AEU Journal Vol 43. No. 1

Official publication of the Australian Education Union (SA Branch)

Vol 43 | No. 1

February 2011

AEUJOURNAL SA Public Education: it’s their future!

Inside: u Have

your say on federal funding

u Women

on the move for equality

Why join any other health fund when you can join one just for teachers?

A health fund for teachers ...it just makes sense CMYK

Find out more

Visit teachershealth.com.au or call 1300 728 188 Teachers Federation Health Ltd ABN 86 097 030 414 trading as Teachers Health Fund SAAEU0211

Features President’s View

AEU Union Journal Training

Women on the move pages 16 – 17 Education International holds first World Women’s Conference in Bangkok.

Public Education: it’s their future

Curriculum Organiser

pages 11 – 12 Have your say on federal funding for schools before March 31.

page 20 New teacher planning website goes live.

Letters to the Editor

*Winner of top letter!

Adults are forgotten people Minister Jay Weatherill, your lack of response on the issue of adult re-entry is an insult to all teachers and students at these schools.

Your office was asked a series of questions about the future of adult reentry, and as yet there has been no response.

We do know that from 2012, adult-reentry will push more than 2000 students out onto the street, with no alternative options for a genuine educational pathway.

The $21 million savings still stand.

The only adult re-entry offered will be for people to complete their SACE. What a narrow, inward looking and conventional perspective of schooling and lifelong learning. Adults in this state face an uncertain future.

The insinuation that the bulk of

adults who attend adult-re-entry are doing WEA-type courses reflects how out of touch you and your department are.

It also demonstrates how DECS views schooling, namely that a school’s primary function is the transmission of economic reproduction. Schools are just black boxes.

Your proposal fundamentally redirects, restructures, re-engineers and re-tinkers adult re-entry schooling, but offers no strategic vision for a lifelong learning community.

Schools are social and cultural as well as economic institutions. Adultentry schools provide both traditional and alternative education pathways, which support the BLACK complex competencies needed in adult careers, as they encounter the enormous challenges and rigors of a globalised world.

Rather than dismantling something which is educationally unique, build a new paradigm that will transform lifelong learning.

My question to you, Minister, is how

Australian Education Union | SA Branch 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 8272 1399 Facsimile: 8373 1254 Email: journal@aeusa.asn.au Editor: Craig Greer AEU Journal is published seven times annually by the South Australian Branch of the Australian Education Union.

Deadline Dates Publication Dates #2 March 11 March 30 #3 May 6 May 25 #4 June 10 June 29 #5 July 29 August 17 #6 September 2 September 21 #7 October 21 November 9 Subscriptions: Free for AEU members. Nonmembers may subscribe for $33 per year.

Print Post approved PP 531629/0025 ISSN 1440-2971 Cover: Avante Media Australia Printing: Finsbury Green Printing Advertise in the AEU Journal. Reach over 13,500 members across South Australia.

8272 1399 journal@aeusa.asn.au

Got something to share with AEU members? Write a letter to the editor AND WIN !!

Best letter in each AEU Journal will receive two tickets to an Adelaide Symphony Orchestra concert. Three contributors will receive a double movie pass courtesy of Palace Nova Cinemas.

Email to:

journal@aeusa.asn.au

will adult re-entry in this state be improved under your cost cutting proposals?

There already exists an enormous educational and technological gap. Who will deliver the direct authentic learning experiences for adults in the future?

And how will your closure of adult reentry fix this gap?

Again, what we are seeing is educational tinkering, rather than a systematn ic strengthening of the system.

Michael Wohltmann Marden Senior College 3

Heading-3col AIDE IntroADEL

Y SYMPHON STRA E H C R O

ETSA UTILITIES EDUCATION PROGRAM

2011 PETER & THE WOLF Dates A timeless classic brought to life … along with a zoo full June 8—10 of classical animal favourites. 10.00 am & 11.30 am Journey with the colourful Grainger Studio cast of ASO players as we celebrate Prokofiev’s Peter Ages & the Wolf. Join our Tickets orchestral zoo where you K—Yr 3 0 $8.0 will hear a zoo-tastical display of musical prowess.

Need more information?

Contact Tammy Hall on 8233 6253 or visit www.aso.com.au

NEW EDUCATORS StateGOOGLE, Conference YAHOO, C MLYCOS…

INTERNET NAMES SEEM TO CAPTURE THE ZEITGEIST OF THE MOMENT. ALL NONSENSE TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, NAMES THAT CAPTURED THE FUTURISTIC, NEVER BEFORE SEEN-OR-HEARD QUALITY OF WEB 2.0 AT THAT TIME. WHILE WE STILL SEE SOME OF THESE POPPING UP (ZYNGA?), THE LATEST ARE MORE SELF-DIRECTED. FIRST, IT WAS AS IN AND, OF COURSE, .

THE CENTER OF THE DIGITAL WEB THAT AND AS IN AND THEN WE NOTICED (WHERE SPORTS AND MUSIC MEET!). THE SUBTEXT IS: IT’S ALL ABOUT “YOU,” USER. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR WEB EXPERIENCE! WHICH LEADS USER: WHY YES, . NOT ME, BUT AS IN APPLE’S AND WHICH WERE BOTH BORN LAST WEEK. THE RUSH ON .ME DOMAINS CAUSED GODADDY TO GOCRAZY, PROVING THAT THESE WILL BE THE NAMES. ONE COULD ARGUE-AND HECK, NEXT IN INTERNET THAT THESE ARE REFLECTING THE NARCISSISTIC FOCUS OF THE MODERN THAT FUELS IT. INTERNET AGE AND YOUNGER WEB USERS CARE ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES-THEIR THEIR COLLECTIONS, PROFILE PAGES, THEIR THEMES, THEIR POOLS. MASS PRODUCTION IS THEIR PASSÉ. “MAKING,” DIY, CREATIVITY…THESE ARE THE NEW STATUS SKILLS AND SOCIAL CURRENCIES. WEB-BASED BRANDS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB TAPPING WE HAVE GOING ON. PRETTY SOON, INTO THIS LITTLE WILL GET MAXED OUT AND COPYCATTED UNTIL IT’S AN OXYMORON–NO LONGER INDIVIDUAL. WHAT WILL TAKE ITS PLACE? AS SELF-FOCUSED AS THIS MENTALITY, SEEKING INFORMATION GENERATION IS, IT ALSO HAS A PERHAPS AND WILL BE THE FROM TRUSTED NEXT9:15am PRONOUNS TO PROCREATE? OR MAYBE WE’LL GET –UNIQUE WHEN – 4:00pm 9:15am 2:00pm CAN CREATE OUR OWN TOP LEVEL DOMAINS. THAT WOULD BE .SOMETHING. Australian Education Union | SA Branch

urricuyl

It’s all about um

y “I” M IMEEM, IPOD/ITUNES/ VoiceILIKE, IPHONE I AM I SPIN. I CUSTOMISE, I PERSONALISE I COMMODITISE. “U” ULOCATE, USTREAM U-BANANA IT IS ALL ABOUT ME! US TO ME “ME” MOBILEME .ME DOMAINS, “IT” I WILL THE “ME” GENERATION STARDOLLZ, ITUNES TUMBLR FLICKR Myments

ME le

entit

MEME

2011

M May nBaegheamviour t plan en“ME”

“HIVE” Friday 8 April Saturday 9 April “CLUSTERS.” “WE” “US” WE

To register or for further info go to: www.aeusa.asn.au or

email: lhall@aeusa.asn.au or slisle-menzel@aeusa.asn.au

Unions value members.

We value members.

Banks value...

In Credit Union SA you have a strong, community-based alternative to big-profit banking.

So if its time for a change, let’s talk.

