May 2022 Western Teacher

Volume 51.4 May 2022

The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

A new hope pg 4

sstuwa.org.au

Transfer your car loan to a novated lease and save thousands You’ll get the best price available on your next car and all your running costs – fuel, tyres, maintenance, and more!  will be covered in one fortnightly payment.

Car Loan

Novated Lease

Salary

$80,000

$80,000

Cost of Vehicle

$40,000

$36,364

Finance Over 5 Years

$54,080

Included

Running Costs

$25,250

Included

-

$70,590

$79,330

$70,590

Novated Lease Costs Total Costs

YOU SAVE $8,740 We’ve been helping Western Australian teachers drive their way to savings for decades. Book a school visit today and we’ll come to you!

Table above is based on a 60 month term; a residual value of 28.13% as required by the ATO; an annual estimate for fuel, maintenance, tyres, registration and comprehensive insurance. Car Loan finance figures are based on a variable comparison rate currently available with a major consumer bank and can vary depending on your personal circumstances. Before entering into a Novated Leasing arrangement you should consider your objectives, financial situation and needs and seek appropriate financial advice based on your personal circumstances.

Talk to Kane Bowra today to learn more.

0401 522 626 kaneb@fleetnetwork.com.au

In this edition

Volume 51.4 May 2022

In this edition

Features AEU welcomes new Labor government.....7 Stand up and break the bias.......................8 How to vote: AIP 2021 (Schools).................9 AIP 2021 (Schools) summary....................10 WHS 2020: what does it mean for me?....12 Modern laws close sliding doors..............13

2022 Western Teacher deadlines

Managing your TAFE workload:

Edition January

Deadline 29 November

Stronger together.....................................17

February

31 January

Reconciliation brings hope to creating

April

8 March

change.......................................................18

May

26 April

Regulars

Print post publication 100004470 | $4.95 ABN: 544 780 946 35

June

30 May

From the President.....................................4

Authorised by Mary Franklyn, General Secretary, The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.) 1 West Street, West Perth WA. Printed by Vanguard Press, 26 John Street, Northbridge WA. May 2022.

August

18 July

From the Senior Vice President..................6

September

22 August

Education and Training.............................28

October

3 October

Member Benefits......................................30

November

31 October

Classifieds.................................................32

Correspondence:

The Editor, PO Box 212 West Perth WA 6872 editor@sstuwa.org.au | Ph: 9210 6000

Member Assist:

Ph: 9210 6060 memberassist@sstuwa.org.au

Cover: With a new federal government comes a new hope for public education. Read more on page 4.

To access the digital copy of Western Teacher, visit: sstuwa.org.au/westernteacher

Connect with us: @sstuwa

Dates are subject to change

issues and solutions.................................14

Noticeboard...............................................34

Advertisements in Western Teacher are the responsibility of advertisers. While Western Teacher makes reasonable efforts to ensure that no misleading claims are made by advertisers, responsibility is not accepted by The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.) for statements made or the failure of any product or service to give satisfaction. Inclusion of a product or service should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

Western Teacher is the official publication of The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

Barrie Bennett reference books Effective Group Work BEYOND COOPERATIVE LEARNING n

BARRIE BENNETT

Instructional Intelligence Building Instructional Expertise for the Classroom

An SSTUWA project in collaboration with Barrie Bennett © B. Bennett, The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

Instructional Intelligence

Effective Group Work

Classroom Management

Graphic Intelligence

Dr Barrie Bennett is an internationally renowned educational expert and emeritus professor at the University of Toronto. His books cover a range of interrelated topics that support effective teaching and learning. Members can access special pricing on the series.

Place your order at sstuwa.org.au/shop Western Teacher May 2022

3

From the President

The restoration of public education

By Pat Byrne President

With Labor forming government, public education has been handed a reprieve from what may well have been an existential threat to the entire system.

Had the Morrison Government been returned there is no doubt it would have doubled down on its efforts to reduce the public education sector to a shell.

Every policy the Coalition had, from overfunding private schools, to decimating TAFE (in the eastern states in particular), refusing to give people certainty about early education, giving JobKeeper funds to private but not public universities and comments about public school teachers being duds, was designed to run down the public system. I suspect there would have been every chance under a re-elected Morrison Government of a move to school vouchers and academies.

Now, at least, we have some hope of a sympathetic ear. Repeated commitments made during the campaign to 100 per cent of Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) funding is a positive sign. However, we will need to ensure that the positive words are matched by actions and that the commitment to public education lasts past 6pm on polling day.

What we need now is a proper plan for the future of public education. We also need a healing in our country. Hopefully Antony Albanese’s strong commitment to the Uluru Statement points us in the right direction.

We need better treatment of and for women. We need action on climate 4

Western Teacher May 2022

change – a core issue for so many voters, but not highlighted in the campaign as much as it should be.

to the welfare of their peers while often not actually needing union back-up themselves.

The SSTUWA and AEU will have strong roles to play in this process.

In the context of recent challenges, the SSTUWA acknowledges and thanks you, our members, for your incredible solidarity and mutual support.

Unity is our strength, and while we may have disagreements along the way, we are united in our belief in the delivery of a fully-funded public education system that provides everyone in our community the opportunity for a quality education, where students at both schools and TAFEs are taught with care and compassion.

Our members have shown extraordinary commitment to that belief since the foundation of this union 124 years ago.

Outside of wartime and the Great Depression, it might well be that the past two years have been the toughest our members have experienced. At times 2022 has perhaps been even worse than the previous two years.

Seemingly endless changes in COVID-19 guidelines and rules; teachers, leaders and lecturers expected to be educators, triage specialists for their students and a conduit to parents about isolation, all at the same time, with many school staff reduced to doing nothing more than deal with the impact of the pandemic.

If any positives emerges from these testing times, it has been the fortitude of our members. We often get notes from retiring members about how for them union membership has been about being part of something bigger, contributing

What is becoming clear is we will need that unity as we move forward and try to fully understand and address the massive impact COVID-19 has had on young people.

There are obvious issues directly related to schooling and these flow onto TAFE. As just one small example, what possible help can NAPLAN tests (which as we know are already massively flawed) provide when they are carried out in schools where many of the teachers and students are not even present?

Behind the blatant impacts are all the hidden effects such as mental health and well-being, where the consequences inevitably flow into classrooms in the form of bad behaviour and violence.

It would appear too that many students are not even in school anymore.

According to research commissioned

by Save the Children Australia one in 25 Australian students dropped out of school during the pandemic.

The research says Perth had the nation’s highest dropout rate, where two thirds of teenagers in the electorates of Burt, Canning and Brand “dropped, delayed

From the President or deferred studies”. Across Western Australia the school dropout rate was nine per cent.

The report shows that nearly half of all teenagers spent less time studying during 2020 than they did before the pandemic, 16 per cent reported higher study-related stress and 56 per cent described their “low or very low motivation to study’’ during lockdowns and home schooling.

One in eight teenagers said they had limited internet access during the pandemic, affecting their ability to study online.

On 18 May The Australian newspaper reported the following:

Almost half of all teenagers say they spent less time studying during 2020 than they did before the pandemic

More than half of all teenagers had low motivation to study during 2020

Save the Children Australia warned that a generation of children was “losing its drive and ambition” with kids in poorer suburbs the least able to get help for mental health issues.

“The impacts of the pandemic were felt more in low socio-economic communities where they were less likely to seek help from services, and more likely to drop out of school,” said acting chief executive Mat Tinkler. “That has consequences for their long-term job prospects and income levels.

“The social and economic cost of inaction is a generation of children who are more disadvantaged, disengaged and disheartened than ever before.’’

That report encapsulates the need for broad-ranging examination of what we need to do to rebuild public education.

Those of us in the system know all too well that many of the structural issues – including funding, salaries, workload and well-being – were there before COVID-19 arrived. The pandemic didn’t start the rot, it exposed and exacerbated it.

There is strong evidence that the broader community, especially parents, know the damage that has been done and want to see action to address the situation, with the Save the Children report suggesting only 17 per cent of parents feel governments have done enough to address the issues children have experienced, including across learning and development delays.

I will have more to say about this at State Council.

16% of teenagers reported an increase in study-related stress during 2020

Between 6% and 12% of teenagers were unable to consistently access a workspace, the internet and/or electronic devices needed for studying during 2020

By late 2021, 69% of parents reported that COVID-19 had impacted their children’s learning and development

By late 2021, 68% of parents reported their children’s engagement or attendance at school being impacted by COVID-19

Source: “The True Cost of COVID-19: A Generation Left Behind”. 2022. Save the Children Australia.

Western Teacher May 2022

5

From the Senior Vice President

Agreement in Principle misinformation needs correction

By Matt Jarman Senior Vice President

This article is to provide more detail to SSTUWA school leaders in relation to the Agreement in Principle (AIP) and to address misinformation that is currently circulating.

If the AIP (Schools) is accepted, a 2.1 teacher will return to the second highest paid in the country behind Northern Territory teachers and a 2.9 teacher will return to being the best paid in the country.

Salary grade comparisons for teachers in other states are simpler to express than for school leader salary levels, where there are differences in packages across states.

For instance, in NSW the one-line budget size dictates the salary grade (under their model only Shenton College, Willetton SHS and Churchlands SHS would receive the highest salary grade).

In Victoria, superannuation is included in the state’s package, and in South Australia there are contract and permanent school leaders at different salary grades. In Queensland there are a small number of very large sites attracting an executive principal salary that few ever receive but which distorts comparisons.

