary Mark Northam signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 13 October to formalise the agreement. Mark

said the agreement redressed a historical imbalance which had seen prac payments unchanged for 20 years.

“This agreement is not meant to address all the complexities of placing 20,000 prac students a year in NSW universities, but it should make prac supervision more attractive for teachers,” Mark said.

“IEU members were rightly concerned as to the level of payment associated with supervising students but also importantly wished to have their endeavours acknowledged as constituting professional development.

“The agreement, while not a panacea for all the complexities associated with workforce planning matters, provides clarity of expectations and aligns universities, schools and the teachers who support the professional experience programs.”

Professor Downes said: “The positives coming out of this are that we are now have unions and universities working collectively to improve the quality of professional experience and the quality of professional learning among teachers”.

Professor Aubusson said the agreement would promote a consistent approach to the supervision of preservice teachers, giving students and teachers clearer expectations, especially as unions were involved in the deal.

“It’s gives us a stronger partnership,” he said.

Mark is confident the discussions with BOSTES on registering prac supervision as PD will move forward quickly.

After the three-year agreement expires, the IEU envisages the prac fee will become index linked.

Signatories to the deal: Charles Sturt University Macquarie University Southern Cross University University of New England University of Technology, Sydney University of Western Sydney University of Wollongong Australian Catholic University University of NSW The University of Newcastle University of Notre Dame Australia The University of Sydney

Teachers need support to invest in future

Sue Osborne Journalist While most teachers would agree providing mentorship and support to preservice and beginning teachers is crucial for the development of the profession, fitting that in to the day-today routine is always a challenge.

At the IEU’s National Conference on Quality Education a panel discussion on mentoring by Sean Kearney, Associate Dean, University of Notre Dame, and Leith Brennan, English Teacher at Holy Spirit College Lakemba and Coordinator of Pre-Professional Practice, brought up some varied viewpoints.

Dr Kearney said his takeaway message was that preservice teachers and beginning teachers need more support and ongoing induction through their early years of teaching, provided by ‘highly accomplished’ or ‘lead’ teachers.

He said the high attrition rate of new teachers might be put down to the lack of support in the early years, and that everyone in the teaching professional had a responsibility to help them.

More release time for beginning teachers and those assigned to mentor them was necessary.

However, Leith said that the implementation of this support at

the school level was often difficult to achieve. Her position of Coordinator of Pre-Professional Practice is not yet a common one in schools. Leith has a lighter teaching load so she can administer the numerous requests for prac placements that the school gets from universities and mentor student teachers and beginning teachers.

“Every school should have one of me,” Leith said.

The inconsistencies of the universities’ approach, with some requiring a few days for a prac placement, some a few weeks and some a whole term, was one challenge she described. Leith said universities were graduating too many student teachers in NSW, with 5500 graduates a year for only 3-500 jobs. The sheer volume of students needing pracs was a problem for schools.

She said someone at the school must be available who is “invested in the success” of prac or beginning teachers

and at the moment teachers had to try and make time for that.

Providing a lighter load and more release time for mentors as well as mentees was necessary.

“Funding to allow mentors to have release time has not been included in any Great Teaching Inspired Learning documentation that I’m aware of.”

NSW/ACT IEU Assistant Secretary Mark Northam said that providing for a position like Leith’s in every school was among the claims now being discussed in the enterprise agreement bargaining process with Catholic employers in NSW.

newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

First Class

How to maintain ‘Proficient’ level

Amy Cotton Professional Development Officer

The end of Term 4 is a good time for teachers maintaining ‘Proficient’ accreditation to think about their maintenance of accreditation (MOA) report.

Towards the end of every maintenance period, Proficient teachers are asked to complete a reflection report detailing their teaching practice (not their PD courses). Most Teacher Accreditation Authorities (TAAs) would prefer to have these reports submitted six months before the end of the maintenance period. This is a good goal, as it allows time for amendments, but if you need the full five years to write the report, let BOSTES know

that it will be in by the due date. That doesn’t mean you should leave writing the report until the last minute.

I recommend you take half an hour to jot down what teaching activities you completed at the end of every year. This is regardless of whether you are full time, part time or casual.

For example were you part of a committee or working party? Did you organise an excursion, information night, camp or carnival? Have you assisted a student with different learning needs to the cohort? Have you re-written a program or reflected on a lesson/sequence?

Did you participate in observations? Have you mentored or been mentored/coached? Have you written reports, met with parents or involved parents in the learning program? Did you volunteer with a teaching association or represent teachers in some capacity?

All of the above are just to prompt you to think about the types of things you might use for the report. Take a few moments to write one or two sentences about what you did and how you did it. You don’t need to provide a lot of context (a quick phrase will do). Then you can match

a descriptor to the activity. You do not need to collect evidence to support the report. This is a reflection process, not an evidence-based accreditation process.

If you do this every year, you’ll soon build list of teaching experiences that you can use to write your MOA. This is simpler than trying to think of everything just when the report is due, and it makes sure that you are able to demonstrate the breadth of your teaching practice to your principal, your employer and ultimately, the BOSTES. If you’d like more information about how to maintain your accreditation or write your report, the IEU runs two free Pedagogy in the Pub (PIP) courses: • PIP: Maintenance of Accreditation at Proficient • PIP: Writing your Maintenance of Accreditation Report To see when PIPs are happening, visit the IEU’s website and look at the PD and Meetings section. To enquire whether a PIP can be held in an area near you, contact your local Organiser, or get in touch with me: amy@ieu.asn.au.

Rep Spotlight A young voice

Bianca at the Tamworth rally (fourth from right).

Sue Osborne Journalist At age 27 Bianca Cousins already has five years experience as an IEU Rep, making her one of the Union’s youngest recruits to the role.

The Year 6 Teacher at St Joseph’s Primary West Tamworth joined the IEU as soon as she started her teaching career at St Michael’s Primary Manilla and became Rep there soon after.

“It was a small school and I fell into the position. I was keeping everyone up to date with what was going on with the Union and the Principal suggested I might be perfect for the role.

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“I thought if you know your rights it is harder for people to abuse them or take them away from you.”

“I had a fascination with it. I thought if you know your rights it is harder for people to abuse them or take them away from you.

“My family always told me to be informed about everything I could be, so when I took the job I looked into everything the Union was doing and it really interested me.”

Bianca said many young teachers might be overwhelmed when they start their careers and don’t get around to finding out about the Union.

“But the current 3Rs campaign has really got them engaged at my school, we have 100% membership now.

“The publicity around the campaign has made them see it’s something worthwhile to get involved in that is really going to affect them.”

Bianca was a speaker at the 3Rs rally at Tamworth, where she encouraged young teachers to have a voice.

“We spend every day telling our students to stand up for what they believe in, so I think it’s really important to show we are

doing the same thing.

“I wanted to encourage young teachers to get involved and informed, and say that the changes would affect them and the people around them, so standing together we would have a better chance to make sure those changes don’t come about.”

Bianca recommends all prospective Reps undertake the Union’s Reps training, which she said gave her a great insight into how to hold a chapter meeting and other issues.

Her best tip: “Try to be approachable to staff and have an understanding so you can answer their questions and explain things to them”.

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Sensory Impaired Program coming to an end “The specialist teachers supporting sensory impaired students place a high value on the program’s benefit to their students and families and are shocked and devastated by the drastic decision.”

Ann-Maree McEwan Organiser The Sensory Impaired Program (SIP) which provides specialised teacher support for hearing and vision impaired students in primary and secondary Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic schools will end.

Dr Michael Bezzina of Sydney CEO told 29 front line specialist teachers recently that the 30-year program would not continue “as we know it” beyond the end of the school year.

All teachers were offered redeployment to other positions but will be joining the growing group of teachers and support staff being redeployed around Sydney CEO schools this year.

The specialist teachers supporting sensory impaired students place a high value on the program’s benefit to their

students and families and are shocked and devastated by the drastic decision.

Unfortunately there is little time to grieve and process this as they need to move to the next stage of making decisions about their employment.

The itinerant teachers in the program currently travel to students’ schools each week. There are three for Vision and six for Hearing, to support teachers and schools and the students with sensory impairment.

Under the new model they will be replaced by nine Regional Leaders of Learning (Adviser level).

The Leaders of Learning roles that are a possible employment option for some of the SIP team have also been the subject of much adviser member concern and Union activity over recent weeks.

SIP teachers have been asked to submit expressions of interest in the

Leaders of Learning roles and go through a selection process.

The external review conducted by Dr Ian Jackson that led to this decision also recommends that teachers aides should be offered professional development and training. One can only assume that they will be the new front line providers.

Classroom teacher and special education teacher members will have greater responsibility and less regular support for the needs of students in their classes.