Call 8202 7777 or 1800 018 227 to learn more about your state’s Credit Union.

creditunionsa.com.au Credit Union SA Ltd • ABN 36 087 651 232 • AFSL/ACL 241066 400 King William Street ADELAIDE 5000

4

President’s View

ASMP 2011

Changing of the guards at Parliament House

Anna Stewart Memorial Project 2011

to overturn these cuts. Rallies, advertising, lobbying of politicians and raising the general public awareness of these issues has been a critical component of our campaign. With Mr. Foley vacating his position, the Labor Party has a very real opportunity to address the discontent that is widely felt by its regressive, anti-worker Budget.

M

any South Australians breathed a sigh of relief when Kevin Foley recently stepped down from his position as Deputy Premier. For those of us in the trade union movement, this man (and his treasury department) was behind the most vitriolic attack on workers’ rights in the history of the SA Labor Party. Unions play a critical role in protecting the rights of workers and their families.

Every few years, unions go through an enterprise bargaining process to improve the salaries and conditions of employment for members. The resulting awards and/or agreements are then certified in the Industrial Relations Commission and it is legally incumbent on all parties to abide by this certification process.

However, last September’s State Budget changed the face of industrial relations and enterprise bargaining for everyone. Kevin Foley’s Budget held a nasty sting in the tail for all public sector employees, with the decision to legislate away workers’ rights by reducing the Long Service Leave entitlement from 15 days to 9. This loss of six days leave could actually cost many employees $20,000 – $30,000 depending on their current salary scale. Further cuts have impacted on various sectors in education, including an extensive school amalgamation process, cuts to adult reentry programs, multi-campus funding and redundancy packages for staff.

The AEU is standing alongside our SA Unions colleagues in the campaign

We may have a “changing of the guard” but if we don’t have a change in policy and a return to real Labor values, then SA could have a change of government at the next election. The message to Premier Rann is quite simple: listen to the workers of SA and respect the bargaining process by negotiating agreements, not legislating over the top of them!

For now, our campaign continues and there may well be a point in the nottoo-distant future where members are asked to consider taking strong action to protect their rights.

New directions for Public Education in SA It’s been a while since we had a Minister for Education who has been interested in the need for attraction and retention of education staff. The AEU notes that Minister Jay Weatherill has now released two discussion papers about public education and workforce development.

The second paper was released at the beginning of this school year and should be in your site now. The document works through a range of issues such as supporting and valuing teachers, the renewal of the teaching workforce, recognising excellence, teacher recruitment, professional development and teacher wellbeing. A number of initiatives are proposed in the discussion paper and the Minister has put the call out to the profession for ideas and comments about these initiatives.

The AEU will certainly be providing feedback about industrial matters with respect to the proposed initiatives. We will do this through the formal process but also in our meetings with the Minis-

23 May – 3 June 2011 Each year, SA Unions conducts the Anna Stewart Memorial Project, a 2-week training program specifically for women. It is designed to give women an insight into how unions operate and how they themselves can be more active within their own union.

The program is an ‘off the job’ training course on industrial and women’s issues combined with the opportunity to spend time within your own union and other participating unions.

The AEU encourages any women members, Ab original women in particular, to apply for the opportunity to take part in this project in 2011. The 2-week program will run from 23 May to 3 June (weeks 4 and 5 of Term 2) and the AEU will fully fund two successful participants. Interested women are invited to submit via email, a one page expression of interest to:

Tish Champion AEU Women’s Officer: E: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au by the 15 April 2011.

For further information about this project, please contact: Tish Champion on T: 8272 1399 or via email (above). ter. If you are interested in having a say about your working conditions, you can lodge your comments via:

policyreform@sa.gov.au

by 31 March 2011. You may want to do this individually or by calling a subbranch meeting and recording your collective thoughts on the proposals outlined in the discussion paper. n In solidarity, Correna Haythorpe AEU President

Action

• Email Mike Rann and tell him what you think about the cuts to your long service leave: premier@saugov.sa.gov.au

5

IndustriaL Issues

TRTs deserve Step 9

Finally, Ark Tribe goes free Over the last couple of years the AEU has reported on the case of South Australian building worker Ark Tribe. Ark was charged by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) with failing to attend a compulsory secret interview.

On November 24, Adelaide Magistrate David Whittle found Ark Tribe not guilty.

The outcome for Ark Tribe is a great one. But construction workers and their supporters won’t rest until the ABCC is confined to the dustbin of history.

Well done Ark Tribe, you have made n us proud!

On December 22, 2010 the AEU lodged an application in the Industrial Relations Commission (SA) that will determine whether TRTs are eligible to apply for Step 9.

The union took this step as DECS refuses to recognise that TRTs are eligible to apply for Step 9. The AEU has a different view: TRTs are teachers and as such, should not be denied transition to Step 9. When the Step 9 Guidelines were being drafted it was always envisaged that TRTs would be eligible to make the transition to Step 9.

Her Hon Judge Parsons at a recent directions hearing referred the matter to Commissioner Doyle for conciliation.

This means the Industrial Relations Commission will try to conciliate a resolution to the AEU’s grievance and negotiate an outcome acceptable to both parties.

We are uncertain as to the length of this process but we will endeavour to keep members informed as it progresses. Keep an eye on e-News editions and the AEU website for updates. n Dan Farmer | AEU Industrial Officer

Action Email Minister for Education & Children’s Services, Jay Weatherill on:

decsminedcs@sa.gov.au

and tell him that like permanently employed teachers, TRTs should be eligible for Step 9.

New Merit Selection procedures to start The DECS Merit Selection Review is in its final stages and it is understood that the revised policy and procedures will be launched very soon.

The AEU has been actively involved in the Review and has played a key role in working towards a new policy that is fair to applicants, manageable for panels and supports the principles of merit and equity. In response to copious feedback from the AEU, DECS has made significant improvements to early drafts. Many of our suggestions have been incorporated, including a more transparent appeal process and the removal of proposed procedures that would have been draconian with regard to applicants who had lodged workers’ compensation claims. The AEU has reservations about some aspects of

Merit Training | Terms 1 & 2 Merit Information Sessions | Term 1 Wed 9 March (wk 6) 4:00-5:30 Wed 16 March (wk 7) 4:00-5:30 Wed 16 March (wk 7) 4:00-5:30

Thurs 17 March (wk 7) 4:00-5:30 Thurs 17 March (wk 7) 4:00-5:30

Wed 30 March (wk 9) 4:00-5:30 Thurs 31 March (wk 9) 4:00-5:30

6

AEU AEU Northern Adelaide Regional office – Elizabeth House Victor Harbor PS Wirreanda HS Lecture Theatre Mount Barker PS Western Adelaide Regional office – Flinders Park

the new procedures but we envisage these can be dealt with largely in training for our members.

The AEU and DECS will jointly present a number of information sessions throughout 2011 to assist the transition to the new policy. These sessions will constitute retraining for AEU members. Further information regarding times and venues is available on the AEU and DECS websites, and members can register their attendance through the Ethical Standards and Merit Protection Unit.

In addition, numerous full-day merit selection training sessions will be conducted in country and metropolitan locations throughout 2011. Both full-day training and the shorter information sessions will address local selection as well as merit selection.

AEU members who are sub-branch secretaries, PAC representatives, leaders or potential applicants for positions are strongly encouraged to attend a full- day session if they have not previously undertaken training or an information session to update their accreditation as panellists. n Anne Crawford | AEU Vice President

Tues 5 April (wk 10) 4:00-5:30 Eastern Adelaide

Regional office –

Felixstow Wed 6 April (wk 10) 4:00-5:30 Northern Adelaide

Regional office –

Elizabeth House

Merit Information Sessions | Term 2 17 May 4:00-5:30 AEU 19 May 4:00-5:30 AEU

Merit Information Sessions | Full Day Training April 20 (hol) 25 May 15 July (hol)

9:30–4:00 9:00–3:30 9:30–4:00

AEU AEU AEU

Vice Pr esident’s Report

Recruitment and Selection Review imminent

Nearly 1300 SSOs & ECWs achieve permanency AEU Vice President Anne Crawford writes… more following Arbitration. This represents a massive step forward. We will continue to build on these gains throughout 2011, emboldened and encouraged by what we have achieved together so far.

