Authorised by Mary Franklyn, General Secretary, The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A., 1 West Street, West Perth WA. Printed by Vanguard Press, 26 John Street, Northbridge WA. December 2024.
Cover: When you speak with your MP this festive season, ask for gifts that last a lifetime: Smaller class sizes and 100 per cent full funding for public schools. Read more on page 4.
To access the digital copy of Western Teacher, visit: sstuwa.org.au/westernteacher
Acknowledgement of Country: We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and future – and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia. We stand in solidarity.
Artwork: This design was created for the SSTUWA by Tyrown Waigana, a Wandandi Noongar and Ait Koedal artist/designer and former WA public school student. Read more about the artist and the artwork at sstuwa.org.au/connections
President’s address to November State Council
By Matt Jarman President
In this final edition of Western Teacher for the year, I want to thank all of our members for your support during a year of extremely hard work around general agreements. We have also seen the union campaigning strongly on funding and on class sizes. We are reminding all MPs of what their constituents would want most for Christmas – the gifts of full funding for public schools and the delivery of smaller class sizes.
Below you will find my full address to November State Council Conference, held on 15-16 November, looking back on a most significant year.
Delivered speech may slightly alter from this transcript.
Delegates, welcome to State Council. It has been quite a year!
If we look back 12 months we had just commenced negotiations with the school’s agreement whilst TAFE discussions had not begun. Since that time the SSTUWA has undertaken and completed two sets of negotiations for both General Agreements – one for schools and one for TAFE.
The SSTUWA has staged what the then head of UnionsWA described as the biggest union rally seen in Western Australia for more than a decade.
The SSTUWA has shared an independently commissioned report that has completely changed the conversation around public education in Western Australia.
The SSTUWA has played its role in a national campaign on schools funding that will shape the sector for maybe up to the next decade and continues to provide clear advice to government in support of the training sector.
The SSTUWA has begun a far-reaching community campaign around class sizes to address one of the most significant issues the sector faces.
The SSTUWA has delivered to all political parties two documents that offer a blueprint for schools and for TAFEs as we approach both state and federal elections.
The SSTUWA has seen its membership grow to record levels, both schools and TAFE.
I have repeatedly said SSTUWA because this organisation, our organisation, delivers because we work collectively and collaboratively.
This biannual event brings together the union’s supreme decision-making body – and it is a key reason that for over 125 years the SSTUWA has been the crucial body for educators in Western Australia’s public education system both in schools and in TAFE.
This is because State Council sits at the top of a democratic union that is directed by its members.
Yes, we have senior officers in day-to-day roles. Yes, we have an Executive team that meets regularly to direct the work of the union and to ensure the agreed strategies of the SSTUWA are being carried out diligently.
Far more importantly though we have a structure that gives our members a voice. This voice comes from union reps, deputy reps, women’s contact officers and WHS reps. It comes through workplace branches; it comes through District Councils and above all, this State Council, which then directs your Executive and senior officers.
This is crucially important because your voice is crucially important. Members will not always agree with every collective decision or action, that is simply inevitable. But they know that those positions have been reached, not dictated from above but instead delivered by collaborative decisionmaking.
Such a process is absolutely fundamental for successful advocacy on behalf of members.
Collaborative action is also the absolute bedrock of fixing the issues that confront public education. This is the core, nonnegotiable, belief of your union.
The only way to fix the broken parts of our system is working together – at every level, from the teacher walking, perhaps nervously, into a classroom for the first time to the school leader who has decades of experience in the role, to a lecturer delivering a new unit on a TAFE campus to those who service and support the hundreds of schools spread across this country’s largest space. And of course, we need to be organised. We will make greater progress and sooner if we figure it out as one public education system.
I had reason recently to look back at the TAFE Works campaign of 2015. We should never forget, that while we still have many aspects to improve in TAFE workplaces, the crucial role that campaign played in saving our TAFE system from the almost irreversible damage done in other states.
We have, I believe, delivered another major success in the first year after Facing the Facts was delivered.
The Facing the Facts report identified a system imposed on public schools in 2010 as generating increased isolation
of schools and said this system, along with other policy changes “has steadily increased both the intensity and complexity of workloads, lowered morale, increased burnout and created an environment in which teachers feel undervalued and disrespected.”
In its inimitable style Facing the Facts did not stop at identifying the systemic problems; it suggested solutions. What was required, it said, was identifying the key structural changes needed to improve the functioning of the school system in WA to achieve:
• Improved educational outcomes.
• Greater educational quality.
• Equity and probity in teacher and school leader selection and promotion.
• Accountability, including the use of funds for designated purposes.
• Better access to support services and curriculum resources.
Our member-driven schools log of claims, already developed when Facing the Facts became public, had identified many similar issues. What the work of Dr Carmen Lawrence and her Facing the Facts team did was to provide deeply researched, factual evidence that supported many of those claims. I have absolutely no doubt this was one of two crucial elements that led to so many positive gains in our new schools agreement.
One of the most moving moments of my presidency of the SSTUWA came at last
November’s State Council. A member, moved to tears, spoke of how Facing the Facts made them feel heard for the first time in many years.
That summed up for me the impact of Facing the Facts – a review that was a long time in the planning, in the execution and in the follow up.
Everyone involved in that process, from the voices who supported its development, to those who made submissions, those who served on and supported the panel and those who continue to drive the process forward should be absolutely proud of their work.
I can also state this report has struck a chord in the academic world which may lead the SSTUWA to new partnerships
focused upon the economic impacts of poorly funded public schools and overworked teachers. Watch this space.
Our members were also heard loud and clear on 23 April. There is absolutely no doubt that the huge turnout across Western Australia, including of course the march across the Matagarup Bridge and rally at Gloucester Park was the second crucial element in shifting the government’s stance on key areas of the Schools General Agreement.
The new Agreement delivered salary increases of 12 per cent over three years. Each year delivers increases above the predicted rate of inflation. For WA this is currently 2.8 per cent. While we would all have loved to fully address the way public service salaries fell behind inflation, this is a significant first step.
Members will be around $10,000 to $20,000 better off by the end of the agreement in salary terms. For many this increase will be improved by a switch to new allowances which in some locations offer a further $6,000 per annum.
Graduate teachers will be some of the best paid in Australia. Senior teachers will also see salary and workload improvements, whilst other newly introduced salary increments will apply to some school leaders.
Significant system reforms offer teachers the chance to experience new opportunities with a guaranteed right of return to their substantive positions.
(continued on page 6)
(continued from page 5)
Perhaps most significantly of all, there are workload reduction measures and we have successfully drawn attention to the matter of workload for the next three years.
Key areas of improvement will address professional learning, documented plans, compliance expectations, complex behaviour and classroom support.
There are positive first steps to manage class size issues including:
• Improved classroom support and small group tuition to 13,000 students in 350 schools.
• Clear instructions to school leaders that they will provide additional support to teachers asked to manage oversize classes and that they must take into account the number and proportion of students on individual plans when providing that support.
• An additional 64 FTEs to be engaged as complex behaviour support coordinators across 192 schools.
• A direction to apply student documented plans only in specific circumstances.
• Professional learning will include employee choice, as well as required online professional learning to be completed for the purposes of legislative and system requirements only.
• A new Workload Ministerial Taskforce, which will include the SSTUWA and which will report directly to the Minister for Education.
• Long service leave: Access to pro rata long service leave during the first accrual period after completion of seven years continuous service.
No agreement solves all issues. We know that there are some members disappointed in specific outcomes. Those issues are not forgotten.
However, given the improvements secured in managing workload, the ability of staff to take up opportunities in other areas of the state and changes to address recruitment of staff, I feel this agreement may well be seen as the time when we began the dismantling of a system imposed in 2010 that did untold damage to public education in Western Australia.
So we might need to prepare for a long goodbye, but it will be farewell to IPS.
The Schools GA is not the only success for the SSTUWA. The activism of the TAFE Committee and TAFE members uniting behind various actions also secured an agreement that will serve members well, with key wins including:
• Wage increases of five per cent (from 15 December 2023), four per cent (from 15 December 2024) and three per cent (from 15 December 2025).
• New Grade 9.
• Fifty more Advanced Industry Lecturers.
• A pool of $500,000 per annum to support lecturers earning teaching qualifications.
• A $200 subsidy for industry tickets, certificates and licences.
• Additional travel concessions for lecturers in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Goldfields, Carnarvon and Exmouth.
• Increased country incentive allowances.
Our road to achieving our goals is one in which collaboration across all levels is key.
We need to ignore those who would divide the teaching profession into managers and workers. We are all educators, first and foremost. For example, administration is a vital role, but administrator is not a job title for professional educators. We all believe in the power of public education. That is our greatest strength and some might argue, our superpower.
We need to note how some who claim to have the public school system’s interests at heart instead resort to obfuscation and sometimes abuse. Happy to grab credit for the work of others, desperate to divide. What we don’t need to do is let them distract us from our path and our purpose.
Every member is important to us, from those joining us while studying, right through to those who stay in touch through the Retired Teachers’ Association. All are valued by the SSTUWA.
That is why the SSTUWA is offering targeted professional development opportunities to every member.
From new educators to the most experienced principals, through HoDs, HOLAs and school leaders, the
SSTUWA knows that an approach which encourages respect for colleagues and empathy with the challenges faced by different levels is the way forward to a better system in public education.
It is why we unreservedly support avenues for people to experience new challenges, whilst having the safety net of a return to their substantive position.
It is why we absolutely endorse fair and competitive recruitment policies that do not play favourites or limit candidates because of where they work or which systems they have been using.
It is why we support equity and fairness whatever your gender preference, your sexual identity or race.
It is why this union engages in social justice campaigns outside of the education sector. Because that’s what unions do – they fight for fairness. Once you favour one group of educators above another or allow one section of society to be left behind you lose that core value.
