Newsmonth issue #8 December 2014

The newspaper of the NSW Independent Education Union and the NSW/ACT branch of the IEUA (vol 34 #8) December 2014

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

Getting the fine print right in MEAs P2

Union works to resolve HSC marking problems P3

Scenes from stop work P10-12

It’s not over yet Mount St Patrick school staff take to the streets in Murwillumbah

John Quessy General Secretary Members in Catholic schools throughout NSW and the ACT are to be congratulated for the steadfast stand they have taken to protect their current conditions and for the persistence of their protest.

The intention of Catholic employers to minimise the enforceable entitlements in Enterprise Agreements and to return to an era of grace and favour where little if anything is guaranteed has been rejected

by Union members time and again since first proposed by CCER in April.

Following three hour stop work action and rallies earlier in the year, thousands of members recently gathered in their workplaces, at local venues and on street corners to hear a report back

on negotiations and to again confirm their support for the IEU position of not surrendering hard won entitlements.

and support staff and this continues.

Despite many hours of discussion and negotiation, employers continue

"They continue to refuse to address common issues of workload in the body of the agreement, propose to include a capacity for forced transfers and refuse to provide a standard outcome for induction and mentoring resources."

Members know that they are the custodians of their conditions and have sent a clear warning that this campaign is not over and will not be as long as employers insist on diminishing conditions and reducing entitlements.

In addition to preserving the status quo, members insist that the long period of work intensification without additional resources must stop. Deteriorating system support has paralleled increasing demands on teachers

to insist that staff in Catholic schools be accredited in Religious Education and maintain that accreditation with no additional compensation or support guaranteed in the agreement. They have not unequivocally removed requirements for PD to be undertaken on weekends and in school holiday periods, nor conceded a 30 minute lunch break.

They continue to refuse to address common issues of workload in the body

of the agreement, propose to include a capacity for forced transfers and refuse to provide a standard outcome for induction and mentoring resources. The offensive “ethos” clause, which would have the effect of denying fundamental civil rights to employees, remains unchanged.

The studied miserableness that permeates the employers' demands is captured by what is on offer for support and operational staff, with a proposal to reduce the minimum start times from three to two hours and an insulting proposal in respect of split shifts.

The Union will continue to meet with and negotiate with CCER towards an acceptable Enterprise Agreement but as is clear there is much still contested and unresolved. There is no prospect of a final agreement that can be put to a vote this term. Even if a resolution of outstanding Continues on page 3

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Getting the fine print right in MEAs Gloria Taylor Deputy Secretary In the last Newsmonth the Union reported on the successful last minute resolution to the dispute over the Assocation of Independent Schools (AIS) Multi-Enterprise Agreements (MEAs) in independent schools across NSW. This resulted in improved outcomes for members leading to 'yes' votes in the large majority of schools.

While the IEU welcomes this outcome, we wish to alert members to some difficulties that have arisen during the course of the MEA process.

Employer drafting errors It has become clear to the Union that there are a number of issues about the

content of the MEAs that do not reflect the understandings between the Union and the AIS. A key issue is the payment date in 2016 where the Teachers MEAs contained an error not consistent with the Joint Statement between the IEU and the AIS. The AIS has undertaken on behalf of the school employers that all schools will pay the increases as agreed from the first full pay period on or after 1 February 2016, not 15 March 2016 as indicated in the MEA. A second concern is the change to concurrent parental leave (traditionally known as paternity leave). This has been changed from two weeks paid leave (to be deducted from carers’ leave) to unpaid leave where the employer tops up the government payment under the Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Act. This change was not discussed with the Union and at no time was it in drafts sent to the Union (nor was it pointed out to employees who were assured that all existing leave arrangements would remain the same). The AIS has now agreed on behalf of schools that the leave would be revert to two weeks paid leave (such leave

not to be deducted from carers’ leave). The Union is confident that these issues will be satisfactorily resolved in the Fair Work Commission appraisal process and that members' interests are protected.

Schools requiring a revote A significant number of schools failed to comply with procedural requirements for Fair Work approval of agreements.

In most cases this related to the giving of seven clear days notice of the time, method and place of voting and of the text of the agreement. These schools will have received the agreement again and there will be a revote. The Union again urges a 'yes' vote for the agreements.

Schools without MEAs Although the large majority of NSW independent schools soon will have approved MEAs, there are a number of schools where such agreements have not been offered by employers. Some schools have offered a Teachers MEA, but no Support and Operational (SAO) MEA. Others have not offered any agreement.

The Union will discuss these situations with members.

Schools with 'no' votes Nine schools voted 'no' in the Teachers MEA ballot and two in the SAO MEA. The Union is currently engaged in discussions with our Chapters and the AIS. In some cases it is anticipated that a revote for the MEA will occur. At least one school has commenced discussions on a single Enterprise Agreement. We have notified a bargaining dispute to initiate discussions in a further school. Again the Union will continue to work with members to try to resolve all disputes.

This has been a difficult round of negotiations, but most members in the independent sector have already achieved certainty over this short two-year period.

The Union will seek discussions with the AIS as soon as next year to review salaries and classifications in the three MEAs prior to negotiations in 2016. Again we thank Reps and members for their support in 2014 and we encourage you to contact the Union if MEA issues arise in your school.

Teacher pay in the ACT still uncertain Carol Matthews Assistant Secretary The Union is currently negotiating with ACT employers in both the Catholic systemic and independent schools sector.

Catholic systemic schools Until recently there had been a deafening silence on the part of Catholic employers about the new pay offer that was made by the ACT Government in late October to teachers in government schools. The offer was for increases of 1.5% every six months, commencing from 1 October this year, until 1 April 2018. The offer also included additional payments for Highly 2

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Accomplished Teachers of approximately $5000 per annum. The Australian Education Union (AEU) has rejected the offer and negotiations are continuing. At time of writing, the ACT Government has indicated that it would like an in principle agreement by 30 November 2014. The current government pay offer exceeds NSW rates during the life of the agreement.

On the 14 November the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) on behalf of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn wrote to the Union stating: “…should the current wages offer be accepted, ACT public sector teacher rates would be ahead of NSW rates at various times throughout the life of the agreement.

Given the above, the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn propose that their teachers be paid NSW rates under a new Agreement…”

This proposal was a change from the earlier position of the employer. The Union wrote to the CCER indicating that the Union would not accept ACT teachers being paid less than ACT public sector teachers.

Just as Newsmonth goes to press, the CCER has advised that the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn does not intend to pay ACT Catholic school teachers rates of pay that are lower than those that apply to teachers in ACT government schools.

While the Union welcomes these assurances, the ACT government pay issue remains unsettled. It is also increasingly difficult to envisage incorporating the ACT in a NSW settlement. As well as the pay issue, the IEU is still awaiting proposals in relation to early learning staff. The Union will continue to update members on these issues.

AIS schools The Union has been negotiating with the AIS concerning a new multi-enterprise agreement to apply in four independent

schools. There have been many changes in the position of the AIS, on behalf of the ACT schools, since negotiations commenced.

The Union will advise members as soon as possible of our position but it is unclear whether the MEA can proceed to the vote this year.

Catholic congregational schools Following consultation with IEU reps at Daramalan, St Edmund’s and Marist College, the IEU responded to the latest proposal from employers for a new agreement.

A key sticking point was the proposed change by the employers to progressive accrual of sick leave. The Union has urged the employers to reconsider their position and is hoping the new agreement can be finalised without further delay.

Join the conversation facebook.com/ieunswact

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

John Quessy General Secretary It’s not over yet Continued from page 1

matters was achieved, the consultation timelines demanded by the Fair Work Act would prohibit such a ballot.

The Union will make no further requests of members for protected industrial action this year. However everyone should continue to show their support by displaying their 3R badges, by wearing red on designated days and by taking every opportunity to discuss these issues with colleagues.

It’s time for employers to stop expecting exemplary student outcomes with mediocre resources, time to provide adequate time for world class induction and mentoring, time to ensure that every child accepted for enrolment has every opportunity to succeed. It’s time for Catholic employers to deliver on the contract they make with parents of students with disabilities, with learning difficulties and with behaviour problems by matching at least the resources of government schools.

Over 400 Chapters have indicated a determination to escalate this campaign in Term 1, 2015 if employers persist with these unreasonable demands.

The Union will provide a detailed report to members on the state of negotiations in the first weeks of the new year however unless the matters listed above are resolved Catholic schools can look forward to serious and ongoing industrial disputation in 2015.

Join the conversation facebook.com/ieunswact

Union works to resolve HSC marking problems Mark Northam Assistant Secretary IEU members involved in the marking of onscreen HSC exams reported significant software failures that interupted the marking process. The rhythm necessary for non-discrepant marking was lost.