Close to the time of receiving this Journal, AEU members will also be provided with an Issues Paper, which will summarise key considerations in the upcoming review of the current Recruitment and Selection of Teaching Staff Policy.

We would encourage all members and sub-branches to use the Issues Paper as a basis for discussion and debate about a policy that is of fundamental importance to both individual members and the effective delivery of public education across the State.

The matters contained in the Issues paper are broad reaching and impact on many areas of crucial interest to members. They include levels of permanency, attraction and retention of teachers, workload for leaders and teachers involved in selection and the capacity of teachers to be appointed to a range of locations.

Following the release of the Issues Paper, the AEU will conduct a statewide survey of members to inform our negotiating position with DECS. It should be noted that the forthcoming review is currently focussed only on the schooling sector.

The AEU is acutely aware of the need to improve recruitment practices in preschools, in particular expanded opportunities for permanency for teachers in temporary positions.

These matters will be canvassed formally in the near future with DECS and the Minister as part of his ‘Supporting Our Teachers’ initiative.

Further details regarding the review of the recruitment and selection of teaching staff will be provided on a regular basis in e-mails, faxes and on the n AEU website (below).

Anne Crawford AEU Vice President

8: www.aeusa.asn.au

Permanency is the biggest issue for many AEU members, particularly those who have worked in temporary appointments for years on end. In recent times we have had some major victories in this area and the focus on increased permanency will continue throughout 2011.

SSOs and ECWs The AEU and DECS agreed last year to extend the conversion to permanency process which began in Term 4, 2010 to the end of Term 1 2011, with a view to maximising the number of conversions consistent with gains made in our new Award.

In the early stages of implementation in Term 4 last year, less than 300 SSOs and ECWs were identified as eligible.

The AEU achieved a major breakthrough in November 2010, with DECS identifying a further 238 employees. By the end of 2010 just over 500 offers of permanency had been made. When the AEU met with DECS in the first week of February, almost 800 SSOs and ECWs had been identified as eligible.

More than doubling the number of conversions has been a long, arduous process but constitutes a very significant victory and boost in morale for our members, particularly for those who have attained permanency, but also for all other members who contributed their support and solidarity.

In the past two years, AEU campaigns and submissions have resulted in nearly 1,300 SSOs and ECWs gaining permanency – 500 in 2009 and almost 800

Contract teaching rates must be reduced The current level of contract employment among teacher members is a matter of grave concern. This was acknowledged by the Full Bench in delivering Arbitration decisions in 2010.

Decision No 2 stated: “It is incumbent on DECS to review its employment processes to confine the use of contract teachers to its legitimate operational needs and to provide an avenue for the recognition of contract teachers who are in reality long term employees.”

The AEU and DECS have embarked on preliminary discussions to review the Recruitment and Selection of Teaching Staff Policy, more colloquially known as “Local Selection”. A major objective of the AEU in the review process will be a very significant reduction in the level of temporary employment for teachers and securing permanent positions for as many contract teachers as possible.

The Minister recently announced an initiative to convert 100 contract teachers to permanency in the very near future. The AEU welcomes this as a first step in addressing the much broader issue of drastically improving opportunities for permanent employment for thousands of our teacher members.

The AEU will be working closely with all members, DECS and the Minister throughout 2011 to deliver increased n permanency for teachers.

Anne Crawford AEU Vice President 7

Aboriginal Education

Winning partnership takes home Ruby Award

W

indmill Theatre and Mimili Anangu School were recipients of a 2010 Ruby Award, recognising the positive impact their partnership has had on the community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Named after Dame Ruby Leitchfield and sponsored by Arts SA, the Ruby Awards are South Australia’s premier arts and culture awards.

Nominated in the Community Impact Over $100,000 category, the award recognises the long-term, multifaceted partnership between Windmill Theatre and the remote Mimili Anangu School, which was initiated in 2005. The project was sponsored through a grant from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations, the SA Film Corporation Education Fund and in-kind funding from DECS and Windmill Theatre.

Over a four-year period, the Mimili children and other community members travelled to Adelaide, while several Windmill artists including directors, actors and choreographers also visited the Mimili Anangu School.

The partnership saw the making of a short documentary, Ngura ini Mimili nya 8

“The students have developed a sense of pride and achievement, not only in their artistic endeavours, but their school work in general.”

Christine Bell Mimili Anangu School Principal

– A place called Mimili; an associated accelerated literacy teaching package and a cross-art-form production of Nyuntu Ngali (You We Two).

Windmill Theatre’s Arts Education Manager Julie Orchard, who is seconded from the Department of Education and Children’s Services, said the outcomes from the partnership have been inspiring.

“The film, which has been screened at children’s film festivals around the world, is genuinely engaging; it follows a group of students as they develop a dance for the annual APY Lands community Dance Off. It’s a fabulous teaching resource based on the Accelerated Literacy program, and the Aboriginal students in the film become empowered by their successful performing arts experience.”

“The film also formed the basis of the teaching package which provides mainstream school students with a unique insight into Aboriginal culture and life in a remote community,” Ms Orchard said.

Mimili Anangu School Principal Christine Bell said the students have really benefitted from working with Windmill.

“The students have developed a sense of pride and achievement, not only in their artistic endeavours, but their school work in general.”

“Attendance levels have improved, students are more confident and there has also been a major shift in student reluctance to participate in live performance,” she added.

The relationship between the Windmill Theatre, Mimili Anangu School and the APY Lands Community has created a culture of possibilities for the future. n The teaching package, which contains a DVD of the dance development, a Power Point version of the non-fiction reader and the teaching handbook is available for purchase from: Windmill Theatre – T: 8415 5355 or email Julie on: E: julie.orchard@windmill.org.au

COME OUT Festival 2011

Campaign

Protect the PBA from the TPPA

Get your kids to Come Out in 2011 COME OUT Festival 2011 presents a schools’ program packed full of theatre, visual arts, literature and dance.

The COME OUT Festival will present over 130 performances, workshops, events, public art and visual arts exhibitions in over 35 venues across Adelaide and regional South Australia.

The Festival will run from 25 March to 1 April 2011, capturing imaginations everywhere and enabling participation from across the State. The theme for the Festival in 2011 is ‘Belonging: investigating and celebrating the people, places and rituals that give us a sense of belonging’.

We encourage teachers to get their kids involved. Creative Director, Andy Packer explains, “In 2011, we’re encouraging children and young people to have a doing, viewing and thinking experience at the COME OUT Festival. This might involve seeing an international performance, participating in a workshop and reflecting on what they’ve seen during the Festival, back in the classroom.”

Some COME OUT Festival projects are:

Belonging in a Greener Future: involves students creating simple animations for the Rundle Lantern to be screened as part of the Festival.

Teachers can get involved with this project through Professional Learning workshops.

Putting Down Roots: is a kitchen garden project with a twist. Many schools now have garden projects, so we’re calling on schools with existing gardens or who would like to grow one,

to enter this project and share their journey. Schools are invited to send in photos of their gardens decorated (and the produce!). Schools even have the chance to win a ZEN Home Energy System, thanks to our principal sponsor.

The Mighty Choir of Small Voices: allows any school, wherever they’re located, to participate in the Festival. Teachers can download the music from the COME OUT website and learn the song with their class.

Students participating in the Opening Parade will also learn the song and sing it to dignitaries on the balcony of the Adelaide Town Hall.

Our Place: invites students to make a 30 second photo story to be screened on the ABC Local Radio website and in public locations. Teachers can get involved with this project through Professional Learning workshops. .

THE COME OUT Festival Opening Parade: is returning to herald the opening of COME OUT Festival 2011!