The WA government wages policy of 2.75 per cent will see a 6.4 principal receive an increase of $4,763 (backdated to December 2021) and a further $4,894 in 2021/2022. This is illustrated in material on our website, which can be accessed at bit.ly/3a3Mh93 We are then back to bargaining from the second half of 2023.

The SSTUWA worked as part of the Public Sector Alliance (PSA) to campaign successfully against the state government’s $1,000 salary cap.

We succeeded in giving the $1,000 cap the boot. This campaign success has attracted the WA Police Union to join the alliance.

Public sector unions understand any future wages policy change will be won collectively.

Closer to home SSTUWA leader members are now being offered from $6,745 to $9,657 over two years, instead of a total of $2,000 across all grades in the same period.

While recent inflation figures will diminish the appeal of 2.75 per cent, this offer will set the PSA up for a strong negotiation across all future agreements and with a state election coming closer.

Our school leader members appreciate the value of building percentage-based pay increases into salary grades. At this point it may be worth pointing out that the superannuation guarantee increases to 10.5 per cent on 1 July 2022. (This increases by 0.5 per cent each year until 2025, when it reaches 12 per cent.)

A five per cent wages claim cannot be addressed by the WA Industrial Relations

6

Western Teacher May 2022

Commission (WAIRC) at the current time.

The WAIRC is constrained by legislation to not exceed government wages policy.

The AIP also contains a series of benefits for leader members.

These include compensatory leave for principals. If the AIP is accepted, WA principals will be the first in Australia to have this support. Line management approval for principal leave is not altered from the status quo.

We have a teacher crisis which was emerging before COVID-19 and is expected to outlive the pandemic.

The AIP proposes to shift current policy support for graduate teachers into the General Agreement.

The SSTUWA believes school principals are system leaders well skilled in nurturing a graduate. Leaders and graduates now have confidence they have support in the Agreement. The AIP simply embeds existing conditions.

From the Senior Vice President

TOIL (9.6 of the GA) has been modernised, the proposed change better suits what TOIL can be negotiated for against the current demands of teacher workload.

For example, the modern teacher is far more likely to be completing child protection or paediatric assessments than paperwork for drama festivals or performances. Principals have always been able to negotiate TOIL and in doing so, they avoid conflict.

Any suggestion that teachers having a half day at the start of the year will hinder school development planning is professionally insulting to school leaders and teachers.

Access to multiple Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) for education support staff has been a longstanding inequity against staff who work in some of the most difficult environments within our system. Broader consideration for SRAs allows principals to have more selection and engagement from within their staff.

The SSTUWA is committed to the school reclassification review. The SSTUWA will continue to have a voice for our school leader members, with significant contribution by the SSTUWA already made.

The SSTUWA has spoken to members in recent weeks, and those affected by the travel concessions are delighted with these aspects of the AIP. Our district high schools are also welcoming the proposed funding support.

It will enable retention, professional learning and growth and is flexible, allowing our DHS principals to meet the needs of their local environment.

AEU welcomes new Labor government The Australian Education Union has welcomed the incoming Albanese Labor Government.

Federal President Correna Haythorpe said the AEU was looking forward to working with Prime Minister elect Anthony Albanese and the new Labor government to address the Coalition government’s decade of public education neglect.

“The outgoing Coalition government has been systematically undermining public schools, preschools and TAFE for almost a decade,” she said.

“This is a vote of confidence in preschools, public schools and TAFE, and it’s a vote of confidence in the fundamental principle of equity in education.

“We look forward to working with the new government to deliver their TAFE funding commitments, to expand universal access to preschool to threeyear-olds and to bring public school funding up to a minimum of 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard

(SRS) as soon as possible.”

The SRS, introduced in 2012 as part of the Gonski reforms, is an estimate of how much public funding a school needs to meet its students’ educational needs.

“The National Schools Reform Agreement between the federal and the state and territory governments determines their funding commitments to schools and is due for renewal next year,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“It’s an opportunity for the Labor government to right the Morrison Government’s wrongs and contribute the federal government’s fair share of funding to Australia’s public schools.

“Preschools, public schools and TAFE must be provided with the resources and policy settings to ensure that a high-quality education is delivered for all, regardless of their background or circumstances.

“We look forward to working with the Albanese Government as they implement their election commitments.”

The AIP of the SSTUWA proposes staff transfer discussions, this will include at-level school leaders and is aimed to deliver support to country schools, greater opportunity to return to the metropolitan area if desired and generally more staffing movement within a currently congested staffing system.

To read more detail about what is in the AIP for school leaders and directors visit: bit.ly/3a3Mh93 Voting is now open for the AIP. It is important that all members register a vote. Visit sstuwa.org.au/GA2021 Western Teacher May 2022

7

Members’ matters

Stand up and break the bias

By Janette Bedwell Women’s contact officer

Breaking the bias Term 1 is over, and what a term it was.

We celebrated International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8 March, with our members sharing how they “Break the Bias”. We heard stories from both sides of our educational settings – schools and TAFE. I wanted to share a couple of the wonderful stories that were sent into us.

We had staff standing up in a meeting to stop a fellow female teacher from being targeted – an unnerving experience but very necessary and we congratulate them for their strength of conviction – as well as Natalie Yan, the women’s contact officer at South Metropolitan TAFE Thornlie, who created an emergency menstrual hygiene pack. These are just a couple of examples of how our members stand up and push back against established gender biases.

Get to know your women’s contact officer Term 2 has only just begun and the plan this term is for me, as your women’s contact officer (pictured top right), to get out and about and start meeting you all. I have sent out invitations and been invited to several schools already, I look forward

to meeting as many of you as possible.

If you would like me to come out to your school, then feel free to send me an email and we can arrange a visit.

Scholarships news Lynette Virgona Scholarship – The annual scholarship of $1,500 will be available to assist a member of the SSTUWA to take up training or professional development opportunities to develop their own skills and abilities in the areas of student behaviour and/or instructional strategies.

Anna Stewart Memorial Project – Each year the Anna Stewart Memorial Project is coordinated by UnionsWA. The first project was held in Victoria in 1984 and in Western Australia in 1986. Over the week, participants see how unions are organised, become involved in current union issues and campaigns and visit workplaces. The emphasis is on practical experiences – seeing the union in action rather than reading or hearing about it in theory.

8

Western Teacher May 2022

Keep an eye on eNews for opening dates (mid-2022) and more information on the above scholarships.

Rosemary Richards Scholarship – The applications closed on Friday 6 May for the Rosemary Richards Scholarship.

We congratulate the winner of this scholarship and look forward to hearing about her exciting project. For those who are not aware, Rosemary Richards was a proud feminist, unionist and educator. A trailblazing leader, she was committed to advancing gender equality across the AEU. The scholarship in her name continues her legacy by building the capacity of women as activists and leaders. The scholarship is available yearly – check out the scholarship information on our website for further details.

Please feel free to email me at jbedwell@sstuwa.org.au if you have any questions, concerns or if you’d like to meet for a chat!

Member vote on the Agreement in Principle 2021 (Schools)

How to vote:

Agreement in Principle 2021 (Schools) Voting is now open for the Agreement in Principle 2021 (Schools). It is important that all members register a vote.

How to vote: Step 1: Review the voter information pack and other materials outlining the Agreement in Principle. Find them at sstuwa.org.au/GA2021 (Website login required.)

Step 2: Register your vote. The process will only take about two minutes.

•

Log into the SSTUWA website, then go to sstuwa.org.au/GA2021

•

Click the red vote now button. The button will take you to our online voting form on Survey Monkey.

•

Complete the fields and click the submit now button.

You will need your membership number to log into the website and to submit your vote.

Note: Union reps may opt to conduct a branch vote. Your union rep will advise you if this is the case.

You may vote only once – either as an individual online or have your vote recorded in a branch vote.

Voting opens: 9am Monday 30 May 2022 Voting closes: 4pm Friday 17 June 2022 Members will be informed via eNews of the outcome after the count is complete.

Western Teacher May 2022

9

Agreement in Principle 2021 (Schools) summary

Agreement in Principle 2021 (Schools) summary Salaries and allowances End of the $1,000 salary cap and a return to percentage based pay increases •

•

2.75% per annum over a two year agreement, backpaid from 6 December 2021, with a further 2.75% from 6 December 2022.

0.25% of this linked to adopting a personal leave clause and reserving one SDD for curriculum support for teachers.

System support

across a semester if working fulltime and over a year if working part-time.

•

Curriculum support •

•

The DoE commits to funding, via a targeted initiative for district high schools to strengthen the breadth of secondary provision, staff development and professional learning.

Aboriginal Language teachers to be employed on a permanent basis and access all entitlements provided to four and five year trained teachers.

•

One day of curriculum support mandated to come from existing school development days.

Annual allocation is:

Mechanism for permanency

○ $60k for 1-29 students in years 7-12.

•

○ $100k for 30 or more students in years 7-12.

ICT hardware provision •

Graduate teachers •

•

10

Funding has been provided for the development of Korean, Hindi and Tamil languages.

•

District high school staffing resource •

The use of graduate teachers for internal relief should be by agreement with the graduate teacher.

Current provisions for graduate teachers re allowances and travel/ accommodation for graduate teacher modules to be included in the Agreement.

Graduate teachers shall receive, through a targeted initiative, eight days of which shall be used to assist with the delivery of the in-class coaching component of the graduate teacher induction program. This time to be used

Western Teacher May 2022

Conversion to permanency clause included.