That is why the SSTUWA has bodies that represent disparate groups. I thank everyone who serves on our committees to ensure specific voices are heard and not silenced.
I think it is important that we recognise the national and international context within which the SSTUWA operates.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has undertaken extraordinary work over the past couple of years.
There is a truism in education that the most disappointing governments are the ones you expect most from. Contrary to what some grifters will tell you, none of your union dues go to specific political parties. We are a non-affiliated union.
However, it would be condescending to pretend that education unions do not expect more support for public education from Labor governments.
Far too often the supportive words in platforms and manifestos are not matched with actions.
This has sadly, been the case once again with the Albanese government when it comes to schools funding.
Encouraging belief from the Labor federal government in the importance of TAFE’s contribution to the public good has, disappointingly, not been reflected in the approach to schools funding.
We have seen a series of watered-down pledges and an approach that sought to isolate state governments one by one with funding agreements that take far too long and fall far too short.
Meredith Peace from the Vic Branch of the AEU will share more of what this looks like from an eastern states, Victorian perspective later in your agenda.
The simple fact is that pre-Gonski WA was getting 100 per cent funding for public schools, plus another four per cent in additional funding for things like depreciation and SCSA.
The watered down Gonski saw a builtin drop of five per cent in the combined state plus federal contributions – so that saw 100 per cent become 95 per cent.
Then the state government was given the chance to count what used to be the extra four per cent within their 75 per cent, so the actual total fell from 95 per cent to 91 per cent.
(continued on page 8)
Now we see both state and federal government trumpeting a return to full funding – 100 per cent they claim; divided into 77.5 per cent from the state and 22.5 per cent from the Commonwealth.
What they do not say is that the four per cent is still allowed to be counted towards the state government’s contribution, so in reality that sum becomes 96 per cent, not the 100 per cent that is claimed. What they also fail to mention is that the four per cent fiddle only applies to public schools, not the private schools.
The end result is that public schools in WA are still hundreds of millions of dollars short of full funding, while private
schools get more than they need. That this is seen as a sensible political strategy by governments when public schools educate around two thirds of all students (higher in primary years) seems extraordinary to me.
Adding to the deception is the timing of the funding – stretching out over another generation of public school students. There is a suggestion that legislation will mention only a floor of 20 per cent federal funding, not even protecting the measly extra 2.5 per cent being offered now*. (*Legislation passed on 26 November.)
Meanwhile we all watch on agog as we wave goodbye to $368 billion to pay for
three nuclear submarines and a further $9 billion to pay for a few one-time use only missiles, which is enough by itself to fix the public school funding gap.
The AEU has been strong and forthright in demanding genuine full funding over a proper period of time. Our own members in WA have stepped up at every stage of the national campaign and we will continue to do so.
That we have to fight this battle against a government that should have a commitment to public education running through its very veins just makes it all the more disappointing.
It is, however, a fight we cannot and will not shirk.
On the international stage I was honoured to attend the Education International (EI) conference in Buenos Aries earlier this year. I am delighted that we have former president of EI, Susan Hopgood, here with us as our keynote speaker.
We have many issues to overcome in Australia and these are reflected on the global scale in areas such as the teacher shortage, funding, the rise of tech in our schools and so on.
But child labour and its brutal trade, refugees, getting children into schools, keeping teachers or union officials safe and much more have been set as an active agenda for coordinated international action.
Then we all face the sobering reality of the impact of war in areas such as Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan along with the oppression of union leaders and
(continued from page 7)
educators in other countries. And who knows what will become of public education in America or how Trumpism will impact our own country, especially as we run to a federal election. I know Susan will tell you more about the vital work on the global scale of EI and how the AEU and its confederate branches are fundamental to that work.
If it seems that sometimes we are always fighting, well that is probably because we are!
We have state and federal elections looming next year, possibly very close to each other and we want education front and centre. Cost of living and housing affordability will be key issues and WA will again have a strong influence on the federal result, so we have a part to play. We have a chance and a responsibility to make sure the current government knows what we want.
Significantly, the Target 27 campaign you have all supported so well is having an impact. Just this week, responding to a question at a Leadership Matters conference, the Premier publicly said the campaign “intuitively” made sense and when pressed if he would rule out supporting class sizes of 27, he refused to do so. Delegates, this issue is well and truly on the table. Your school-based advocacy leading up to the state election will be critical.
The Premier also said that this union, thanks to your hard work, was a good, professional union, one that he respected.
In addition to our Target 27 campaign on class sizes, the SSTUWA has put together detailed policy documents for both schools and TAFE.
The TAFE document targets areas including:
• Expenditure and infrastructure.
• Staff attraction and retention.
• Government housing in the regions.
• Support services for students.
Based on the findings of Facing the Facts the schools document targets the following areas:
• Funding.
• Class sizes.
• School infrastructure.
• Staffing schools.
• Government housing.
• Support and services for students, teachers and schools.
• Aboriginal education.
• Safety in schools.
• The early years.
The SSTUWA is undertaking rigorous lobbying campaigns to ensure that not only do politicians know what the problems are that face public education but realise what the solutions are and how vital it is to make sure those fixes are applied.
Facing the Facts has gained such immense momentum as the core publication on public education that even the department’s own recent message from the new Director General (DG) listing the department’s priorities could have been lifted from the report compiled by Dr Lawrence and her team.
Indeed, I take the opportunity to welcome Jay Peckitt to the role of Director General. I look forward to working with him on the SSTUWA’s behalf as we seek to deliver the public education system WA deserves
and needs. I also acknowledge the work of the outgoing DG.
Another departure I should acknowledge is that of Owen Whittle from his role as secretary of UnionsWA. The SSTUWA worked closely with Owen as he led the Public Sector Alliance campaign against public sector wage caps. Owen was also a fine and successful campaigner for workplace health and safety reforms in WA, alongside our own Joy Barrett. We wish Owen well and welcome his successor, Rikki Hendon, another proud unionist with whom we have had excellent working relations with over the years.
As I said at the outset, 2024 has been an extraordinary year for public education in Western Australia.
2025 will be an even more significant year for public education because we are simply not yet where we want to be. We have achieved a lot through two EBAs, now we must land those measures and together we must keep public education at the forefront of public debate as we go to both state and federal elections.
I can’t get there alone, nor just with senior officers and the Executive of the SSTUWA.
We get there together.
Thank you.
Fighting for public education and democracy
Public schools funding, the state of education in WA, nationally and globally and the honouring of two SSTUWA stalwarts headlined November State Council Conference for this year.
The two-day conference was held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre last month, with more than 130 delegates meeting to review union activities and vote on our future direction.
State Council is the highest decisionmaking body for the SSTUWA and meets in June and November every year.
Delegates also heard from keynotes speakers Susan Hopgood, former president of Education International, AEU Victoria Branch President Meredith Peace, Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton and Professor Andrew Whitehouse, who is leading autism research at UWA and the Telethon Kids Institute, on the first day.
SSTUWA President Matt Jarman, in his opening address to State Council Conference, said that it had been an extraordinary year for public education in Western Australia.
There was the 23 April Rally, the signing of the Schools and TAFE General Agreements, the Target 27 campaign to bring maximum class sizes in WA down from 32 to 27 students, as well as the ongoing public discourse generated by
the independently commissioned Facing the Facts report.
Membership had grown to record levels, Mr Jarman said.
“Twenty twenty-five will be an even more significant year for public education because, we are simply not yet where we want to be,” he said.
“We have achieved a lot through two EBAs, now we must land those measures and together we must keep public education at the forefront of public debate as we go to both state and federal elections.
“I can’t get there alone, nor just with senior officers and the Executive of the SSTUWA.
“We get there together.”
Mr Jarman said the SSTUWA had delivered to all political parties two documents that offered a blueprint for schools and for TAFEs ahead of the dual 2025 elections.
“The SSTUWA is undertaking rigorous lobbying campaigns to ensure that not only do politicians know what the problems are that face public education but realise what the solutions are and how vital it is to make sure those fixes are applied,” he said.
“Facing the Facts has gained such immense momentum as the core publication on public education that even the department’s own recent message from the new Director General (DG) listing the department’s priorities could have been lifted from the report compiled by Dr Lawrence and her team.”
For Mr Jarman’s full speech, turn to page four of this issue of Western Teacher
Ms Hopgood (pictured below, left) said globally, the problems facing education included teacher shortages, funding, education technology (including artificial intelligence) and the refugee and child labour crisis.
This was across the backdrop of a postpandemic world dealing with war, climate change, economic downturn and attacks of democracy.
“Progress must be fought for in the most challenging period of our lifetimes,” she said.
“As individuals, we are often underpaid and overworked. And yes, often overwhelmed. But through our union and our allies we are never outnumbered.
“Through our union we define the notion of quality public education and the essential conditions for society to make available to every student … through our
From left: Pat Byrne, Natalie Blewitt, Liz Repper, Graeme Repper, Sharmila Nagar, Mary Franklyn, Matt Jarman.
union we are elevating our profession, into the ranks of leadership into critical fights ahead of it.
“This is a fight we are having, and we know it is a fight we can win.”
Ms Peace (pictured below) shared with delegates the history of public school funding since the Gonksi review was handed down in 2011.
She said Victoria, which has so far refused to sign a funding agreement with the federal government, is currently sitting at a Student Resource Standard (SRS) of 90.43 per cent, meaning one in 10 students in the state were not being funded at the level required.
Ms Peace said even states (including WA) that had signed a funding agreement with the Commonwealth were still falling short of the 100 per cent SRS funding needed and recommended by the Gonski report.
“You can’t deliver high-quality education if you don’t actually support your staff and ensure you have qualified teachers in your schools who are provided resources they need to meet the needs of their kids,” she said.
“Every child in this country is entitled to a high-quality education. Governments should be ashamed that they are standing by and not funding our schools properly in that kind of context.”