This much loved event is bigger and better. A small costs to participate also includes a choir trainer visiting each participating school to support learning of The Mighty Choir of Small Voices song, participation in the Parade, lunch on the day of the Parade and a ticket to n a performance.

For more information and bookings go to the COME OUT website:

8: www.comeout.on.net

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is an investment agreement being negotiated between the US, Australia and other countries in the region. US multinational business interests are labeling some Australian social policies as trade barriers and pressuring the Australian Government to change them.

United States business groups have identified doing the following: • seeking changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Act (PBA) • regulating foreign investment • suing Australian governments that harm their investments, and more.

United States business interests also demand the right to: • eliminate industry and procurement policies that favour local firms • control prices on medicines, while removing generic medicines from pharmaceutical lists.

Changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Act will increase the cost of medicines, not only to pensioners but to each and every person. Parents with children requiring constant medication will be in this loop.

We need to enter the public debate on this vitally important matter to ensure that our rights to develop government policies are in our best interest and not in the interest of US multinational corporations.

The SA Retired Unionist Group have launched a campaign to involve unions and community organisations to lobby the Federal Government against agreeing to any changes the United States multinational companies want to inflict on Australian citizens. n

You will have the opportunity to support this campaign by sending a delegate to a public meeting to be held on 30 March, at the AEU from 9am – 12pm.

SA Retired unionist Group 9

TA FE Profile

A career in TAFE Journal: What motivated you to get into teaching?

John: I had my own plumbing business and it hadn’t gone as well as I would have liked. I was asked by the headmaster at what was the original plumbing and sheet metal school if I would I be interested in doing some teaching part-time, which I did for about 12 months before going full-time.

Working for yourself you don’t take holidays and you work about 80 hours a week. Once I started teaching, I got holidays and all the other entitlements.

The school was located on Grenfell St, where Tandanya is now, then we moved to Regency and I’ve been there ever since.

Journal: What is the most rewarding thing about working in the TAFE system?

John: You are teaching people something that they really want to learn, because it’s going to be their career.

Some regard an apprenticeship as an imprisonment but most times they have 10

a desire to learn.

Journal: What would be the most significant thing that’s changed in the TAFE/VET system during your career?

John: The most significant things are over the past 10 years I think, and they are significant because I don’t think they are an improvement, but actually have gone backwards.

When I first started we taught practical, theory, calculations and drawing. In all, there were seven practical related subjects. You taught the practical and the theory together. But about 10 years ago, they changed to the teaching package, or training package. This consists of about 75 units, and teaches the same thing but breaks it up into tiny little bits. And my opinion is that it doesn’t flow and we’ve never really come up with an effective way of tracking it. It has created an enormous administrative load. And instead of having 10 to a class they have decided 15, because it’s cheaper.

Journal: Why did you become the AEU workplace rep?

TAFE

Recently the AEU Journal caught up with plumbing lecturer John Langley for a chat about his time working in TAFE

Contestable funding is having an effect as well. I think it has put TAFE management in a panic. I think if they simply concentrated on improving the quality of what we do and ignore the competition, it would take care of itself.

John: Like many people who have come to teaching from small business, I wasn’t really a union person, so-tospeak. We’ve got 27 lecturers, and I think seven or eight of them are in the union. I took on the job of rep a few years ago to encourage some of the younger lecturers to join. I think it’s important to be a member; it helps educators to become more knowledgeable about their entitlements and so on.

Journal: What does the future hold for TAFE?

John: TAFE has certainly got the ability to go ahead… but they have got to get someone at the top who is willing to stick their neck out and make sound decisions based on good education practice. This should be first and foremost.

Journal: And your future?

John: I’m retiring in the middle of this year. I want to do a family tree, travel a bit, and I have a big interest in astronomy so, plenty more star gazing I guess. n

Tafe 2011

AEU Staff

What surprises are in store for TAFE during 2011?

The AEU welcomes new Organiser

AEU Organiser Alan Wilson reports 2010 saw the implementation of numerous aspects of the new TAFE Award with some 393 lecturers on contract converted to permanent and significant numbers of lecturers at Level 5 progressing to Level 6. The big issue for members this year will inevitably be around regulation of workload and implementation of Individual Workload Scheduling as per Clauses 5.1 to 5.5 of the TAFE SA Education Staff Arbitrated Enterprise Bargaining Award 2010. Managers are required to negotiate the mix of scheduled duties with individual lecturers rather than simply imposing a workload on staff without any discussion. A bit of goodwill from both sides would go a long way in reaching an amicable arrangement.

Alongside the Award implementation will be the release of a White Paper outlining the proposals the government is intending to implement arising form the ‘Skills for All’ discussion paper put out for feedback last year. In a briefing from the Minister, Jack Snelling, at the beginning of February, the AEU was told the government would be supporting all the proposals in that discussion paper, such as the creation of a training guarantee for all students and eventual introduction of a HECS-style income contingent loan scheme for students.

With respect to the question of TAFE Governance, the government has dis-

tanced itself from TAFE by proposing to establish TAFE as a statutory authority, this being yet another of the conditions imposed by the Federal Government in order for the states to receive full funding entitlements, meagre as they might be. This then raises questions about who is the employer and how does this impact on the existing industrial relations arrangements. One possible advantage of such a move would be the separation of TAFE from the rest of DFEEST and the cost burden that it imposes on TAFE. On top of all this, we now find Minister Jack Snelling, while retaining TAFE, has taken on the demanding responsibility of Treasurer. While we congratulate him on his promotion we sincerely hope that he will have the capacity to maintain an active involvement in and commitment to TAFE at a time when TAFE is under attack from many quarters.

At the national level there is also plenty happening with discussion at the recent TAFE AGM in Melbourne focusing of the Invest in Quality, Invest in TAFE Campaign and the debate around the AEU discussion paper A future framework for TAFE teacher qualifications, professional development and registration, which can be found here:

8www.aeusa.asn.au > Your

AEU > Sectors > TAFE

Apply for Country Incentives If you are a teacher who was appointed to a country school prior to 2002 you may be eligible to apply for Country Incentives in lieu of the Removals Allowance.

The South Australian Education Staff (Government Preschools and Schools) Arbitrated Enterprise Bargaining Award 2010 Schedule 2.1 clause 5 states: “Teachers who complete 7 years of country service in a school that attracts 3.5 or more isolation placement points, will receive an allowance determined by DECS on the basis of the reasonable cost of removal from that location to the metropolitan area. This allowance will

be paid at the completion of the school year and will continue to be paid at the completion of each year, up to the end of the 10th year in that school.”

The AEU has received a number of queries about this allowance in recent weeks and it appears that a number of eligible teachers have not claimed this allowance.

If you are in this position you can retrospectively make a claim on the General Purpose Claim Form VL 161. The rates for your school can be obtained by ringing the AEU Information Unit on:

%: 8272 1399

n

Former teacher and sub-branch secretary Stephen Miles joined the AEU team at the beginning of Term 1.

Stephen says he’s looking forward to working with members around the state, particularly in the country, where he taught for eight years.

“I’ve worked in a range of different settings, including in the country, so I hope that my varied experiences will help me in supporting members on a wide range of issues.”

Stephen says he hopes one day to return to teaching but felt it was time he took his interest in fighting for educators rights a bit further.

“I enjoyed the sub-branch secretary role at my last school, Golden Grove High, and thought perhaps I would have something to offer the broader membership. I wanted to get more involved and decided to apply for the AEU position.

“I’m passionate about the union and will be working hard to support members in all areas,” he added.

AEU Branch Executive congratulates Stephen on his appointment and looks forward to working with him over the coming years. n

“I’m passionate about the union and will be working hard to support members in all areas.”

Stephen Miles 11

Federal Funding Review

Tell the Federal Government what your school needs…

…before it’s too late!