St Ursula’s Kingsgrove Chapter has passed a motion to Dr Dan White with their concerns: “We, the IEU Chapter of St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove urge our Diocesan Director, Dr Dan White, to reconsider the restructuring of in-class teaching support for sensory impaired students. We are greatly concerned for the detrimental

effect this will have on these students. As well, we are deeply concerned about the extra pressure this places on all classroom teachers”.

The Union encourages all chapters who will be losing the services of a SIP teacher or are concerned by the decision to contact Dr Dan White.

Due to the additional redeployments from SIP the IEU has advised Sydney CEO HR to freeze all new appointments until every employee on the redeployment list secures permanent employment for next year. The Union has met with the CEO and SIP members and is offering individual advice to every member.

The Union thanks and recognises the IEU Chapter Representative Maree Hunt for all the work she is doing on behalf of the members.

Analysis of the SiAS 2013 survey: Professional Learning UPDATED 10 November 2014 Further analysis of the Staff in Australia’s Schools 2013 survey (undertaken by ACER on behalf of the Federal Department of Education) has been released this month.

One section presents information on teachers’ professional learning (PL) in relation to participation, the proportions of teachers who engaged in PL activities, the perceived benefits of PL, and perceptions of the need for further PL (called PD in NSW).

Primary teachers indicated that they engaged in an average of 10 days PL in the past 12 months, and secondary teachers 8.2 days. This included formal

and informal activities provided out-ofschool and at school.

All teachers accredited with the BOSTES are required to complete 100 hours of PD every 5 years (7 if casual/part time) and those accredited with the ACT TQI are required to complete 20 hours of PL every year. Therefore the report’s figures are worryingly low and indicate many teachers are not currently meeting the requirements.

The fact that revisions to the NSW Teacher Accreditation Act will see all teachers in NSW accredited by 2018, all of whom will require access to 100 hours PD for each 5 or 7 year maintenance period, presses the panic button! What plans do school authorities have in place

to provide appropriate budgets and PD activities to meet teachers' professional development requirements?

All teachers know that current school PD budgets are woeful and there is not enough to go around. Country teachers are further disadvantaged by the costs of travel and accommodation to regional or city-based activities.

Steps must be taken to address this situation before we find that teachers are unable to get their 100 hours. In NSW 50 of the hours must be BOSTES registered PD whilst in the ACT 5 hours must be Institute accredited PL). This puts everyone, and especially Independent schools, under pressure to complete the requirements.

Provision of PD or PL to meet statutory requirements is a critical issue – teachers’ ability to work, and schools’ ability to function depends on developing a satisfactory plan right now.

NSW independent schools should seek to become BOSTES endorsed providers of registered PD. The IEU provides free BOSTES registered PD to all members through its Pedagogy in the Pub (PIP), TeachMeet and Women in Education network programs. To access our calendar go to www.ieu.asn.au To access the full report: https://docs.education.gov.au/ node/36281 newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Review of the Australian Curriculum – a controlled response, but more redirection “Schools thrive on certainty and stability and should not be subject to wholesale change linked to changes of government.”

Mark Northam Assistant Secretary With initial criticisms about its prematurity and politicisation, the Australian Government review of the Australian Curriculum did not augur well.

However the recently released Initial Response paper has responded positively to several broadly held concerns, and is more a modification rather than a dismantling of what the Australian Curriculum is attempting to achieve.

At the outset, a sense of foreboding was evident in schools.

IEU members felt the Pyne Review was yet another ‘change of government’ opportunity to stamp a particular perspective on curriculum documents. The concern that an electoral cycle of ‘review’ would become a default position remains, and that is not acceptable for sustainable and strategic planning reasons. Schools thrive on certainty and stability and should not be subject to wholesale change linked to changes of government.

A flavour in the Government’s Initial Response is a harkening to the past, and a view that schools must be heavily directed in some areas. The phonics debate, for example is an evergreen.

All teachers of reading have a

repertoire of strategies, and phonics is just one to be utilised as appropriate. Government directives for one learning strategy over another are not useful.

The complexity of the Australian Curriculum blending into the educational approaches of the various states and territories is raised in the Initial Response.

What has resonated with IEU members (particularly those in primary schools) is recognition of the overcrowded curriculum.

Our members have identified overloading of curriculum as a key issue for some time, and confirmation of the problem is welcome. It is essential that teachers play a central role in the consultation that must now occur to address this problem.

Pleasingly, the support regarding accessibility for students with curriculum challenges dovetails neatly with the IEUA campaign seeking additional funding for students with a disability.

The concept to redefine the work of ACARA may provide an opportunity for the IEU to have greater input on behalf of classroom practitioners who translate and implement the curriculum. There have been media suggestions that the review of ACARA is aimed to reduce state and territory influence. This would

SECURING OUR FUTURE SAVE THE DATE: 21-22 MAY 2015 Exploring Best Practice: Induction and Mentoring in the Teaching Profession This two day conference will explore ways in which the profession assists early career teachers, the constitute parts of a successful induction program, meaningful mentoring programs in schools and in other related professions.

With a focus on real life experiences, simple structures and support mechanisms, this conference is enormously practical.

Interested in speaking at the conference? Contact Amy Cotton, Professional Development Officer, IEU NSW/ACT (amy@ieu.asn.au)

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cause disquiet in most jurisdictions.

For example, the BOSTES has already signalled that curriculum change in NSW will not occur unless State determined consultative processes deem it appropriate.

NSW teachers value this stability, and would prefer to see ACARA continue to incorporate state and territory authorities.

An area of concern is the potential weakening of the cross curriculum priorities of Australia’s engagement with Asia, Sustainability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Embedding such important issues as these in subject syllabuses is a positive and embracing way to ensure students engage with matters of national significance. The Union opposes changes that may diminish their importance, and supports the maintenance of the priorities.

We agree that teachers should be provided with the flexibility to make pedagogical decisions about when and how to include these priorities in their teaching programs.

Finally, recognition that parents’ positive involvement in their children’s education is necessary to success, and setting an objective of improving parental engagement in curriculum is entirely welcomed by the teaching profession.

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Adding leverage in communications “Good communications and media adds leverage in campaigns - it’s very powerful. It’s great to be part of the team.”

Time to deliver for Catholic independent school staff Liam Griffiths Assistant Secretary The IEU has written to CCER to make a claim for increased salaries and improved conditions and entitlements for employees working in Catholic independent schools.

At the AGM Council endorsed a claim for a 3% increase in salaries and allowances for teachers and support staff under the various enterprise agreements.

Most current agreements have a nominal expiry date of 31 December 2014 or expired at the end of last year.

Salary increases have been paid under all these agreements in 2014.

The Union is seeking increases to apply on the anniversary dates of the previous salary increase in 2014.

The Union has also reiterated a claim for various improvements in conditions and entitlements as well as improved clauses related to such matters as: • reimbursement of compulsory fees payable for BOSTES and WWCC requirements, • creation of coordinator positions to provide support for teacher

accreditation and induction as well as teacher practicums, • release time for provisionally and conditionally accredited teachers consistent with new government school standards, • creation of new allowances for teachers who meet NSW BOSTES accreditation at the level of Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher, • compensation measures for VET teachers for time spent outside normal school hours in visiting and supporting students or for time spent acquiring mandatory experience for accreditation and • inclusion of domestic violence leave and anti-bullying clauses.

Further, the Union seeks to negotiate on a range of outstanding matters in relation to support and operational staff which include IT staff classifications, boarding home staff, inclusion of workers compensation make-up pay, as well as the matters listed above.

The Union hopes for a positive response by CCER to these claims and anticipates negotiations to commence soon.

Gloria Taylor Deputy Secretary Appointed in October and located in head office, Bronwyn Ridgway is coordinating IEU communications, publications and media.

Bronwyn has worked in city and rural locations as a journalist and communications specialist with schools, foundations and corporations. Her recent four-year experience as director of media and communications at St Catherine’s School Waverley helps her understand the working environment of teaching and non-teaching staff in independent schools. Prior to that she was engaged to advise the NSW Director General of Education on communications and changes in reporting systems throughout primary and secondary schools.

Well equipped for her job at IEU, Bronwyn has a strong track record as a communications specialist working for unions. This includes coordination and production of national publications and campaign material for United Voice; national industrial and professional campaigns, publications and promotions for Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ Brussels), she managed the Pacific Project which set up unions for journalists, artists and photographers throughout the Pacific region. She has coordinated state and national campaigns, publications and industrial education for the Community and Public Sector Union and before that she was the elected Assistant Secretary of the NSW Nurses’ Association.

With tertiary and postgraduate qualifications in communications, health

and education, Bronwyn has taught in universities, colleges and hospitals.

“Sometimes I miss teaching, but given my love for journalism and strategic communications, I think there’s no time for that now. Communications can be all encompassing; it moves so quickly – there’s never a dull moment. Online publications, social media and websites mean we can receive and give up to date information and they yield such useful analytics. Videos are a great way to ‘tell the story’, just another string to the bow. I enjoy creating quality print publications and still like the feel of paper in the hand.”