Delegates participated in strategic planning for the SSTUWA, before hearing from Minister Winton (pictured above, right) and Dr Whitehouse, who is currently chairing a review on the School Education Act 1999 that will examine how students with disability are catered for in the school system.
Minister Winton acknowledged the work of the SSTUWA and role that it played in advancing public education in the state and advocating for its members.
She said early childhood education (ECE) played a foundational role in the schooling of students and the Cook Government was committed to prioritising ECE by addressing the problems of teacher shortages, infrastructure upgrades, recruiting and retaining educators in the regions.
There was also an emphasis on expanding ECE services through childparent centres, community kindy and childcare programs operating on school sites – as well as an acknowledgement of how play fits into ECE.
“There is a place for both play and a more formal approach to learning,” Minster Winton said.
“The benefits of learning through play are enhanced when … thoughtful planning sits behind a play activity.
“The benefits of a balance of play and intentional teaching are promoted in those key national documents –documents such as the Early Years Learning Framework … [and] the National Quality Standard.
“The Western Australian kindergarten curriculum guidelines have a clear focus on play experiences, along with stronger connections to the framework, to support a holistic development of kindy children and their transition into full time schooling.”
At November State Council, two longserving union stalwarts were recognised.
The late Joy Barrett, who was the SSTUWA’s work health and safety (WHS) organiser for more than three decades, was honoured through the establishment of an annual scholarship.
The Joy Barrett Work Health and Safety Scholarship will acknowledge the exceptional work carried out by a WHS/ health and safety representative on matters regarding health and safety at their workplace.
Former SSTUWA President Pat Byrne spoke in favour of the scholarship stating: “We are all safer in our workplaces today because of Joy.” Her work included the establishment of an asbestos roof replacement program for WA schools and programs that dealt with workplace violence and bullying.
“Joy was very proud of her policy work and quite rightly. She wasn’t an educator; she wasn’t a teacher by profession, but she was definitely one in practice,” Pat said.
“She had an amazing effect on teachers’ working lives in this state. We hope to continue Joy’s passion for change through the provision of this scholarship, which we hope will ensure that we continue to have advocates for [WHS] in our schools well into the future.”
Graeme Repper, who has served the SSTUWA in capacities such as Executive Committee member, union rep and State Council delegate, was bestowed with life membership of the union at November State Council Conference.
“I am obviously greatly honoured, incredibly happy and frankly embarrassed at receiving this wonderful life membership,” he said.
Always a fierce advocate for public education, environmental and social justice, Graeme paid tribute to colleagues and fellow union members who supported him and worked through differences respectfully.
“Their energy, their commitment and their enthusiasm gave me my energy, commitment and enthusiasm,” Graeme said.
“You delegates here are brilliant in dealing with difficult, different educational and industrial issues but remember do not be afraid to tackle environmental and social issues at your workforce.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for awarding me life membership, the pinnacle of my educational and union career.”
Taryn, Teachers Health and union member
It’s nearly a wrap. The end of the school year is in sight.
Our 70-year anniversary celebrations are coming to a close, marking our proud history since being founded by a union for union members.
We’ll continue our close partnership with the SSTUWA in 2025 and beyond to support the health and wellbeing of our union members.
To discover our story and how we support you, scan the QR code
Growth Team lays foundation for the future
By Natalie Blewitt Senior Vice President
The Growth Team have once again had a busy and productive year.
From 1 January to 30 September, across 189 events and online interactions, the SSTUWA’s Growth Team recruited 492 financial members and 305 student members.
It is a wonderful result and testament to the hard work of the team, led by coordinator Chloe Hosking and officers Christina Chabros and Nicola Sorrell.
Graduate modules continue to represent the best opportunity for the team to reach new members. These modules provide the team with the dual purpose of recruitment to, and education about, the SSTUWA. These modules also provide an important opportunity for the team to support early career teachers.
Throughout 2024, the team have also attended university O-days, educationspecific orientations and graduate and career events.
The student conversion project saw the team engage with more than 450 students with lapsed SSTUWA membership. Sixty-two of these student members signed up instantly at the point of contact. Many more joined at later graduate modules, school visits or of their own accord.
This year, the SSTUWA has presented to cohorts of the International Teacher Induction group.
Teachers are arriving from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, South Africa and India. A large proportion of teachers from these cohorts are joining with the Growth Team during these induction events. In fact, 42 per cent
sign up immediately, with others joining soon after.
Nothing beats direct contact and about 61 per cent of the Growth Team recruitment joins were from face-to-face conversations while a further 26 per cent resulted from recruitment phone calls.
We continue to see an increase of preservice teachers obtaining contracts across our public schools, due to the teacher shortage. The team provides support and information to this group of members and have developed, in conjunction with the Education and Training Centre, a specifically designed half-day event, in an effort to build understanding and knowledge of important working conditions. Learn more about the Building a Strong Foundation for New Educators in Public Education course at bit.ly/3NUlahy
Early career teachers, being trained or untrained, in their first five years of teaching, as well as SSTUWA student members, receive the New Educator Network (NEN) eNews, sent on the first Tuesday of every month. Curated by the team, the NEN eNews is packed full of new educator specific information, which continues to be very well received by the membership.
Any early career teacher or student who joins the SSTUWA receives an onboarding email. This email contains additional information about the team as well as other supports new educators can access.
In addition to direct recruitment, Nicola, who focuses on heads of departments/ heads of learning areas, has worked throughout 2024 to connect with and engage the middle leader cohort through
targeted emails, Western Teacher articles and in person during school visits.
An opportunity for networking and discussion was provided for middle leaders through a half-day event titled, the Meat in the Sandwich. Feedback provided by participants was very positive with 93 per cent rating the course as highly satisfactory to excellent.
Members continue to engage with the SSTUWA through a variety of different platforms from Facebook to webinars, reading the NEN eNews or listening to the podcasts. Thank you to Chloe, Christina and Nicola for adding their voices to podcast editions and sharing ideas, hints, tips and information. This has provided valuable content for our listeners, particular those in their first few years of teaching. If you haven’t had an opportunity to listen to these episodes, search for Western Teacher Live, wherever you get your podcasts, or visit the Western Teacher Live news tab at sstuwa.org.au
This year, the Growth Team received 22 expressions of interest to attend State Council Conference via our guest program. I would like to thank all the members who expressed an interest and congratulate this year’s successful applicants.
I would like to again acknowledge and thank Chloe, Christina and Nicola for their hard work and dedication throughout 2024.
While the legacy of the SSTUWA sits with its existing members, the future of the union lies with its new members. In this regard, the Growth Team’s hard work has laid the foundation for that rich legacy to continue.
Women’s Conference inspires many
By Sharmila Nagar Vice President
The SSTUWA’s annual Women’s Conference was held in October. This year’s theme, Count her in, invest in women, accelerate progress, was based on the United Nations International Women’s Day theme and one we commemorated earlier on in the year.
Our speakers echoed this theme and included Peta Slocombe, the creator of Australia’s Biggest Mental Health Checkin and co-founder of the One Million Lives initiative; AEU federal women’s officer Emma Lowe and Natasha Short, a Kimberley Aboriginal woman who founded Kimberley Jiyigas to provide business consulting services to Indigenous women.
Peta (pictured top far right) has a passion for changing the way we think about and manage wellness at work and provided practical ways that women can support each other and build their own capabilities to learn, earn and lead.
She shared her 10 strategies to deal with everyday matters. The one that resonated with me was “Choose your own gear!” This strategy is about focusing on what is important at the time without feeling the pressure of everything all at once.
Emma provided an update of current developments in education and gender equity at a federal level and how union members contributed to submissions for federal government enquiries.
One example was the recent AEU submission for the Senate inquiry into menopause. Emma outlined how the federal office received examples from branches of issues around menopause and the very specific workplace requirements of schools and TAFE, as well as the impact upon members transitioning through perimenopause and menopause.
Members fed back after Emma’s session that they had no idea prior as to how individual stories could have such a big impact upon government policy and how important their stories were in the big picture of securing change for women –not only in our union but in society.
Natasha (pictured bottom right) is a descendant of the Jaru people and based in Kununurra. She has been passionate
about social change and righting injustices since witnessing a decade of socioeconomic disadvantage within Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region.
Kimberley Jiyigas has grown into a movement of Kimberley Indigenous women who are passionate about influencing social change and focuses on supporting Aboriginal communities through a circular economy model.
Natasha shared that the three best ways to support Aboriginal women was to recognise them, invite them and engage with them.
Members fed back that the speakers were very informative and engaging, incredibly empowering and inspiring for others and extremely relevant and practical.
“I came away with good strategies to always consider as I grow from strength to strength,” one member said about Peta’s presentation.
Other members said Natasha’s speech was brilliant and inspiring.
“I loved hearing that those disadvantaged silent women are getting their voices and power back,” one member said.
Another commented: “My favourite speaker of the day. So much of what she said resonated with me.”
Aside from the keynote speakers there were workshops at the conference that covered topics such as pre-retirement planning for women, creating safe and supportive educational spaces for LGBTIQ+ staff and students and breaking down the new General Agreements.
Janette Bedwell, SSTUWA women’s officer, facilitated the well-attended pre-retirement planning workshop run by Shelley Tiet from Wealth Management Partners. Janette noted that it was a very informative session, reassuring members that they didn’t need to have millions of dollars to retire. Members were encouraged to use the Australian Government’s free Moneysmart calculator, provided by the ATO, to work out what was required to retire.
The Women’s Conference once again was well-attended and provided our members with an opportunity to meet and exchange stories of resilience and experiences with speakers, workshop presenters and other fabulous women of our union.
It was a day filled with enthusiasm. The vibe of the room was collegial, joyous and celebratory, which was very apt seeing it coincided with World Teachers’ Day on 25 October.
Comments from members included the following:
• “[A] wonderful event. So much to think about and take back to my peers.”
• “My first Women’s Conference and thoroughly enjoyed it.”