Strategies put in place to facilitate domestic marking (childcare arrangements et al) were sent into disarray due to the stoppages. Further concerns were raised in relation to the slow rate of scripts becoming available for marking.

Frustration was the key theme of calls and emails to the Union. The Union advised members to keep accurate records of delays experienced.

The IEU has had discussion with senior officers of BOSTES to discuss the experiences of markers and

to achieve preliminary understandings of how to recompense members whose work was interrupted.

The IEU will schedule further meetings with BOSTES to ensure markers are not disadvantaged. An understanding has already been reached with BOSTES that all circumstances may not be covered by the industrial agreement and that interim solutions (that is one-hour payments on the first Saturday of marking) will not preclude further adjustments.

It would appear the technical difficulties have been overcome at the time this edition went to print.

The following is a letter received by the IEU from BOSTES during the marking process: "I refer to your letter dated 7 November 2014 to the President of the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (‘BOSTES’) regarding the recent technical difficulties with the BOSTES’ computer systems.

I have been asked to respond to your letter.

As requested, BOSTES’ officers met with officers of the Independent Education Union (IEU) this morning to discuss the concerns outlined in your letter. In addition to the information already provided to the IEU last Friday in

the BOSTES’ President’s statement on this matter, your officers were advised at that meeting that: • the technical issues appear to have been successfully remedied; • markers will be recompensed in accordance with the Higher School Certificate Marking and Related Casual Employees Rates of Pay and Conditions Award 2014 (‘the Markers Award’); • the details of markers affected by these difficulties are held by the BOSTES for the purposes of (b); • BOSTES will have regard to instances where markers were unfairlydisadvantaged where the circumstances may not be expressly covered by the Markers Award; • the individual circumstances of many markers at (d) were addressed on an interim basis during the early phase of the technical difficulties. However, these interim arrangements do not lend themselves to a one size-fits-all approach and the BOSTES will be consulting with the marker unions on how to fairly address these cases."

Want to be a BOSTES Business Services Rep? The Union is looking for teachers to represent it on BOSTES’ new Business Services Industry Curriculum Committee.

BOSTES is revising the Business Services Curriculum Framework and is establishing an Industry Curriculum Committee.

The IEU can have one Rep on the Committee who is a practicing teacher in the subject area.

The Committee’s first meeting is anticipated to take place in late February or early March 2015.

If you are interested, contact IEU Assistant Secretary Mark Northam email: mark@ieu.asn.au newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Union in talks with Adventist schools Unequalled before or since Vale Gough Whitlam

Pam Smith Assistant Secretary

The IEU has been involved in recent negotiations with the Seventh Day Adventist sector to progress enterprise agreements (EAs) for staff in both the North NSW and Greater Sydney Education Conferences.

On 8 October, the IEU received a proposed EA from the North NSW Seventh Day Adventist Education Conference. As the Conference indicated that it intended to proceed with a vote on the EA on 3 November, the Union had little time to meet with members regarding both the proposed EA and a claim.

IEU Officers Therese Fitzgibbon and Robert Seals met with the Conference on 16 October and raised a number of concerns regarding proposed changes to the agreement. These included variations to clauses relating to summary dismissal, evidence of sickness and allowances and also rejection of the proposed salary increases of between 0-1.3% for 2015.

Following a meeting with members, the Union submitted a claim for a 2.5% increase for 2015 and the inclusion of the payment of Long Service Leave on termination after five years.

Removal of various proposed changes to the previous agreement were also sought.

While some changes were made, the Conference proceeded to distribute a final document on 24 October.

However, the Union was successful in delaying the vote due to a technicality, and further information was provided to both members and the employer.

A response was provided by the employer on 12 November which made some minor adjustments to the draft EA. With regard to the Greater Sydney Conference, the IEU participated in an EA meeting on 22 October and raised a number of issues and concerns in relation to the proposed draft.

Further written comments were also provided, including in reference to EA compliance issues and the Union’s claim for a payment for teachers who take prac students.

It is understood that both Conferences intended to put the EAs to a vote prior to the end of Term 4.

The IEU thanks members in Adventist schools for their involvement in the EA process, noting that ongoing member engagement is vital in protecting and enhancing working conditions.

The recent death of Edward Gough Whitlam cannot go unnoted by the IEU and the Union pays tribute to the man who led arguably the most reformist Government in Australia’s history.

Speeches given at his memorial service in Sydney’s Town Hall tell the story of the man, his ideals, his passion and commitment. Senator John Faulkner said of Gough: “The policies he advocated and later enacted looked outward to the world and forward to an Australia where all citizens had the opportunity to realise their ambitions and make good on their potential; an Australia where the government accepted responsibility for the commonwealth and the commonweal of our citizens.”

In an outstanding oration Noel Pearson summed up the qualities of our nation's 21st Prime Minister by reflecting: “I don’t know why someone with this old man’s upper-middle class background could carry such a burning conviction that the barriers of class and race of the Australia of his upbringing and maturation should be torn down and replaced with the unapologetic principle of equality”.

In less than three years the Whitlam Government transformed Australia forever.

Under his leadership they harnessed the growing social movements demanding change and delivered a program of reform unequaled before or since.

Whitlam sought to build an Australia of opportunity and equality providing free tertiary education and an accessible

assistance scheme allowed a generation of young Australian men and women a university education, most the first in their families to be awarded degrees. I am one of that generation.

The achievements of Gough’s government were extraordinary, beginning a true liberation of women, introducing universal health care, legal aid, the Trade Union Training Authority, an end to the conscription and the White Australia policy, embraced multiculturalism and as Noel Pearson commented: “Without this old man the land and human rights of our people would never have seen the light of day”.

It was of course his government that introduced state aid to non-government schools. He confronted head-on his opponents within and outside his party to this and other policy issues with the sentiments that would become the key to the 1972 ALP election manifesto: “to promote equality, to involve the people of Australia in the decision-making processes of our land, and to liberate the talents and uplift the horizons of the Australian people”.

Edward Gough Whitlam leaves a great legacy.

John Quessy IEU General Secretary

Present Tense ELICOS news Kendall Warren Organiser Cheating the system?

In November, the Sydney Morning Herald broke the story of widespread cheating in university courses by international students. This will come as no surprise to ELICOS teachers, who have been relating anecdotal stories of similar occurrences in English schools and pathways colleges for years.

The SMH story focused on a company called 'MyMaster', run by Yingying Dou, which is marketed to international students, particularly from China.

MyMaster is alleged to run a service 4

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wherein students can pay (up to $1,000, depending on the subject) for essays and assignments to be written for them, which they can then submit as their own.

While it’s quite likely the service (and no doubt other, similar outfits) is also used in university feeder colleges (such as Pathways, Foundation and ELICOS), reports from many IEU members suggest that the problem is even more widespread than that. In the race for the international student dollar, colleges regularly encourage teachers to pass students with borderline (or worse) results, so that they can proceed to higher-level English courses and full university entrance.

Teachers are understandably reluctant to make a fuss about such practices, but it is clear they are widespread, and have been going on for some time. Certainly when your correspondent was last in the ELICOS classroom a decade ago it was common practice to “move up” students, regardless of whether or not they merited it.

The root cause of this phenomenon is the increasing reliance of the education industry on the extra funding that international students provide, with around 15% of funding for all universities coming from this source (and up to 40% at some universities). The recent cuts to higher education touted by Christopher Pyne can surely only exacerbate these problems.

This issue has the potential to be as damaging to the hugely important education export industry (the biggest non-mining export in Australia) as the infamous 'visa-schools' scandals of several years ago. It is incumbent upon the federal government, then, to step in and help clean up the mess.

by Study Group) in Waterloo. Negotiations have been amicable and reasonably productive so far, though the parties are now crunching the outstanding issues of salary, job security and additional leave. It is hoped that a settlement can be reached by the end of the year, but there a still a few roadblocks to navigate before then.

The Union has also started the process for the next negotiations with Navitas English Pty Ltd (formerly known as ACL), where the current agreement expires in the middle of 2015. Officers from the IEU have begun visiting the 10 Navitas centres to ascertain the views of members, with the plan of presenting a finalised Log of Claims to management before Christmas.

Agreement making In recent weeks, the Union has been negotiating for a new enterprise agreement with Taylor’s English Language Program (TELP), the language school associated with Taylor’s College (owned

Season’s greetings This will be the final Present Tense for 2014. From everyone here at the IEU, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and prosperous (in every way) New Year. See you in 2015!

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Teacher Learning Network has much to offer members Amy Cotton Professional Development Officer

In consultation with Michael Victory Teacher Learning Network Recently I had the opportunity to work very closely with the Teacher Learning Network (TLN). The TLN had invited me to Melbourne to experience one of their conferences that was being simultaneously held face-to-face and online.