Bronwyn is kept busy at home with a son in Year 12 at Cranbrook doing the HSC in 2015, and a daughter who attended St Vincent’s College then St Catherine’s School at Waverley and is now studying at the University of Technology.

“I’m looking forward to working collaboratively and in consultation with the IEU team. It was really good to meet members from all over the state at the recent Council Annual General Meeting.

It’s wonderful to be working for a union where the leadership and members understand and appreciate what targeted communication and media can achieve.”

“Working strategically with proactive and reactive media is very satisfying; looking at the IEU’s unprecedented media coverage this year, it’s obvious that the Union works inclusively with members in regional and city locations getting excellent coverage in print, radio and television. Good communications and media adds leverage in campaigns - it’s very powerful. It’s great to be part of the team,” Bronwyn said.

Present Tense ELICOS news Kendall Warren Organiser The IEU has recently commenced negotiations with TELP (Taylor’s English Language Program), the language school connected to Taylor’s College in Waterloo (and part of the Study Group chain).

Officers from the Union met with staff in late September and formulated a Log of Claims, which was presented to the employer on 14 October. The parties then

agreed to meet on a fortnightly basis.

Early indications are that the negotiations should proceed in an amicable matter, and it is hoped that an agreement can be concluded before the end of the year.

The Log includes claims for salary increases, improved leave, provisions for greater job security, improved redundancy, and changes to reflect requirements of both the modern award and the relevant legislation.

The Fair Work Act contains provisions allowing for ‘good faith bargaining’, under which an employer must negotiate when it can be demonstrated that a majority of employees wish this to happen.

If you would like to know how this can work in your college, contact your Union, the IEU.

While the IEU has agreements with upwards of 20 employers, the large majority of private colleges operate under the modern award, the Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award 2010. This Award (like all modern awards) is currently subject to a four yearly review, and the Fair Work Commission has taken submissions from various stakeholders regarding possible changes.

The IEU’s submission has requested several changes to improve conditions for employees in this sector. These include the inclusion of provisions allowing for paid notice period for long-term casual employees (as existed in the old State award), payment for preparation time for casuals (as per the old State award), removal of the ‘daily rate’ for

casuals, so that teachers are paid by the hour, conversion of long-term casual employment to permanent, improvements in the measurement of both experience and qualifications, and an increase in the permissible break in service relating to continuous service (currently eight weeks).

Employers will no doubt also be making submissions, many of which are likely to oppose the IEU’s proposals, though the Union remains hopeful that the review will see some changes, which will benefit employees in the private college sector.

There is no set date for the Commission to finalise the review, though it is likely to conclude in the first half of 2015.

I am the Organiser with responsibility for the private college sector. Contact me on 8202 8900 or kendall@ieu.asn.au. newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Tackling the affects of domestic violence

Pam Smith Convenor – IEU Women in Education Committee

The IEU, together with many other unions, has long been a supporter of White Ribbon Day to raise awareness of violence against women and families. White Ribbon Day on 25 November is also supported in a range of schools and is on the agenda for some Term 4 diocesan Workplace Gender Equity Committee meetings such as with Sydney and Wollongong CEOs. In recognition that domestic and family violence affects staff in non-government

schools, the IEU has requested the inclusion of clauses in enterprise agreements to provide support for employees experiencing domestic violence and help to bring about the attitudinal change needed to eliminate this social problem and its terrible impact on families.

As IEU members know from recent cases in both NSW and Victoria, such violence can lead to the tragic loss of the lives of innocent children.

Domestic violence is also a key issue affecting the educational outcomes of many students in our schools. One in four

children will witness violence against their mother. In Australia, one woman is killed each week by a current or former partner.

Teachers and support staff perform the remarkable task of addressing the emotional and behavioural impact of domestic violence, with many students being either directly or indirectly affected.

The White Ribbon campaign began in Canada in 1991 and started in Australia in 2003 under the auspices of the United Nations. Globally, White Ribbon is the world’s largest male-led movement to end violence against women and is now active

in more than 60 countries.

The focus of the White Ribbon campaign is to encourage cultural change so that physical or psychological violence is never seen as acceptable. In particular, the White Ribbon campaign is implementing a range of programs in schools, sport and workplaces to promote non-violent relationships and to empower boys and men to speak out against violence.

Further information and support materials on White Ribbon Day are available at http://www.whiteribbon.org. au/resources

IEU Women in Education Committee Women’s Forum

Fair, Safe and Inclusive Workplaces Wednesday, 19 November, 2014 4.30pm for 5.00pm start Nepean Rowing Club Bruce Neale Drive, Penrith NSW 2750

Proposed agenda • Welcome and Introduction Christine Wilkinson – IEU President Patricia Murnane – IEU Executive Member • IEU Women and Equity Update – the Union’s commitment to fair, safe and inclusive workplaces Pam Smith – Convenor IEU Women in Education Committee • Guest Speakers - Ms Ros Everett – Penrith Solicitor and President of NSW Law Society - Ms Alison Rahill – Unions NSW Parramatta Office Ros Everett • Reflection and Discussion – How can the IEU be of support to our women members in their education workplaces?

• Thanks and close

This forum is designed to broaden member’s knowledge and improve their practice through engagement in the IEU as a community network. It is BOSTES Registered for Australian Descriptor 7.4.2 for a duration of 45 minutes.”

Independent Education Union – NSW Institute of Teachers’ endorsed provider of Institute Registered professional development for the maintenance of accreditation at Proficient Teacher/Professional Competence.

Scope of Endorsement • Standards 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and descriptor 2.6.2 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the level of Proficient Teacher • Elements 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the NSW Professional Teaching Standards at Professional Competence

RSVP – Phone Jody on 02 8633 2100 or email jody@ieu.asn.au 10

newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

A tale of two centres

Sue Osborne Journalist Two neighbouring centres, Wingham and Gloucester Preschools, have achieved favourable enterprise agreements for teachers, with the help of the IEU. Both the new agreements build upon previous agreements. Wingham and District Preschool Kindergarten’s new Enterprise Agreement gives them 4% pay increases in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

A three-year-trained teacher on the top step will earn $78,777 in 2016 and a four-year trained teacher will earn $83,136.

They also have one additional hour per week of noncontact time for the Education Leader to complete the tasks associated with this role.

Gloucester Preschool has negotiated an Enterprise Agreement offering pay increases of 8% over three years, taking them to $80,164 for a three-year trained teacher on the top step in 2016 and $84,602 for a four-year trained teacher.

The Director has two and a half days of office time

to perform administrative duties and the Preschool Enterprise Agreement also includes two additional hours per week of non-contact time for the Education Leader to complete the tasks associated with this role.

In addition, both preschools will pay for the cost of mandatory training (such as First Aid certificates) and the cost for teachers to undertake the new Working With Children Check.Wingham Preschool Director Donna Stirrup said having the support and knowledge of the IEU to assist in the process was invaluable.

“All my energy goes into ensuring the centre maintains a high standard. We have just been through the NQF (National Quality Framework) assessment, in which we had to do a huge amount of change to comply with the terminology,” Donna said.

“I also applied for and won a grant from the Department of Education for centres in low SES areas with a high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

“We are building a new classroom as a result. So I don’t have enough time to research and put in the energy to developing a new enterprise agreement.

“Lisa James [IEU Organiser] was great in that she explained everything in a way which I could understand and allowed me to move forward fairly quickly.”

Donna and Megan Saunders who is director of the school’s mobile service, are covered by the new Agreement.

Gloucester Preschool Director Elizabeth Price liaised with Donna during her negotiations.

“I couldn’t have done it without the help of the IEU, Elizabeth said.

“It made a long, involved process a lot faster.

“The IEU provided us with copies of agreements from other centres. They have that power to network which we don’t have – it can be quite isolating working in a centre otherwise.

“That feeling of having a foundation and being part of something made it easier. It’s a daunting task and easy to think ‘I’ll just do the same as last time’ but my team deserves more and I really wanted to make that happen.”

Two teachers apart from Elizabeth benefit from the agreement.

Tick of approval for National Quality Framework Verena Heron Industrial Officer The first stage of the review of the National Quality Framework (NQF) undertaken by Woolcott Research has resulted in a resounding tick of approval for it.

The results are based on a survey of more than 1300 people who attended the consultations and the 180 formal submissions, including one by the IEU. The majority of stakeholders believed that the implementation of the NQF has resulted in improved quality of early childhood education across the sector through:

• a national consistent framework for all services in the sector • the focus on continuous quality improvement • an increased focus on outcomes for children • better communication to families about the value of quality early learning • experiences for children • improved qualification requirements and • increased professionalism.

While there was mixed feedback about the impact that the NQF has had

on the regulatory burden on services, the majority of participants in the consultations support the NQF. Federal Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley has indicating her support for the NQF. It is clear that her Government would like to make substantial changes to it, supposedly in the interest of relieving the administrative burden on services as well as curtailing costs.