The Federal Government’s Schools Funding Review is in its final stages of public consultation. The Review has received hundreds of submissions from schools around the country. But there are still many that are yet to state their case for improved Federal Government funding.

The new deadline for submissions to the Review is March 31, 2011. This is the single most important review into education funding in thirty years. Make sure your voice is heard.

ACTION! Web: Go to www.forourfuture.org.au for details and tips on how to make a submission.

Federal Funding Review

Email: Howard Spreadbury on hspreadbury@aeusa.asn.au if you would like an officer to assist with submission writing.

Phone: AEU Information Unit on 8272 1399 for further information.

12

Federal Funding Review

Be part of the solution – make a review submission AEU Journal asks Principal David King about Clovelly Park Primary School’s submission to the Federal Funding Review.

Journal: David, was it hard to contribute a submission to the Review?

DAVID: Lodging the submission wasn’t difficult, but it certainly helped having an AEU officer to assist. It took probably the same amount of time as writing my staff bulletin, so not that long considering the value it may have. Once done it was just a matter of uploading it to the For Our Future site and that took the best part of two minutes.

Journal: How did you go about identifying your school’s funding needs in the submission?

DAVID: A lot of the information is in our school context statement. For example, I included the number of students that come from a disadvantaged background, the number that are from our New Arrivals and Special Ed programs and then expanded on what their needs are and the difficulties the school has in meeting those needs. I then related that information to how improved federal funding could help us in these and other areas.”

Journal: Aren’t these programs resourced well enough through State Government funding?

DAVID: State Government funding covers some of it but it’s not enough. For instance, we put an SSO in each of our junior primary classes for 12 hours a week to work with students we know have some learning difficulties but don’t have support; students who don’t have negotiated plans because they receive their support through the Special Ed side of things. We also have a teacher 0.6 who releases teachers in a literacy lesson in our primary classes so

teachers can work with those students.

We also structured in our ESL teacher and Special Ed teacher to work in the classroom at the same time.

So, you put a 0.6 teacher’s salary and 12 hours a week into seven classes and that’s 80 hours a week from our bucket of money into those programs.

Journal: What could you do with more Federal Government funding?

DAVID: Well, this year we don’t have enough money to fund the 0.6 teacher for that component so we’ve reduced the time that teachers have access to an SSO so that we can keep the SSO time for the intervention. A lot of funds last year teachers found out of their Flexible Initiatives Resourcing (FIR), so we combined FIR, additional leadership time and money from our Student Disadvantage money to meet those needs.

So we can’t access the FIR any more via the Student Centred Funding Model, that money goes toward just making sure I’ve got the classrooms functioning. So, given these challenges, increased federal funding would be put to very good use!

Journal: What would you like to see come out of the review?

DAVID: I would hope that the review produces some equity in terms of federal

1 David King preparing his school’s submission with AEU Organiser Howard Spreadbury (right). funding arrangements. There are a number of things that we need to fund that many of the private schools can do without too much difficulty. We got a new gym through the BER but we had to spend thousands of dollars to relocate existing equipment; we have a resource centre that needs materials – we’ll get no change from maybe seventy thousand dollars to do that. And I know that there are plenty of public schools doing it tougher than us. It’s just not right.

Journal: Why do you think AEU members should make a submission to the review?

DAVID: I always say that you’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. If anyone believes that the funding that comes to public schools isn’t enough and that there’s real disparity between public and private schools then this is the opportunity; if you want to be part of the solution then put a submission in. It’s a great chance to let the Federal Government know that public schools are worth celebrating and extra funding would give us the opportunity to run a lot of creative programs that will ultimately enrich the lives of n our students.

13

Leaders

Australian Curriculum

What leaders are saying about their work It will come as no surprise to AEU Journal readers that school leaders are overworked. The results of a recent survey conducted by the AEU tell the story.

They said workload was impacting upon their health and family life • 98.6% of leaders find that daytime duties spill over into their home life • 98.6% of leaders state that long hours cause them tiredness • 93.2 % of leaders say that long hours decrease their leisure time and its recuperative value • 61.1 % of leaders have suffered health issues because of long hours • 63.9 % predicted that workloads for leaders and other staff would increase this year.

The Top 5 things that could be made simpler are: • Reinventing the DECS wheel (less of this would be nice) • Managing and monitoring school cleaners • Grant applications • Number of DECS policies • Funding and support for students with disabilities.

The Top 5 things that leaders do but are not reflective of the role are: • Furniture moving • ICT troubleshooting • Photocopying, typing and filing • School cleaning and school maintenance • Managing Building Projects.

The Top 5 things that leaders should be doing are: • Creating a vision, a sense of purpose for the school • Building a school culture of high value and quality • Dealing with change and ambiguity and influencing others to change • Evaluating and improving teacher effectiveness and performance • Keeping up with educational trends and theories. n 14

Mind yer bloody language!

The recently released Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages is a brave, visionary and problematic document.

T

he document offers a rationale for languages that says very little about productivity and economic growth and very much about “humanistic, cultural and intellectual” reasons for learning languages.

That is indeed brave. Julia Gillard sees education in terms of productivity growth and enhancement of human capital. Her My School website is about testable outcomes and competition for enrolments. One may as well suck a lemon as try to draw anything from it about “humanistic, cultural and intellectual” aspects of education.

The document is visionary in its curriculum design. It takes the “increasingly diverse range of students” and their different backgrounds (or lack thereof) in languages as a starting point. It identifies three major groupings of students (second language learners, home user learners and first language learners) and states the need to recognise differ-

ent learner pathways for each.

Specifically, it identifies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages as Australian languages and includes them, with Chinese and Italian, as the first three language groups to be developed within the national curriculum framework. The latter is brave and visionary.

It accords with the Little Children Are Sacred Report, which was shamefully abused by the Howard Government and the Rudd Labor Opposition as a justification for the racist emergency intervention in the NT. The Report noted: “Non-Aboriginal teachers are unable to explain concepts in a way that Aboriginal students can understand. The Inquiry has been told that concepts need to be explained in the local Aboriginal language. This goes well beyond simply understanding the English words. Forcing Aboriginal children to merely learn English words without learning the actual concepts is intellectually limiting those children. Teachers themselves need to be bilingual so they can then teach concepts in the students’ first language… a strong cohort of bilingual and trilingual teachers trained in cross cultural sensitivities is essential and of prime importance for the NT education system.”

To give effect to respecting the first language of Aboriginal students, the Report recommended the NT education department “ensure all teachers in remote schools consult with local com-

Vice Pr esident’s Report munities as to any appropriate modifications” of the curriculum.

Neither Territory nor federal politicians were prepared to honour the recommendations of the Report on schooling in remote communities.

Quite to the contrary, they maliciously began the process of devaluing and undermining the teaching of Aboriginal students in their own languages.

Nowhere was this more clearly seen than in respect to the first four hours of the school day.

The Report had expressed the view that “Hopefully there will come a time soon where these children are greeted in their own language upon arrival at school”.

Where that had been the case in a number of remote community schools, the Department ordered the practice cease. Instead it ordered all schools teach the first four hours of each day in English.

The effect was to clearly communicate to Aboriginal students that school was not for them, was not for their needs or their self-esteem and growth.

As a result, non-attendance rates skyrocketed in communities like Lajamanu and Yuendumu.

Given the controversy around Australian languages in the NT context, the Draft Shape document is unequivocal on two key issues. Firstly, it is the right of Indigenous students to learn the language of their own community. Secondly, this must be done in consultation with the “communities and, in particular with the Elders in making decisions about which languages to study and ways to involve the community”.

However, the Draft Shape is problematic. It is upfront about the indicative hours required at various stages of schooling and correctly argues for “appropriately qualified teachers, supported by ongoing professional learning…(with) adequate resources…(and) appropriate time allocation”.