My initial reaction Ten minutes after stepping into TLN’s headquarters, they had me set up and online, facilitating a live streamed event. A presenter stood in a classroom with fleshand-blood participants. He wore a wireless microphone and stood before a web cam to present his workshop.

My role was to ensure that the online participants’ experience of the live workshop was top notch. The online audience needed: • to see slides as the presenter spoke to them • to hear the other live participants’ questions, interactions and feedback • access to the additional PDF notes links to websites the presenter was referencing, and • answers to their questions.

Basically, the online participants could sit at home and watch/listen to the presentation, playing with the links and notes at their own pace. They typed questions into a field and I would relay

these to the presenter, who answered as if the participant was in the room.

This impressed me, because often online learning is very passive or a dreaded series of multiple choice scenarios. This was as good as face-to-face learning, because it was all just by proxy.

Most importantly, it was easy. Even as the novice facilitator of the session, I could clearly see how easily the participants were accessing the information and being given the opportunity to interact with an expert in the education field. You didn’t have to be good at ICT to engage with the session. It also meant that the tyranny of distance often suffered by regional members was erased, and those with family commitments were able to attend.

Who is TLN? TLN is a large provider of quality online professional development, in operation since 1994. It is a dedicated professional development provider supported by the IEU Victoria/Tasmania and AEU Victorian Branch.

Venturing into online PD more than five years ago, TLN is an innovator in Australian PD. Its members are schools and early childhood centres (with some individual teachers).

TLN is an endorsed provider with the NSW BOSTES. Why should your school choose TLN? Professional development budgets at schools are extremely tight. Yet with TLN membership, all staff at the school gain free and unlimited access to all of its online programs. That’s over 100 courses per year

available to all of your staff. There’s no sharing of accounts either – everyone has their own entry to the TLN. With 100% accreditation of NSW teachers, including early childhood teachers, very much on the horizon, schools would do well to subscribe to TLN to help their teachers maintain their PD hours.

And it’s high quality PD as well. The presenters are experienced and practising teachers, considered experts in their field.

They are trained facilitators of PD and use the online technology imaginatively to invigorate and inspire participants.

Regular topics include: • behaviour management • classroom practice • ICT in the classroom • leadership • early childhood • assessment • literacy • additional needs, and • differentiation.

Types of online PD offered: Live online programs The program is delivered live to camera by the facilitator. The online audience is the only audience. With the online software used by TLN, you see and hear on your computer screen a real time video stream of the presenter who is delivering live to camera. You see their presentation notes (typically a PowerPoint). Various ‘activities’ can be incorporated to enhance your engagement including a whiteboard facility, breakout rooms and brainstorming tools.

You participate in these sessions from your computer or laptop at home or work by simply clicking on a ‘website link’. As a participant your main form of interaction is via an on-screen text service.

A live streamed event TLN uses the same software to stream sessions being delivered by a presenter to a live audience. The presenter is filmed conducting the workshop and it’s streamed to you in real time. You will see and hear on your screen the streamed video of the presenter, and his/ her presentation notes and you will also hear the interactions and questions from the live audience. As an online participant you are able to ask questions or make comments through a dedicated online host who will pose them on your behalf to the presenter. The best presenters set up specific activities for the online audience.

On-demand programs These are online sessions that you undertake at a time of your choosing. TLN has two types: • Recordings of live sessions. They record ‘live online’ and ‘live streamed events’ and make them available on the website.

In this instance you are an observer of something that has already happened. It is a useful alternative if you cannot get to the event at the scheduled time.

• Purposefully created online courses that may include videos, readings, quizzes, reflection activities and information from the teacher who created the workshop. TLN uses the Articulate Storyline software to create programs.

Professional Development delivered to your door The IEU welcomes a new professional development partnership with the Teacher Learning Network The TLN is Australia’s leading provider of online professional learning for school and early childhood centres.

The TLN provides high quality professional development programs based on the principle of ‘teachers collaborating with teachers’.

Membership Model The TLN operates on a unique membership model. A school or centre joins the TLN and pays one low annual membership fee and every person in that school can access professional learning programs at no further charge. Over 100 programs per year free to all staff in member Schools/ Centres. This great deal is made possible through the support of the IEU. Price is dependent on student enrolment, see website for details.

Online professional learning TLN has more than 5 years experience in delivering online professional learning. We do it really well. Online allows you to engage in professional learning at school or at home, with your team or on your own. Online provides accessibility, flexibility and delivers great outcomes in improved teaching practice. The TLN is an endorsed provider with the Board of Studies: Teaching and Educational Standards NSW.

Membership Fees Join and pay by January 16, 2015 for a discounted 14 months all inclusive membership. No more to pay to attend over 100 programs.

More Information and to join Go to www.tln.org.au or email mvictory@tln.org.au or call (03) 9418 4992

The Teacher Learning Network (TLN) is jointly owned by the Independent Education Union Victoria-Tasmania and the Australian Education Union (Victorian branch). The TLN has been operating as a not-for-profit incorporated association since 1994, providing professional development services to the two unions and their members. newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

NQF Review have your say Written submissions or comments on proposed changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) for early childhood education are now being called for from interested parties. The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) sets out a number of options for proposed changes to the NQF. The Union has a number of concerns about the proposals: • The extended liability meaning teachers could be personally liable for something that goes wrong at a centre is a real concern. Teachers in schools or nurses in hospitals do not have fines. This could be yet another deterrent to working in the early childhood sector.

• The removal of an overall National Quality rating. The IEU believes that the overall rating is important for the parents and the wider community to understand how well their service meets the quality standards.

• Extending the rating and assessment period to five years would not provide for adequate frequency of assessments for services. Many changes can take place in a service over a five year period.

• Regulation 135 which states that if an early childhood teacher is absent because of a short-term illness or leave (defined as less than 12 weeks), a person who holds an approved diploma level education and care qualification or a primary teaching qualification is taken to be an early childhood teacher during that period. As a Union of early childhood professionals we cannot support a regulation where a teacher is not replaced by a teacher. Schools replace teachers with teachers not school assistants.

The RIS proposes that this be extended to the resignation of a teacher as well.

We would encourage Union members to have their say about these changes.

Submissions must be received by 16 January 2015. For more details or to make a submission, go to http://www.deloitteaccesseconomics.com. au/our+services/nqf+consultation+ris

Helping children with disabilities transition to school Starting school is a major milestone for all children and families. When a child has a disability there can be additional stress for families and a need for extra planning and preparation for everyone involved in the transition.

A new web-based resource has been developed by Early Childhood Intervention Australia and funded by the Department of Family and Community Services.

The new website contains practical information for teachers, families, early

childhood intervention professionals, early childhood education and care professionals, and the wider community.

A key focus of this resource is on developing positive collaborative relationships between families, schools and support professionals.

The website has been developed with reference to the latest research literature and in consultation with stakeholders around NSW. View the resource here: www. transitiontoschoolresource.org.au

Correction Re Newsmonth Vol 34#7 2014 page 7 title Worrying stats on professional learning, this article contained errors and has been updated on the online edition of Newsmonth see www.ieu.asn.au or the Publications app. Now titled Analysis of the SiAS 2013 survey: Professional Learning.

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Pushing for workplace equity Pam Smith Assistant Secretary

With over 70% female membership, the IEU has a strong commitment to legislation, policy and practice to counter discrimination and achieve more equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Fair and safe workplaces, access to parental and carer leave provisions, flexible arrangements such as job share, and addressing barriers to career development and leadership opportunities are important priorities for the Union.

Unfortunately, the IEU has received recent reports of some employers in both the Catholic and independent sectors denying or resisting requests for flexible work arrangements after parental leave.

The IEU will support its members in such situations and will also pursue these concerns with employers, citing the Fair Work Act, the Workplace Gender Equality Act, anti-discrimination legislation or published employer policy where appropriate.

Concerns have also arisen where employers have made statements to the effect that only full-time teachers can have HSC classes or only full-time counsellors can work in secondary schools, thereby impacting on the staff who work part time because of family responsibilities.

Under the provisions of both the previous Equal Employment Opportunity for Women in the Workplace legislation and the 2012 Workplace Gender Equality Act, the IEU has sought to work with Catholic diocesan employers via equal opportunity (EO) or workplace gender equity (WGE) committees to ensure compliance with that Act and other relevant legislation and to highlight issues such as work and family, preventing harassment and bullying, and identifying and eliminating any gender based obstacles to career satisfaction and progress.

For example, at the most recent meeting of the Wollongong Diocese’s WGE Committee, the agenda included discussion of WGE Agency reporting, pregnancy and return to work issues, the

Dealing with difficult people

emergence of eldercare as a reason for use of carer’s leave, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, and women’s career development and access to leadership roles in primary schools.

In the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese, the committee has recently been developing a new Flexible Working Arrangements Policy, which covers the legislative and policy framework in areas such as part time and job share.

