Meet the New Educator Committee

New educators Meet the New Educator Committee

The New Educator Committee is comprised of early career teachers across a variety of schools and specialist teaching areas across the state. Meeting once a term, this committee provides a voice for new educators and is the foundation of our New Educator Network (NEN). With these new educators leading the way, it is our goal to re-ignite the NEN, providing professional learning, support and networking opportunities for early career teachers.

Many have taken on lead roles within their worksite and actively engage in union decision-making processes. Members of our committee take on a variety of roles including union representative, State Council delegate and have even represented new educators at a national level.

We would like to thank them for their commitment to the SSTUWA and look forward to a very productive 2020.

Paul Otto

My name is Paul, and I am a new maths and science high school teacher working in Perth's southmetropolitan area. My school is brand new, which comes with its own distinctive luxuries, as well as challenges. As someone who has worked in other industries before moving to teaching, I appreciate the role unions play in an industrial relations system that requires (for equity's sake) checks and balances. Without the vox populi that a union is uniquely positioned to broadcast, workers' rights can potentially erode away into nothing.

As a new educator, statistically a minority demographic within our industry, I feel a particular responsibility to be an active union member to ensure my representation. Moreover, in modern times it's not unheard of for many professionals to be completely ignorant of their unions and the historical progress that has been made by preceding generations of workers. myself on union matters and raise awareness amongst my contemporaries, as I share their concerns and voices with the larger body.

In this day and age, societal cohesion and social progress are sorely needed. Solidarity forever.

Jesse Weston

This is my third year of teaching. The first two were at Baynton West Primary School in Karratha. This year I am teaching at Settlers Primary School in Baldivis. In Karratha I taught Year 4 , while this year I am teaching Year 5. Some might say that's not a big change, but I have found it to be quite a challenging transition to the massive difference in the curriculum.

I have always believed strongly in unions and the main reason I joined the SSTUWA was for the support and backup if I ever needed it, however I have found that I have gained a lot more As a part of the New Educator Committee, I hope to educate

than what I expected. The union has provided me a place to express and challenge my ideas in support of all teachers, it has allowed the opportunity for discourse with teachers all across Australia at different stages of their careers and has given me a wider perspective on what it means to be a teacher in WA.

The New Educator Committee is all about making the voice of the most vulnerable teachers heard. As part of the committee I have the opportunity to stand up for the rights of all new educators. I implore all new educators to join the committee so that you can understand your rights, you can have support if you need it and play an active role in shaping your career.

Brendon Crozier

I am a Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) teacher at Melville

Senior High School. I am in my fifth year of teaching and I am the current union rep at my school.

Teaching is incredibly rewarding, and I want to support new educators as they

Sean Vagg

My name is Sean and I’m a secondary school teacher. I think it is vital to support and provide learning opportunities for new educators in the workforce and I look forward to sharing my ideas on the committee. I begin their journey in the profession.

love living by the coast and working on my house on the weekends.

Kyle (Kai) Griffiths

I teach HASS and Australian Tertiary Admission Rank economics in the eastern suburbs.

I'm a union member so that I'm counted amongst a number who are committed to bettering and protecting the work conditions of teachers. I think it's important for all new educators to be union members so that they can feel secure, and access experience and knowledge to help them. Their membership adds to our number and maintains our collective power to protect ourselves and our profession.

I'm on the New Educator Committee to help facilitate and give voice to initiatives which can help all new educators.

Louise Colliver

My name is Louise and I am a graduate teacher of nearly three years. I have previously taught in the Mid-West and Goldfields regions and this year I am teaching in the Pilbara.

I am a dedicated SSTUWA member and I passionately believe all children need to have access to equitable education.

Chloe Hosking

I am in my third year of teaching, working at Bob Hawke College in Subiaco after 18 months at

Geraldton Senior High School. I am excited to be part of the New

Educator Committee and am particularly interested in the issues facing new educators in the regions.

Melina Hale

My name is Melina Hale and this is my fourth year of teaching. I am currently teaching Year 2 at Golden Bay Primary school. I joined the New Educator Committee last year to assist other graduate teachers and to promote what the union does to assist all teachers. This year I am hoping to be able to provide real support to any new educators with their queries and be a point of call for them. I would also like to see a culture of sharing knowledge, ideas and resources through the New Educator Committee, passed to new graduates as a way to help lessen any work-related stresses they may have.

Hannah Smith

I am a primary music specialist and arts learning area leader.

I also have experience in secondary arts teaching. I graduated in 2013 and am passionate about arts education. I am a union representative and am committed to helping people understand their employment rights.

Katrina Boshammer

I work at East Kimberley College (EKC). I grew up in Kununurra, and after attending boarding school, two universities and living abroad, I returned to the Kimberley as a student teacher for my final practicum. This led to a full-time position, initially as a Year 5 classroom teacher. I am now in my fourth year, teaching visual arts in the primary school, and I am particularly passionate about Aboriginal and country education. I am the new union representative of our EKC branch and look forward to great discussions and being a part of positive change.

Nominations

Nominations for the New Educator Committee are advertised at the beginning of each school year. If you are interested in getting involved during 2021, look out for the application early next year.