• “Always enjoy this day and walk away feeling inspired by strong, empowered women.”
• “Another great conference, a definite favourite of mine and the best way to spend World Teachers’ Day!”
• “Each presenter was well spoken, and the content was highly relevant.”
• “We have been so well cared for today. Thank you. I cannot wait to share what I have learned with my branch...[and] other women.”
• “Nice to get together with friends and have space where, as a teacher, I can receive and not just be a giver.”
Thank you to all staff involved in running the conference, in particular the Education and Training Centre Team, for yet another fantastic day.
We look forward to next year’s Women’s Conference, as well as the theme for International Women’s Day in 2025: March forward.
Key resources for beginning teachers
By Chloe Hosking Growth Team coordinator
If you are already thinking ahead to 2025 then now is an excellent time to explore key resources available to you as a Department of Education teacher. Many educators have found these supports invaluable during the early stages of their careers and beyond. They may be particularly useful as you prepare for 2025.
SCSA Curriculum Support Materials
To access these resources, log into the extranet of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) website at scsa.wa.edu.au and navigate to the K–10 Outline section.
Lesson planning often represents a significant part of a teacher’s workload, particularly for newer teachers who may not yet have an extensive collection of lesson plans and resources. These curriculum support materials were introduced as a result of the SSTUWA’s successful negotiations in the 2019 General Agreement (Schools)
Statewide Services Resource and Information Centre (SSRIC)
The SSRIC offers specialised resources and information services to support teachers of K–12 students with a variety of educational needs, including:
• Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Diverse learning needs, disabilities and learning challenges.
• Vision impairment, deafness and deafblindness.
Teachers can also borrow resources to support general classroom instruction. For more details, search SSRIC on Ikon.
In-Class Coaching
If you are within your first 30 months of teaching and have completed
graduate module one, consider applying for the In-Class Coaching Program. This program connects you with a dedicated coach who will provide individualised support at no cost.
Your discussions with your coach are fully confidential and the program offers guidance to:
• Develop and refine your teaching practices.
• Engage in lesson observations and reflective practice.
• Apply insights from graduate teacher modules.
• Progress toward the Proficient career stage.
Many graduates find it invaluable to collaborate with a skilled, external professional on their instructional development. Apply through Ikon by searching for “In-Class Coaching Program” or contact the Statewide Services team at InClassCoachingProgram@education. wa.edu.au.
Employee Assistance Program
The department’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential counseling with qualified psychologists for both personal and work-related concerns impacting your wellbeing. Both you and your immediate family members are eligible for up to six free sessions each year, accessible by phone, video or in person.
To schedule an appointment, contact PeopleSense:
• Phone: 9388 9000 or toll-free 1300 307 912.
• Email: reception@peoplesense.com.au
• Online: peoplesense.com.au/onlineeap-booking
Facing the Facts about system capability in public education
By Lindsay Hale School leader consultant
Our community needs strong public schools. Our schools need a capable public education system. Recent years have seen a drift that needs to be dealt with and our schools cannot wait.
At the time of press, we were still awaiting the Department of Education’s agency capability review. Here’s what it should say!
Leadership, culture and governance
Overarching purpose and vision need to be refreshed. How strategy will be implemented, supported and monitored is currently ambiguous. Focus documents need to be clear as to who is responsible for what. Everyone in the system needs to be clear about priorities, the relationship between them and the part they need to play.
Central, statewide and regional services and support have not kept pace with significant growth in student complexity and disadvantage. Organisational structure needs to be fit for purpose: support and services are very centralised and tend to be remote and unresponsive to local needs, especially for regional schools, staff and students.
It is not clear how leaders – central, statewide, regional and school – work together to deliver agreed strategic priorities and objectives. Further, interagency cooperation across human services for children and young people is still largely absent. The department must accept the challenge of driving interagency collaboration to support children and young people.
The desired culture is not clear. Leaders and teachers in the front line do not
feel heard and have no opportunity to contribute to the development of the values and culture of the department as a whole. Further, they have no safe way to provide feedback as to behaviours.
Strategic directions documentation does not indicate an evidence base and does not provide transparent measures of progress or success in relation to strategic objectives. Monitoring and evaluation, and their impact on strategic policy and planning, are not evident.
It is difficult to see evidence of investment in improvement. Performance review does not appear to inform strategic policy and planning. If it does, it does not form part of a strategic narrative.
What do we need?
• Priorities for the whole system need to be reduced, focused and communicated.
• Effort and expenditure need to be coherent and strategically aligned at all levels.
• A concerted effort is required to reduce workload in schools, address the teacher shortage and focus on the core business of public school education.
• Progress needs to be monitored, major reforms such as the Independent Public Schools initiative need to be evaluated and strategic decisions need to be evidence-based.
• Department support services need to be more local, accessible and responsive to need and proactively aligned to change management.
• Quality assured and evidence-based teaching resources and professional learning need to be developed and provided by the department itself at no cost to schools.
• Strengthened effort is needed to address growing educational disadvantage and complex needs.
• Delivery of a department-wide approach to optimal placement of students with special needs including disability, mental health and complex behaviours is required.
• Coherent interagency services are needed for individual students with special needs and to address poverty, school readiness, early learning, trauma and complex behaviours.
• More effective planning and resource allocation to address inadequate capital works and maintenance are required.
When do we need it?
Let’s face the facts: we need it now.
Read more
Facing the Facts; A Review of Public Education in Western Australia (Lawrence et al, Commissioned by the SSTUWA, 2023)
Understanding and Reducing the Workload of Teachers and Leaders in Western Australian Public Schools (Robinson and Hamilton, Commissioned by the Minister for Education, 2023)
More Indigenous children are going to preschool, but is this enough?
By Grace Sarra and Marnee Shay
The latest Closing the Gap data contains some good news – there is a marked increase in early childhood enrolments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The report shows how in the year before full-time schooling, there has been a 25 per cent increase in enrolments over the past seven years.
In 2016, 76.7 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were enrolled in a preschool program. In 2023, it was 101.8 per cent (this figure is more than 100 per cent due to different sources of data and will be updated once we have 2021 Census population figures).
This shows we are both improving on track to meet the target of 95 per cent of students enrolled in early education before they start school by 2025.
Does enrolment equal outcomes?
But it isn’t all positive news, particularly when it comes to children thriving in their early years.
While it is not new data, the report also notes only 34.3 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were “developmentally on track” when they started school as of 2021.
This was a decrease from 35.2 per cent in 2018. The target of 55 per cent is also not on track to be met.
The developmental assessment involves five measures: physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills and communication skills and general knowledge.
As the Closing the Gap report notes, this developmental assessment is “based on
a Western paradigm [and] it may not fully demonstrate the progress and strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children”.
But this result is puzzling when we can see the majority of Indigenous children are engaged in early childhood education, which is supposed to prepare students to be ready for school.
What does the research say?
We know it is important for children to receive quality early education before they begin school, it has benefits both for their wellbeing and for their learning.
Research on Indigenous children has shown it can help build their literacy in both the short and long-term and numeracy skills in the long-term.
A systematic review published in 2020 investigated whether early childhood
education programs support positive education and developmental outcomes for Indigenous students. It showed preschool education has the potential to provide long-term benefits and prepare Indigenous students for school.
However, the authors also noted it matters what kind of education they are getting. The preschool programs need to be high quality – exactly what this entails, and how we evaluate it, is still being determined.
For Indigenous children, research suggests affirming their cultural identities as well as having strong engagement and connection with their families and communities is vital.
How can we do it better?
Our latest, as yet unpublished research looks at how we can create culturally
responsible resources for Indigenous children. This means resources are meaningful to kids.
With educators and community members on Wakka Wakka Country and Bindal and Wulgurukaba Country we co-designed curriculum resources for children aged zero to five years using Indigenous voices and cultures.
This included using Indigenous languages, animals and symbols [for] children in digital literacy and numeracy resources.
For example, instead of having cows and pigs, we have echidnas and emus with the names in English and Wakka Wakka. Instead of counting three apples or five cats, children count kangaroos, fish and mud crabs, featuring Indigenous designs.
These offer ways of exploring the world that connect to children’s real-life experiences and acknowledge and embrace their cultural identities.
As one community member told us during our research: “People who have experienced other people’s cultures are better human beings, because that speaks to one’s humanity by the fact that we should be respecting each and every one of us and all our forms and shapes and our histories.”
What can we do now?
Our research emphasises how early childhood educators can embed identity-affirming practices. But there are many other aspects of high-quality early childhood education, such as key indicators of literacy and numeracy, that need investigating.
We are in the position now where most Indigenous children are enrolled in early childhood educational programs. The focus should turn to developing a robust
evidence base for what quality looks like for Indigenous children and how it can be implemented across the nation.
Grace Sarra is a professor in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice at Queensland University of Technology. Marnee Shay is an associate professor and principal research fellow at the School of Education, University of Queensland. Research assistant Chelsey Priddle did design work for the curriculum resources for this project. The opinions expressed in this article are that of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official policies or positions of the AEU or SSTUWA. This article was first published on The Conversation website and has been reproduced here with permission.
The fight for public education and universities in Argentina
By Yamile Socolovsky
Public education in Argentina is under threat from a political agenda that has made its way into the national government and aims to – in the words of President Javier Milei himself – “destroy the state from within”.
Arguing that the state is a “criminal organisation” that attacks freedom (of the market) and that social justice is an assault on the principle of individual merit and free competition, Milei intends to pursue a project that is no less delirious than his speeches in ultraconservative international forums and as ruthless as his posts on social media.
The powerful economic groups supporting him, and now occupying key positions in government, hope to implement a formula for irreversible domination, which will allow them to permanently secure the conditions needed to amass profits through the unbridled exploitation of Argentina’s resources and people.
This is why the current government has set to work on what Milei sees as a “refoundation”, wiping clean the preexisting institutional framework.