But ACARA is not the government and it is not an employing authority. It cannot guarantee the conditions required for successful implementation of curriculum. “(S)chool authorities and schools will need to provide the conditions that ensure learning can occur,” states the document.

That is why for all of its bravery and vision, the Draft Shape is problematic. n Mike Williss | AEU Research Officer

The country takes another hit AEU Vice President David Smith says the State Government’s 2010 Budget is leaving country teachers in the lurch This state government is increasingly inclined to take decisions which impact adversely on those living in rural areas. Consider the current protests and rallies against cut-backs to health services such as the Keith hospital, and the sell-off of valuable forestry assets in the South East.

Add to that the extraordinarily mean and short-sighted Budget announcement to reduce the availability and affordability of teacher rental accommodation.

This takes two forms Any government employee housing within 100 kms of Adelaide is to be sold. Apart from a few exemptions of depot housing, no housing will be available. Several distressed new educator members contacted us in January. They had been appointed to schools in the Victor Harbor area, and had filled in the on-line application for housing, only to be told that such housing is not available. If they are to find accommodation at all, they need to contact a land agent and hope they can find somewhere that is affordable all year, and doesn’t have a huge price-hike in holiday periods.

Outside the 100 km circle, things are not so clear. The 2010 State Budget determined the complete removal of rent concessions for teachers only (!!) in centres “such as Mount Gambier and Clare”. Other government employees will not suffer that cut. They still, it seems, deserve the subsidy while teachers don’t. Why is that?

The AEU has asked on numerous occasions for further definition by DECS and the government. What, exactly, are places “such as Mount Gambier and

Clare”? At the time of writing, there has been no answer to that question. That has left our members currently living in government employee housing all around the state extremely confused, concerned and angry.

The savings to the government, as outlined in the Budget papers, begin in the current financial year at $80,000 and by the 2013–14 financial year will grow to $2.2 million. That’s a lot of rental subsidy or house sales.

It is clear that the government wishes to sell further housing stock. That in itself is not something the AEU contests as long as the rent is controlled and affordable, the housing meets the agreed standards and is well maintained, and there is ready and equitable access to it. The provision of such housing shows a sound understanding of the educational needs of country communities.

These budgetary cuts show no such understanding The first appointment for many teachers is in a rural or remote area.

One of their stated reasons for taking up such appointments is ready access to good quality, reasonably priced government employee accommodation.

That is clearly under threat. This is yet another ill-considered Budget decision which the government must review and reverse. n

Action

• Email Treasurer Jack Snelling and ask him to reverse the decision to sell off government housing and take away rent subsidies:

treasurer@saugov.sa.gov.au

• Rally! Support ongoing public sector rallies and actions against the 2010 State Budget Cuts.

15

Women’s Focus

“The most resounding message at the conference was that ‘Education is the Key’ and ‘A Different World is Possible’.”

1 Back Row: Jan Eastman (EI Deputy General Secretary), Catherine Davis, Carolyn Clancy, Gillian Robertson, Mary Bluett, Darcel Russell, Susan Hopgood (EI President), Roselynne Anderson, Joan Lemaire, Bronwyn Croghan, Cassandra Brown, Leah Mertens, Correna Haythorpe.

Front Row: Cathy Smith, Tish Champion, Meredith Peace, Anne Gisborne, Charmaine O’Sheades.

On the Move for Equality

work in fields, factories and as domestics; abused and exploited. Girls still account for the majority of the 72 million children out of school. Five hundred million women worldwide are illiterate.

Sadly, violence against women remains a major problem across the world. Honour killings, trafficking of women, stalking and prostitution are common forms of physical, psychological and sexual abuse.

The most resounding message at the conference was the fact that “Education is the Key” and “A Different World is Possible.”

Thank you to all AEU members who remain committed to equality for all and working towards making the world a “different place”. n

Education International holds first inaugural  ACTION World Women’s Conference • Organise a car pool or jump on Despite the gains that have been won for women over the years, gender-based discrimination remains a major concern of teacher unions across the world, many of whom were represented at Education International’s (EI) First World Women’s Conference in Bangkok, Thailand 19 – 23 January 2011.

Ninety countries were represented with over 400 women delegates attending. The AEU was well represented and also subsidised delegates from developing nations. The Australian delegation was headed by AEU Federal Secretary and Education International President, Susan Hopgood.

Delegates, including senior officers and women’s officers from education unions around the world, took part in the first World Women’s Conference to share their experiences and discuss progress towards equality for women.

The outcomes of the Women’s Conference will inform EI’s work on gender in the years to come and provide a basis for discussion at EI’s 6th World Congress to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in July 2011.

16

Shockingly, UN statistics report that women perform 70% of the world’s work, earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the world’s property. One in five women will be raped and beaten in her lifetime.

Over 200 million children are forced to

Upcoming Ev ent

public transport with your AEU colleagues and join other union women at the IWD March on Thursday 10 March | 5.30pm at Parliament House steps See AEU website for IWD details.

2011

Member Seminar– Jean Pavy The AEU continues to honour those students who achieve a merit in Women’s Studies Stage II in year 12 with the annual Jean Pavy Award. Jean Pavy (pictured) was an educator and union activist who was instrumental in the Equal Pay campaign for women teachers in the 1970s.

This year’s award ceremony will follow a Member Seminar with guest speakers to recognise the new SACE Women’s Studies award recipients.

When: Thursday 3 March Time: from 5.00pm

Where: at the AEU Offices,

1st Floor Conference Room,

163 Greenhill Road, Parkside

This year, two students are to be recipients of the Jean Pavy Award, having successfully achieved merit in Women’s Studies Stage II in 2010.

These students and their teachers will be recognised at a special ceremony following the Member Seminar. The evening will conclude with a light supper. n Anyone who is interested in attending the Seminar and Jean Pavy Awards Ceremony can register their attendance by contacting: Tish Champion | AEU Women’s Officer Phone: 8272 1399 Email: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au

IWD Celebrates 100 Years

AEU Election Notice

Celebrating 100 years

Australian Education Union | SA Branch

Election Notice

Nominations are called to fill the following positions on AEU committees.

Legal Defence Appeals Committee

International Women’s Day 1911 – 2011 “Looking Back and Moving Forward”

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually around the world on March 8. The inaugural IWD was recognised by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911. Those marching demanded the right to vote, hold public office, work, receive vocational training and end discrimination. IWD, with its roots in the socialist countries, has since continued to inspire women, celebrate achievements and historical progress made for rights and equality, and call for future change.

This year, many functions will be held including the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) IWD breakfast on the 8 March, hosted by the Hon Penny Wong with guest speaker Prof.Tanya Monro (2010 SA Scientist of the Year).

On the 10 March the Hon Gail Gago will launch a poster of 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women at the State library, organised by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA) and auspiced by the YWCA. n

IWD 2011 Happy Hour!

Tuesday 8 March @ 5:00pm in the AEU Courtyard 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside

Drinks, nibbles and a sausage sizzle will be provided. Donations welcome!

The proceeds of this event will be donated to SAWA – The support agency for women of Afghanistan.

The AEU invites all members to celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day and the fight for equality.

RSVP: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au

Join in our happy hour and celebrate!

CN

The Legal Defence Appeals Committee determines appeals arising from the Union’s Legal Defence Rules. Four positions for a term of office ending March 2012.

Nominees must be 2011 Branch Council Delegates who are not members of Branch Executive.

Administrative Officer Review Committees Administrative Officer Review Committees consider applications for Administrative Officer vacancies and recommend preferred candidates for appointment. Four female and four male positions for a term of office ending March 2012.

Nominees must be 2011 Branch Council Delegates.

Curriculum and Professional Development Management Committee The Committee is responsible for policy development in relation to curriculum and professional issues and oversights the AEU professional development program.

One vacancy for a member working in the schooling sector for a term of office ending March 2013.