A regulatory impact statement will be released later this year, where we will all have another opportunity to voice our opinion of the impact of any proposed changes to the NQF. In addition the final Productivity

Commission Report was due by the end of October, with the Government beginning the process of implementing any proposed changes in 2015.

While we welcomed the continuation of the current national partnership which has extended the funding for 15 hours of preschool education for another year, NSW continues to lag behind other states in their financial investment in preschools.

Interested in becoming more active in the IEU? The IEU is calling for nominations for the ECS Council from ECS members.The role of the ECS Council is to provide advice and guidance to the IEU Executive and IEU Council on matters relevant to members employed in early childhood services.

The Council meets three or four times a year in Sydney, usually on a Friday. The IEU pays for the relief teacher employed by your service whilst you attend the meeting, as well as travel and any accommodation needs of councillors from regional and

remote areas (or country areas).

Members of the Council advise the Union on issues of importance to ECS members and assist in the development of Union submissions and responses to issues both industrial and professional in nature.

The Union frequently makes submissions to governments at all levels and other bodies on behalf of our members on a wide range of issues.

The ECS Council is composed of eight members plus the ECS Vice President.

ECS members elect councillors from the following areas: Three members are elected from the Sydney Metropolitan area including the Penrith/Blue Mountains area.

One member is elected from the South Coast including the Campbelltown area.

One member is elected from the Hunter Valley or Central Coast area.

Three members are elected from regional country areas other than those mentioned above.

If you are interested in standing for ECS Council please phone Verena Heron or Joanna Kotsakis on 8202 8900 for a nomination form.

Nominations close on 5 December, 2014 Elections, if required, will be held in Term 1, 2015.

newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au feature

Action packed year strengthens members’ resolve

A large gathering of Union members heard from a variety of speakers about what has been a hectic year for the IEU at this year’s AGM, held as usual at the Mercure Hotel.

General Secretary John Quessy gave a comprehensive summary of the numerous activities the Union has engaged in this year (see an extract of his speech on page 3).

Assistant Secretary Carol Matthews gave a cohesive update on the Catholic campaign, and there was news on the AIS deal, Christian school negotiations and 12

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the prac negotiations, among others. IEU representative to BOSTES Larry Grumley explained his role and he encouraged teachers to get in touch with him regarding any matters, including the future direction of the HSC and teacher accreditation.

Federal President Chris Watt urged members to get involved with the IEU’s Students with Disabilities campaign (www. educationforall.com.au).

Vice President for Support Staff Carolyn Collins said it had been a “worrying but developing year”.

“Support staff have become more and more engaged due to the Catholic campaign, I think they are seeing the value of unions,” Carolyn said.

“I’m not sure if the employers are hearing what support staff are saying to them.

“There is no greater recognition for support staff in their document and that’s what we need.

“I think the Union’s work is heading on the right direction, although I would like to see more work on long service leave and other leave for support staff. We should

have parity with teachers on that.”

Carolyn said work intensification continues, with support staff expected to produce “daily miracles”.

“We’re on the coalface dealing with students with disabilities who don’t have enough funding. We end up doing things in our own time because we can’t turn our backs on them.

“But we are on wages and we have families of our own to deal with.”

ECS Vice President Gabe Connell said the year had been full of change for early

www.ieu.asn.au feature

Kylie working with Union to close the gap

Bronwyn Ridgway Journalist Kylie Martinez is positive about her role as an Aboriginal Education Worker (AEW) at The Assumption School Bathurst and enjoys her involvement with the Union.

With her children aged 11,12 and 19, Kylie (pictured above with Organiser Jackie Groom) is planning to become more involved with the Central West Branch.

Prior to becoming an AEW, Kylie had worked for Telstra and Country Energy, which she found interesting, but she wanted to do more than just work for large corporations.

Interested in children and families, when an AEW position became available at her children’s school Kylie talked with the principal and then applied and was given the job.

“I really enjoy my work at The Assumption School and through involvement with the Union I am in contact with other AEWs throughout the state,” Kylie said.

“It’s very satisfying identifying workplace issues with other members then

solving problems with the support of my colleagues.

“It’s great to be part of the Union and I listen to what others are saying and they speak with so much passion and commitment. It’s inspiring really and I’m learning a lot very quickly.

“My father was a shearer and I was wary of unions. But in 2012 I felt very comfortable about the IEU and joined – it’s been really interesting talking with other members and giving support to them and they give me so much support too.

“I want to get involved in campaigns, I’m particularly interested as a teacher and a parent in the campaign for more funding for Students With Disabilities (www. educationforall.com.au).

“It’s so easy to join the campaign online and for me to talk to others about it. Being at the IEU Annual General Meeting I’ve learnt more about this campaign and it’s so relevant to the children I work with and their families,” Kylie said.

Kylie would like to do more as a representative of Aboriginal people, she wants to do her part to break down barriers and “close the gap”.

New Vice President elected for non-systemic schools childhood teachers.

“People don’t know if they’re coming or going there’s been so much change,” she said.

“The IEU’s support for early childhood teachers continues to be huge. You’ve got the pay parity campaign and the wage case, the review of the National Quality Framework, the Productivity Commission work.

“I see it only getting stronger with early childhood next year.”

The AGM saw the election of two new

positions: Louise Glase became the new Vice President for Non-Systemic schools, replacing Michelle Omeros, and the vacancy on Council created by Louise’s move was filled by Catherine McAuley Westmead Teacher Tina Ruello.

IEU General Executive Member Louise Glase was elected to the position of Vice President, Non-Systemic Schools at the Union’s AGM. Louise replaces Michelle Omeros, who has resigned due to personal reasons.

Louise said she was excited by the new role. “I got a feel for the next level of activism being on the executive in 2013, now I will have a different focus, looking at the needs of teachers in independent schools.”

Louise teaches Visual Arts at St Patrick’s Campbelltown, an independent Catholic all girls’ school in a low SES area.

“People often think independent schools are all wealthy schools. It’s not the case, there are independent low fee Catholic schools like mine and small Christian schools.

“I intend to use Newsmonth, social media and my attendance at Council to get to know members from all different types of schools and find out what their needs are.” newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au feature

Seeking a fair go for migrant teachers Amy Cotton Professional Development Officer

BOSTES has formed a working party in order to revise its English Language Proficiency Policy. As Union nominated representative, my task is to ensure interests in ensuring that the amended policy addresses perceived equity issues and allows for an appeals process.

The English Language Proficiency Policy is applied to those entering NSW as teachers who have not undertaken a full four years of required higher education study in English in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Canada or the Republic of Ireland.

These are the countries accepted under the Australian migration policy and at this time BOSTES does not have

the ability to exempt applicants from other countries where degrees have been undertaken in received English.

BOSTES is seeking to create some scope for leniency in these rules.

Currently, applicants not meeting the above criteria will be asked by their Teacher Accreditation Authority (TAA) to undertake a recognised English Language Proficiency test (PEAT for DEC schools and IELTS and ISLPR may be preferred by Catholic systemic or independent TAAs).

PEAT is the only test that is directly about professional teachers’ work, whereas IELTS and ISLPR are generic, university accepted courses.

There are several issues that teachers entering NSW from outside of those countries:

• PEAT, IELS and ISLPR each attract a cost. If an applicant is looking for work with multiple TAAs, as is likely with IEU members, they may need to complete tests in order to begin applying for work • The tests are largely held in major metropolitan centres, and infrequently.

• Teachers immigrating to regional areas would also need to pay travel and accommodation costs in order to complete each test • Some of the tests have limited validity, meaning that teachers may need to re-sit the test every two years in order to keep seeking work if they have not already secured a permanent position.

• Applicants from countries who have only ever spoken/written received English may be asked to re-prove themselves on entry into NSW.

BOSTES is examining the equity and access issues that new immigrants to NSW face when applying for work with several TAAs. Should the current Teacher Accreditation Amendment Bill be passed, in 2016 BOSTES will become the sole initial Teacher Accreditation Authority for NSW, but this does not mean that the employers will then accept any of the three recommended English Proficiency tests. Some thinking into making any of the three tests palatable to the employers needs to occur.

BOSTES is seeking to develop an appeals process whereby applicants who feel that they are proficient in English can apply for exemption. The details of this process will be examined by the working party on which the IEU is a very interested and active party.

Support students with disabilities now The IEU’s ‘I Care, Do You?’ campaign to improve funding for students with disabilities continues to be a major priority, even though recent legislative changes via the Australian Education Amendment Bill have corrected some inadequacies in the current funding model.

Previously the IEU had expressed serious concerns that in its response to the Senate Select Committee on School Funding, the Coalition revealed that a promised increase to the disability loading received by schools could be years away.

As well as indicating that it would cease funding for the More Support for Students with Disabilities National Partnership Agreement from next year, the Abbott Government has said it would wait until nationally consistent data is available before considering introducing an increased loading.