The IEU acknowledges the document’s stated commitment to “reasonably accommodating a worker’s need for flexibility” and its reference to Catholic social teaching in relation to human dignity and equality.

At Sydney CEO’s Workplace Equity meeting on 6 November, agenda items included WGE Agency reporting and compliance, teacher exchange policy in the Archdiocese and White Ribbon Day. In the Broken Bay Diocese, a WGE flyer has been produced as well as two papers prepared in conjunction with the reporting process: Principles for Recruitment and

Selection of School and CSO Employees in the Broken Bay Diocese and Supporting Gender Equality in Broken Bay. At the Term 3 meeting there was discussion of the development of online modules for anti-bullying and harassment training.

Some diocesan WGE committees such as Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Wollongong also liaise with the IEU around the commemoration of International Women’s Day in March each year.

As reported at this year’s IEU AGM, the annual diocesan Women and Equity ‘report card’ for 2014 noted that some diocesan committees such as Armidale and Lismore were apparently not meeting on a regular basis and it is hoped that such meetings can resume in 2015.

The IEU thanks those members and officers who serve on diocesan WGE committees for their efforts to advance workplace equity and inclusion. As the recent Catholic sector dispute has shown, while many gains have been made over the years, vigilance is required to ensure that these are protected and enhanced.

Want to be more active in the IEU? In 2015 the IEU will hold another training program for members who are seeking to become more active in the Union, particularly at chapter and branch level and through the various forums of the Union.

The inaugural Activist Conference held last year was well highly successful, with a number of attendees now holding down positions on IEU Council.

This will be a residential program during the Easter break (April 16-17) at Leura in the Blue Mountains and is limited to 25 participants.

The agenda will cover the role of trade unions in Australia, the place of the IEU in the wider union movement, IEU policy, its structure and representational forums. Member-based campaigning will also be a feature.

IEU’s Wattle St office hosted the last Pedagogy in the Pub (PIP) event for 2014. Participants were from the early childhood, primary, secondary and English language college sectors as well as final-year university courses.

The course continues to be popular after more than a year of delivery around the state. It focuses on tense interactions with

colleagues and parents and strategies to defuse situations before they escalate.

With recognition that we can all be difficult at moments, the course emphasises the individual’s ability to work towards creating a harmonious workplace, and the power of a chapter to step in and promote change.

To register your interest or get further information contact your school Organiser or Marilyn Jervis (marilyn@ieu.asn.au) newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

First Class

Have you just survived your first year of teaching?

Amy Cotton Professional Development Officer

The Union is seeking individual anecdotes about surviving your first year of teaching. These might be humorous or painful – but we’re looking to find out the truth of your experience.

It might be that you’ve struggled to find work, or that you’ve been dumped in the deep end with a class that frightens you. Maybe you’ve had a superstar mentor who has inspired and helped you, or perhaps you took to social media to find a professional network of colleagues.

My first day of teaching was a mess. I wore black because I’d been told by a uni lecturer that would make me instantly the most fearsome thing on campus. During recess that day I was told off by another teacher in front of my students – told to report to the principal for being out of uniform and wearing makeup and asked: ‘And why isn’t your hair tied up, young lady?’.

In the fourth period, a student stapled a piece of paper to her thumb. As the blood spread across the white page I said numbly (and incorrectly), ‘I became a teacher because I hate blood’. The student burst into tears and I found the strength from within myself to pull the staple out and apply a tissue. The student lived.

With the end of the day in sight, I thought the last period would be fine. That is, until I turned on the ceiling fan, causing a cascade of chalk dust to fly in every direction across the room. As the class erupted into laughter at the sight of my new black clothes covered in a coating of white, the only solution was to laugh as well.

The step from being a supervised uni student into fully fledged responsibility for students was large and scary.

I started as a casual, and although I was fortunate to find a mentor at one of my schools, that was due to his generosity of spirit. Eventually the whole faculty took me under their collective wing, and I reached out to my professional subject association as a volunteer and found even more cheerful willingness there. I got involved with my Union. The wider I set my gaze, the more possibilities arose, and the more mentors I found.

So now that I’ve shared with you my rocky start as a teacher (and believe me, there are many more stories to be told), send me some of yours. We might use your story to help us shape new PD courses we write, for publication or for the Securing our Future Conference (21-22 May 2015).

If you’re interested in volunteering, fill in an expression of interest form on www.ieu.asn.au to become a member of the new Early Career Teachers Committee for 2015. Just send me your details and stories: amy@ieu.asn.au

Olivia goes from bikes to BOSTES “Professional male cyclists have a minimum wage while women do not.”

Sue Osborne Journalist Having experienced the heady heights of Olympic and Commonwealth Games competition, English teacher Olivia Gollan is ready to face the challenges of a BOSTES curriculum committee.

Although she qualified as an English teacher many years ago, Olivia is a relative newcomer to the profession, with only six years experience. Nevertheless, IEU Assistant Secretary Mark Northam thought the St Francis Xavier's Hamilton teacher would be perfect to represent the IEU on the BOSTES committee examining the implementation on the new English curriculum.

“Mark approached me to do it as he thought I would have fresh ideas, being new to teaching, and because I work in a senior college,” Olivia said.

“Also I think he believed my other life experiences would stand me in good stead.”

Her ‘other life experiences’ include eight years as a professional cyclist in Europe, placing 12th out of 67 riders competing in the road race at the 2004 Athens Olympics and competing in six world championships.

She was also the World President of the Professional Cycling Association from 2005 to 2007, and it was her role to advocate for women cyclists, mainly on safety issues.

“There’s not a lot of money in women’s cycling and race organisers make all sorts of compromises around safety, the

grounds and the prize money, which is much less than men’s.

“Professional male cyclists have a minimum wage while women do not. So I was trying to advocate around issues like that and be a full-time professional athlete at the same time.”

Having experienced advocacy on the world stage, joining the IEU was automatic for Olivia and she has no qualms about her role representing teachers.

“My job is to make sure that at committee level we meet needs of students, but there is also awareness of workloads and workplace fairness.

“In English there are whole new areas of study and new texts being introduced for Year 12 and this means more work.

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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“Without union representation on the committee, teachers’ voices would not be as loud.”

Her previous experience allows her to “be vocal in a group” and stand up for the rights of others, Olivia said.

“As a professional athlete you do live in a bubble where it becomes all about you and a bit narcissistic.

“I saw teaching as a way of using my life experience to give something back to others.”

www.ieu.asn.au on the ground

Walking the talk

Sharing a passion for all things green

“At 8.30 we started heading out across the street. There was a belief that there was some symbolism in actually walking off the job.”

Teachers from all sectors came out to share their strategies of addressing environmental sustainability and practice in their schools when the IEU hosted a TeachMeet on Environmental Sustainability at Newcastle on 24 November.

This was the second TeachMeet hosted by the IEU, and Newcastle Union members were excited to share.

TeachMeets are a series of presentations run by the participants of the event. Speaking for two or seven minutes, the participants outlined their programs at the school.

Afterwards, there was opportunity for participants to further network and discuss their initiatives.

The subjects of the presentation varied from chooks, rubbish, endangered species, watching plants grow, green days to creek regeneration. It was exciting to see such a breadth of interest and passion for the environment.

In 2015 Lismore will host its first ever TeachMeet.

Environmental Sustainability TeachMeets are part of the IEU’s Environment Committee’s program. For more information about joining the program, contact IEU Deputy Secretary Gloria Taylor: gloria@ieu.asn.au.

New service to members: Accreditation at Proficient workshops

Sue Osborne Journalist Marist College North Shore and St Mary’s Primary North Sydney IEU members made their feeling clear with a strong show of unity during the recent stop work by Catholic staff.

More than 40 members made up of a contingent from both schools gathered at St Leonard’s Park in North Sydney during the 8.30-9.30am stop work.

Marist IEU Rep John Bullivant said he comes from a traditional union background and his understanding of a stop work is to actually walk off the job.

“At 8.30 we started heading out across the street.

There was a belief that there was some symbolism in actually walking off the job. Some informative emails had been sent to staff but there had been little discussion, so when we saw we had the majority of our members gathered in the park, it was a terrific show,” John said.

“Some of the boys were just arriving at school as we were walking through the playground, and they would have seen us gathering in the park, sending a strong message.”

John said the group felt the stop work was necessary.

“This is a group that’s very loyal to the school, some have worked there for a long time. Many of the staff give up some weekends to stage the school musical.

“But they also feel very insulted by the offer the Catholic employers have made and obviously feel strongly enough to take action.

“We are democratic in our Chapter. People make up their own minds, so seeing them walking across to the park was great.’’

Marist Administrator for the Director of Teaching and Learning Joyce Kelly joined the group for her first taste of industrial action.