DoE will review portable devices in schools to explore ways of allowing teaching staff greater out of hours access to school owned portable devices, including opportunities to increase the number of portable devices in place of desktop computers.

•

Attraction and retention Vacation travel concessions •

Kimberley and Pilbara: entitled to one additional travel concession per year.

•

Goldfields: now entitled to one travel concession per year.

(Employees in the RTS are excluded from this additional benefit as they already have additional travel benefits prescribed in the Agreement.)

Country Teacher Program •

The Band 2 allowance is payable to all teachers who work at Education Support Centres, Schools and Schools of Universal Design.

The department commits to reviewing CTP in consultation with SSTUWA and PFWA.

Air conditioning subsidy •

Extension of the existing air conditioning subsidy to start 15 days earlier and end 15 days later than the dates identified in the GROH Air Conditioning Policy.

Staff placement The department has committed to: •

Actively consult with the SSTUWA and PFWA in relation to a pilot process to facilitate the movement of teachers and school leaders to country areas from metropolitan schools and facilitate return to the metropolitan area.

•

Examine existing transfer data to inform and improve transfer arrangements for regional staff.

SRA allowances – education support •

The prohibition on teachers working in Ed Support schools from accessing further SR as specialist resource allowances have been lifted.

Agreement in Principle 2021 (Schools) summary

•

Lift restrictions in the teacher transfer pool to allow teachers and administrators in the metropolitan area to express interest in transfers across the state.

The work of teaching and leading •

Directors/Assistant Directors •

•

Directors and Assistant Directors may access the right to return to a school leadership position equivalent to the one held before taking up the Director or Assistant Director position.

•

•

Directors and Assistant Directors able to access GROH and government vehicle.

General issues

•

Union rep time •

Removal of the word “guidelines” in the heading regarding union rep time.

New personal leave clause •

• •

•

Replacing the existing short, carers and sick leave entitlements with a personal leave clause.

Accrued leave can be accessed across all forms of personal leave.

Non-cumulative personal leave entitlement is used first; this results in greater preservation of cumulative leave.

•

•

Blood/plasma donors leave •

Two hours of paid leave for the purpose of blood/plasma donation.

Unfunded students •

Maintenance of the census provisions introduced in 2020 as a result of COVID-19.

Of the two SDDs at the beginning of the year, half a day is reserved for work-related matters at the discretion of the employee. Timing of this to be determined by principal.

TOIL to be considered at an hourly rate where there is a requirement to collect data from multiple sources for the same area of student achievement.

All schools to adhere to the negotiated performance management template as per the Agreement.

TOIL can be considered at an hourly rate for teachers who are required to complete assessments for child protection reasons, by external psychologists or for medical reasons.

Compensatory leave for principals in recognition of work undertaken outside normal hours to manage catastrophic events and emergencies.

Centrally funded professional learning programs for regionally based school leaders will include travel and accommodation costs.

New clause, Compliance Reduction, provides for agreed template for annual school reporting to be available for commencement of 2023 school year; mechanism to reduce multiple requirements for same data collection; reminder that SCSA produced support materials, as exemplars of how mandated curriculum can be taught, should be used by all teachers.

SIDE – flexibility in span of hours of operation

Safety culture in schools

•

•

The department commits to reviewing working arrangements, including class sizes, instruction time, country visits and dual campus arrangements at SIDE in consultation with the unions.

Agreed matters will be a separate SIDE–specific schedule in next GA.

The DoE commits to implementing the Work Health & Safety Act 2020. By doing so agreed definitions of workplace violence, psychological health and appropriate accident reporting will occur as part of relevant WHS processes.

Salary chart Salary grade

With 2.75 per cent pay rise 6 Dec 2021

With 2.75 per cent pay rise 6 Dec 2022

2.1

$74,121

$76,159

2.2

$80,926

$83,151

2.3

$88,180

$90,605

2.4

$91,475

$93,991

2.5

$94,901

$97,511

2.6

$98,459

$101,167

2.7

$102,157

$104,966

2.8

$106,000

$108,915

2.9

$109,993

$113,018

ST

$114,144

$117,283

L3CT 3.1

$118,457

$121,715

L3CT 3.2

$121,888

$125,240

Admin 3.1

$121,888

$125,240

Admin 3.2

$126,647

$130,129

3.3

$129,967

$133,542

3.4

$133,380

$137,048

4.1

$137,185

$140,957

4.2

$140,664

$144,532

4.3

$144,147

$148,111

4.4

$145,901

$149,913

5.1

$149,116

$153,217

5.1A*

$150,814

$154,962

5.2

$153,887

$158,119

5.3

$158,669

$163,032

5.4

$160,422

$164,833

6.1

$166,648

$171,231

6.2

$171,892

$176,619

6.3

$176,201

$181,046

6.4

$177,955

$182,849

Member vote on the Agreement in Principle Click the red vote now button at sstuwa.org.au/GA2021 Voting opens: 9am Monday 30 May Voting closes: 4pm Friday 17 June

Western Teacher May 2022

11

Work health and safety

WHS 2020: what does it mean for me?

By Antony Pearson Work health and safety organiser

With the recent implementation of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) in WA, what key points of change may affect school and TAFE environments, compared with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (OSH Act)?

Duty of care Duties of care in the OSH Act were predominantly based on the employeremployee relationship. The WHS Act introduces the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) as the person with the primary duty of care. The concept of PCBU covers a broader range of workplace relationships to reflect the wide variety of workplace relationships in the modern workplace that do not readily fall into traditional concepts of employment, such as labour hire and the gig economy.

Mental health In the WHS Act, Section 4 defines health as meaning both physical and psychological health. Section 19 outlines that PCBU duty of care must ensure the health and safety of workers.

The Work Health and Safety Commission of WA has developed three codes of practice around hazards associated with mental health at work that further reinforce the need for employers to consider such hazards and subsequent risk in relation to their workers. The three codes are: •

Violence and aggression at work.

•

Psychosocial hazards in the workplace.

•

Workplace behaviour.

They can be found at the following link: bit.ly/3L9ERhD

What does this mean for OSH representatives?

If you were an elected occupational safety and health (OSH) representative under 12

Western Teacher May 2022

the OSH Act, your title is now a health and safety representative (HSR) under the WHS Act. An HSR is elected by their work group under the WHS Act to represent workers in work health and safety (WHS) matters.

Electing an HSR

If your school or TAFE workplace does not have an elected HSR, it is important that you do so, to maintain a safe working environment for all.

an election for one or more HSRs. The

With the implementation of the new WHS Act, the process to elect HSRs has changed. Workers must initiate the process by asking their PCBU (the Department of Education) to conduct PCBU must then begin negotiations to determine one or more work groups within 14 days.

Work health and safety

During negotiations the number of HSRs for each work group must be determined.

While no specific numbers of HSRs are stipulated in the Act or regulations the SSTUWA suggests a general rule of thumb is one HSR per 30 staff members.

The type of school/worksite, the curriculum delivery occurring and learning areas should be also considered in these negotiations; a secondary school with a Trade Training Centre, for example, will need potentially more HSRs than a small country school.

If SSTUWA members express to the Department of Education (DoE) that they want the SSTUWA involved in negotiations regarding work groups, then an SSTUWA organiser is available on request to assist.

This request needs to be made to the school principal at the worksite.

Once negotiations are complete and if agreement is reached, the department must notify the workers of the outcome of the negotiations as soon as reasonably practicable.

Contact your SSTUWA organiser for more information on the HSR election process.

Education specific HSR training courses The SSTUWA is running five-day introductory course available to elected HSRs who: •

Have registered with the DoE OSH Team as the elected representative for your school by completing an election notification form.

•

Have not previously completed the Five-Day Introductory OSH/WHS Course.

•

Have written permission from DoE Central Office OSH Team to attend the course in Perth if based in a regional area.

This newly developed course is a statutory requirement for elected HSRs and has been updated based on the new WHS Act, 2020. It provides HSRs within the DoE the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively perform their functions in protecting and promoting the work health and safety of those they represent.

Visit sstuwa.org.au/training for more information about the course.

Modern laws close sliding doors

By Owen Whittle Secretary, UnionsWA

The WA economy has always relied on some of the most hazardous industries in Australia – such as agriculture, construction, transport and resources.

However, despite working people in WA being most at risk, up until late March, we’ve shamefully had the weakest workplace safety laws in the country.

This represents a sliding door moment – seemingly unimportant but in reality so – for nearly all 1.4 million working Western Australians. Nobody knows whose life will be saved by adopting the strongest workplace safety laws in the country.

Maybe yours or someone you know?

What we do know is that these laws were a long time coming.

Sadly, misinformation has surrounded this law’s passage. Only a few weeks ago a prominent construction company boss was on radio quoting a legal provision that doesn’t exist in the law and claiming construction companies face penalties if drug affected workers caused an accident in the workplace. It’s the kind of fake news usually reserved for social media.

The truth is that for too long we have watched as prosecutions for horrific and preventable workplace fatalities have led to penalties of only a few 10s of thousands of dollars – well below community expectations and in many cases below the cost of implementing safety systems which would have saved those lives.

In advance of these laws the WA government raised penalties for safety breaches and it saw the highest ever safety penalty handed down against a WA government repeat offender – the Department of Corrective Services – which was fined $900,000 for a safety breach which resulted in serious and preventable injuries to a worker.

Importantly, our new laws and higher penalties have been backed up by a historic increase in funding for WorkSafe. There’s now more likely to be a cop on the safety beat than has been the case for decades.