Many IEU members have been involved in projects to obtain such data and know the frustrations 14

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and delays which have arisen from that. They also know the needs of students with disabilities must be addressed without further delayed.

The IEU has noted that the Federal Government’s own recent Review of the Australian Curriculum called for increased support for students with disabilities.

Despite the Australian Education Amendment Bill halting funding cuts from 1 January next year for students with disabilities in some special schools, the IEU reminds the Federal Government that the needs of students with disabilities remain unmet.

The ‘I Care, Do You?’ campaign calls on IEU members to lobby their Federal MPs to recognise the funding needs of students with disabilities and for principals to undertake a brief survey about SWD funding and support issues in their own schools and systems.

This campaign builds upon the IEU’s submission to the Gonski Review of School Funding in which the Union asked that:

“The full costs of meeting the educational needs of students with disabilities, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and assessed, should be funded by federal and state governments regardless of whether the student attends a government or nongovernment school”.

The final report from Gonski in 2011 agreed with IEU members and recommended significant additional funding for students with disabilities regardless of where they were enrolled: “Unlike the schooling resource standard per student amounts and other loadings, the students with disability loading should be fully publicly funded as an entitlement, irrespective of the type of school the student attends or its school SES.” Further information about the campaign and an easy link to email MPs is available at www. educationforall.com.au/swd

www.ieu.asn.au national conference

Call to arms “There’s a social compact: we pay our taxes and the government provides us services. They are trying to undo that.”

Sue Osborne Journalist ACTU President Ged Kearney, keynote speaker at the National Conference on Quality Education, asked IEU members to “summon the spirit” and come to together to join a fight against what she called an “attack on living standards”.

Addressing about 80 IEU delegates from all over the country who gathered in Sydney on 1-3 October, Ged said talking to union delegates was the “best part of my job” because we “can’t do anything without you, you are the heart and soul of our movement”.

Now was a crucial time in the history of the union movement and the nation, due to the enormous impact the current government could have on our society, she said.

Historically, the labour movement had done much to create the ‘fair go’ society in Australia we now enjoy, and it was necessary for the nearly two million union members to unite forces to push back on the Abbott Government’s undermining of basic human rights such as healthcare, aged pensions, quality education, unemployment support and many more things.

“These things are a right not an entitlement. I get angry when I hear we are living in an age of entitlement.

Don’t fall for it.

“There’s a social compact: we pay our taxes and the government provides us services. They are trying to undo that.”

Ged said we would end up with an ‘Americanised’ health care system if we did not take action.

The Fair Work Amendment Bill now before the Senate was an immediate cause for concern.

It would introduce something worse than AWAs – Individual Flexibility Agreements, signed in secret between boss and employee, which could allow payment in kind and get rid of penalty rates.

“I’ve heard of kids working in pizza shops who get a few free pizzas for working extra hours,” Ged said.

There is already a campaign in place, Adopt a Senator, where people can contact senators asking for them to reject the Amendment.

But the ACTU is planning a more comprehensive fight back on all issues which union members needed to join, she said.

It would kick off with a survey of all two million union members, asking them what kinds of Australia they wanted to live in, followed by actions based on the results of the survey.

“Your leaders will be hearing about it soon,” Ged said.

Adopt a senator: www. australianunions.org.au/adopt_a_ senator

Bryce Goldburg

Rob Thomas

What’s happening in other states?

For the 80-odd union executives members who gathered in Sydney recently for the IEU’s National Conference on Quality Education, it was a chance to exchange notes on what is happening to teachers in different jurisdictions.

Rob Thomas of IEU WA teaches at St Mark’s Anglican School at Hillarys, north of Perth. He’s been there 27 years and said there have been huge changes in that time.

“When I started we were surrounded by sand dues, with most of the cohort coming from blue collar families.

“Now we’re surrounded by million dollar homes and the parents are lawyers and doctors.”

Rob said he enjoyed “hearing the bigger picture from Ged Kearney” at the Conference.

“I think Australians need to shake off their complacency and get active or else we will go the way of America.”

Rob said WA was facing similar issues to NSW. “We have the Colin Barnett Government that based its budget on what’s happening in the mining industry. Now that iron ore has gone from $130 a tonne to $82 a tonne the State Government is slashing its budget for education.

“There’s been talk of a public school teachers strike as Mr Burnett has offered 3% as a pay rise.

“The IEU has no case to prosecute in terms of a major strike. There are ongoing concerns with the Lutheran system with talks stalling.

“There’s arbitration with the Catholic CEO on the enterprise bargaining agreement.

“The Anglicans have 12 schools in WA and they are not due to negotiate at the moment. When they do it’s usually amicable.”

Chemistry and IT Teacher from the Southport School, Gold Coast and long-term IEU executive member Bryce Goldburg also enjoyed Ged’s “non-specific to teaching” presentation which gave him “an overall feel for what’s happening in the union movement”.

In Queensland negotiations are going on with Anglican schools who have offered a 2.2% pay rise, well below inflation, and rejected out of hand by the members.

The offer also involved amending pay scales, which would disadvantage teachers.

“We don’t want this to go ahead in Anglican schools because it would influence the Lutherans and the others,” Bryce said.

Spelling out what makes quality education Recently, the various IEU Branch Committees of Management came from across Australia to gather in Sydney for the IEU National Conference.

The two-day conference analysed the elements of quality education such as teacher development and recognition, early childhood education and the support and funding necessary to ensure quality outcomes for students with disabilities.

The Conference highlighted the crucial role that teachers, and those who support teachers, play in the delivery of quality education.

The Conference heard from a range of national and international academics and practitioners, including Paul Goulter, National Secretary of NZEI Te Riu Roa in New Zealand, Dr Sean Kearney, Associate Dean, School of Education,

University of Notre Dame, Australia, Ian Dalton, Executive Director of the Australian Parents Council (APC) and Lawrence Ingvarson, Research Director at the Australian Council for Educational Research.

The IEU has united with global education unions to celebrate quality education and this Conference was the final part of a 12-month co-ordinated effort with other

international teacher unions through Education International.

On the last day of the conference, members rallied at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair at the Sydney Botanical Gardens in support of the Educational International Unite for Quality Education Campaign by holding up letters to spell out QUALITY EDUCATION. newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au overview

Obituary: Helen Twigger

The mainstay of the College

Helen Twigger passed away on 8 October, having succumbed to cancer after a five-month battle. Born in Dungarvan, in the Irish Republic, she came to Australia, eventually settling in Robertson and set up a life with husband Greg whom she met over here. They had a daughter Jill and Helen came to work at St.Paul’s International College in Moss Vale where she remained for 20 years until her untimely death.

Helen was quite simply the mainstay of our College. As the Office secretary, she was the focal point for virtually everything that happened in the place, from handling staff enquiries, dealing with visitors to the college and newly enrolled students

Cut the apron strings Sisters and fellow support staff officers Suzanne James and Catherine Edman have put their heads together to write a book called Cut the Apron Strings, a stepby-step guide to successful independent living after the HSC. Suzanne is Secretary to the Head of Middle School at St Philip’s Christian College, Waratah and Catherine works in Learning Support and Student Services at St Pius X, Adamstown.

Both women joined the IEU as soon as they started their careers in education some 16 years ago.

“The Union informs and supports all of its members in the school environment and keeps us up to date on the latest issues,” Suzanne said.

“The Union is a place where people can air their concerns and know that they will be listened to, with the correct plan of action put into place for a quick and fair result for all involved.

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and coping with the many International student issues through the Immigration Department.

Despite their dramatically different cultural backgrounds, Helen developed an intuitive understanding of Sister Angelina Fong, our College Director and more importantly, the two became great friends.

The shattering loss has been felt acutely

by Sister.

Union solidarity was always a big part of Helen’s psyche. A staunch IEU member, she brought her infectious Irish spirit to workplace issues, while always maintaining the delicate balance between the need for action and the difficult demands of her position.

Above all else, it will be Helen’s beauty as a person that will be remembered. It is hard to believe that she will no longer be behind the desk in the front office when we walk in, or on the other end of the phone when we call.

In all her dealings she was the voice of calm and reason, with both staff and students. On various social occasions over the years, she was also lovely company with her engaging smile and wonderful sense of humour and she left her mark on everyone with whom she came into contact.

Helen’s service was held in the College Chapel, and the entire length of the driveway was lined on both sides with

students and staff as she made her last journey through the College grounds.

Students, a number of whom had only known her for a short time, stood in respectful silence for a considerable period of time. The Chapel was overflowing with current and former staff, students, and many friends and community members. It was a fitting tribute to an amazing person whose departure has left a void which will never be filled.

Rest in peace Helen.

“We decided it would be a good idea to provide a book that covered lots of life skills that young adults needed when they shifted out of the family home.”

Suzanne said: “We decided to wait until our youngest child (my daughter) had done her HSC before we published our book – all five children have different goals

is included. Towards the back of the book is a budget planner.

