Key things beginning teachers should know

New educators Key things beginning teachers should know

By Natalie Blewitt Growth Team coordinator

The SSTUWA has early career teachers covered. From support, journey cover, professional development to entitlements, the SSTUWA has worked hard to ensure a range of rights and entitlements are available for beginning teachers. Your rights, entitlements and responsibilities as a public school teacher in Western Australia are laid out in the School Education Act Employees’ (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2017 and the Teachers (Public Sector Primary and Secondary) Award 1993. Both the General Agreement and the Award are documents negotiated between the SSTUWA and the Department of Education (DoE), and are registered in the Western Australia Industrial Relations Commission. These documents apply across all Western Australian public schools irrespective of Independent Public School status. Graduate teacher curriculum materials allowance A curriculum materials allowance is available to support contracted first year graduate teachers in acquiring personal curriculum materials. Primary and district high school graduate teachers have access to $150 and secondary graduate teachers have access to $78. You should use your own professional judgement to choose the materials suited to your needs and the materials purchased will belong to you. You will need to produce receipts to your school to be reimbursed. Funding for the graduate teacher curriculum materials allowance is allocated directly to your school once the department is notified of your appointment. Graduate Teacher Allowance Full time graduate teachers will receive an allowance of $1,600 per year for each of their first two years. Part time teachers

will receive this allowance pro rata. Each annual allowance is paid according to the term of employment and is paid as soon as practicable after commencement of employment. This allowance is paid directly to you through payroll. Graduate release time Graduate teachers in their first year are entitled to 0.05 FTE (full-time equivalent) per week of additional non-contact time. While it is expected that this time allocation is available to graduates on a regular basis, up to 2.5 days a term can be accumulated to accommodate different contexts and needs. Graduate teacher professional learning program Over the first two years of teaching (or longer if working casual or part-time),

graduate teachers are required to participate in structured professional learning designed to build skills, effectiveness and confidence. Seize these opportunities to sharpen and refine skills, network and advance in your career. These modules comprise of four two-day professional learning sessions. Modules one, two and three are completed sequentially while the fourth module may be accessed at any time within the first 30 months of teaching. All graduate module participation by contracted teachers is entitled to be paid; funding for two days per module is allocated to your school. This includes modules completed online, on weekends and during school holidays. All contracted graduate teachers – including those completing graduate modules in regional areas on Friday afternoons and Saturdays – should be paid for two days per module completed.

Graduate teacher contingency allowance Modules are often held in regional areas to accommodate regionally placed teachers. Contracted graduate teachers required to travel to attend modules are entitled to have their travel and accommodation expenses paid for. This allowance covers the cost of the trip to your nearest regional centre to attend the graduate module. Graduate teacher collegial support program The free in-class coaching program is one model of collegial support provided by Statewide Services. Graduates may engage with a trained graduate teacher coach for one semester of individualised support (if in their first or second year of teaching). This program is confidential and non-evaluative and will prompt reflection against the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership standards. If you are having difficulty accessing any of your rights and entitlements, don’t forget to speak to your union representative. Further advice can also be accessed through our friendly team at Member Assist. You may also wish to connect with other early career teachers through the New Educator Network. This group provides the advice, support and networking

opportunities new educators need at the early stages of their careers. To find out more, contact the team at neweducator@sstuwa.org.au or find us on Facebook.

New Educator Network - WA

Student killed in wheelchair incident

By Joy Barrett OSH organiser

A seven-year-old student from Warringa Park School in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria was killed in late 2019 when his wheelchair toppled over the base of a ramp designed to give him safe access and egress. He suffered severe head injuries and sadly died four days later. The school caters for students with intellectual disabilities. Following a lengthy investigation, WorkSafe Victoria has charged the Victorian Department of Education and Training with breaching Duties of employers to other persons, section 23 of the Victorian OSH Act. WorkSafe Victoria alleges that the department failed to maintain the ramp, failed to document the appropriate risk management strategies for the mobility requirements and supervision of its students. Additionally, they failed to properly train teachers in the documented supervision of children. The matter was due to be heard in the Melbourne Magistrate Court earlier this month. Recommended action for WA schools The SSTUWA advises that schools must contact the Department of Education if they have any concerns about the condition or suitability of any ramps, steps, stairways or other means of access and egress within their school for urgent inspection and attention. There are legal requirements for the dimensions and gradients of access ramps designed for persons with mobility issues. Some of our older public schools may well have noncompliant wheelchair access ramps which could give rise to student, staff or visitor injuries.