Much of the debate on these laws has been taken up by industrial manslaughter. That’s understandable. It’s important to recognise the commitment of family members of those whose lives were lost through work. They had to relive their trauma to be advocates. The coverage of these family members and their harrowing stories in the media also deserves acknowledgement.

However, there are other new provisions in the laws that will also make a difference. No longer must whistleblowers have to put their name to safety complaints and be fearful of workplace retribution for doing so. That’s important in an age of high job insecurity.

It sounds glib to say how important it is that elected workplace safety representatives are empowered, trained and consulted, but these are workplacelevel improvements that really matter.

The value of saving a life is self-evident, the flow-on effects of focusing on preventing workplace injuries is less obvious but also in the interests of all parties. While in the short term, consultation, training and ensuring adequate staffing and safe equipment is a current cost, it will lead to reduced workers’ compensation premiums and less workforce down-time in future. This doesn’t capture the headlines.

The acknowledgement in the Act – and under new codes – of workplace violence, bullying and mental health impacts, updates these laws. They also make workplaces more accessible for women and young people who are too often the subject of unacceptable workplace behaviours.

At the end of the working day, we all want to get home safely. With these new laws, working people and unionists that support them can rest a bit easier knowing that the sliding door moment will not see them end up as another horrific statistic that costs so much in so many ways.

Western Teacher May 2022

13

TAFE

Managing your TAFE workload: issues and solutions Keeping workloads down for members is one of our top priorities. TAFE members may have noticed instructions in their eNews lately as part of our campaign to reduce workloads and help ensure current entitlements are respected and implemented.

We’ve rounded up some common issues that TAFE members have reported, with our advice as prescribed by the Western Australian TAFE Lecturers’ General Agreement 2019.

Excessive class sizes Issue: Members are reporting that there are too many students in their classes to: •

Ensure safe work practices and duty of care.

•

Deal with student needs.

•

Guarantee quality learning outcomes for all students.

Further, large class sizes are leading to excessive marking loads.

•

The class cannot be practically supervised or accommodated in the teaching area or learning environment provided or for which equipment is considered unsuitable, inadequate or unsafe.

The class exceeds any ratio specified in any legislation, industry standard or guideline.

•

The students have disabilities or special needs, including literacy and language concerns, and will not get adequate support.

Members are instructed to only undertake RPL when allocated and timetabled adequate teaching hours specifically to undertake RPL.

•

Adequate lecturer time for effective participation and personal feedback and instruction cannot be guaranteed.

RPL students cannot be allocated to classes and must be dealt with on an individual basis.

•

There are specific behaviour management issues that can only be addressed in a smaller class.

•

For full-time lecturers – this will mean allocating hours from the 21 teaching hours, or if already timetabled to teach 21 hours, approved overtime is required.

•

For part-time lecturers – this will mean allocating hours from the teaching hours indicated for their fraction in Schedule L – Hours Chart of the Agreement, or if already teaching at the load indicated for their fraction, they must have their fraction increased to accommodate the RPL hours.

If you consider a class size too large, approach your line manager (Director) to have the class split.

The union is concerned that some lecturers are being told that the situation will be resolved when students drop out because they are dissatisfied with, or disadvantaged by, their learning environment.

A class must be split if:

Managing emails

The class is too large for a lecturer to exercise duty of care or ensure safe work practices.

•

The class exceeds the number for which the laboratory, workshop or teaching area was designed.

14

Western Teacher May 2022

Undertaking Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

•

We urge you to work with your other team members and colleagues and to seek support from your campus union representative if necessary. Your intervention needs to occur as soon as possible after you have identified the problems to ensure a fair outcome for you and your students.

•

(PA) hours to respond to emails as PA time covers a range of responsibilities.

See Clauses 11.6 (g), 35.14, 35.15 and Appendix A of the Agreement.

Issue: Members have informed the SSTUWA that the total number of emails received each week is excessive and that they are receiving a large number of emails outside normal working hours.

Members are instructed to only use part of their allocated Professional Activities

Issue: Members are reporting that they are not being allocated teaching hours or paid overtime to undertake RPLs.

Using vehicles for college business Issue: Members have indicated that the time taken to travel between sites is not being counted in their weekly hours of work.

Members are also reporting the need to use their own vehicles for work purposes, including visits to students at workplaces, as college vehicles are not available.

TAFE

Members are not required to provide their own vehicles for college business.

The union is concerned that many lecturers are unclear of issues around using their own vehicle and that by using their own vehicles lecturers may be incurring costs that should be borne by the college.

If members are required to attend college business off campus, they should use college vehicles, be provided with taxi vouchers, or, if time allows, use public transport. Colleges have a system to book vehicles.

In the first instance, the college will endeavour to manage travelling time within a lecturer’s ordinary hours.

The college may, at its discretion, reduce professional duties or lecturing duties to accommodate the travelling.

Where lecturing duties are reduced, Professional Activities (PA) time and Activities Related to Delivery time will be allocated in accordance with Schedule L –

Hours Chart of the Agreement, see Clause 41 – Travelling Time and Excess Travelling Time of the Agreement.

Where lecturing hours or professional duties are not reduced, the time would be considered excess travelling time to be paid at the rate of time and one half of the ordinary hourly rate of pay (see Clause 40.7 of the Agreement).

Reducing unpaid work Issue: Members have contacted the SSTUWA regarding the increasing unpaid work expected of them and the negative impact it is having on health, well-being, and personal and family responsibilities.

Members are reminded that the maximum hours that they are paid to work if fulltime is 37.5 hours per week.

Hours of work for full-time and part-time lecturers is prescribed in Clause 35 – Hours and Schedule L – Hours Chart of the Agreement.

•

Managers cannot allocate unreasonable workloads to lecturers.

See Clause 11.6 (g) of the Agreement.

•

Managers should quantify the number of hours expected to undertake a task before discussing the work with lecturers.

•

If work allocated will mean working unpaid hours, members are to negotiate the number of hours expected to complete the work.

•

For full-time lecturers – this may mean reducing timetabled teaching hours, thereby increasing PA time in order to accommodate the additional work, or if already timetabled to teach 21 hours, approved overtime (PA) is required. See clause 40.5 of the Agreement.

•

For part-time lecturers – this may mean reducing timetabled teaching hours, thereby increasing PA time in order to accommodate the additional work, or if already teaching at the load indicated for their fraction, they must have their fraction increased to accommodate the additional work.

Western Teacher May 2022

15

Stronger together

New educators

By Natalie Blewitt, Growth Team coordinator

Throughout history, workers have banded together to build an organisation that empowers them by providing them with a voice, influence and power in the workplace and beyond. This organisation is known as a union.

Unions are an essential part of today’s workplaces. They provide the individual worker with the structures, forums and an organisation that can facilitate their ability to meet, raise issues, debate and develop agreed policies and solutions.

Most importantly, a union provides the avenue for individuals to work together and move these policies and solutions into action. Without a union, we as workers stand alone. With a union, we stand together, empowered.

A union is built on its members. The strength, wisdom and unity of members determine the union’s directions and action.

Know your rights, have your say The SSTUWA is the only organisation recognised to represent the industrial and professional interests of all educators in WA public schools and TAFEs. With members’ participation, the union negotiates your salaries, entitlements and conditions and is a strong voice in the workplace and the community.

To fully understand your rights, entitlements and responsibilities, you need to refer to both the General Agreement and the Award.

Both the Agreement and the Award are documents negotiated between the union and the Department of Education and apply to all WA government schools, regardless of whether you work in a local public school or an independent public school.

With an Agreement in Principle ready to be voted on in schools, now more than ever it is so important to be a member with the SSTUWA. Only members can have their say and vote. So, if you want your voice to be counted, then join up today.

Members-only perks We really do have you covered when you join the SSTUWA. As a member, you will have access to high-quality learning opportunities from our Education and Training Centre; access to advice from our Member Assist Team; one-to-one support from a case manager if required; a free simple will; access to many benefits and discounts and much more.

Not working full-time? Don’t worry, membership subscriptions are based on your work fraction, and we have a small flat rate for our relief teacher members.

And remember, all subscriptions, regardless of their category, are tax deductible.

Our Growth Team has all the information and support you need to make it through those difficult early years of your career.

This team attends graduate modules and visits schools, so keep an eye out for them. You can also contact them via the New Educator Network, email: neweducator@sstuwa.org.au or connect with them on Facebook (New Educator Network – WA).

Take the time to invest in your career and join the union today. Joining is easy.

Visit the SSTUWA website and look for the I want to join button or get in touch with either the Growth Team or the Membership Team.

If you would like to know more, visit sstuwa.org.au – you’ll be amazed at what you will find.

Western Teacher May 2022

17

National Reconciliation Week

Reconciliation brings hope to creating change National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is marked every year from 27 May – 3 June.

It is an opportunity for Australians to learn and reflect upon our shared histories, culture and achievements and our part to play in achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for NRW also commemorate key milestones in reconciliation in Australia, the successful 1967 referendum (27 May) and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision (3 June).

NRW is preceded by National Sorry Day on 26 May, which remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people forcibly removed from their families and communities, which is now known as the “Stolen Generation.”

NRW 2022 theme and artwork The NRW 2022 theme is Be Brave.

Make Change.

This is a challenge to individuals, families, communities, organisations and government to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make change for the benefit of all Australians. Start with brave actions in your daily lives where you live, work, play and socialise.

This year’s theme builds on the 2021 theme (More than a word. Reconciliation takes action) which encouraged us all to take greater action on reconciliation.

We saw unprecedented response to our suggestions for everyday and braver actions.