“My school is taking the book on for Year 12 and I’ve had the comment that it would be really useful for special needs students,” Suzanne said.

“When becoming an adult there are a lot of expectations and responsibilities, and our aim is to assist these young adults to fulfil their dreams with a little less stress.

“Our aim is to help as many young people as we can transition smoothly into independent living. With this being said, our vision is for every high school in Australia to give their school leavers a parting gift of our book – assisting their students beyond their school years into adulthood”.

To find out more about the book and other services available, visit www. cuttheapronstrings.com or www. facebook.com/cuttheapronstrings.

Jonathan Pollard Teacher

Suzanne James and Catherine Edman.

“We’ve always believed in what the Union stands for.”

Over the years the pair has always kept up with Union activities. Catherine has spoken at annual IEU Women’s dinners about supporting a visually impaired student and teaching him Braille with one of her work colleagues.

“We realised there was just nothing out there like our book. There’s so much emphasis on the 13 years at school but once the HSC is over it all ends.”

Although their book has only just been released it’s been about five years in the making.

“We would meet at the gym every morning and talk about what’s been going on with our kids. Catherine has three girls and I have a son and a daughter,” Suzanne said.

and dreams that they want to fulfill.”

The book covers all aspects of moving out of home or staying at home but functioning as an adult. Everything from car maintenance and purchase, to cooking, doing the laundry, mending jobs and many other things people don’t necessarily think of when leaving home

www.ieu.asn.au overview

Sent to an uncertain future Sue Osborne Journalist A missed email is reason enough to send a young refugee back to a country where his safety cannot be guaranteed, according to the Australian Government.

English and ESL Teacher and IEU Executive member Ralph Hunt is devastated after his student was forced to return to Afghanistan recently.

The refugee came to Ralph’s school as a 17-year-old. As ESL Teacher Ralph was his first teacher and there was an immediate rapport.

Ralph said he fitted in straight away, despite his traumatic past. His family has fled to Pakistan when the Taliban took over, then returned to Afghanistan when Australian and Canadian troops entered Kabul.

He had narrowly escaped a car bomb and seen beheaded bodies in the street.

Yet at school he took his HSC, played in a GPS Grand Final last year and was

employed by the school as a duty master in a boarding house.

After his HSC he took a business studies course at TAFE and found work with local accountants.

Moving from school to TAFE required a visa change, so Ralph and others at the school helped with the application.

Ralph also paid the boy’s airfares to return to Kabul to visit his family.

“They were worried about him while he was there as people kept pointing him out as the boy living in Australia, going to a Christian school,” Ralph said.

When he applied for his visa he was told to await a response from the Immigration Department.

Some time passed and he heard nothing.

In the meantime, he was required to return to Kabul again to sign some papers, so he contacted Immigration himself.

They told him he had not replied to two emails they had sent him, so his visa application had been rejected, and he was

an illegal immigrant and must leave the country immediately.

The boy was given a one-week visa and told to arrive in Sydney with a one-way ticket to Kabul.

Ralph and others tried to advocate on his behalf. “They would not show us the emails unless we got a Freedom of Information request, which takes weeks, and he had to leave straight away,” Ralph said.

“They were rude and did not want to hear anything we had to say. They were impossible to deal with.

“He’s a fantastic young man and everyone is very upset by this. His employer has been supporting him, and they are upset about it too.

“I’ve been in touch with him in Kabul, I know he arrived safely. If he wants to re-apply to come back, it’s a three-year process.

“With the recent events of a man being killed because he is Australian in Afghanistan, we are really worried for his safety.”

Newsmonth contacted the Immigration Department for a comment on this story, but did not hear back by deadline.

At its recent national conference, Quality Education, the IEU reaffirmed its opposition on the current treatment of asylum seekers by the Australian Government.

The IEU Federal Executive expressed its disgust with the way the Government and Opposition have failed to step up and deal with the asylum seeker boat issue in open, fair and honest manner.

A motion was passed demanding, among other things, that the Australian Government immediately move to process all asylum seekers onshore, cease detention of asylum seeker children under 18 years of age, and reject the Temporary Protection Visa (TPV)/ Safe Have Enterprise Visa (SHEV) system and provide all refugees immediate access to a permanent Protection Visa (PV). newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au overview

Labour bites

Government punishes military Australian Defence Force personnel say the Federal Government’s new pay offer is “an outrage”, “a disgrace” and “a joke”. Thousands of sailors, soldiers and Air Force personnel have reacted with fury to being asked to give up some of their Christmas and recreational leave in order to get the pay rise of just 1.5% a year over the next three years.

Many of the service people spoke of leaving the military as their pay and conditions deteriorated under the offer. The military’s top brass told their troops that the deal, which is about half the rate of cost-of-living rises, was the best that could be expected in the current climate of public sector spending cuts.

Many said they were “disgusted” and “outraged” at being asked to take an effective pay cut when they felt they had already made great sacrifices to serve their country.

Military personnel are not allowed to join unions. (Source:SMH)

Red Cross very cross The Red Cross has threatened to sack an employee for “unauthorised political lobbying” after she used her work email account to update colleagues about their union’s pay deal negotiations.

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service, a division of Australian Red Cross, also alleges that the group email, sent to 400 co-workers, breached the organisation’s computer policy and constituted bullying and harassment.

She was given a “first and final” disciplinary warning and threatened with termination for her alleged breaches.

Union lawyers Maurice Blackburn said the Red Cross has breached workplace law by “brazenly” targeting and disciplining Ms Gonzalez because of her activities as a union delegate.

(Source: The Age)

Strike by 400,000 health workers The British military have been brought in to drive ambulances as hundreds of thousands of health workers went on strike over pay.

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Ambulance drivers are among the ranks of NHS staff who are staging industrial action.

This is the first time in 32 years that NHS workers take industrial action over pay The dispute involves over 400,000 NHS staff who have been hit by pay freezes or below inflation rises since the coalition came to power in 2010.

Several trade unions will be involved in the action, including those representing nurses, paramedics, hospital porters and ambulance crews as well as the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

Unions are protesting the Government’s decision not to accept the independent pay review body’s recommendation to award a 1% pay rise to all staff. (Source: Daily Express)

Reps confer over a cuppa at the AGM.

IEU mugshots Kelly Farrugia, Rep at St John’s Primary School, Dapto.

Off song The Rome Opera has taken a dramatic decision to dismiss all 182 members of its orchestra and choir with the aim of outsourcing the work.

Unions say this decision undermines the importance of skilled, dedicated musicians to an opera house, and puts many livelihoods at risk.

The International Arts and Entertainment Alliance condemned this decision and urged the Rome Opera to reinstate all the dismissed members of orchestra and choir, and to enter into genuine negotiations with its staff regarding the future of the Opera.

A petition to gather support and to reverse the dismissals has been launched. (Source: UNI Global Union)

Julie Harrison, Communication Rep at St Peter and Paul Primary School, Kiama.

This month in labour history

Suzette Bennett, Rep at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Albion Park.

• 16.10.1859 – John Brown led an anti-slavery raid on Harper’s Ferry.

• 25.10.1895 – Socialist and feminist Edith Lanchester was institutionalised by her family for opposing the institution of marriage.

• 4.10.1909 – Thousands of Australian workers joined the eight-hour day. procession.

• 13.10.1934 – American Federation of Labor voted to boycott German goods to protest Nazi policies.

Carolyn Malone, Rep at St Pius Catholic Primary School, Unanderra.

The IEU has produced a set of commemorative mugs for its reps to thanks them for their hard work and mark the Union’s 60th anniversary.

www.ieu.asn.au feature

IEU national s d r a w a y h p a r g photo

First place: NSW/ACT

Fossil Fingers by Belinda Sone, New England Girls School.

Earlier in the year IEU members were invited to submit photographs illustrating the theme: ‘quality education, what we do: who we are’.

All state and territory finalists were entered into the national competition.

The winners were chosen earlier this month. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who participated.

Second place: NSW/ACT

Experience New Perspectives, Liza Laird, Merici College.

First place:

National, Learning starts young in Visual Art, Dr Kerrie Corcoran, Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

Third place: NSW/ACT

Sort at the Beach, Tom Goodwin, St Peters Catholic College.

newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au overview

The IEU continues to honour its loyal and long-serving members in workplaces all over NSW and the ACT with 30-year badges.

The IEU publications app Read this issue on your iPad now.

Just visit iTunes, search for 'IEU' and download the free app.

No iPad? View the issue online at http://publications.ieu.asn.au

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www.ieu.asn.au overview

No backward steps

Chris Wilkinson President Here we are at the beginning of Term 4 and still the negotiations with the CCER continue. Ongoing meetings between the IEU and the CCER are achieving small steps but there’s still a long way to go.

Meetings with members clearly indicate that ongoing industrial action is a possibility.