Relatively new to the Union, Joyce felt she wanted to show solidary with the rest of the staff.

“As a support staff member being told that the CEO thought we were being paid too much made me feel like we were not valued.

“With teachers we work towards the same goal of keeping the school going as well as possible and we should be valued.”

Joyce said meeting IEU Organiser Ann-Maree McEwan in the park was an eye opener.

John and Joyce both said they would be prepared to keep up the fight indefinitely.

In response to increasing queries from members about accreditation at Proficient level, the IEU is launching an event specifically designed to help. The workshop will be trialled in the Sydney office in 2015.

Casuals and teachers without mentors/supervisors will be able to come to the Union-run workshops to find out about accreditation. The workshop is specifically for provisionally or conditionally accredited teachers.

The presenters will be Liz Finlay, IEU’s Accreditation Officer, and Professional Development Officer Amy Cotton.

Both have years of experience of working with accreditation issues and evidence. They have a no-nonsense, practical way of addressing accreditation requirements.

Participants are encouraged to bring in their evidence and there will be plenty of time to start annotating it on the day.

Working alone or in small groups, the participants will be able to workshop their ideas and check their understanding as they go.

The Union sees this as a way of helping members who ordinarily wouldn’t have access to information or mentoring on accreditation processes.

The workshops will be held in the Ultimo IEU office. They are in the school holidays so that casuals will be able to attend without skipping a potential day of work.

The initial dates for 2015 are: 15 April 29 June 22 September Please go to www.ieu.asn.au for more information or to register. newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au feature

Scenes from stop work Photos supplied by our members show stop work gatherings at the following schools: All Saints College Liverpool, John Paul College Coff’s Harbour, Holy Spirit Lavington, Assumption College Bathurst, St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove, Our Lady of Fatima Caringbah, Holy Spirit Bellambi, Marian College Kenthurst, St Michael’s Nowra, St Patrick’s Sutherland, Bethany College Hurstville and St Mary’s Gateshead.

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www.ieu.asn.au national conference

Photos supplied by our members show stop work gatherings at the following schools: MacKillop’s College Bathurst, St Brigid’s, Marrickville, St Christopher’s Panania, St Francis Xavier's Hamilton, St Joseph’s Merewether, St Patrick’s Lithgow and St Luke’s Revesby. newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au overview

Photos supplied by our members show stop work gatherings at the following schools: Mt Carmel Yass, Rosary Watson, St Bernard’s Batehaven, St Clare’s of Assisi Condor, St Francis of Assisi Calwell, St Gregory’s Queanbeyan, St John the Apostle Florey, St Jude’s Holder, St Mary’s Young, St Michael’s Kaleen, St Monica’s Evatt, St Patrick’s Bega.

Have you changed contact details?

Let us know and be in the draw to win a tablet or a sound dock.

Updating your contact details TODAY to be in to win

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You can submit your change of contact details: • via IEU website www.ieu.asn.au using your login • by completing the change of details section on the wrapper that comes with your December Newsmonth, or • by email from 2 December to 28 February.

Act now to be in the running for these great prizes.

www.ieu.asn.au overview

Doing what’s best for teachers Sue Osborne Journalist Putting teachers first has been a driving motivation throughout the career of retiring Board of Studies (now BOSTES) Chief Executive Carol Taylor.

The daughter of unskilled English migrants, Carol is grateful that she received a scholarship to attend Sydney University in the ‘70s to study teaching.

“My mother reports that the first day I went to school I came home and said I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve never wavered from that.”

When she started teaching in 1976 the profession didn’t disappoint. So 12 years later when she was offered a full-time position at the Board of Studies, it was a difficult decision to leave teaching behind.

“I could see there was an opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale,” Carol said.

“I found the Board’s tremendous focus on kids and teachers and what is best for them aligned closely with my values.”

Initially employed to develop the English test in the School Certificate, Carol’s role evolved until she was responsible for 3000 markers at HSC marking centres.

“I have always called myself a teacher and put teachers’ needs first. With marking I could understand the power of the professional learning that marking provides.”

Carol concedes that the move to external onscreen marking has pros and cons.

“I can understand that teachers regret the loss of the camaraderie and collegiality of the marking hall.

“However, onscreen marking gives rural and regional teachers the opportunity to get involved.

“It removes the stress of having to rush from school through traffic to get to the marking centre, and it allows

carers of young children who can’t give up weekends and evenings to mark.”

Her expanding role awakened a passion for assessment and testing that the English teacher had no idea she possessed, and she went on to do a masters degree in educational measurement and psychometric testing.

“I did not realise how knowledgeable you have to be to create good testing that is fair and deeply engaged with the curriculum.”

She became the head of HSC assessment and eventually the Chief Executive of the Board of Studies, which was recently merged with the Institute of Teachers to become the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES).

Carol is proud of the fact that the Board has always been a collaborative organisation under her leadership.

“Concerns need to be raised but I do get distressed at the way some parents now treat teachers.”

“One of the great strengths of this organisation is its relationship with all of the people who contribute to education and certainly in my five years as Chief Executive it has been my focus to create strong partnerships based on mutual respect and understanding.

“It’s been a privilege to work with so many groups including the IEU. People like Sandra White, John Quessy, Mark Northam and and Larry Grumley have been an absolute delight.

“They’ve got aims and agendas and sometime we might be at odds but there’s never been an issue we haven’t been able to thrash out across the table.

In the later part of her career, Carol worked on the

development of the State Government’s education blueprint, Great Teaching, Inspired Learning, which she says has teaching standards, teacher accreditation and registration at its heart.

“Getting agreed standards is important for the profession. When I was a young teacher I was treated with respect by the community and teaching was seen as an important and valued role.

“I believe the status of teachers is often under threat.

“Both BOSTES and teachers themselves benefit and welcome comments from parents, be that formal or informally. Concerns need to be raised but I do get distressed at the way some parents now treat teachers.

They would not speak like that or expect such immediate access to their lawyer, doctor, dentist or accountant, so teachers should be treated the same way as other professionals.

“If there’s a standard that says ‘I’m a professional’ and sets teachers apart for the highly skilled work that they do then I’m for it.

“Accreditation standards have to be developed carefully and collegially, and BOSTES has a reputation for working with people to gain the best results we can.

“I’m confident BOSTES will continue to operate that way in the future.”

While Carol will continue to work on an independent committee overseeing the HSC, she is looking forward to visiting family in the UK, her daughter in France and spending time with her 18-month-old granddaughter.

“I’m still passionate about education and I’ll look for ways to continue to contribute.”

Join the conversation facebook.com/ieunswact

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newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au overview

Labour bites

Selfish to refuse a wage freeze Tasmania’s Treasurer is labeling unions “selfish” for deciding to walk off the job in an action that will inconvenience parents, school children and people on hospital waiting lists.

Unions are flagging the biggest campaign of industrial action in years to protest against Treasurer Peter Gutwein’s budget savings measures which include a 12-month pay freeze in exchange for a non-binding promise not to cut an extra 300 jobs.

Union leaders intend to ignore the Treasurer’s ultimatum. (Source: ABC)

though jobs tops the agenda and other centre-right leaders have met them.

Unions from across the G20 are trying to get a commitment to improving working conditions and increasing wages included in the summit final communiqué. The 20 member countries, which account for nearly 86% of the world’s economy, are supposed to be considering targets set in the communiqué as part of their policy plans over the next year.

Mr Cameron, however, joined King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto and President Joko Widodo of Indonesia in not talking to the unions either before, or during, the summit.

By contrast, Chancellor Angela Merkel offered union leaders breakfast yesterday morning, to discuss their ideas, and President Vladimir Putin met the leaders in the afternoon. France, China, Brazil, and Argentina have also found time for the union representatives. (Source: The Independent)

Robbed of a dream The Sensory Impaired Program (SIP) which provides specialised teacher support for hearing and vision impaired students in primary and secondary Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic schools ends this term.

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.

In the lead up to Christmas the CEO is providing no gifts but in fact support is being taken away.

The following letter from a SIP Teacher shows the human impact of this: “We have a student who is undergoing surgery any day now and may lose the sight in his remaining eye. He has tactile dysfunction and his main input will be through Braille. He loves technology.

“His mum asked us if we could tell him about next year as she didn’t have the heart, given what’s going on. So we promised we would tell him today.

“As I told him what was happening to the service the tears were rolling down his face.

He said: “It’s OK Miss” and “I had a dream, Miss, and it has just been taken away. Why are they doing it”?

“When I said that the teachers will help him he just looked my direction and said: “What’s the point”?

“At this point I went and dragged the Leader of Learning out of a meeting as I felt that they needed to see the depth of despair this student was in.

“She arranged for the school counsellor to see him.

This is my reality of our situation. I feel beaten. This is hard. . .”