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that reminds us that while generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful changes like these, future gains are likely to take just as much, if not more, effort.

This year’s NRW artwork (see pullout poster on next page) was done by contemporary Torres Strait Islander illustrator, Tori-Jay Mordey, who shows some of the different faces of Australians working for a just and equal society.

18

Western Teacher May 2022

They are a visual reminder that reconciliation is everybody’s business.

“I sought inspiration of what that kind of brave change might look like from many different people; people I know that are around me, people I see every day,” she said.

“And people I see living bravely every day in their own lives – from fierce little kids to older people working with more established mindsets and environments.

“We can make a change. But we can’t do it alone. Be brave and start the conversation today.”

Tori-Jay Mordey is an established Indigenous Australian illustrator and artist currently based in Brisbane.

Over the years she has honed her skills in digital illustrations, drawings, painting, print making and film while also expanding her skills as a mural artist. A lot of her work revolves around human connection and exploring her racial identity.

Moving forward For reconciliation to be effective, it must involve truth-telling, and actively address

issues of inequality, systemic racism and instances where the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are ignored, denied or reduced.

While there is greater support for reconciliation from the Australian people than ever before, we must be more determined than ever if we are to achieve a just, equitable, reconciled Australia.

As history tells us, this will only happen through continued and concerted action from those who are already part of the reconciliation movement to those who are yet to join.

Moving towards a braver reconciliation requires a vision for what a just, equitable and reconciled Australia looks like.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For more information visit reconciliation.org.au

Early childhood education

Data driven assessment failing early childhood education

By Martina Tassone, University of Melbourne

Children’s early years from birth to the age of eight are crucial for their social, emotional and intellectual development.

However, early years education in Australia is fragmented. It operates across two spaces, the pre-compulsory period, often called early childhood education, and the first three years of compulsory schooling.

In recent times the focus in these three years has been on assessment that produces numerical data. Teachers need to demonstrate children are meeting standards.

In contrast, in the pre-compulsory years the focus is on observing and interacting with the child. Practices are based on the belief that all children have agency and are capable learners.

A chasm has opened up between these separate education systems. Children go from playing to being tested in the blink of an eye. This abrupt change in young children’s education is problematic.

What does research tell us about the early years?

A 2015 review of research on best practices in the early years identified key factors in successful teaching and learning. The review noted the importance of: •

A smooth transition between preschool education and compulsory school education.

•

Play-based learning.

•

Seeing children as capable and having agency in their learning.

•

Dialogic interactions involving rich discussions between children and between children and teachers.

Australia has introduced a mandated curriculum and a national assessment program in primary schools.

20

Western Teacher May 2022

The review noted this meant many early years teachers have adopted a more formalised and narrow approach to learning in schools. It isn’t appropriate for young children.

We can see the resulting divide between non-compulsory and compulsory early years education in Victoria.

On the one hand, teachers need to acknowledge the needs of children from birth to eight years.

On the other hand, for those between the ages of five and 12, the Victorian Curriculum requires teachers to assess and report against curriculum standards.

The focus on formal assessment and numerical data in the early years of schooling means children as young as six can be labelled as failing.

In countries like Finland and Singapore, which have been identified as high-

performing, children do not even begin formal schooling before the age of six or seven.

One study has described the early years in countries like the United Kingdom, America and Australia as being at the mercy of top-down policy development, leading to “a highly prescriptive and assessment-driven early years climate”.

UK researchers have identified the “datafication” of early years education and its impacts on children and teachers.

And Australian researchers used the term “adultification” to describe the unrealistic expectations placed on young children.

So what happens in our schools?

My doctoral research found “datafication” and “adultification” defined the early years of schooling in Victoria.

Early childhood education I engaged with more than 100 early-years teachers to explore their literacy teaching and assessment practices.

The recurring theme was these teachers were expected to frequently assess young children in formal ways that provided numerical data.

Teachers voiced frustration. One described the early years as “death by assessment”.

Another lamented that community expectations were unreasonable, saying “people are hung up on data, numbers”.

There was an overwhelming sense that the teachers knew their children best and should be given the agency to assess and plan for literacy teaching rather than being required to use a suite of commercially produced assessment tools.

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) is designed to support early years teachers working with children and families.

Its premise is that children have the greatest opportunities to develop neural pathways for learning and are also most vulnerable to negative experiences from birth to eight years.

The framework is based on research into best practice for children in these years.

Rather than formal assessment based on numbers, the VEYLDF advocates for assessment that is authentic and responsive to how all children can best demonstrate their learning and development.

The Victorian Education Department encourages teachers in schools to use the framework. However, little is known about how many actually use the framework to inform teaching and learning.

Making it mandatory to report against curriculum standards from the time children begin compulsory schooling sets the boundaries for how many teachers operate.

It is hard to have a foot in both camps when reporting against these standards is mandatory and you feel compelled to prepare children for what comes next – which includes NAPLAN, the national assessment program.

Schools can still let children be children

However, some schools are turning their backs on the relentless measuring of young children’s attainments.

St John’s, a multicultural primary school in Melbourne’s inner west, is one example. You only need to look at the school website to see its philosophy differs from many others:

“St John’s Horizon (a school communitydeveloped vision) clearly states ‘KIDS AT THE HEART’ which encapsulates our focus and belief in the image of the child – the child who is capable, curious, full of wonder, rich in knowledge, able to construct and co-construct his or her own learning. We believe in JOY – Joy in learning.”

A conversation with the then-principal, Gemma Goodyear, gave me an insight into these beliefs, which are inspired by teaching and learning in schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Goodyear said children do not come to school to be “fixed”, and the teachers engage them by providing meaningful, contextualised learning experiences. And, yes, through their focus on rich learning they still get great results without relentless testing.

It is time to revisit the early years of schooling and ensure teachers have the skills and understandings they need to support learners in this phase.

These years should be a time when children become engaged and excited about learning, a time of great joy, and a time when children are allowed to be children.

Martina Tassone is the early childhood and primary course coordinator and a language and literacy lecturer at the University of Melbourne. This article was first published at The Conversation website and is reproduced here with permission. The opinions expressed in this article is that of the author and do not necessarily reflect any official policies or positions of the SSTUWA or AEU.

Western Teacher May 2022

21

International education

The resilience of education in a broken world

By Susan Hopgood President, Education International (EI)

This article is the first of a two-part series and is the transcript of a speech delivered

by Education International President Susan Hopgood (pictured right) at the Australian Education Union’s 2022 Federal Conference in Melbourne in April.

I want to begin by thanking (AEU Federal President) Correna (Haythorpe) and the entire AEU leadership for inviting me to provide an international perspective to you this morning. I can say for certain that this is the first time in history this address has been given by a person who has been largely behind closed doors in Melbourne for the past two years.

At the same time that many of us have been stuck in place, it strikes me that the one central feature we’re all witnessing is a world unmoored from its foundations.

In an era of lockdowns, so many circumstances and situations that used to reliably attach the past to the present have become detached.

These are seismic events, a reordering that defies all our experience. But more than that, these events are occurring against the will and largely against the interests of the vast majority caught up in them.

The brutal invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime has ushered in crisis and chaos on a global scale. Thousands have already been killed and millions are under threat as a much wider involvement in the combat remains a very real possibility.

These events tear away at our foundations – respect for international borders, the right of nations not to be invaded and the proscriptions against the killings of civilians.

Education has reportedly been a special target. In the southern Ukrainian city of 22

Western Teacher May 2022

Melitopol, teachers and the education department pushed back on Russian occupier demands to teach a new official curriculum. They refused and the Russians have since kidnapped the head of the state education department in retaliation.

March), [there were] 479 million global cases and just over six million deaths.

It’s important that we remember this is not the first time just in our own working lifetimes that war has been waged against civilians. Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, just to name a few. Brutal military campaigns led by a handful and perpetrated against entire societies.

Think of that gap. COVID-19 disrupted education for an estimated 1.6 billion students worldwide. The implications of global learning loss are just now beginning to come in and, to no one’s surprise, the loss was again focused on vulnerable populations. Hundreds of millions of families were also effectively unmoored from food security, social stability and personal safety.

I don’t need to tell you how this all disproportionately affects children. Back before most of our lifetimes, at the outset of World War I, Save the Children founder Eglantyne Jebb wrote that “Every war is a war against children.”

UNICEF tells us the war has caused one of the fastest large-scale displacements of children since World War II. This includes more than 1.8 million who have crossed into neighbouring countries as refugees and 2.5 million who are now internally displaced.

Every day in every way, our children are being detached physically and emotionally from the world we all know and from any predictable path forward.

The examples are all around us. We can see with our own eyes the structure of millions of lives shifting off the foundations.

And of course, this destructive trend disproportionately affects the poor, people of colour, nations in the global south.

[Let’s] begin with Covid. The first thing to know from an international perspective is simply the numbers: as of last week (late

But we also have to know that in lowincome countries, one in five persons have been vaccinated, while in high-income countries, everyone eligible has received an average of two doses.

It’s important to recall that Covid hit at a time when reportedly fewer than half of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries were able to read a short, ageappropriate text, compared to more than 90 percent in high-income countries; at a time when 128 million youths already faced education disruption due to conflicts, forced displacement, child labor and a range of environmental crises; and at a time when an estimated 69 million more teachers were needed worldwide to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal for quality education.

The pandemic also hit at a time of crisis for the planet itself.

Here at home, the adjective “recordbreaking” has lost all meaning. This year’s floods follow last year’s cyclones and record rainfall and the year before that the worst wildfires in recorded history.