It is no coincidence that the Argentina longed for by economic libertarians is exactly the same as pre-democratic Argentina, free of political, social and cultural rights, in which an exclusively primary, agro-exporting economy nourished the lavish revelry of an oligarchy made outrageously rich off the misery of the majority.
This agenda, imposed with blood and fire at the beginning of the neoliberal cycle in Argentina, during the last civil-military dictatorship (1976-1983) is not new. Not long after the 40th anniversary of the return to democracy, the economic elite is back, with Milei, to take its revenge –deregulating the economy, opening to
foreign capital, reducing public spending, depreciating workers’ incomes and implementing a neoliberal reform of the state, regressive labour reform and a policy of criminalising social organisation and social protest.
In the context of the external debt previously incurred by the government of Mauricio Macri (2015-2019) and the consequent subordination to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund, within barely six months of “libertarian” rule this policy has already led to an unprecedented increase in poverty, destitution and unemployment.
These devastating social impacts are not an accident or “collateral damage” but are designed to achieve a social reordering under the discipline of inequality.
And just as such a goal requires the elimination of the middle class in a country like Argentina, it also requires suppressing the ability to mobilise opposition, be it through trade unionism, social movements, Peronism, feminism or human rights organisations.
Hence, within days of taking office, Milei’s government introduced a “protocol” instructing the security forces to intervene in street demonstrations, limiting freedom of expression and association and criminalising peaceful protest, in violation of all international human rights conventions and recommendations.
The application of this protocol has already resulted not only in the unjustified and violent repression of social mobilisation, but also in arbitrary arrests, fines on organisations, extortion of the beneficiaries of social assistance programs and, more recently, the arbitrary charging of people taking part in protests with very serious offences.
The attack on public universities and public education is part of a multifaceted policy of neoliberal adjustment and reform of the state, the commodification of all spheres of life and social disciplining.
The current government – which eliminated the Ministry of Education, reducing it to a secretariat of the new
(Photo: Conadu/Facebook)
Ministry of “Human Capital” – has already made brutal cuts to the education and university budget, suspending the funding of countless programs needed to ensure adequate conditions for education and academic activity.
It has stopped paying the National Fund for Teacher Incentives (FONID), a historic gain won by the teachers and that represented a significant percentage of their pay at compulsory levels of education and has effectively blocked collective negotiations in national education and universities, resulting in more than a one third fall in the purchasing power of teachers’ salaries.
In so doing, the national government is disregarding its obligation to guarantee the right to education at all levels, and – at the same time as pushing for education to be declared an essential service in order to suppress the right to strike – has caused thousands of working teachers to fall below the poverty line.
With particular regard to universities, the government is not only subjecting them to its general plan to reduce public spending and shrink the state but is deliberately throwing their operation into crisis so as to open the doors to the market, threatening to destroy a public system that is unique for its democratic and popular standing.
In our experience, in the past, budgetary asphyxiation has been used as an extortive condition aimed at subjecting academic activity to the objectives of the business sector or international financial organisations.
The president’s intention to refocus education financing on demand –through vouchers, credits or similar formulas – is a key component in the global strategy of privatising and commercialising education, which has already made significant progress in other countries around the world, especially in Latin America.
With this in mind, we must warn against attempts to trigger the fragmentation of the university system, leading to a scenario – as in other countries – in which some niches of excellence and “world ranking” coexist alongside institutions or areas where activity, limited to the teaching function, would be subjugated to market logic, based on more precarious work for teachers and reducing university education to the provision of credentials to raise people’s “employability”.
But the precariousness and the breakdown of equal conditions is already
visible in various aspects of academic life.
For example, the deepening of the crisis is leading to the search for emergency solutions, which are a matter of particular concern, such as the incorporation of virtual spaces to replace on-site education in universities, as was the case during the pandemic.
Argentina’s public universities are not only deemed unnecessary by a neocolonial project such as that represented by Milei, but an obstacle to its aspirations.
For this reason, another invective has now been added to the usual accusations of inefficiency and corruption that the right wing tends to wield against them: public universities are dangerous centres of political and ideological “indoctrination”.
The public responsibility of an institution in which the plurality of ideas and the comprehensiveness of education promotes the development of a critical citizenry and supportive sociability that does not bow to the dogmatic imposition of inevitable suffering and injustice, that debates the problems affecting the majority and engages in the collective search for solutions to resolve them, is an obstacle to those who want a people enslaved.
Faced with this onslaught, our unions are in a permanent state of mobilisation to defend public education and universities and the decimated scientifictechnological system.
And, together with all grassroots organisations, we are actively involved in building resistance to this policy, which is authoritarian and devastating in every way.
On 23 April this year, more than one and a half million people filled the streets of Buenos Aires and numerous cities throughout the country, under the banner of defending public universities.
The transversal and mass nature of this call to action reflects the deep
rootedness of certain shared values among the population and attests to the importance of an institution that is central to the construction of democracy, social justice and sovereignty.
In this demand and the clear determination to fight for it lies our confidence in a people that during every period of resistance, throughout our history, have managed to rebuild the implacable hope of being able to achieve a more just society in these lands.
Yamile Socolovsky is professor in political philosophy at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Argentina). She is the director of the Research and Capacity Building Institute of CONADU and the international secretary of its executive board. She is also the training and research secretary of the Central de Trabajadores de Argentina. The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect any official policies or positions of EI, the AEU or SSTUWA. This article was first published on the Education International website and has been reproduced here with permission.
(Photo: Conadu/Facebook)
Continuation of Fee-Free TAFE
The AEU has welcomed the Albanese Government’s announcement to establish Fee-Free TAFE as an enduring feature of the national vocational education and training system, funding 100,000 Fee-Free TAFE places a year from 2027.
AEU President Correna Haythorpe said it was a decision that benefited TAFE students, teachers and the broader economy.
“Fee-Free TAFE has been life changing for students, with increased access for a range of people, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances, and regional and remote areas,” she said.
“This unprecedented access to TAFE has opened doors for a new generation of students who previously would not have been able to undertake vocational education.
“For TAFE teachers, Fee-Free TAFE has brought certainty with respect to the courses on offer.”
Ms Haythorpe said locking in the architecture for Fee-Free TAFE was critically important, so that future governments could not take TAFE backwards, which had been seen in the past when governments failed to support TAFE.
“There is, however, still a TAFE teaching workforce piece that needs to be undertaken to attract and retain teachers with the skills and knowledge needed for the future,” she said.
“Additionally, these teachers must be supported with appropriate teaching and learning facilities with investment in capital infrastructure and state of the art equipment.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Albanese Government through their tripartite approach.”
Ms Haythorpe also welcomed the Albanese Government’s announcement of a further 20 per cent reduction of student loan debt for those who had studied at university or through vocational education.
“This change to student debt will be of significant benefit to not only students currently undertaking their studies, but also for those newly graduated teachers to reduce their debt and provide cost of living relief,” she said.
“This announcement will not only help those who have previously studied and accrued debt, it will also make further education, whether at TAFE or university, more accessible in the future and that will produce dividends in attracting and retaining the teachers of the future.”
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has also welcomed the announcement.
ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O’Brien said: “From raising wages to lowering costs on household bills and making FeeFree TAFE permanent, unions welcome the Albanese Government’s laser focus on cost-of-living relief for working people.
“Fee-Free TAFE is making education more affordable and accessible, easing pressure on household budgets, and ensuring more young people have the financial freedom to pursue their dream careers.
“Working people want stability to earn a decent living. Under the Coalition, TAFE was cut to the bone and now they are signalling more spending cuts if they win the next election. Australians just can’t trust the Coalition with TAFE.”
Since its launch in January 2023, over 508,000 Australians have enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE in courses across essential sectors such as care, digital and tech, construction and early childhood education.
The announcement builds on the Albanese Government’s $30 billion investment over five years through the National Skills Agreement.
The focus on cost-of-living relief with vocational education contrasts with the previous government’s funding cuts to TAFE and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor’s current pledge to cut government spending if they win the next election.
But, for many year groups in West Australian public schools, class sizes are the highest in the nation. Some politicians argue that class sizes don’t matter. But this doesn’t pass the pub test. Would it matter if there were 50 children in a class? Or 100?
Of course class sizes matter.
Smaller classes mean more individual attention for our children. They mean fewer distractions while they learn. And they would make it less likely for conflicts to arise in our classrooms.
Plus, smaller class sizes mean a more manageable workload for our teachers, less burnout, and fewer people leaving the profession.
There are more than 10,000 registered teachers in Western Australia who are not currently teaching in our schools.
Why do you think this is?
We’re calling on the WA Government to implement a long-term plan to reduce the maximum class size for years four to ten, from 32 to 27.
This will mean building new classrooms and recruiting new teachers. But, with more and more children having complex needs, this is an investment we need to make as a community.
And, in a wealthy state like WA, this is also an investment we can afford to make.
Seen around the SSTUWA
November State Council Conference was held again at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre last month.
State Council is the highest making decision body for the SSTUWA and more than 130 delegates met for two days to discuss union activities and direction.
Delegates also heard from keynote speakers Susan Hopgood, former president of Education International, AEU Victoria Branch President Meredith Peace, Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton and Andrew Whitehouse, professor of autism research at UWA and Telethon Kids Institute.
At November State Council Conference, union members Monica Burnell and
Cherie Fielder were named as this year’s recipients of the Lynette Virgona Award and SSTUWA Reconciliation in Action Award, respectively. Congratulations to both.
Graeme Repper was bestowed with life membership of the SSTUWA, while former union president Pat Byrne and former UnionsWA secretary Owen Whittle gave moving speeches to honour late SSTUWA work health and safety organiser Joy Barrett.
Many thanks to all those delegates who committed their time towards another successful State Council Conference.
Seen in the SSTUWA office recently was union member Vanessa Rooney, the
2024 Anna Stewart Memorial Project participant.
Vanessa, from North Metropolitan TAFE, spent a week with other union women delegates to see how unions are organised and learn more about issues and campaigns.
