Draft teacher workforce action plan released

The Australian Education Union will consult with members across the country on the recommendations of the draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, released earlier this month.

AEU Deputy Federal President Meredith Peace said it was the first time a plan about teachers and their profession had gone to broad consultation for teachers to contribute to.

She described it as an important initial step towards addressing the teacher shortage crisis currently impacting Australian public schools. “However, a draft National Plan alone will not fix the shortages being experienced in public schools across the nation,” Ms Peace said.

“AEU members have been reporting high levels of stress and burnout arising from low levels of professional recognition and respect, poor pay and conditions, unsustainably high workloads and inequitable funding for many, many years. “The shortages we are seeing across the country are a direct result of 10 years of neglect of public education by the previous federal government and their failure to recognise these concerns.” Ultimately, this has made it harder for public school teachers, principals and education support staff to deliver the teaching and learning programs our students rely on to reach their full potential. “We welcome the recognition of these issues by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and the allocation of Commonwealth funding to address the workforce crisis, including for bursaries to attract new students and mid-career professionals to undertake initial teacher education,” Ms Peace said. “We also welcome federal government funding to pilot new approaches to reduce teacher workloads. “We are also pleased to see the draft National Plan propose new measures for early career mentoring, additional Commonwealth supported university places in education and to include a teacher workload impact assessment as part of the next round of school funding agreements. “Teachers, principals and education support staff are the heart of our public education system. Without them, there is no public education. But when they are supported and funded appropriately, it is students who benefit the most.

“All governments must now make strong investments in measures to attract new teachers to the profession, encourage teachers who are no longer working in schools to return and retain teachers currently in the classroom.

“We must also see a pathway to full funding for public schools from the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.” Ms Peace also cautioned against short term fixes that would undermine quality in initial teacher education.

“The teaching profession has fought long and hard to create comprehensive and rigorous teaching qualifications and standards and defended this against short-term fixes and short cuts that undermine quality in those qualifications,” she said.

“These measures must not be rolled back.”

The AEU expects its members will now have the opportunity to engage with the draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan and be consulted on the recommendations.

Get to know

your WCO By Janette Bedwell Women’s contact officer

I bring passion and a lifetime of experience to the women’s contact officer (WCO) role within the SSTUWA.

My educational qualifications are varied, having studied at Murdoch University obtaining a degree in politics and international studies as a mature student.

I also studied online at Charles Stuart University to gain my graduate diploma in adult and vocational education. But my initial qualifications were in registered nursing in the days of hospital-based training.

This path led me to teach in the TAFE system, and I’ve been lecturing in the Diploma of Nursing course since 2009.

I really enjoyed the privilege of teaching students who wished to pursue their desire to hold a qualification in the important field of health.

I delighted in watching students blossom as their passion for their career led them to being more successful academically than they might have been in the secondary school system. I began as a branch representative in 2017, serving on the SSTUWA TAFE Committee, and have been involved with three rounds of EBA negotiations.

Since beginning this important WCO position in January, I have become aware of the increase in violence in our educational facilities and how being a parent is often viewed as an encumbrance to returning to a position post parental leave.

I have endeavoured to increase members’ knowledge around both Agreements (Schools and TAFE), along with legislation, equal employment opportunities and the new work health and safety laws that empower women to remain in their chosen profession.

I am learning about the challenges our teachers face in all educational arenas. Many of the industrial challenges are greatest for women who are often juggling multiple caring roles, as well as their paid employment.

My aim is to make this juggling less onerous by highlighting how industrial knowledge, via familiarisation with the Agreements and legislation, can empower our members to achieve working conditions that fit with their demands and lifestyle whilst still upholding their working requirements.

I had a great time with many members (seen below) at our Women’s Conference on 13 October and encourage all members to become more active in their union. A great place to start is by getting to know your Agreement and attending Know Your Rights training.

Find the schools and TAFE Agreements, and more information on Know Your Rights training, at sstuwa.org.au