A group of former defence and security officials wrote in an open letter to the Australian government just weeks ago, saying climate change represents

International education

the “greatest threat to the future and security” of our country.

“The first duty of government,” these officials said, “is the safety and protection of the people, but Australia has failed when it comes to climate change threats.”

In February, the UN body charged with environmental monitoring said three things that should terrify everyone on the planet: •

Climate breakdown is accelerating rapidly.

•

Many of the impacts will be more severe than predicted, and

•

There is only a narrow chance left of avoiding its worst ravages.

Even without further action, human activity is causing dangerous and widespread disruption, threatening devastation to swaths of the natural world and rendering many areas unlivable.

And of course, countries that contribute least to the problem shoulder the heaviest burden of the climate emergency, while the countries that created the problem and got rich in the process, can afford the luxury of piecemeal responses and public relations.

And who are the most vulnerable and subject to the most severe impacts?

No surprise: women and girls from marginalised backgrounds and in the poorest communities.

Floods often mean schools are either destroyed or inaccessible. In times of climate-induced crises, such as a natural disaster, drought, or resource scarcity, girls are more likely than boys to be taken out of school to complete household chores like collecting water or taking care of siblings.

Unlivable.

In Malawi, it is estimated that 1.5 million girls are at risk of becoming child brides due to the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Families, communities and nations untethered from their homes and their lands.

Impoverished girls and women are often forced into sex work in the aftermath of a natural disaster, as documented in

Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

After our own 2009 bushfires, there was an increase in domestic violence against women and children.

Natural disasters such as floods, fires and hurricanes caused by climate change displace millions of people annually from their homes, and 80 percent of those displaced by the effects of climate change are women.

This forced migration often places women in precarious, unsafe and unstable conditions. Migrant women are more likely to face poverty and are less likely to receive a quality education.

Separated from their families, women and girls face increased vulnerability to human trafficking and sexual assault in overcrowded shelters.

Beyond the natural and accelerated crises are the disasters of policy.

Across the globe, too many governments are failing miserably in their responsibilities to their people. (continued on page 24) Western Teacher May 2022

23

International education

(continued from page 23)

commercialisation of education globally.

Basic responsibilities – to collect taxes, to provide infrastructure, to promote equity and equal rights, to invest in their own people, to meet their funding commitments to education.

The privatisation trend is especially pernicious in Africa. For years the continent has witnessed the rapid growth of so called “low-cost” private schools – schools notorious for employing unqualified teachers with low salaries and few labour rights and operating with little accountability.

Failing to adequately invest in teachers’ training, many governments have resorted to recruiting unqualified teachers, with salaries well below the minimum wage.

Worse than that, as you well know, governments have turned to privatisation of public education systems.

The pressure from the education technology sector has grown to the point where failure is almost not an option economically. Valued at $254 billion US dollars in 2021, it is expected to reach more than $600 billion in five years.

Successive World Congresses of EI have supported a campaign to confront these forces and the opportunists among them.

Since 2015, EI’s Global Response campaign has driven the fight against the growing privatisation and 24

Western Teacher May 2022

For several years, EI and our member organisations have campaigned against these schools, especially Bridge International Academies, the largest “lowcost”, for-profit school chain in the world.

The World Bank’s private sector division invested more than $10 million US dollars in Bridge’s operations in Africa and supported the company’s expansion elsewhere.

Just weeks ago, the Bank announced it would no longer invest in this chain. This is a very big deal coming from the largest funder of education in the developing world.

Organising and mobilising public pressure can make a huge difference in a democracy.

We aim to prove that very soon with the elections here in Australia, am I right?

Other parts of the world would envy – at the very least – our access to levers of democracy: the right to vote, to organise, to speak out.

But democracy is not guaranteed.

Neither is free association or the right to teach and learn. Your support for EI and international solidarity with the world’s educators is making a difference.

In nations including Colombia, Burma, the Philippines, Brazil, Turkey, Bahrain, Iran, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, the fight for our right to join a union, the fight for democratic values and systems, and the fight for educators to do their jobs – these are the same fights.

In the Philippines, the national police has been profiling leaders and members of EI’s member organisation, ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers).

International education At a press conference calling this out, ACT’s president Raymond Basilio received a cell phone call from an anonymous man who had detailed knowledge of Raymond’s movements and whereabouts.

The man said an order had been issued for him to be killed. For weeks, billboards sprouted up around the country with his face and those of other union leaders. We helped make sure that Raymond never slept in the same place more than one night.

Last June in Myanmar, on the first day of school, more than 200,000 teachers were suspended for opposing the military junta.

Hundreds were arrested and tortured; as of last count in October, 29 had been killed. Many are in hiding.

EI has extended financial support to the families of teachers who were killed during the protests and to those teachers who are jailed or lost their jobs for joining the protests.

In Iran in December, teachers in 110 cities across took to the streets to demand decent salaries and working conditions, an incredibly courageous move in a country where unionists are routinely jailed.

One of them is Esmail Abdi, a math teacher and former Secretary General of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association and we have been working for his release and that of other jailed teachers and unionists.

In Colombia, where more than 1,000 teachers have been assassinated since 1986 and death threats to union leaders continue to this day, EI has worked tirelessly to defend the lives of education activists.

The teachers’ union president Nelson Alarcón, left Colombia for a while after receiving more than 1,000 death threats in one week.

In Afghanistan, with the leaders of the main two teacher unions forced into hiding, we helped obtain buses and worked to get them space on a plane.

They were there when a suicide attack on the very gate they were approaching killed 100 Afghanis and 13 American service members, injuring hundreds more.

Weeks later we managed to evacuate much of this group and are working to get others who were hiding spread across the country to safety.

In Hong Kong our 95,000 colleagues were forced to disband their union after a Chinese crackdown during which Chinese state media called the association “a

malignant tumor” that needed to be “eradicated.”

The dismantling of quality education often doesn’t require troops and bullets.

The New York Times wrote about Lo Kit Ling, a high school civics teacher in Hong Kong whose course has been replaced by “positive” information, in other words, indoctrination.

She once took pride in stimulating critical thinking. Now, she said “It’s not teaching.

It’s just like a kind of brainwashing.”

On the other side of the world, the free-speech organisation PEN America has reported that, in the last year in the US, 122 education bills have been offered in more than half the states penalising teachers from discussing subjects declared off limits by far-right legislatures.

In the first three weeks of January this year, an additional 71 so-called “gag order” bills were offered in legislatures, more than half of them including some kind of mandatory punishment for violators.

The educators and their unions are fighting back. Clearly, when you see public education as a public good and a human right and you organise collectively around the principles of quality, fairness and equity, you make some enemies.

Our members work every day to ground and connect their students to the knowledge and experience that can make them successful and resilient.

Our unions work every day to ground and connect our profession to sustainable policies by governments held accountable for quality education.

And together, every day, we are fighting for these foundations around the world, on Covid, on climate, democracy and sustainable development.

Part two of this speech will be published in a future issue of Western Teacher. This transcript has been published with the permission of the speaker. The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and do not wholly or necessarily reflect any official policies or positions of EI, the SSTUWA or AEU. Western Teacher May 2022

25

National education and union news

National education and union news Unions win support for paid FDV leave After years of tireless effort from unions and community activists, the Fair Work Commission recently made an in-principle decision that 2.66 million workers covered by modern awards should have access to 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.

The incoming federal government will have to decide whether to extend paid family and domestic violence leave to all workers covered by the National Employment Standards (NES) ensuring the right covers an additional 8.44 million workers.

This is a historic step forward for workers’ rights in Australia, and has been won by working people against an intransigent former federal government which joined with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to vote against paid family and domestic violence leave as recently as October 2021.

While the NES covers the vast majority of Australian workers, award provisions only apply to one in four.

ACTU President Michele O’Neil said: “This is an historic win and a generational achievement for millions of women who have fought for this against the

resistance of this and previous coalition governments.”

“Already this year, 18 women have been killed by their current or previous partner.

Access to paid family and domestic violence leave saves lives. No worker should ever have to choose between their income and their safety.

“The difference between this entitlement being in the award system and the NES cannot be overstated. Failing to include it in the NES would deny access to millions of working people.”

Money works in education Evidence that money works in education continues to accumulate. A new study published in the latest issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy shows that increased expenditure on schools improves student outcomes.

It found substantial positive effects of increased spending on test scores, dropout rates and post-secondary enrolment.

The study analysed the relationship between school spending and student outcomes in the US state of Wisconsin.

It found that a three per cent increase in operational expenditure per student per year over 10 years resulted in an increase in test scores of three to four percentage points, a nine per cent reduction in school district drop-out rates and a 10 per cent increase in the students who completed high school and enrolled in postsecondary education.

The study concluded that: “... the results are driven, at least partially, by a combination of reductions in class sizes and teacher attrition, additional licensed 26

Western Teacher May 2022

staff and increases in teacher experience and compensation.”

The results of the study are consistent with those of many other recent studies of school expenditure and outcomes.

Twenty-five other studies since 2015 have shown increased expenditure on schools improves student outcomes, especially for disadvantaged students.

The evidence shows that additional school resources improve short- and mediumterm outcomes such as test scores and educational attainment, and longer-term outcomes such as wages, employment and income mobility.

As the new study notes: “There is a growing consensus in the economics of education literature that increases in school funding generally improve student outcomes”.

In Australia, critics ignore the extensive evidence that money works in education.

Instead, they claim that international test results for most Year 10 students have declined while funding has increased.