She visited UnionsWA and spent time at the SSTUWA building as well. Congratulations to Vanessa.
The SSTUWA would like to thank all of its members for their commitment to strong public education and workplace conditions this year and wishes them a safe and relaxing holiday break.
Nov SCC: Paul Reynolds, Craig Bourne, James Keillor and Natasha Schmitt.
Nov SCC: Jo Talbot and Hannah Kyriakacis.
Nov SCC: Peter O’Neill and Stephanie Hughes.
Nov SCC: Tom James, Stacey Scorer and Heather Riseberry.
Nov SCC: Chris Spencer and Shaaron Cullen.
Nov SCC: Reconciliation in Action Award recipient Cherie Fielder.
Anna Stewart MP: Anna Stewart Memorial Project 2024 participant Vanessa Rooney.
Nov SCC: Lynette Virgona Award winner Monica Burnell.
Nov SCC: Retiring long-time staff member Frank Herzog with Kimberley-Pilbara delegates.
Nov SCC: Dr Andrew Whitehouse. Nov SCC: Owen Whittle.
Nov SCC: Natalie Blewitt and Sabine Winton.
National education and union news
School funding plea takes over the sky
The AEU’s pre-election campaign has been launched with a spectacular drone show above Sydney’s skyline, urging the Albanese Government to fully fund public schools.
As Parliament ended for the year and the federal election looms, the AEU lit up Sydney Harbour with 300 individual drones in a request direct to the Prime Minister to fully fund schools to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
AEU President Correna Haythorpe said Prime Minister Albanese’s commitment to fully fund public schools is in danger of being viewed as a broken promise, with outstanding negotiations yet to secure funding for all states.
“This message above Sydney’s sky is just the beginning, as we urge the Prime Minister to fulfil the promise that was made by Labor more than a decade ago. We have seen an entire generation of students miss out on this vital funding; we cannot afford for the next generation to miss out as well,” she said.
With school funding negotiations with New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria at a standstill, Ms Haythorpe said it was a risky move for
the Albanese government to be heading to the federal election without resolving the impasse and providing the funding needed.
To address the funding shortfall, the AEU is campaigning to achieve:
• A full commitment to a genuine 25 per cent SRS share from the Commonwealth.
• A genuine 75 per cent SRS share from states and territories including the removal of the four per cent depreciation tax.
Neither of these issues have been addressed by the Better and Fairer
Schools legislation that passed the Senate late last month.
“The AEU welcomes the funding floor that is set by this legislation, as it gives certainty to schools by enshrining a minimum amount of Commonwealth funding,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“However, we maintain our ongoing concerns that public schools across the nation will remain underfunded by billions of dollars over the next decade unless that floor is lifted to 25 per cent, and all funding is required to go to public schools rather than the current conditions that allow four per cent to go to non-school based costs.”
Australia becomes world leader in protecting workers’ rights and safety
The ACTU welcomes Australia becoming the first country in the Asia-Pacific region, and among the first globally, to ratify all 10 fundamental International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, following the ratification of two work health and safety conventions in Geneva at a tripartite ceremony consisting of unions, employers and governments.
The ratification of the ILO Convention No. 187 (Promotional Framework for
Occupational Safety and Health) and ILO Convention No. 191 [Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments)] demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to workplace safety and international labour standards.
This follows the 2022 decision by the ILO to elevate a safe and healthy working environment to a fundamental principle and right at work.
Member countries of the ILO now have an obligation to promote and realise this right, alongside other core principles such as the right to freedom of association, the elimination of forced and child labour, and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation.
Ratifying these conventions complements key measures already implemented by the Albanese Government to strengthen workers’ health and safety, including the
ban on engineered stone and the rollout of Respect@Work recommendations to prevent gender-based violence in the workplace.
ACTU President Michele O’Neil said Australia had committed to leading the world in ensuring every worker had the right to a safe and healthy workplace.
“Working people through their unions take action every day to make workplaces safer and have long campaigned for
Australia to align with international labour standards,” she said.
“Ratifying these international conventions signals to every Australian that the Albanese Government will protect our workplace rights and demonstrates Australia’s commitment to workers’ health and safety.
“The new ratifications build on other important actions the federal government has taken to protect workers’
health and safety, like protecting workers against deadly silica dust, making employers responsible for preventing sexual harassment and implementing all the Respect@Work recommendations.
“Every worker has a right to be safe at work and to return safely to their loved ones at the end of the day.”
Flight attendants celebrate pay rise
From 1 November, more than 800 cabin crew employed through labour hire saw pay rises of up to 28 per cent.
This was due to the Albanese Government’s industrial relations laws that shut down labour-hire wage cutting schemes.
Flight attendants employed by labour hire earn significantly less than their directly employed coworkers despite performing the same role. For full-time cabin crew, this salary gap amounts to thousands of dollars per annum, excluding allowances.
1 November 2024 was the earliest date in which the Fair Work Commission’s “regulated labour hire arrangement orders” could come into effect. Regardless of when the orders are made, companies including Qantas Domestic have committed to pay labour hire workers at least the minimum amount as directly employed cabin crew –amounting to pay rises of up to 28 per cent with back payments from the first full pay period after 1 November.
The labour hire orders were introduced through the Albanese Government’s Same Job Same Pay laws that passed
last year. The laws closed the labour hire loophole which allowed airlines like Qantas to split their cabin crew workforce across multiple corporate entities and labour hire contractors to avoid paying the higher wages and better conditions of enterprise bargaining agreements.
Fair Work Commission orders that came into force on 1 November also gave pay rises to workers as diverse as mining and meatworks, with dozens more applications still being considered.
The Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) submitted three Same Job Same Pay applications in June and July 2024. As a result of these applications, Qantas not only agreed to pay rises for domestic crew, but also sought to amend their EBA for long-haul cabin crew.
The application is currently with the Fair Work Commission for approval and would result in substantial pay rises for about 2,500 international crew.
The Same Job Same Pay laws were introduced in response to the industrial relations practices of employers like former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who
exploited the labour hire loophole to cut workers’ wages.
In an address to the Institute of Public Affairs in July 2023, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton praised Joyce for his economic views: “Full credit to Alan Joyce for engaging in discussions around industrial relations and he’s been very forthright in his views on industrial relations,” he said.
The Coalition voted against the Same Job Same Pay laws and have refused to rule out a pay cut for impacted workers if they win the next election.
ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said the wage increases were life-changing for flight attendants and their loved ones.
“Working people across many industries are experiencing the benefits of the Albanese Government refusing to bend to big business who lobbied hard to stop these laws, including CEOs like Alan Joyce,” she said.
“The Coalition voted against the laws that delivered these pay rises, they railed against them, and no doubt they will do what big business wants and repeal them if elected.”
Education & Training Centre
With thanks for 2024
The Education and Training Centre was delighted to provide close to 140 learning opportunities for members during 2024. We welcomed over 1,600 participants during the year for both online and face-to-face events.
“Helpful summary of the union rep role and responsibilities delivered with confidence, character and wit!”
Rapids Landing PS
We welcomed members to the SSTUWA building to industrial training opportunities for elected delegates, two major conferences, work health and safety courses for health and safety representatives (HSR)s and face-to-face professional learning events.
“Once again, I walk away from the Women’s Conference feeling empowered.”
Shorehaven PS
Online professional learning also continued to be a popular choice with our regional members. Forty different professional courses were offered as live 60-minute, three-hour or five-hour sessions. Each online event provided SSTUWA members an opportunity to interact and learn with teachers from all across Australia.
Thanks to all those elected delegates who attended training with us in 2024. The SSTUWA team have provided outstanding courses to support our delegates in their important union leadership role in their branches and districts. Over 500 elected delegates attended training this year in addition to nearly 300 HSRs.
We look forward to welcoming you all back to the building or joining you online for some further powerful learning opportunities in 2025. If you have not attended a learning event at the SSTUWA, we encourage you to visit our website regularly to see what’s on offer.
Happy holidays,
Kevlynn Annandale Education and Training Centre Coordinator
January 2025 – Outstanding learning opportunities at the SSTUWA Register today! sstuwa.org.au/training
January 2025 professional learning opportunities
Join us at the Education and Training Centre in January to start the new school year with some inspiration and learning. New events on offer and some amazing new speakers. Events Thursday 16 January - Wednesday 29 January 2025
Thursday 16 January 2025 9am-12.30pm
The Power of Story in Years 1-6: Using Children’s Literature as the Road to Better Writing
Presenter: Ron Gorman, Education Consultant
This inspiring half-day course will show you how to use quality children’s literature to engage children in close reading and writing. Exposure to high-quality children’s literature, focusing on what successful writers and illustrators do, can support critical and creative thinking and contribute to students thinking and writing. The course will focus on anchor texts, both word and visual. Ron will provide a range of effective, evidence-based strategies to deepen students’ understanding and use of language, sentence structure and context in all three strands of the English Curriculum.
Monday 20 January 2025 9am-3pm
Writing Job Applications and Interview Skills for Teaching Positions
Presenter: Vanessa Herbert, PDT Consultancy
If you are looking to apply for a teaching position in the near future, then don’t miss out on being part of this outstanding two-part course.
Participants will gain an understanding of the current requirements for demonstrating competitiveness when applying to IPS or non-IPS sites via a covering letter and curriculum vitae/resume.
The course will also cover key aspects of preparing for and performing effectively at interviews for teaching positions.
Wednesday 22 January 2025 9am-1pm
SSTUWA - Building a Strong Foundation for New Teachers in Public Education
Presenters: Natalie Blewitt and Chloe Hosking, SSTUWA
If you are currently studying education and/or working in a school under the TRBWA Limited Registration category, then this course is for you. Build your understanding and knowledge of important working conditions that may impact your success and wellbeing in a school. Join this half-day event to learn how the SSTUWA will support you through the start of your teaching journey and beyond. You will explore important clauses from the General Agreement 2023 (Schools) and unwrap what they mean to you. Hear about DOTT, staff meetings, class sizes, teaching loads and much more.