As indicated from the start of the campaign the IEU is not willing to accept any negative or backward steps in the conditions that we have achieved as a result of many years of hard work.

It is important that we stand united, talk regularly, conduct chapter meetings, wear our red badges, wear red on certain days of the week, write or send emails to our diocesan director, send emails to the CCER and take appropriate action as planned.

Members in independent schools are also negotiating a new agreement and are holding meetings and going through the voting process.

HSC markers have begun their work in the many centres throughout the State, and the IEU continues to work with them to make sure that their conditions and pay remain fair.

I admire these teachers who find the energy to attend school each day, often driving for several hours in traffic after school to mark for several hours into the night and on Saturdays.

There was another great result for the Union regarding prac teachers in our schools. Finally there are improved pay rates for teachers supervising pracs.

VET issues are still high on the agenda with further meetings with the Teachers Federation to be held next month to listen to concerns involving work load, teacher training, work placement inspections and compliance documentation.

Hopefully some positive outcomes will come out of this meeting for all teachers concerned.

Even though 2014 is quickly coming to an end, the work of the IEU continues with increased pace and determination.

I would like to congratulate Louise Glase who has been elected to the position of Vice President, Non-Systemic Schools.

This position was created due to the resignation of Michelle Omeros, who has held this position for many years.

I would like to extend my thanks to Michelle for her dedication and the way she represented members in this sector.

Due to family commitments and personal health problems, Michelle realised she could no longer serve in this position. Thank you Michelle and I hope that your health improves and that you continue to carry out your active IEU work at your school.

Also congratulations to Tina Ruello who was elected to the General Executive. I am sure that Tina will be a very valuable member of the Executive and I look forward to working with her in the coming years.

Best wishes for a successful Term 4.

As always it’s a busy time of the year and we stand united. We value your membership and your commitment to the ongoing campaign.

Progress for principals’ agreements

Pam Smith Principals Organiser Within the context of the recent settlement between the IEU and the AIS for teachers and support staff in independent schools, the Union held a teleconference for principal members in independent schools on 16 October to discuss a range of industrial and professional issues.

Matters discussed at the teleconference included: • accreditation issues for teachers and principals, including the recent NSW Teacher Accreditation Amendment Bill • NSW legislation to provide for greater financial accountability for non government schools • parental expectations and the impact on workload and work intensification for principals and staff • school governance issues and relations with school boards and parent organisations.

Concerns raised at the teleconference will be pursued as appropriate at workplace level and/or with the AIS. In the Catholic sector, following the Term 3 Principals’ Branch meeting

which endorsed a resolution calling upon Catholic employers to commence negotiations to progress a principals’ enterprise agreement (EA). A productive introductory meeting was held between the IEU and CCER on Friday 24 October with further negotiations scheduled for Wednesday 19 November.

Since the Term 3 Principals’ Branch meeting on 2 August, the IEU has appreciated the opportunity to meet with Sydney Eastern Region principals at Daceyville on 11 August and with Sydney Inner West principals at Burwood on 11 September.

As discussed at the 2 August Principals’ Branch meeting, principals’ support is greatly appreciated for the IEU’s national campaign to increase funding for students with disabilities. Material about the campaign has been distributed to principals with a special invitation for them to join in lobbying Federal MPs to protect and advance the interests of students with special needs and their families (www. educationforall.com.au).

The IEU thanks the many principal members in all sectors who give generously of their time to support the Union’s professional agenda, including input at this year’s Starting Strong for student teachers and at the IEU’s Women’s Conference and at various regional events.

Special appreciation is expressed to Principal members Lou Single (Youth Off The Streets) and Louise O’Sullivan (Armidale Diocese) who are members of IEU Council.

Framework improves quality of care

Gabe Connell Vice President, ECS The National Quality Framework was introduced under the Gillard Government in 2012 with agreement from state and territory governments.

A review was built into the agreement between governments at the time. As part of this, Woolcott Research was tasked with consulting with families and childcare experts about the framework.

The Summary of Findings from the 2014 National Quality Review Consultation Process have been released.

Based on the opinions of more than 1300 childcare professionals who attended consultation sessions, as well as more than 180 formal submissions, the report

by Woolcott Research found the majority of those in the sector think the National Quality Framework has resulted in an improved quality of early childhood education and care.

This included a boost in the professionalisation of the workforce, in part due to the increased focus on

professional learning and development.

While some of those consulted by Woolcott questioned the amount of paperwork involved with the framework, it was generally thought that the sector was still undergoing a transition and that amendments to the framework should not be made until it was fully implemented.

The consultation also found that many families had noticed improved quality in the provision of quality education and care over the last two years, even if their awareness of the framework was limited.

The feedback from the consultation process supported the National Quality Framework. It was felt there were still improvements needed, particularly in terms of its implementation, but it was clear that the Framework had provided significant benefits since its implementation.

The particular areas of suggested change include the assessment and rating process which many services have found confusing, stressful and often not consistent across the state.

It was also indicated there needed to be improved communication and the provision of advice from ACECQA and regulatory authorities to the sector. This would ensure services’ understanding of the National Quality Framework requirements to prevent overloading on paperwork and reduce the misconceived ideas on regulatory burden. It was thought that ACECQA’s communication with families could also be improved.

A Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) will be released towards the end of 2014 which will outline any suggested changes to the NQF. It will present “options for change and improvement for comment and feedback. This will be accompanied by further public consultation”.

Passion and resolve inspire General Executive member Richard Ryan Northand Coast President Marty Fitzpatrick.

It has been a busy year in the North Coast Branch as it has been all over the state.

It has been inspiring witnessing the North Coast members’ passion and strong resolve in the 3Rs campaign. Catholic sector members have been standing their ground and making it clear they don’t accept the CCER’s suggested changes to the enterprise agreement.

The stop work meetings in Term 3 were well attended in Murwillumbah, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Grafton and Port Macquarie. It was also pleasing to see many younger members getting involved.

We were heartened by the level of the support as the membership are justifiable outraged at the CSO proposition being presented to us by the CCER on behalf of all NSW/ACT Dioceses.

We are all hoping for a speedy resolution to this ongoing campaign which can be simply resolved by the employer, the CCER, recognising, respecting and rewarding Catholic systemic employees with negotiations based on our current agreement.

This year has also seen the AIS MEA and Christian schools bargaining campaign along with the continued Teachers are

Teachers Early Childhood campaign.

North Coast Organisers Steve Bergan and Sandra White have continued to advise and support our members in what has been a challenging year. Also, a big thanks to Carolyn Moore (IEU Industrial Officer) and Cassie Barnes (IEU administration) for their commitment and support to our Lismore office.

In February this year Lismore office celebrated its 10th anniversary. Mark Northam (IEU Assistant Secretary) was present to help us celebrate. Marty Fitzpatrick was the North Coast President for those 10 years and stepped down from that role at our 2014 Branch AGM. We had good numbers in attendance at the Term 3 Branch meeting held at Tweed Heads. It was great having John Quessy (IEU General Secretary) there to encourage members and to explain where we were at in negotiations with CCER. Thank you to school Reps for your dedication in your important roles in what has been an interesting and arduous year industrially. Thanks also to Branch Vice President Kath Egan and Secretary Mary Howard for your hard work throughout the year. newsmonth - Vol 34 #7 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au exchange

Exchangees are on their way Sue Osborne Journalist The IEU farewelled 10 lucky adventurers off on exchange to Canada, the US and UK at the September Exchange Program Conference.

Jamie Murgatroyd is heading to familiar territory as he is going to the school his parents did an exchange to when he was 19.

The Bishop Druitt College Coffs Harbour Teacher will teach middle school at Gunnison Middle School in Colorado, US. Although the building has changed, many of the people are the same.

“Some of the friends I made when I came here with my parents are now teachers at the school,” Jamie said.

“I’ve been back a few times for weddings and things and they’ve been to visit me, but this will be a different experience working there.”

Jamie hopes to learn a lot about teaching the middle school age group.

“I’m the Director of Pastoral Care at my school, so I’ll be interested in how they look after the welfare of the students and the staff.

“I’ve heard from colleagues the Learning Communities Conference in Boston is fantastic so I hope to get to that.”

Jamie is taking his two young boys aged six and eight on the exchange, and they will attend the elementary section of the school – so three generations of Murgatroyds will have had an association with Gunnison School.

Also travelling to the US, Sharon Byrnes is the IEU’s first exchangee going to Chicago.

“I just wanted to do something different and have that experience. A colleague from another school told me about her exchange and it sounded fantastic.”

She is leaving Central Coast Grammar School to teach Computer Studies at The University of Chicago Laboratory School.

“They follow the John Dewey method of problem-based learning, and develop their own curriculum, so it should be pretty exciting teaching there,” Sharon said.

“There’s a lot of new stuff on digital teaching that they’re doing that is coming to our curriculum that I’d like to see how they’re delivering it.