However, it is clear that large funding increases have been badly misdirected to the school sectors least in need.

They also ignore the fact that Year 12 results have improved over the past 20 years and that nearly three-quarters of students don’t fully try in the international tests.

Private schools have been lavished with money over the past decade while public schools have been denied the funding needed to make a difference for the vast majority of disadvantaged students.

Combined Commonwealth and state government funding per student, adjusted for inflation, for private schools has increased by nearly five times that for public schools over the last 10 years.

A dramatic change in school funding policies at both the Commonwealth and state levels is needed to ensure that public schools are fully funded to meet the challenges they face.

National education and union news

ACTU welcomes government prepared to take action on wages and secure work The 2022 federal election result is a rejection of a government which refused to act to address crises in cost of living, wage growth and insecure work.

This campaign, led by working people, ensured that cost of living and wage growth was a decisive issue for millions of voters.

The ACTU congratulates the ALP on winning government with a strong mandate to fight for secure jobs and higher wages.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said: “This is a rejection of a government which refused to act to protect the interests of working people.”

Working people have formed the backbone of an historic national campaign this election, a campaign which focused on conversations between colleagues in workplaces, over the phone and on social media about the failure of the Morrison Government to deliver for working people.

“Congratulations to the ALP, who have won this election by standing up for the basic rights of Australian workers.

“Working people have passed judgement on the refusal of the Morrison Government to take action on real wage

cuts, insecure work and rising cost of living which working people have struggled through for years under this government.

“Workers have rejected a government which refused to support a $1 per hour increase for the lowest paid workers in our country, and kept caps in place which denied real wage rises to their own employees. “(This) is a victory for the unionists who stood up against a government that refused to stand up for them.”

Award recognition for member Congratulations to SSTUWA member Clare Stack for being named runner up of the Australian Education Union’s 2021 Arthur Hamilton Award.

The award recognises the outstanding contribution by a public educator towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education.

Clare (pictured right) was automatically nominated for the honour after being named the recipient of the SSTUWA’s 2021 Reconciliation in Action (RIA) award.

The RIA accolade was in recognition of Clare’s work as the Aboriginal Education Coordinator and teacher at Broome Senior High School.

There are more than 300 Aboriginal students at Broome SHS and among the initiatives in which Clare is involved is the Aboriginal Cultural Leaders Program, which prepares Aboriginal students to be leaders amongst their peers and in their communities.

To read more about Clare’s work in January’s issue of Western Teacher visit sstuwa.org.au/WesternTeacher

COMPLIMENTARY INITIAL CONSULTATION

Let Marijana, Mei & the Team help you take control of your financial future We can help you:

• • Manage your cash flow • Own your own home sooner • Grow your wealth • Redundancy or inheritance • Transition to Retirement (TTR) • Plan for your retirement Plan to start your family

(08) 9322 1882 | lifefinancialplanners.com Members Special

$1,200 OFF

Statement of Advice Fee

you and your family in • Protect the event of illness or death • Protect your income

ABN 76 111 112 111 ASFL 296 182

3 times National Finalists – Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) Excellence Awards – Best Client Servicing Company

Western Teacher May 2022

27

Education and Training Centre

Education & Training Centre The Education and Training Centre invites you to join us during the July holiday break for some powerful learning opportunities. Register for face-to-face events here at the SSTUWA building or join us at an online event.

Thirteen essential topics on offer.

Register at www.sstuwa.org.au/training Monday 4 July 2022

9am - 3pm Wednesday 6 July 2022

9am - 12.30pm

Understanding Behaviour through the Lens of SelfRegulation (Yrs 1- 8)

Mindfulness, Resilience and Work-Life Balance (K-TAFE)

How to distinguish between maladaptive and growthpromoting modes of managing stress; between misbehaviour and stress-behaviour; between laziness and processes deep inside the brain that impede learning or effort; and most importantly, what to do about it in the classroom.

The pressures of the last three years have challenged us in ways we have never anticipated. This program is designed to assist in the steps required to maintain work life balance and the development of constructive strategies to increase personal resources in times of challenge and stress. It will explore the central concepts of mindfulness and personal resilience.

Tuesday 5 July 2022

9am - 12.30pm Thursday 7 July 2022

9am - 3pm

Assertiveness - Part of your Professional Repertoire (K-TAFE)

Behaviour Education in K-6 Play is the Way® Workshop One

The last two years have presented educators with many challenges to navigate. Feeling like you are unable to influence effectively can be frustrating and a barrier to working as the professional you wish to be. Building your confidence to influence what happens through communicating assertively can achieve positive results.

Using authentic scenarios, you will plan and practise an approach that feels comfortable to implement in the weeks that follow.

This one-day workshop gives you the opportunity to experience the program just as you would deliver it to your students – by doing it!

Tuesday 5 July 2022

You will participate in games that address the social and emotional capabilities of self-awareness, selfmanagement, social awareness and social management.

An outstanding, practical hands-on course.

8 – 11am Friday 8 July 2022

9am - 3pm

Leadership: Psychological Safety for Challenging Conversations Online live (Three-hour event) (K-TAFE)

Behaviour Education in K-6 Play is the Way® Workshop Two

This course will explore what psychological safety is, how it can benefit those working in schools, and how leaders of schools can create cultures of psychological safety.

Understand that empathy is the foundation of humanity.

During this second course you will explore the pathway to empathy and ways and means to develop young people.

This leadership course will be especially helpful for new and emerging leaders who may have to have challenging conversations with more experienced colleagues in the team they are leading.

You will participate in different games and activities to Workshop One and be taken further and deeper into the language, concepts and philosophy that defines the Play is the Way® process.

28

Western Teacher May 2022

Education and Training Centre

Holiday professional learning opportunities Starting 4 July 2022 Monday 11 July 2022

Register today!

9am - 12.30pm Wednesday 13 July 2022

9.30am - 1pm

Writing Competitive Job Applications for Teaching Positions (K-12)

Wealth Management Partners (WMP) - Pre-Retirement Seminar (K-TAFE)

In this half-day event you will gain an understanding of the current requirements for demonstrating competitiveness when applying to specific schools via a covering letter and curriculum vitae (CV)/resume.

This free pre-retirement seminar will be hosted by the WMP Financial Planning team. It will cover a range of relevant topics such as: Super Rules, Centrelink benefits, Transition to Retirement, Portfolio Construction, Managing Debts. The session will conclude with an open Q&A session.

You will explore the importance of reflecting individual school context when demonstrating skills and experience in relation to the three Domains of Teaching.

Tuesday 12 July 2022

A light lunch will be provided.

9am - 3.30pm Thursday 14 July 2022

Keeping Educators Skilled Up and Safe: One-Day Event (K-TAFE)

2 - 3pm

Mental Health First Aid Online live (60 mins)

This one-day, skills-based course is suitable for any Unpack and explore different aspects of mental health person working in an education environment. You will that may manifest within a school environment. Discuss appropriate guidelines around how to provide effective learn valuable skills that will ensure you have the confidence to keep you and your students safe in the event and helpful support. of a verbal or physical encounter while at work.

When There is a Behaviour Crisis in the Room 4 - 5pm Online live (60 mins) You will develop and practice Learn techniques to manage a new skills in meaningful moment of challenging behaviour scenarios. using calm and assertive dialogue rather than reactive and aggressive responses.

Wednesday 13 July 2022

9am - 3pm Friday 15 July 2022

9am - 12.30pm

Writing Job Applications and Interview Skills for Promotional Positions (K-12)

Interview Skills for Teaching Positions (K-12)

This two-part workshop is designed to provide participants with an awareness of current job application techniques including both your written application and preparing for your interview.

This half-day session will help you with key aspects of preparing for, and performing effectively, at interviews for teaching positions.

Any person applying for a leadership position such as deputy, HOD, principal, program coordinator or curriculum leader will benefit from attending this customised event.

You will learn how to consider the needs of the school, as well as the specific role and interests of panel members.

Understand how to make a favourable first impression and what to avoid during the interview process.

Western Teacher May 2022

29

Member benefits

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

Teacher Tax

$99 tax returns for members.

sstuwa.org.au/teachertax

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

AutoBahn

Mechanical and electrical services.

Members receive $20 off any service or 5% off any repair.

sstuwa.org.au/autobahn

Bayswater Mazda

Exclusive offer including $500 fuel card, 4 years free service 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

sstuwa.org.au/hp

PLE Computers

Save on your IT with access to the PLE Computers academic portal.

sstuwa.org.au/ple

The Good Guys Commercial

Online access to live discounted pricing on The Good Guys’ range.

sstuwa.org.au/thegoodguys

Educational Resources Classroom Management

A Thinking and Caring Approach. By Barrie Bennett and Peter Smilanich.

sstuwa.org.au/classroommgmt

Effective Group Work

Beyond Cooperative Learning. By Barrie Bennett.

sstuwa.org.au/fleetnetwork

Possibilities for Assessment and Instruction. By Barrie Bennett.

Package your next car and save on tax.

Bonus gift with vehicle delivery.

Motor Market by Union Shopper

You choose the car, then we find you the lowest price.

sstuwa.org.au/motormarket

tyresales.com.au

10% discount on tyres.

