State Election
Election asks and outcomes Our election asks Employing 500 additional teachers over four years, so our children get the individual attention they need and schools have the resources they need to support both at-home and atschool learning, should future lockdowns be required.
WORK TO BE DONE: The next round of EBA bargaining will be aimed at securing the required recurrent funding to fund new teachers, ensure workloads become manageable and class sizes are reduced.
Ending salary caps and returning to negotiated percentage-based salary increases, so that we can attract and retain the best teachers at WA public schools.
WORK TO BE DONE: The government has advised of an additional two years of salary caps. In concert with other public service unions the SSTUWA will be campaigning to change this.
Providing additional mental health services and counsellors in our public schools, including 100 FTE school psychologists, so that every child who needs support receives it.
WIN: Labor’s pledge: A re-elected McGowan
Ensuring every school has fast broadband, modern IT and devices necessary to facilitate face-to-face and at-home learning, and dedicated IT staff for technical support.
WORK TO BE DONE: GA negotiations have
Providing additional resources, including professional learning, to help teachers deal with extreme student behavioural problems, violence and mental health issues that have been exacerbated by the pressures of COVID-19.
WIN: Labor’s pledge: A re-elected McGowan Government will provide additional investment to expand the ALS program into every education region in the state – providing separate learning environments for students who have committed violent acts and teaching self-regulation skills to cease these behaviours.
TAFE Through a range of asks, we’re seeking party commitments to ensure:
WORK TO BE DONE: Labor’s pledge: The McGowan Government has invested heavily in making training more affordable for Western Australians so they can get the skills they need. This includes freezing TAFE fees and reducing fees for 180 high priority courses by up to 72% through the Lower Fees, Local Skills initiative.
• Quality teaching, training and learning. • Professional development and training. • Information technology. • Counselling services.
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Outcomes
Western Teacher March 2021
Government will commit $42.2 million to provide an increase in school psychologists, commencing with an additional 40 FTE in 2022 and rising to 100 FTE by 2025, with an associated increase in support positions. This will be a 39% boost to the current level of school psychologists available to government schools. secured broadband commitments, but more work will be required during the next round of GA negotiations.
A re-elected McGowan Labor Government will freeze TAFE fees and fee reduced courses through to 2025.