Closing Date: Nominations for these vacancies must reach the Returning Officer, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside 5063, no later than 12.00 noon on Thursday, 24 March, 2011.

Nomination forms are available from the AEU. Nominations may be accompanied by a 200 word supporting statement.

Election Procedure: Ballots for contested positions will be conducted at Branch Council on Saturday 26 March 2011. Further information on these positions is available from Jack Major phone: 82721399 or email: aeusa@aeusa.asn.au Peter Norman Returning Officer

Life membership for SA members Long-time union stalwarts Jan Lee (front row 1st from right) and Ken Drury (top row 2nd from right) were presented with AEU Life Membership at this year’s Federal Conference.

Jan, a former General Secretary of the AEU, retired from AEU Branch Council last year, while former Vice-President Ken Drury has recently returned to the AEU to work in the capacity of Project Officer with School Leaders Focus. AEU Branch Executive congratulates them both on this fantastic achievement. n 17

Running NOTICE BOARD Head

Seeking promotion?

Aspiring Principals, DPs, APs, Coordinators

Announcing our new

$99

Make your school a part of

National Close the Gap Day 24 March 2011. Register today.

ONLINE PACKAGE

FOR APPLICATION WRITING AND INTERVIEW for all promotions positions in SA government schools Tailored uniquely to the SA state system, this detailed 60 page booklet and PowerPoint shows you how to develop a dynamic resumé and selection criteria, and provides many valuable ideas and hints to help you prepare for a powerful interview performance! Available for immediate download at:

www.teachers–resumes.com.au Teachers’ Professional Résumés Tel: 0411 245 415 E: teachers-resumes@bigpond.com Serving Australia’s teachers for 20 years.

18

ABN: 40 833 718 673

Photo:Lara McKinley/OxfamAUS

Join with schools around Australia by showing your support to Close the Gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians.

Register today at www.oxfam.org.au/national-day and download your National Close the Gap school kit.

oxfam.org.au/national-day

CLOSETHEGAP WORKING FOR CHANGE

Union Teaching Resource

po sitions Vacant

Union teaching resource online now The ACTU Worksite for Schools website has four new short videos that tackle some tricky workplace issues facing teenagers.

“Only hot chicks need apply”, “We pay $2 an hour”, “Someone got electrocuted on his first day”, “After a week on trial, I got the sack and no pay”.

The topics include sex discrimination, occupational health and safety, unpaid job trials and unions. The videos have matching activities that encourage students to ask questions and really get to know their rights at work. The videos

Organiser

(Leaders Focus) Negotiable 0.6 to 1.0 time

are just one feature of the ACTU Worksite for Schools.

The site also contains up-to-date fact sheets on work laws, employee rights, unions and more. There are also many tips for work experience and your first job. While the WSI (Work Scene Investigations) section encourages an in depth look at current workplace issues. ACTU Worksite for Schools also has a Work Experience diary competition running in 2011, giving students the chance to get more from their time on work experience. Students can win a new iPod Nano simply by sharing their diary with us. n It’s all here @

www.worksite.actu.org.au

What Expert teachers do

In this text, Loughran investigates the constituents of professional practice for classroom teachers, proposing that it is the ongoing decisions and undercurrent of choices that teachers are exposed to on a daily basis, such as the content of courses, student behaviour, an appropriate balance between teacher directed vs. student initiated tasks, expectations on student progress, homework, catering for different learning styles and personal philosophy on teaching and assessments, which

Australian Education Union Lesciur (SA Branch) The term of office for the following raturibusani position is until 31 January, 2014.

makes them experts.

Loughran describes how the task of managing dilemmas and balancing competing concerns throughout the decision-making processes can lead to anxiety, unease and ongoing pressure for teachers. Loughran also helps readers to understand the importance of seeing teaching and learning as both ‘complex and interwoven’.

Drawing on the best research on pedagogy and using real classroom examples, Loughran succinctly pairs his commentary with diagrams, graphs and tables to outline the crucial principles of teaching and learning and illustrates how these are translated into everyday practice.

Teachers who wish to optimise student learning and further their accomplishments in the profession will find the information in this book extremely valuable. n

“What Expert teachers do”

by John Loughran Professor of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Monash University Allen & Unwin, RRP $45.00

The Organiser (Leaders Focus) will undertake specific responsibilities in relation to developing member activism and providing advice and assistance to leader members in schools and preschools.

A Job and Person Specification and details of the selection process for this position are available from Irene Tam on 8272 1399 or email: aeusa@aeusa.asn.au Applicants must address the requirements of the job and person specification in their application. Enquiries about the position should be directed to Jack Major or Correna Haythorpe at the AEU Office. Applications must reach the Branch Secretary, AEU (SA Branch), 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside, SA 5063 by Friday 25 March 2011.

Australian Education Union (SA Branch)

Election Notice BRANCH EXECUTIVE OFFICER CASUAL MALE VACANCY A casual vacancy has arisen on AEU Branch Executive. The term of office of this position is until 31 December, 2011. Nominations must reach the Returning Officer, AEU, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside 5063, no later than 5.00pm on Friday, 18 March, 2011.

In accordance with AEU Branch Rule 48(15) Branch Council will fill this position by appointing the successful candidate in an election conducted at its meeting on 26 March 2011.

A nomination form is available from the AEU office. The use of this form is not compulsory, provided that the nomination complies with AEU rules.

Nominations may be accompanied by a supporting statement which will be distributed to Branch Council Delegates.

Peter Norman Returning Officer

19

Professional development

Save time and plan well with COO As the name suggests Curriculum Organiser Online (COO) is a planning and filing tool for teachers, allowing easy access to adopt, adapt and share curriculum units, plans and resources via the web.

T

hrough COO, members can connect professionally without the need to be in the same room. Members can share the best of their resources, learning units and other materials with users right across the state.

AEU Training and Development Coordinator, Lynn Hall, says COO was developed by an ex-AEU member in WA and, unlike many of the other online curriculum organisers, isn’t just a collection of templates and planning tools.

“COO has sample materials and units of work written by AEU members initially in WA, but our members are now able to submit materials and share materials through it. We believe it will quickly become an amazing resource for teachers. It also saves time; planning is much easier because you can easily move materials around to quickly develop curriculum units.”

AEU members already using COO are finding it a fantastic planning tool. Jamin Lee from Ocean View B-12 College was one of the first to sign up.

“I like that it’s got some full units to help new teachers, but it also has some great resources to help experienced teachers plan units from scratch. I think it will help to reduce teacher workload and streamline the planning process.”

20

1 AEU Training and Development Coordinator Lynn Hall conducting a introduction workshop for the Curriculum Organiser Online at the AEU. See page 21 for dates and training times for 2011.

COO Q&A

Q: How does it work?

A: As an electronic web-based filing system storing templates, graphic organisers, sample materials, strategies, SACSA and Australian Curriculum outcome statements, COO is a onestop-shop for all your planning, assessment and recording needs. The software converts PDFs to Word to allow cut, copy, paste, highlight and save functions.

It helps you organise your work and document your teaching and professional expertise. All you need is a computer and an internet connection.

Q: What support is there?

A: The AEU is running Professional Development free of charge and online support from the developers is also free. Go to www.aeusa.asn.au for more information.

Q: What about the Australian Curriculum?

A: Australian Curriculum materials will be uploaded to COO in March this year and will continue to be added as it rolls out.

Q: Why is there a charge for COO? A: The majority of training and events, including conferences, run by the AEU

“I like that it’s got some full units to help new teachers, but it also has some great resources to help experienced teachers plan units from scratch.”

Jamin Lee Ocean View B-12 College are free to members. However, due to on-costs we would simply not be able to offer COO to our members without charging a fee. We have made the PD that accompanies COO, including webinars run by the developer, free for the first 12 months for all members who sign up.

Q: Can I try before I buy?

A: There is a two-day trial period available for those who would like to test the waters before diving in. The trial version allows full functionality but you won’t be able to download any of the n materials.