Graphic Intelligence

sstuwa.org.au/graphicintelligence

Instructional Intelligence

Building Instructional Expertise for the Classroom. An SSTUWA project in collaboration with Barrie Bennett.

sstuwa.org.au/instructionalintelligence

sstuwa.org.au/tyresales

Teacher Superstore

Western Motor Vehicle Consultants

sstuwa.org.au/teachersuperstore

We’ll find a car you’ll love. Save time and money when sourcing your next vehicle.

sstuwa.org.au/westernmotors

Computers Altronics

sstuwa.org.au/tmbank

sstuwa.org.au/altronics

Cars

Apple on Campus

Allwest Fleet

sstuwa.org.au/apple

Western Teacher May 2022

Huge savings for members on laptops, accessories, printers and more.

sstuwa.org.au/effectivegroupwork

Banking exclusively for the education community.

sstuwa.org.au/allwestfleet

HP Computers

Fleet Network

Build it yourself electronics centre. VIP trade discount in store and online.

Vehicle salary packaging – save time, money and tax. Receive a $300 gift card with your new car.

30

Massive discounts on products and services for SSTUWA members

For details visit:

Dell

Save up to 5% off selected items.

sstuwa.org.au/dell

5-10% discount, in store and online.

Entertainment Movie tickets

Discounts on physical tickets (greater savings) and instant digital tickets.

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

Member benefits *Terms & conditions apply.

Please visit our website for full details.

For more information visit sstuwa.org.au/benefits and the benefits tab of the SSTUWA App Food and Wine

Insurance and Legal

Campbells

ISinsured

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

Cracka Wines

7.5% off online wine orders.

sstuwa.org.au/cracka

Taste Bud Tours

Swan Valley “Speed Grazing” – 20% discount. Good Food, Wine & Cider (am) or Good Food, Wine & Beer (pm).

Insurance for union members. Home, contents, car, landlords.

sstuwa.org.au/isinsured 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 details visit:

Vet Products Direct 10% discount on pet products, plus advice from professionals.

sstuwa.org.au/vetpro

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

sstuwa.org.au/tastebudtours

sstuwa.org.au/travelinsurance

Comfort Hotel Perth City

Health and Wellbeing

Shopping

Goodlife Health Clubs

Dot Mall

Rooms from $145 per night including Light Start Breakfast for two. Located near the WACA in East Perth.

20% discount on platinum 12 month memberships. Includes access to all Goodlife Health Clubs in WA.

sstuwa.org.au/goodlife

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 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

BBQs, heaters and backyard kitchens.

5% discount for members.

sstuwa.org.au/comfortperth

sstuwa.org.au/dotmall

Experience Oz

Electrical buying

Save 10% on over 3,000 experiences across Oz + NZ.

Let Union Shopper find the best deal on your electrical purchases.

sstuwa.org.au/electricalbuying

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/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/teachersuperstore

sstuwa.org.au/houseboats

The Good Guys Commercial

Rottnest ferry tickets

sstuwa.org.au/thegoodguys

sstuwa.org.au/rottnest

Online access to live discounted pricing on The Good Guys’ full range.

Save up to $15 on Rottnest ferry tickets with WestClub.

Western Teacher May 2022

31

Classifieds

Classifieds Block for sale: Jurien Bay

700sqm fully serviced, ready to build on, one block back from beach. Close to schools, town centre, marina and recreational water activities. Perfect holiday, retiree or seachange locale. $108,000 (negotiable).

Peter: 0437 377 361 | westside@tower.net.au

Block for sale: Singleton

806sqm (cleared) quiet street, easy walking distance to beach, shops, schools and ovals. $315,000 (negotiable).

Jenny: 0435 257 124

Albany (Little Grove)

Silent Grove Cottage. Self-contained two bedroom (queen/two singles) on two hectares of bushland. Undercover parking. Close to yacht club, walking/ bike trails, national park and beaches.

Teachers’ rate: $150 per night. Stay seven, get one free. www.silentgrove.iinet.net.au 9844 4950 | merron@iinet.net

Albany (Free holiday accommodation) We operate a small guest house in central Albany, overlooking Princess Royal Harbour. Free accommodation available for four weeks in August while the guest house is closed. Wifi, kitchen, laundry and parking available. Proof of good character, and past or present employment essential. pkcrogerson@bigpond.com

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

Balingup surrounds

Farm accommodation surrounded by nature and wildlife. Located near Balingup, Nannup and Busselton. Pick your own avocados. Main house (three bedrooms, $300/night) or Quarters (one bedroom, $150/night). info@avodale.com

Cowaramup (Margaret River Region) Private B&B within newly built home.

Parkland setting. Private queen bedroom, bathroom and breakfast room. Private entry and dedicated parking. 10 mins to Margaret River, Gracetown, central to wineries/breweries and beaches. $120 per night per couple including breakfast.

Lee: 0412 902 932

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 reversecycle air-con. Available all year except for leavers’ vacation. No pets.

0419 943 203 | 9448 5527 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

Floreat

Studio B&B. New, stylish single room.

Fridge, kitchenette, TV, aircon in lovely peaceful Floreat house and garden. Linen, tea/coffee, continental/cooked breakfast ingredients supplied. Suit mature person wishing to enjoy quiet accommodation.

Close to city, buses, shops, hospitals and beaches. $85 per night, min two nights.

Weekly and monthly rates available.

SMS: 0422 333 057

Frankland River

Escape to the country. Imagine waking up to uninterrupted views of paddocks and trees with peace, quiet and tranquility.

Choose a 3 bedroom house or a cosy

cabin set on picturesque 83 acres. A great place to relax and unwind. 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 2 nights. Sleeps 4, or 5 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 8: 2 x queen beds and 2 x bunk beds. Close to Blue Holes Beach, 15 min walk to town. kalbarriwa.net.au | 0435 845 504

Email 50 words or fewer to editor@sstuwa.org.au along with your union membership number. Free for members.

32

Western Teacher May 2022

Classifieds

Classifieds Lancelin

Yallingup

Marriage celebrant

Margaret River

Tranquillity Counselling, Psychotherapy and Career Development

Learn to social dance

Retirement coach

MAWA

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 6).

Min 2 nights.

SMS: 0412 804 345

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

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

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

Nannup

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

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.

Kerry: 0409 884 330 | FB: @justriggin 67justriggin@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

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 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 3 2022 starts 25 July.

Stan: 9330 6737 | stan@stansdancing.com 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

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.

9334 1259 | youth@stjohnambulance.com.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

Western Teacher May 2022

33

Noticeboard

Noticeboard

Email to editor@sstuwa.org.au

Retired Teachers’ Association Choir practice resumed on 16 May. We rehearsed some new songs.

New members were welcomed.

COVID-19 continues to keep some at home.

Literature followed; one hopes for more to join the group. Helen Garner’s writing was discussed on 30 May and Peter Hopper is to

speak on the book Tongerlongeter

by Reynolds and Clements on 13 June. The speaker on 27 June will be Richard Le Serve on Australian poets Lawson and Paterson. Future dates are 11 and 25 July and 8 and 22 August.

Wednesday 22 June is the date for the AGM at 10am for 10.30am. The

State Council Conference

World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) is a focal point of the International Labour Organisation’s push to end child labour worldwide. Each year on 12 June, WDACL brings together governments, employers and workers organisations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them. For more information visit bit.ly/2ZUXDp1

Items for November 2022 State Council must be received by 5pm Friday 23 September.

Refugee Week: 19-25 June Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about refugees and celebrate positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. World Refugee Day is celebrated during this period, on 20 June.

The 2022 theme for Refugee Week is Healing. Australia and the rest of the world have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hit the reset button on how we behave towards one another and emerge a more fulfilled and connected society. For more information visit refugeeweek.org.au

SSTUWA committee meeting dates: Early Childhood Educators’ TAFE Committee Committee Time: 5pm

16 August 3 November

New Educator Committee Time: 4.30pm 14 June 6 September

34

22 November

Western Teacher May 2022

Ann Strauss: 0458 625 520

World Day Against Child Labour

June State Council will be held on 10-11 June 2022.

November State Council will be held on 11-12 November.

Time: 4pm

speaker will be Jenny Abetz from the Shoebox House, which is a charity for children.

8 June 4 August 8 September 27 October 1 December

Level 3 Classroom Teachers’ Association: 2022 meeting dates

Saturdays, 9.30am at the SSTUWA premises Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

18 June

10 Sept

26 Nov

Venue subject to change. Visit www.l3cta.org.au for venue information and to confirm attendance, or email contact@l3cta.org.au

Venue: SSTUWA office | Contact: (08) 9210 6000 or contact@sstuwa.org.au Teleconference facilities are available

School Psychologist Committee Time: 4.30pm 3 August

9 November

LGBTIQ Committee Time: 4pm 2022 dates TBC

Women’s Committee

ATSIE Committee

Time: 3.45pm

Time: 4pm

2022 dates TBC

2 August

25 October

You’re the champions of putting others first.

So when it comes to health insurance, let Teachers Health be the champion for you.

Trusted by over 370,000 teachers, education staff and their families across Australia.

Eligibility criteria and conditions apply. Teachers Federation Health Ltd ABN 86 097 030 414 trading as Teachers Health.

A Registered Private Health Insurer. THF-SSTUWA-05/22

Transition to Retirement Specialists Financial solutions and advice to help you transition

continue into 2022 & beyond!

Please see tipsfs.com.au

Do You Feel Covid Has Interrupted Your Plans to Retire or Reduce hours in 2022?

What you will need to consider ...

• • • •

Can I afford to drop a day?

How much will be enough to retire on?

How can I maximize my income & reduce tax?

When is it best to pay off my mortgage?

Certified Quality � Advice Practice .. ­ Celebrating 30 years of helping WA Education Staff & their families.

Talk to your TIPS Financial & Lifestyle Specialists today.

TIPS FINANCIAL SERVICES