The IEU Council unanimously passed the following motion at the AGM on 18 October: “IEU Council rejects the Sydney CEO’s decision to remove specialist itinerant vision and hearing impairment teachers from its schools.

This decision will adversely impact on the employment choices of the teachers concerned; the students and their parents, and their school communities.”

The Bethlehem Ashfield Chapter passed a motion in support for the Sensory Impaired Program members during their stop work on November 10.

In 2014 SIP vision and hearing teachers and assistants have worked with students, teachers, principals and families in 24 Sydney CEO schools. They will be missed.

Children benefit from trickle down effect RAAF wife slams government pay offer The wife of a serving RAAF member about to be deployed to Iraq has lashed the Federal Government’s “insulting and non-consultative” pay offer and cuts to allowances.

An Adelaide based defence force wife whose husband is due to deploy to the Middle East next week and who will miss out on Christmas with his family, said she had chosen to speak out because: “Defence is not like the public service. Defence Force members can’t strike, they can’t speak out”.

She told the media her husband would lose his Members with Dependents food allowance under the proposed pay offer, which is worth $4905 annually.

At the same, her husband will receive a pay rise of just $1280 annually in line with the below inflation 1.5% offer – leaving her and her family $3625 worse off each year. She added that she had been “lectured” by a staffer when she rang the office of Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert about Labor’s legacy of debt before being told the Minister was “too busy to ring someone like me back”. (Source: Fairfax Media)

Who snubbed the Unions?

The British Prime Minister David Cameron snubbed international trade unions at the G20 summit – even

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Ticket sellers out earn performers The Royal Opera House was at the centre of a pay storm recently after it was claimed that professional dancers were being paid just £9.14 an hour during rehearsals. In a website statement, since taken down, the Equity freelance dance network said dancers were being offered less than the £10.70 an hour that a box office sales assistant might get. (Source: The Guardian) This month in labour history • 1-11-1835 Philadelphia has the first general strike in US history.

• 29-11-1849 Chartist leader William Cuffay arrives in Australia, having been transported from Britain after his treason trial.

• 22-11-1900 2800 workers at the Penrhyn quarry in Wales, walk off the job over pay and union recognition. The strike last a staggering three years.

• 19-11-1915 Joe Hill, a Swedish American organiser for the Industrial Workers of the World, is framed and executed for murder in Utah.

• 1-11-1923 Police in Melbourne strike against the use of labour spies.

Putting in place the means to help children develop successfully in early childhood “comes from the top down”, student Natalie Hanlon said.

Natalie has just completed a onesemester internship with the IEU, and is close to completing her early childhood education degree at the University of Western Sydney.

During her time with the IEU Natalie, 20, has explored ways in which the Union can communicate with the early childhood sector, and she has developed a poster, Facebook page and a series of leaflets about the Union in several languages, including Chinese and Japanese.

Natalie has completed two placements at a long day care centre in Penrith, but for her

final internship she wanted to do something different and the IEU “looked interesting”.

“The main thing I’ve learnt is that unions are really important in providing professional support which ultimately impacts on centres and the children in those centres,” Natalie said.

“You need something that starts from the top and works its way down to the children.”

Natalie said she has always wanted to work with young children since she was a young child herself, because “you can make a really big impact on their lives”.

She is looking forward to “hands-on” involvement with children after graduation next year.

Natalie is the third UWS student to do an internship with the IEU.

www.ieu.asn.au feature

Historic moment for support staff

Support staff participation in protected action ballots was just one of the issues analysed at the recent IEU School Support Staff Advisory Committee.

Planning for the 2015 Support Staff Conference was also initiated. IEU President Chris Wilkinson was able to join the Committee as they worked through the packed agenda.

Other issues discussed included the current industrial campaigns, briefings

on enterprise agreement negotiations, investigating communications strategies and training opportunities.

Industrial Officer Iain Bailey provided a comprehensive update on the enterprise agreement negotiations across all sectors.

There was a lot of discussion around the agreements, with close consideration given to the proposed changes to the classifications and structures in the draft Catholic diocesan schools enterprise agreement.

The Committee undertook a review of statistics and other material on the participation of support staff members in the protected action ballots and other actions during the industrial campaign in the Catholic diocesan schools.

Given that support staff in Catholic schools have never previously taken industrial action, IEU Vice President Carolyn Collins described their action as “historic” and highlighted the significance for all Union members.

The Committee was also able to meet Bronwyn Ridgway, the IEU’s new head of communications publications and media, to discuss new approaches and strategies for representing and engaging with support staff members.

Professional Development Officer Amy Cotton presented the IEU’s 2015 training agenda to the Committee. Pedagogy in the Pub and forthcoming TeachMeets relevant to support staff were identified.

Farewell exchange teachers Farewell to our Year 2014 visiting exchange teachers. We hope that your experience has been a rewarding one and that you take home many memories from your exchange experience so that others may benefit from your time here.

Please try and become involved in your local exchange leagues. Those who attended exchange weekends, dinners and walks organised by the NSW ETL would realise how hard the regional reps and central committee work for the good of the exchange program.

Farewell to our outgoing Year 2015 exchange teachers. You are off to some exciting (yet cold) destinations: Alberta, Ontario, BC, Colorado, Chicago and England. You and your families will have a wonderful year. You will continue to receive the Union’s publications whilst on exchange to keep abreast with all the news!

We are now accepting applications for 2016 – for ALL provinces in Canada, the UK, Colorado and other states in the US by negotiation, and International schools in Europe.

For those of you who missed out on a match for next year, you will be our priority for the next round of matching, so please think seriously about reactivating your applications! Most who miss out the first time, do not miss out the second time!

So if you want to experience one or two winter festive seasons (you may also apply for a mid year exchange), Thanksgiving and Halloween celebrations, download an application from the IEU website (www. ieu.asn.au and click on teacher exchange); there is also an exchange video on the

website (on the video section on the IEU’s homepage). You could also call Helen Gregory on 8202 8900 or 1800 467 943 or email a brief profile to helen@ieu.asn.au This could be you in 2016: Back in the swing of things for Semester 2 and really enjoying this semester at school, now that I know how everything operates and all the staff and students see me as a familiar face. Both students and staff have been so friendly and have been really interested in Australian stories and the whole exchange experience. We can't believe how quickly the past three months have gone by. We are trying to book in as much as possible over the next two months before we head back home.

We spent our summer holidays travelling in an RV through the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Calgary (Alberta) to Vancouver (in British Colombia). We then went on a 10 day sail through the Caribbean on a tall (pirate) ship and then spent the last week with some of our Canadian friends in the beautiful 'cottage country', in the Lakes District of Ontario.

Recently, we have enjoyed Thanksgiving with our new Canadian family, Halloween festivities with friends and look forward to our first ‘White Christmas’. The colours of autumn (fall) have been amazing, and now the weather has turned and the snow is starting to fall again.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. We have made some wonderful friends over here, both Canadians and fellow Australian exchange teachers, and it will be 'bitter sweet' saying goodbye to them all in the next few months.

Halloween hoot

vans niel De t om Da ging from S fr rd a Postc ily, exchan arie to St u m and fa , Port Macq ve, Alberta. ’s Joseph , Spruce Gro ’s Joseph

Just celebrated Halloween Friday gone. What a hoot. The kids had a ball but I think Tanya enjoyed it more. The whole school dressed up for the day and then that evening the kids hit the street. One of their friends weighed their bounty – 18lbs of goodies. I won’t have to buy lollies for a while. Thomas and Amber have started playing ice hockey after school on Tuesdays. They love it.

Went out last week late one night and viewed the Northern Lights. Awesome.

Things are still going great but we are starting to feel sad about having to leave.

I would love to stay longer. We are all in a good place in our lives socially and workwise at the moment. newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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What a year that was Chris Wilkinson President Here we are at the end of another year, and what a year it has been. Who would have thought we would still be trying to settle agreements in many sectors of our membership.

Thank you to all members who have shown their support and joined in rallies, attended meetings, worn badges, red shirts and attended stop work meetings to show their frustration and disapproval at the lack of commitment and understanding shown by the employers.

It would have been good to end the year knowing that the agreements were settled, starting the New Year on a good note.

But that was not to be. The Union will continue to negotiate to get the best outcome for all.

I would like to mention two very special people that I have had the pleasure to work with over several years: Cheryl Baxter and Kevin Phillips, who are both retiring at the end of the year.

Cheryl has worked in the IEU’s Accounts Department for many years and has been an absolute gem. She has done a superb

job keeping everyone honest and making sure that all receipts and claims meet the guidelines set out by the Union.

No one was game to argue with Cheryl because she was always right. I have enjoyed my friendly chats, travel talks, sharing photos and her friendship. She will leave big shoes to fill. I wish her a wonderful retirement doing the things that she has planned: voluntary work, gardening and just enjoying her retirement time. You will be missed Cheryl.