“I’ve previously been on holiday to the east and west coasts of the US but never the middle before. I’m looking forward to immersing myself and my

Opening up a whole new world Coordinators from all over the world gathered in Melbourne recently to champion the cause of teacher exchange.

The NSW/ACT IEU’s own Exchange Coordinator Helen Gregory joined representatives from all around Australia, Canada, the US and UK (by Skype) to discuss issues relating to immigration, tax and work permits.

The keynote speaker was Deakin University Chair of Education Professor Christine Halse, who has studied the benefits of overseas study tours and exchanges.

In one of her papers, The Impact of

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15-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son in a different culture.”

Diane Lefebvre will be on very familiar turf when she exchanges to Ontario, as she is actually French Canadian, emigrating to Australia 19 years ago.

She is going from Radford College in the ACT to St Edmund Campion Secondary

Study Tours to Asia on Australian Teachers and Teaching Practice, she concludes that the tour had a “significant impact on the teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the culture and of their host country, inspired a more critical and analytical approaches to their professional practice and stimulated further personal and professional development”.

Details about teacher exchange can be found on the IEU’s website at www. ieu.asn.au/member-benefits-teacherexchange/. Contact Exchange Coordinator Helen Gregory for further details.

School in Brampton, which is not where she grew up but not too far away.

She’ll be teaching French as she does in Australia, but expects the standards to be higher, as there are native French speakers in the area.

This will be the most time she’s spent in Canada since migrating, so a great chance to catch up with family and friends.

Visual Arts and Photography Teacher Elizabeth Chase is taking a year away from Canberra Girls Grammar School to experience teaching at Olds High School in Alberta.

“I just wanted to do something different and have that experience. A colleague

from another school told me about her exchange and it sounded fantastic.”

Elizabeth’s husband works in Defence so the family is used to moving around a lot.

“I thought this will be a chance for us to do something together and build up a network with people on the other side of the world.”

She is looking forward to experiencing Indigenous art in Canada and seeing how the European art influence is viewed compared to the Australian approach.

Gavin Hyslop is the first IEU teacher to go from a Christian school in Australia (Maitland Christian School) to one in Canada (Calvary Christian Academy).

Gavin and his wife were lucky to hear about a teacher looking for an exchange through a colleague and arranged it themselves before getting in touch with the IEU. “I’ve done nine years at the same school so it was time to reboot in a completely different context and work in a new way,” Gavin said.

“You can only learn from that.”

It’s the family’s first trip to North America, although they have been to India.

Gavin said his 15-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son are excited about the prospect of the exchange.

www.ieu.asn.au contacts

Newsmonth

How will your income stream look?

Bernard O’Connor NGS Super It’s not rocket science. The concept of superannuation is basically simple: save enough during your working life to provide an income stream during your retirement years. Our world class super system was established to reduce the dependency on social security (age pension) and to assist workers to build a large enough balance to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

But, how much is enough?

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) estimates the following annual amounts assuming home ownership and good health: Modest lifestyle Single $23,363 Couple $33,664 Comfortable lifestyle Single $42,433 Couple $58,128 ‘Comfortable lifestyle’ builds in car ownership, private health insurance, energy costs, occasional travel, and money for leisure pursuits including a range of electronic equipment. A ‘modest lifestyle’ assumes basic activities, and utilities and is considered marginally better than the Age Pension.

So how does an income stream actually work? For members who retire after age 60, the Government has legislated minimum drawdowns starting at 4% of the balance per year. A member aged 63 who retires with a balance of $500,000, for example, would be required to drawdown a minimum of $20,000 and this could be accessed by dividing the quantum by 26 fortnights or 12 monthly payments.

A higher amount could be drawn down

depending on the needs of the retiree and the lifestyle choices made. Lump sums can also be withdrawn at any time if retired and over age 60.

An attractive feature of an income stream or account-based pension after age 60 and retired is that the payments are made completely tax free. This has been a longstanding bi-partisan government policy to encourage workers to build their retirement savings. Also, there are no further taxes on the investment earnings so the source of the income stream is in a tax-advantaged environment. In the superannuation accumulation phase a tax of 15% is paid on investment returns.

Another feature of income streams or account-based pensions is that investment choice is still available so pensioners can select their own investments based on their tolerance for risk and the balance will still be earning investment returns while the drawdowns are being made (assuming positive markets). Members drawing down an income stream will have the full spectrum of NGS Super investments open to them including NGS Self- Managed and the new Income Generator investment option specifically designed for pension members aged 65+ who prioritise preservation of the real value of their retirement capital over the ‘active retirement’ years to age 80.

The investment choices available can be found on the NGS Super website at www. ngssuper.com.au under Investments.

So with a little thought and a clear budget, it is possible to estimate how much will be needed per annum in retirement. Once this figure is reached it is possible to extrapolate how much of a lump sum will be necessary to generate the desired amount. Of course it is a good idea to obtain some professional advice prior to making any significant financial decision and NGS Super has a highly qualified financial planning team which operates on a fee-for-service basis, no hidden commissions. Special superannuation calculators are also available to assist members to determine how much to put away now to reach their financial goals in the future.

(Important information: The information in this article is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a financial decision, please assess the appropriateness of the information to your individual circumstances, read the Product Disclosure Statement for any product you may be thinking of acquiring and consider seeking professional advice.)

Newsmonth is published eight times a year (two issues per term) by the NSW/ACT Independent Education Union.

Executive Editor: John Quessy (General Secretary) for and on behalf of the

IEU Executive and members Managing Editor: Bronwyn Ridgway Journalists: Bronwyn Ridgway and Sue Osborne Graphic Design: Chris Ruddle Online Journalist: Daniel Long Contributions and letters from members are welcome. These do not reflect endorsement if printed, and may be edited for size and style at the Editor's discretion. They should be forwarded to: Newsmonth 485-501 Wattle Street ULTIMO NSW 2007 GPO Box 116 SYDNEY NSW 2001 Tel: 8202 8900 Toll free: 1800 467 943 Fax: 9211 1455 Toll free fax: 1800 804 042 email: ieu@ieu.asn.au On the net: www.ieu.asn.au

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NSW/ACT IEU Executive John Quessy General Secretary Gloria Taylor Deputy General Secretary Carol Matthews Assistant Secretary Mark Northam Assistant Secretary Chris Wilkinson President St Joseph’s Catholic College East Gosford Louise Glase Vice President Non-Systemic St Patrick’s Campbelltown Bernadette Baker Vice President Systemic St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney Carolyn Collins Vice President Support Staff St Michael's Primary School, Nowra Gabrielle Connell Vice President ECS Albury Preschool Kindergarten Leah Godfrey Vice President, ACT St Jude’s Primary School, Holder Peter Moore Financial Officer De La Salle College, Cronulla Marie MacTavish Financial Officer St Joseph’s Primary School East Maitland

General Executive Members John O’Neill Carroll College, Broulee Ann Rogers ASPECT South Coast School, Corrimal Pat Devery St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney Marty Fitzpatrick St Francis Xavier’s Primary School Ballina Ralph Hunt The Armidale School, Armidale Denise McHugh McCarthy Catholic College, Tamworth Patricia Murnane Sacred Heart Primary School Cabramatta Michael Hagan Mater Maria College, Warriewood Tina Ruello Catherine Mcauley College, Westmead James Jenkins-Flint St Brigid's Primary School Marrickville

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www.ieu.asn.au giveaways

Nona and Me

Author: Clare Atkins Publisher: Black Inc Three copies to give away

Rosie and Nona are sisters: yapas. They are also best friends. It doesn’t matter that Rosie is white and Nona is Aboriginal: their family connections tie them together.

The girls are inseparable until Nona moves away at the age of nine. By the time she returns things have changed.

When a political announcement highlights the divisions between the Aboriginal community and the mining town, Rosie is put in a difficult position: will she be forced to choose between her first love and her oldest friend?

Herbert Peabody and his Extraordinary Vegetable Patch Author: Bianca C Ross Illustrator: Tabitha Emma Bray Publisher: Farinet Pty Ltd Three copies to give away

Herbert Peabody is a farmer who grows fruit and vegetables in his big vegetable patch at Mulberry Tree Farm. When his niece Clementine and nephew Digby come to stay for the school holidays, Herbie can’t understand why they know so little about vegetables.

Can Herbie teach them about the importance of vegetables, and with a little bit of work, can they make something extraordinary happen?

Don Dunstan, Intimacy and Liberty, a political biography Author: Dino Hodge Publisher: Wakefield Press Three copies to give away

Dino Hodge’s extensive research brings us answers to all those questions that have clouded earlier understandings of Dunstan’s political ambitions, achievements, desires and defeats, at the same time providing a ground breaking account of homophobia in South Australian public and private life.

To enter one of these giveaways, write your name, membership number and address on the back of an envelope clearly marked with which giveaway you wish to enter and send it to Newsmonth, GPO Box 116, Sydney, NSW 2001 by 19 November.