Friday 17 January 2025 9.30am-1pm
Wealth Management Partners (WMP) Pre-Retirement Seminar for K-TAFE
Presenter: Nick Ferguson – Senior Financial Planner
If you plan to retire in the next five years, this seminar is for you! WMP Financial Planning have the experience, know-how and understanding to help you make your retirement plan a success. Topics will include:
• Gold State Super, West State Super and GESB Super.
• Retirement planning.
• The age pension.
• Taxation considerations.
• Transition to retirement.
• Estate planning.
A free event for members and their partners. Event is fully booked – join the waitlist.
Tuesday 21 January 2025 9am-3pm
Lead with Intention in the Early Years
Presenter: Amie Fabry, Director ECE Learning Futures
Are you an educator working in a formal K-2 leadership role, or maybe you are a mentor for other early years teachers, or providing informal leadership while working collaboratively with other early childhood teachers? Whatever your role in leading others, this transformational course is for you.
Join Dr Amie Fabry to hear about her research on how early childhood pedagogical leaders assist early years teachers embed ECE pedagogy.
You will receive a copy of the Lead with Intention, a framework for leading the early years of school.
Event is fully booked – join the waitlist.
Wednesday 29 January 2025 9am-1pm
Wellbeing for Teachers – How to Maximise Your Mental and Physical Health using a Mind-Brain Approach
Presenters: Tammy-Anne Caldwell and Todd Budden
This half-day event with Tammy-Anne and Todd is all about you. The course will empower you to look after your own mental health and wellbeing. Join Tammy-Anne and Todd, who will share evidence-based, cutting-edge strategies that they use to keep themselves mentally fit and healthy. As you participate in this highly practical, interactive session you will also learn the why of brain science and learn to enjoy a flourishing and resilient level of wellbeing.
The session will be fun, full of true stories and will be highly practical with tools and techniques to use immediately. Boost your wellbeing with brain-science.
Member benefits
Accountants and Financial Advisers
Aston Accountants
10% discount on personal income tax returns for members.
sstuwa.org.au/aston
Industry Fund Services
Specialist financial products for union members.
sstuwa.org.au/ifs
LIFE Financial Planners
$1,200 off your statement of advice fee plus a free financial health check for members.
sstuwa.org.au/lifefinancial
TIPS Financial Services
$1,100 discount on your TIPS Transition to Retirement strategy or Retirement plan. Exclusive to members. sstuwa.org.au/tipsfs
Banking
ME Bank
Special offers throughout the year for members. A bank built by, and for, union members.
sstuwa.org.au/mebank
Mortgages, Money and Me
Complimentary advice, property reports, finance tools and more for SSTUWA members.
sstuwa.org.au/mmme
OFX Money Transfers
When it matters, OFX it. Save with the experts in international money transfers.
sstuwa.org.au/ofx
Teachers Mutual Bank
Banking exclusively for the education community.
sstuwa.org.au/tmbank
Massive discounts on products and services for SSTUWA members
Cars
AutoBahn
Mechanical and electrical services. Members receive 10% off any AutoBahn service or repair, capped at $100. sstuwa.org.au/autobahn
Bayswater Mazda
Exclusive offer including fuel card, servicing and more. sstuwa.org.au/bayswatermazda
Bob Jane T-Marts
National fleet pricing on a range of products and services. sstuwa.org.au/bobjane
easifleet
$250 Magic Hand Carwash voucher with any easifleet procured novated lease.
sstuwa.org.au/easifleet
Europcar
10% discount on vehicle hire in Australia. sstuwa.org.au/europcar
Paywise
Fleet Network is now Paywise. Package your next car and save on tax. Bonus gift with vehicle delivery. sstuwa.org.au/paywise
Western Motor Vehicle Consultants
We’ll find a car you’ll love. Save time and money when sourcing your next vehicle. sstuwa.org.au/westernmotors
Computers
Altronics
Build it yourself electronics centre. VIP trade discount in store and online. sstuwa.org.au/altronics
Apple on Campus
For details visit: sstuwa.org.au/apple
Dell
Save up to 5% off selected items. sstuwa.org.au/dell
HP Computers
Huge savings for members on laptops, accessories, printers and more. sstuwa.org.au/hp
PLE Computers
Save on your IT with access to the PLE Computers academic portal. sstuwa.org.au/ple
Educational Resources
Effective Group Work
Beyond Cooperative Learning. By Barrie Bennett. sstuwa.org.au/effectivegroupwork
Graphic Intelligence
Possibilities for Assessment and Instruction. By Barrie Bennett. sstuwa.org.au/graphicintelligence
Instructional Intelligence
Building Instructional Expertise for the Classroom. An SSTUWA project in collaboration with Barrie Bennett. sstuwa.org.au/instructionalintelligence
Teacher Superstore
5-10% discount, in store and online. sstuwa.org.au/teachersuperstore
Entertainment
Movie tickets
Pre-order your movie tickets and save. sstuwa.org.au/movietickets
Outback Splash
Featuring both water and year-round attractions. Discounted tickets for members. sstuwa.org.au/outbacksplash
Rockface
Indoor rock climbing in Balcatta. $15 all day climbing pass with harness hire. sstuwa.org.au/rockface
Food and Wine
Campbells
Access wholesale prices with a complimentary day pass. sstuwa.org.au/campbells
Cellar d’Or
Best value winery tour in the Margaret River Region. 10% discount for members. sstuwa.org.au/cellardor
Taste Bud Tours
Swan Valley “Speed Grazing” – 20% discount. Good Food, Wine & Cider (am) or Good Food, Wine & Beer (pm). sstuwa.org.au/tastebudtours
Health and Wellbeing
St John
First aid saves lives. Discounted first aid courses and kits for members. sstuwa.org.au/stjohn
WA Opticians
20% discount on spectacle frames and lenses. Perth and East Perth. sstuwa.org.au/waopticians
Housing
Houspect
Buy, build and invest with confidence. $50 discount on prepurchase building inspections. sstuwa.org.au/houspect
Johns Building Supplies
Trade prices on paint and painters’ hardware. Builders prices on all other hardware lines. sstuwa.org.au/jbs
SkylightsWA
Specialising in skylights and roof ventilation, servicing all regions of WA. 7% discount off selected products. sstuwa.org.au/skylightswa
Wattyl
15% off Wattyl paints, stains and accessories at Wattyl Paint Centres in WA. sstuwa.org.au/wattyl
Insurance and Legal
Journey Cover insurance
For details visit: sstuwa.org.au/journeycover
SSTUWA Legal Services
Access to quality legal services for both work-related and personal matters.
sstuwa.org.au/legal
Teachers Health Fund
Join the thousands of teachers who have already made the switch. sstuwa.org.au/teachershealth
Teachers Health – Travel
For Teachers Health members who are planning a trip away, Teachers Health travel insurance offers comprehensive cover at competitive rates. sstuwa.org.au/travelinsurance
Wills for members
Members can access a complimentary simple will, where appropriate. For more information or details about a complex will, visit: sstuwa.org.au/wills
Shopping
isubscribe
Up to an extra 10% off any print and digital magazine subscription; over 4,000 titles. sstuwa.org.au/isubscribe
Jackson’s Drawing Supplies
10% discount in Jackson’s 12 shops and online. sstuwa.org.au/jacksons
Petals Flowers & Gifts
20% off flowers and gifts. World-wide delivery available. sstuwa.org.au/petals
Teacher Superstore
5-10% discount, in store and online. sstuwa.org.au/teachersuperstore
Travel and Accommodation
Accor Hotels
Great savings for teachers at Accor Hotels in the Asia Pacific region. sstuwa.org.au/accorhotels
Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels welcomes SSTUWA members with exclusive rates at locations in Australia and NZ. sstuwa.org.au/choicehotels
Duxton Hotel Perth
15% off the best available rate for members. Five star accommodation in the Perth CBD. sstuwa.org.au/duxton
Experience Oz
Save 10% on over 3,000 experiences across Oz + NZ. sstuwa.org.au/experienceoz
Inn the Tuarts Guest Lodge
Forest retreat, 4-star, with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and BBQ. Adults (12 years+) only. Five minutes to Busselton. Studios and rooms. 22.5% off rack rate or best available rate. sstuwa.org.au/innthetuarts
Jarrah Grove Forest Retreat
Luxurious, self-contained accommodation in Margaret River. Discounted rates for members. sstuwa.org.au/jarrahgrove
Mandurah Houseboats
10% discount on houseboat holidays. sstuwa.org.au/houseboats
Metro Hotel Perth City
15% discount on the best available rate. Located in East Perth near the WACA and Gloucester Park. sstuwa.org.au/metroperth
Rottnest ferry tickets
Save up to $15 on Rottnest ferry tickets with WestClub. sstuwa.org.au/rottnest
Classifieds
Augusta
3x1 spacious holiday rental. One double, one queen, five singles. 200m from the river and town. Magnificent river views. One large living area, three sided veranda and BBQ. Provide own linen and towels. $150 per night plus $50 cleaning fee. gregrowl@iinet.net.au
Dianella
2 bed granny flat (as new) located behind the main house. Private, quiet area with under main roof patio and adjoining small garden. Roadside parking. No pets. Suit mature person looking for long-term rent. $550/week (includes amenities). Available partly furnished if required. Call for further information or to view: 0404 098 302
Dunsborough (Quindalup)
Large 4x2 holiday home on Geographe Bay Rd. Swimming beach 30m away. Free use of private boat mooring. Room to park boats with boat ramp a minute away. Slow combustion wood heater and reverse-cycle air-con. Available all year except for leavers’ vacation. No pets. 0419 943 203 a_r_moore@bigpond.com
Dwellingup
Après Huit and Dwell Cottage provide luxury self-contained accommodation set in beautifully landscaped gardens. Can be rented separately or together. Après Huit: 2x2, main house. Dwell Cottage: 1x1, furnished in a French theme. Robert: 0419 954 079 dwellcottage.com.au
Dwellingup
In need of a tree change? Time out to reconnect with nature? Time for a vacation in Dwellingup’s Jarrah forest, 90 minutes from Perth. Chuditch Holiday Home is perfect for couples, groups and families. It’s centrally located and sleeps up to eight people. Shani: 0402 615 235 shanivore@hotmail.com
Frankland River
Private secluded retreat. Choose from three different types of separate accommodation. Three bedroom homestead: two king beds, two single beds – sleeps six (no pets). Two adults $195/night, children under 13 $25/night, extra adult guests $50/night. One bedroom chalet: one queen bed – sleeps two. $139/night, adults only. One bedroom cabin: one queen bed – sleeps two. $169/night, adults only. franklandriver.com.au
Jade: 0430 450 093 | Sam: 0413 160 093
Fremantle
Short term accommodation in central Fremantle. Recently refurbished with
all conveniences for modern living. Townhouse has three queen-sized bedrooms plus provision for two singles. Enjoy time in the rear garden, complete with BBQ. Secure parking for two cars, access controlled by electric gates. 9430 4458 | 0407 083 174 info@westerley.com.au
Fremantle
Staycation? Attending a function? Cosmopolitan getaway? Fremantle is the place. Cafes, restaurants and breweries. Markets, beach, art galleries, museums, theatre, events, shopping, skate park, Ferris wheel, whale watching... What more could you want? Eco-Gallery Apartment is stylish, centrally located, sleeps three and has secure parking. (08) 6323 2339 admin@smartstaywa.com.au
Kallaroo
Serenity Escape is a 2x1 apartment with full kitchen, offering comfort and convenience. 20 min walk to beach, 5 min drive to train station, walking distance to Whitfords Brewing Co, cinema and shops. Toiletries, slippers and coffee machine provided. Min two nights. Sleeps four, or five with mattress. No pets. $125/night for 3 people; $10/night per extra person. Molly: 0428 166 559 mollysletters@gmail.com
Kalbarri
Clean, tidy, self-contained family-friendly 3x1 brick house at the top end of a quiet cul-de-sac. Sleeps eight: two x queen beds and two x bunk beds. Close to Blue Holes Beach, 15 min walk to town. kalbarriwa.net.au | 0435 845 504
Lancelin
Large 5x2 holiday home. Everything within walking distance, close to beaches and town centre. Sleeps 14. Large wrap around verandah with outdoor seating/eating and bbq. Heaps of parking for boats or quads. $45/night/person (min six). Min two nights.