Kevin Phillips who has been around since the year dot. Kevin has been a longtime member of the Union for many years, has held many positions from Chapter Rep, Branch President, Council Delegate and Member of the Executive. He has also served as a trustee on the NGS Superannuation Board and also served as a delegate at the Newcastle Trades Hall.

Over the past two year Kevin has been an IEU Officer at the Newcastle office.

Kevin knew the constitution off by heart and could recite sections of it at the drop of a hat. Kevin you too will be sadly missed and I would personally like to thank you for your dedication, friendship, and the way you served the Union over many years To everyone else, I wish you all a very happy Christmas, a great New Year and a restful and well-deserved holiday.

Thank you all for your continued support throughout the year. I look forward to working with you again next year.

Make a submission and protect your sector

Gabrielle Connell Vice President Early Childhood A Review of the National Quality Framework (NQF) for Early Childhood Education and Care Services is being undertaken by the Australian Government and all state and territory governments in 2014 to ensure the goal of improving quality in education and care services is being met in the most efficient and effective way.

The Review aims to identify what is working well, areas for improvement and any unintended consequences that resulted from implementation of the NQF. The consultation regulation impact statement is now available.

The first stage of the 2014 Review was a public consultation process.

The next stage of the 2014 Review involves public consultation on proposed options for changes to the NQF. These are set out in the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS), which was released last month.

Some of the proposals to the NQF that are being canvassed through the RIS are as follows: • reduction of ‘the complexity’ of the NQF • streamlining of the assessment and ratings process • either amending Regulation 74 so that services for children over preschool age must keep documentation about development of the program, rather than about individual children’s development 16

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• removal of the Significant Improvement Required rating • removal of the overall rating and rely on the seven quality area ratings to indicate service quality • removal of Supervisor certificates all together • if the out of scope services are bought into scope – assess and rate as per other services or do compliance monitoring only • making all educators liable for not adequately supervising children under their care or not taking every reasonable precaution to protect the children from harm or hazard that is likely to cause injury – currently this liability only applies to approved providers, nominated supervisors and FDC Educators • all Nominated Supervisors and responsible people to have child protection training • giving services three months to replace a teacher after resignation (except in NSW), and • amending guidance on educator breaks to make clear that service providers must comply with their legal obligations and must meet prescribed ratio requirements at all times.

Public consultation sessions are to be held in each state and territory on the NQF Consultation Regulation Impact Statement.

It is an opportunity for interested parties to provide feedback on the proposed options for changes to the NQF and how it affects the sector, families and community.

Written response will be accepted until 16 January. It is important that all service types respond to this in order to protect the gains made in the early childhood sector. We do not want to see these sorts of things watered down.

A chance to listen and learn Pam Smith Principals Organiser The Term 4 IEU Principals’ Branch meeting on 1 November was an opportunity to thank Branch members for their contribution to the Union during the year and to say some farewell to principals moving on to another stage of their personal and professional journey.

These included: Jenni Payne (Sydney Archdiocese Eastern Region) on Long Service Leave pending retirement Doug Garnett moving from the Armidale Diocese to the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese Peter Webster moving from the CanberraGoulburn Archiocese to the Parramatta Diocese Peter Murphy ‘travelling north’ from the Lismore Diocese to Queensland, and Pauline Walkom on secondment from her school in Dubbo to a role with Bathurst CEO’s Dubbo office.

Special appreciation is extended to Sidonie Coffey, Peter Galvin, Des Fox and Jude Ryan for their leadership roles in Principals’ Branch and to Lou Single and Louise O’Sullivan for their representation of principals at IEU Council.

Regional principals’ gatherings are valuable occasions for the IEU to listen to the issues and concerns of principals in these areas. The IEU has appreciated the opportunity to participate in principals’ gatherings in Forbes on 27 October, in Mulwala in the Wagga Wagga Diocese on 29 October and with Broken Bay principals on 30 October. Further Term 4 meetings included ACT primary principals on 20 November, Armidale

Diocese principals on 21 November and in Wollongong coming up on 11 December.

At the 1 November Branch meeting, IEU Professional Development Officer Amy Cotton provided an update on the NSW Teacher Accreditation legislation and the implications for principals and teachers.

The IEU will provide further details as they become available from BOSTES. Amy also emphasised the IEU’s support for the maintenance of accreditations via PIPs and also the Union’s engagement with the Teacher Learning Network.

In the Catholic systemic sector, the Union acknowledges the challenges faced by principals during the current enterprise agreement (EA) dispute and thanks them for their great support for their colleagues. With regard to progressing an EA for principals, the IEU met with CCER on 24 October and 11 November.

While significant aspects of the principals’ EA (such as leave provisions) probably can’t be concluded until the teacher and support staff agreement is finalised, the 24 October meeting was useful in raising Catholic employer awareness of current and emerging issues facing principals, including the needs of principals in rural and regional areas.

In the independent schools sector, there was an overall strong ‘yes’ vote for the multi-enterprise agreement and the IEU will follow up with those schools which voted ‘no’ to seek to progress the best possible outcome. Negotiations have been continuing for EAs in the Christian and Adventist sectors. An IEU teleconference for independent school principals was held on 16 October.

The IEU encourages principal member to engage with the Union via regional events in metropolitan and rural areas, via Principals’ Branch and IEU Council.

The 2015 Principals’ Branch AGM is scheduled for 14 February, with other proposed dates being 2 May, 1 August and 7 November. These will be confirmed at the AGM.

Join the online conversation Join the IEU social group & keep up to date with us... www.facebook.com/ieunswact twitter.com/#!/IEUNSWACT

www.ieu.asn.au overview

Passionate advocate joins executive

Getting organised Supporting members during a bargaining campaign is the main priority of our Union and ensuring IEU organisers have current skills and knowledge is essential to the process.

On 7 November, the IEU Organising Campaigning Committee conducted a workshop for organisers from each IEU branch across the country. The workshop focused on the current bargaining campaigns nationally and highlighted the challenges and strategies of organising during bargaining.

Organisers shared resources and success stories arising as well as highlighting concerns and challenges.

NSW/ACT Industrial Officer Robert Seals conducted a session on the current legislation, which underpins collective bargaining and provides for protected industrial action. The session gave organisers a sound knowledge base.

Organisers discussed the importance of close communication and support for the Chapter Reps and IEU members in schools.

“The work and actions of our Chapter Reps and Chapter members are vital to the success of any bargaining campaign,” NSW/ACT IEU Assistant Secretary Liam Griffiths said.

“Organisers know how essential it is that our Chapter Reps are supported with regular organising visits, upto-date information, advice and resources so that they understand the status and progress of the campaign and feel confident to take action,” Liam said.

Allaying fears and addressing concerns during bargaining campaigns are the major communication tasks for IEU organisers and the workshop provided an opportunity for organisers to refresh and strengthen their communication skills while working with their colleagues from other branches.

Bringing organisers together from all IEU Branches to learn from each other and share experiences is important to the ongoing development of an organisers’ knowledge and skills and a further workshop will be planned by the committee for 2015.

Sue Osborne Journalist Anyone who attended the IEU’s Parramatta 3Rs rally or the recent AGM would have been impressed by the passion displayed by speaker Tina Ruello.

The Catherine McAuley Westmead English teacher has just been elected to the Union’s executive after years serving as a Rep at her school, and as Cumberland Branch Deputy President.

As soon as she started her teaching career with the Parramatta Diocese 26 years ago, Tina joined what was then the ITA. “It was because of family that I joined up straight away. My mother and father were factory workers and as a child I saw how an unsympathetic employer could affect a family,” Tina said.

“When I first started teaching my dad said to me ‘the first thing you do is join the union’.”

While Tina has seen a lot of industrial changes during her 23 years at Catherine McAuley, the current dispute with Catholic employers has left her most upset.

“We feel like worker bees in a system that rejects our professionalism.

“I want to fight for the fact we are professionals and we want a professional dialogue with our employers.

“I see it as my role to remind people to stick together and fight to be treated as professionals, not become complacent.”

Tina said she was honoured and humbled to be elected to the Executive during the Union’s AGM meeting.

“I really admire the executive and what they do. I’ll be watching and listening a lot. I’m going in with a fresh approach and an open mind and I’m excited to be part of it and learn new ways to help the members.”

Quiet commitment right from the start Vale Gayle Anderson I started teaching at Mount St Patrick Regional High School Murwillumbah in 1976. We have since become a Year 7-12 College. Gayle Anderson joined the staff the same year. At that time we were a Year 7 to 10 high school, drawing on the surrounding area for students.

Our Union then called the Independent Teachers Association (ITA), was in its infancy having only been founded some four years earlier in 1972.