SMS: 0412 804 345
Margaret River
Two bedrooms, private, comfortable, fully equipped stone cottage with fireplace, located amongst the forest opposite Boranup National Park, 17km south of Margaret River on Caves Road. Close to beaches, wineries, caves and galleries. $150 per night for two people, or provide own linen and towels for $120 per night. Russell: 0418 933 270
Nannup
Seraphim Retreat is a pet friendly 3x1 character farm cottage, five minutes from friendly Nannup. Set in acreage, with established gardens and stunning valley views. Air conditioned and wood heater. Horse riders can bring their horses to access our arena and trails. Teacher discount: $159 weekends, $149 midweek. See website for details.
seraphimretreatnannup.com
SMS 0420 832 510
Safety Bay
Very clean and tidy, traditional style 3x1 duplex in Safety Bay. Fully furnished and equipped. One street from beach. Presently a minimum stay requirement (this may change).
cnjn@aapt.net.au
Trigg
Self contained accommodation. Kitchen, laundry, queen sized bed plus fold out double couch in lounge. Free WiFi and Netflix. Own entrance. Find us on Facebook.
Rammed earth cottage, 2x1, nestled amongst bushland. Well located, short walk to Studio Gallery Bistro, two-minute drive to Caves House. Beaches, galleries, wineries and restaurants close by. Sleeps six. No dogs. stayz.com.au (property 136151)
Kirsty: 0419 927 660
Email 50 words or fewer to editor@sstuwa.org.au along with your union membership number. Free for members.
Classifieds
Tranquillity Counselling, Psychotherapy and Career Development
I provide holistic, confidential practical counselling to help you deal with an array of issues, some being: general relationship, mental health, anger issues/management, anxiety, depression, self-harm, grief and trauma, addiction, abuse, palliative care. Milica Robinson, MCnsig&Psychthpy, GradCertCareerDev, BEd. 0422 358 187
Retirement coach
Are you recently retired or retiring soon?
You probably have a financial plan in place but developing a plan for the non-financial side of retirement can be as important as preparing financially. I offer support and guidance for the transition from work to retirement, helping you to find purpose and meaning in retirement. Contact me to arrange an obligation free chat. retirementcoaching01@gmail.com
Marriage celebrant
Marriage celebrant with 12 years of experience, working in the Peel, South West and Perth areas. Specialising in creating personalised ceremonies for couples at their chosen wedding location. I’d love to help you plan your special day!
Meridith: 0400 312 535 meri.lake4@gmail.com
Marriage celebrant
Heart Centered Ceremonies for couples wanting a personalised wedding. Lee will help you design your dream wedding – a memorable occasion. Mention this ad to receive a discount.
Lee: 0404 655 567 leehalligancelebrant.com.au
Marriage celebrant
Experienced professional celebrant available, all areas. Formal or informal, large or small weddings. A Beautiful Ceremony will help you design an unforgettable and uniquely personal ceremony.
Mary: 0418 906 391 maryburke40@hotmail.com
Funeral celebrant
I am an experienced funeral celebrant. It will be my honour to assist you in the cocreation and presentation of a ceremony that serves to honour your loved one, by revealing their essence through a uniquely constructed and presented combination of spoken word, rituals, symbols, audio and visual displays.
0449 075 001
Kc.fcelebrant@gmail.com
Learn to social dance
Learn jive, waltz, rumba, samba, tango and other dances for social events (ball, wedding, cruise, etc). A fun and easy course with quality instruction. Join with or without a partner. Melville (LeisureFit) Recreation Centre. Mondays 7.30-9pm. $118/8 weeks. Beginners’ course held every term. Term 1 2025 starts Monday 10 February. Stan: 9330 6737 | stan@stansdancing.com
First aid training for students
St John Ambulance WA offers free first aid training to all school aged students, ranging from Triple 000 Hero for Kindergarten students to Road Trauma First Aid for secondary school students. Courses are curriculum mapped. (08) 9334 1259 youth@stjohnambulance.com.au
Messines Bee Farm Incursions
Book for 2025 before 15 December and receive 2024 prices! No payment needed until day of incursion. Four bee/ sustainability themed incursions for primary, K - 6. Play based, engaging, hands on, live bees, honey tasting. messines.com.au workshops@messines.com.au
Road safety education for schools
RAC offers free curriculum aligned road safety workshops and online resources for primary schools (pre-primary to Year 6) and secondary schools (Years 10 to 12), covering a range of road safety topics designed to keep young people safe on and around the roads. (08) 9436 4471 | rac.com.au/education communityeducation@rac.com.au
Jump Rope for Heart
Looking for a ready-to-use program for your health and physical education plan? The Heart Foundation’s five-week Jump Rope for Heart program is just what you need! This easy-to-run primary school program, supported by an online teacher portal full of helpful resources, makes incorporating skipping into your school’s activities a breeze. It inspires kids to move more, have fun and develop heart-healthy habits, all while raising funds to save Aussie hearts. Discover how you can support your students in becoming Heart Heroes at jumprope.org.au
MAWA
The Mathematical Association of Western Australia offers professional learning opportunities, conferences and consultancy services to teachers and schools and networks. MAWA members receive 10 per cent discount on MAWA shop resources. For more information: mawainc.org.au
9345 0388 | eo@mawainc.org.au
Macramé is the new yoga
I'm a teacher running small group macramé classes in a cosy home studio. Join me and discover the power of mindfulness as you learn to engage your mind and your hands in a fun supportive environment. It's a powerful way to calm a busy mind.
marcia@knotinlove.com.au
Rainbow Reading
Are you running support groups for ESL, special needs or reading? Do you tutor adolescents or adult reading? Using proven techniques we enhance results. Our innovative reading pen assists with learning, while motivating the hard-toengage student. Available for all our books. rainbowreading.com.au
Di: 0407 490 253
Noticeboard
Retired teachers
Thank you to all retired teacher members who joined us at the Christmas lunch on 2 December. Find the photos at sstuwa.org.au/RetiredTeachers and in the RTA Facebook Group.
Wishing you an enjoyable festive season!
Stay in touch: Join the RTA Facebook Group –search “Retired Teachers’ Association of the SSTUWA”.
State Council Conference
June 2025 State Council Conference will be held on 13-14 June. Items must be received by 11 April.
November 2025 State Council Conference will be held on 14-15 November. Items must be received by 19 September.
The first round of nominations for delegates will open on 22 January, and the term of office is for a two-year period. More information will be available at sstuwa.org.au/GO25 and within the Getting Organised 2025 booklet.
Human Rights Day
Observed every year on 10 December, which is the day in 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in re-building the world we want, the need for global solidarity, as well as our interconnectedness and shared humanity. Visit un.org/en/observances/human-rightsday for more information.
Festive season office closure dates
The SSTUWA office will close at 4.30pm on Friday 20 December and reopen at 8am on Monday 6 January 2025. Have a happy, safe and enjoyable holiday season.
2025 wall planner
The 2025 wall planner was distributed with the print version of November’s Western Teacher
Digital edition subscribers can order a planner at sstuwa.org.au/wall-planner
Research
and studies
Did you know we have an extensive collection of research and studies on our website?