In 1976 the General Secretary was John Nicholson who was succeeded mid-1977 by Michael Raper.

Michael is currently Director of Services and International Operations of the Red Cross. Our staff was not large and ITA membership was not widespread in the Lismore Catholic Diocese. Consequently I was unaware

that anyone else on staff was a member of the union.

In those early days Michael Raper was making visits to touch base with ITA members. It took some negotiation for him to gain permission to do this on the school site.

When the meeting with Michael occurred three of us on staff were pleasantly surprised to see that there were other members. Gayle Anderson, Craig Bryant (since found an alternative career) and myself were those three people. The organisation wasn’t exactly clandestine but it certainly did not have a high profile.

Gayle was a union member from the beginning of her career to the end which sadly occurred this year when she passed away while still employed at Mount St Patrick College. Gayle was always a committed teacher of great dedication, who was much loved

by those she taught and those she taught with.

Membership of the Union was a constant for her over this time. She believed very much in the values of justice and the support for teachers that the IEU provided. Gayle could not be described as militant or outspoken but was very committed in her own quiet way and very strong in her ideals. We have lost a respected colleague, friend and valued member of the IEU. Greg Culnane Mount St Patrick College, Murwillumbah

newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au exchange

Union activists in the making?

St Mary’s Scone IEU Rep Mary-Jean Cooper and her partner St Joseph’s Aberdeen IEU Rep Vinnie Cooper have just welcomed a new addition, Archie, to their family.

This is the couple’s fourth child, their other children are Aiden, Cecilia and Lydia.

Mary-Jean said union matters are a favourite topic of conversation across the

dinner table, and their offspring might well be the activists of the future.

Mary-Jean and Vinnie both inherited their long-term interest in unionism from their families.

The couple share a position on IEU Council and regularly drive two hours each way to attend branch meetings.

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

IEU mugshots 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.

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newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

Stalwarts relinquish roles after tremendous contribution IEU stalwarts Helen Spry and Kevin Phillips are both former Trustee Directors of NGS. Kevin relinquished that role two years ago when he became a Union Officer and Helen recently retired as an Alternate Trustee Director.

Both were thanked for their tremendous and selfless service to the Union, its members and NGS Super by the AGM in October.

www.ieu.asn.au contacts

Adequacy, sustainability and integrity

Bernard O’Connor NGS Super What constitutes the best of the best in pension systems around the world? The Mercer Global Pension Index considers adequacy, sustainability and integrity to be the three most important factors when rating a nation’s pension plan. Clearly the plan must be adequate for the needs of the pensioners; the plan must be sustainable over the long term; and it must be sound and able to withstand the storms and vicissitudes of financial markets. The annual pension index used these three criteria to rate national pension or savings plans of developed and emerging economies.

This year Australia’s score improved slightly taking it to second place among the 25 countries included in the survey, which is a very strong result. However, it should be noted that the improvement in rankings was based in part on the gradual increase of compulsory employer contributions to 12%, which has been postponed by the current government.

This boost would have contributed greatly to the ‘adequacy’ element used to rank national pension systems. Unfortunately, many workers will now retire poorer due to this postponement. Still, on the global stage Australia should be proud of its achievement of a highly regulated, funded superannuation system which increasingly will become a cornerstone of the Australian economy.

And why are adequacy, sustainability and integrity so important? David Anderson, Managing Director and Pacific Market Leader at Mercer*, provides some interesting statistics to consider: • 50% of retiring white-collar male workers are likely to live to 88 years and 20% are expected to live to 94, and • 50% of retiring female white-collar workers are likely to live to 91 years with 20% likely to live to 96.

He describes the increased longevity phenomenon as “the perfect storm”

because as the ageing population grows, the smaller tax base will have difficulty supporting it. Add government reductions to the age pension and the “perfect storm” metaphor begins to take shape.

The magic age of 65 for retirement was introduced by Germany in the early 20th century after having initially been set at 70

by Chancellor Otto von Bismark. America followed suit in 1935 with the introduction of its social security system. Of course at the time of the introduction of these benefits, life expectancy was much lower than 65 so social security payments did not apply to the bulk of the population who would never reach the magic age.

With the increase in longevity, however, we can see that retirees will have to be prepared for a much longer ‘golden years’ period that they will have to fund themselves. In many cases this will be 20 or 30 years. So far the world-class Australian pension system has worked well for the accumulation of superannuation phase, but given the extended drawing– down period, more work will have to be done for the retirement phase. A government-backed annuity system which would ensure a lifetime income stream would be a good start, but it would take a far-sighted government to implement such a change. Adequacy of retirement savings is an issue which all members need to consider for a dignified and comfortable retirement period.

On behalf of the NGS Super Trustee, Management and Staff, we would like to wish all IEU members a very happy, safe and restful holiday period. *Mercer Global Pension Index taken from Dr David Knox’s article, Second Place, Superfunds magazine, November 2014 David Anderson, The Perfect Longevity Storm, Superfunds magazine, November 2014

(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 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 Journalist: 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 www.ieu.asn.au facebook.com/ieunswact twitter.com/#!/IEUNSWACT PRINT & MAIL PTY LTD 23 - 25 Meeks Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204 PO Box 6132, Marrickville South NSW 2204 P.02 9519 8268 F.02 9519 8264 M. 0412237233

Advertising inquiries Chris Ruddle on 8202 8900. Such advertising is carried out to offset production costs to members and at commercial rates. It does not in any way reflect endorsement by the NSW/ACT IEU. Join the conversation facebook.com/ieunswact

twitter.com/#!/IEUNSWACT

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

Our locations

Sydney 485-501 Wattle Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 (02) 8202 8900 Parramatta 12-14 Wentworth Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 (02) 8202 8900 Newcastle 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle East NSW 2302 (02) 4926 9400 Lismore 4 Carrington Street, Lismore NSW 2480 (02) 6623 4700 ACT Unit 8, 40 Brisbane Avenue, Barton ACT 2600 (02) 6120 1500 newsmonth - Vol 34 #8 2014

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www.ieu.asn.au giveaways

Rejuvency Body Health

Experience the Ayurveda Difference Author Suzanne Derok Self-published

Anzac Ted

Author and Illustrator: Belinda Landsberry Publisher: Exisle Publishing Three copies to give away

Three copies to give away

Anzac Ted is the heart-warming tale of a teddy bear who goes to war. Told through the eyes of a young boy, this is the story about his unconditional love for his bear who was passed down to him from his grandfather. At the outbreak of World War I, Anzac Ted finds himself heading into battle for luck. But he soon becomes a symbol of comfort, hope and the memory of home for the Anzacs, and returns from war an unsung hero. Decades later Anzac Ted doesn’t attract a single vote at the school’s Toy Show — yet this worn and battered old bear has a powerful and moving legacy to bestow. More details and teachers’ notes on this book are available at www.anzacted.com. Newsmonth readers can get a 20% discount by entering the coupon code ‘IEU’ at the checkout if they buy the book online.

In today’s busy world of endless distractions, a constant pressure to achieve can result in burnout.

Mooloolaba businesswoman Suzanne Derok knows all too well the stress of all the pressure.

The former managing director of a consulting company in Sydney left the big smoke in search of better health and a more balanced lifestyle. She said while there was nothing wrong with setting goals, it did stress people out and affected all areas of their lives.

Ms Derok has just released her first self-published book, Rejuvency BodyHealth, which uses the principles of the ancient Indian health practice, Ayurveda.

Thought to be more than 4000 years old, Ayurveda consists of several health disciplines including diet, herbal medicine, yoga, massage, meditation and balancing of energies.

Family Time Jay Laga’aia ABC Music

Three CDs to give away

Family Time is a fun new children’s album from Jay Laga’aia featuring duets and backing vocals by his own daughters Georgia Rose, Katie and Bella. It’s a musical reflection of childhood, featuring songs such as Never Smile at a Crocodile, How Much is that Doggy in the Window, The Lion Sleeps Tonight and many others.

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 12 December.

FEELING GOOD IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE. NOT JUST THE ONE IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. We believe that doing well is also about doing good. So while we are proud of our track record as a high performing, low cost industry super fund, we know that’s not all you care about.

You could say we’ve learnt from our 105,000 members who have dedicated their lives to helping the community. We’re dedicated to educating our members every step of the way.

We’re invested in being more responsible corporate citizens committed to helping the community and the environment.

Of course being an industry super fund means we’re run only to benefit members, and pay no commissions to financial advisors.

Profits certainly won’t end up in shareholder pockets. We want you to enjoy your wealth. In every sense of the word.

For more information visit ngssuper.com.au or call 1300 133 177.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Issued by NGS Super Pty Limited ABN 46 003 491 487 AFSL No 233 154 the Trustee of NGS Super ABN 73 549 180 515

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