For more information including a detailed Q&A go to the AEU website and follow the link from the front page:

8: www.aeusa.asn.au

AEU 2011 Training and Development Program

Council Dates for 2011

2011 Union Member Development Program

New Branch Council Meetings

Thurs 24 Feb

9:15-15:30

Early Childhood Union Training Growing the Union

The first day of a course on building the early childhood sector of the AEU. Who can attend: AEU members working in preschools.

Workplace Reps Courses 2-day course on building the sub-branch and resolving workplace issues effectively through various decision making structures and processes.

Who can attend: AEU members working in the areas/sites listed below.

Education Works Reps Tues 8 Mar & Fri 13 May

9:15-15:30

New Country Reps Thurs 10 & Fri 11 March

9:15-15:30

Greater Metro Reps Thurs 17 & Fri 18 March

9:15-15:30

South East Reps Mon 4 April & Fri 10 June

9:15-15:30

Amalgamated Sites Reps Thurs 12 May & Fri 19 Aug

9:15–15:30

Riverland Reps Thurs 23 Jun & Mon 5 Sept

9:15–15:30

Thurs 24 March

9:15–15:30

Skills for Members Workshop

1-day course to develop members’ confidence in decision-making forums. Meeting procedures assertive communication and public speaking are covered in a workshop format.

Who can attend: All AEU members.

Fri 25 March

9:15-15:00

New Branch Council Delegates Course

1-day course to develop members’ confidence in being an active participant as a delegate in AEU Branch Council.

Who can attend: All AEU Branch Council Delegates and alternate delegates.

Fri 3 June

Non-teaching Staff and SSO Contact Officers

9:15-15:30

1-day day course for AEU SSO Contact Officers and non-teaching PAC reps on resolving workplace issues effectively through various school decision making structures and processes and their role in supporting and informing non-teaching members.

Who can attend: Non-teaching staff reps on PAC and member SSO contact officers.

Tues 30 & Wed 31 Aug

Campaigning Skills for Delegates

Friday 25 March

Creating units of work

Fri 18 November

From the brain, language and learning to pedagogy and practice

Monday 10 October Monday 10 October

9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm

Monday 27 May Monday 27 May

9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm

Friday 18 November

Assessment and Recording Wednesday 20 July Wednesday 20 July

Ads

1-day course introducing members to AEU decision making processes.

Who can attend: AEU members.

Creating units of work using the Australian Curriculum

1:30pm–2:30pm

Friday, March 18 Friday, May 20 Friday, August 5 Friday, November 11

9:15-15:30

9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm

Tuesday 28 May

Upcoming dates for 20011 are:

Potential Delegates Course

Monday 18 April Monday 18 April

An Introduction

TAFE Divisional Council Meetings

A 2-day course to support members’ involvement in local campaigns. The ACTU Organising Centre runs this course to provide union representatives and activists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to campaign effectively in their workplaces and industries.

Who can attend: AEU members keen to be directly involved in AEU campaigns.

Assessment and Recording 4:30pm–6:00pm

Saturday, March 26 Saturday, May 28 Saturday, August 13 Saturday, November 19

9:00-17:00

Curriculum Organiser Online PD Dates and Times 2011 Q&A

Upcoming dates for 20011 are:

9:30am–12:30pm

Creating units of work using the Australian Curriculum Monday 19 December Monday 19 December

9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm

Dr. Clare McCarty

(Adjunct lecturer Flinders University)

Professional Development for middle and senior school staff based on a creative pedagogy that can be applied across the school and across the curriculum integrating literacy, numeracy and the capabilities in SACE. For further information and bookings:

mccarty@internode.on.net “School improvement must begin with pedagogy.”

9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm

Curriculum Organiser Online Wednesday 12 August

2:00pm–5:00pm

8: www.aeusa.asn.au > events & courses 21

NOTICE BOARD

Member’s Market VICTOR HARBOR Holiday House & Studio Apartments:

Panoramic views, walks, fishing.

T: (08) 8832 2623 Southern Escape 3BR fully s/cont. www.countrygetaways.info family friendly hse. Walk to beach, Victor Harbor: parks, shops, restaurants and All Seasons Lakefront Getaway: town centre. Lge enclosed yard, Stunning s/cont. lux. colonial hme.

BBQ. Rates from $150/n.

Priv. secl. beach & lake! 4BRs, 2 Studio Apts: s/cont, open plan living areas, 2nd bath, 3 toilets & w. kitchenette, bath, living area. laundry, lge backyd. Sleeps 8.

Sleep 2 upstairs with sea views Lakeside Getaway: Encounter OR sleeps 3 ground level. Rates Lakes Villa, 100m to beach & re$135/night. T: 0413 920 554 serve. 5-min. to Esplanade, walk/ E: crupi@chariot.net.au bike trail, cafes, restaurants, Holiday House, ‘North Bay’, store. 3BRs. Sleeps 6. Spacious Carrickalinga: Arch. designed living/fam/dine, 2-way bath, sep. toilet, laundry. M: 0419 868 143 new 2 storey beach hse. 4BR, 3 E: foumakis@hotmail.com bath, 2 living areas, European http:/victorharborholidayhomes. kitchen, decking & views. Suits spaces.live.com 2 families. Sleeps 10. Play equip. for kids. T: 0403 015 964 Kangaroo Island Getaway www.stayz.com.au>North Bay, KI RURAL RETREAT: Attractive Carrickalinga s/cont. lge country hme, gdn, native bush, 260 acres. 2 bath, 2 Absolute Seafront House Kingston: Stunning beach, wine- qn beds, 2 living areas, laundry, patio. Sleeps 12. Frm $120/night. dolphins - seafood. Hse (neg), T: 0407 790754 a/h beach or balcony suites. Min 4 nights. Frm $45/dble, mid-wk off- E: kiruralretreat@bigpond.com.au peak. T: 0402 922 445 KI Holiday Cottage: Vivonne Holiday Rental: Yorke Penin- Bay, close to beach & Harriet sula: New up-market esplanade River, wildlife, exc. location for KI beach hse ‘Manyana’ at Wool Bay attractions. 2BR. s/cont, air, BBQ. (near Edithburgh). Spa, plasma Sleep 4, $95. T: (08) 8341 9185 TV, DVD, stereo, dish-washer.

E: enquiries@ravencottage.com.au Tastefully ff, 3BR, sleeps 7. www.ravencottage.com.au

KI holiday hse, Kangastay

Harriet River, Vivonne Bay, 3BR fully equipped. Close to Seal Bay, Remarkables, Admiral Arch and more) relax, swim, fish. Linen prov. winter discounts, sleeps 6.

Frm $100/night. T: 0407 215 345 kangastay@gmail.com

KI Queenscliffe Cottage

Kingscote, recently restored 2BR, period decor, gdn. Walk to beach, cafes, jetty, pubs. Sleeps 6. Exc. location to explore island.

T: 08 8553 9007 www.kangarooislandholiday accomodation.com.au/property. php?p_id=232

‘WINDSWEPT COTTAGE’

Overnight & short-stay accom. in Adel. Hills (Stirling). Suit couples (no children due to steep stairs to mezz. BR). Quiet, botanic setting, own carport & entrance w. galley kitchen, TV, DVD etc. 5 min walk to Stirling restaurants, cafes. 15 min drive to wineries, Hahndorf and Hills towns. From $90-$120/ night. T: 0431991431 E: windswept@pacific.net.au www.windsweptcottage.webs.com

HOLIDAY RENTAL WALLAROO:

Arch. designed new 2-storey beach hse, bay views. 3BR, 3 bath, open plan living, modern kitchen, sleeps 7. DVD, CD, dishw. Safe beach for kids, great walks, fishing. www.stayz.com.au>Bayview, North Beach

HOL. RENTAL NORMANVILLE:

South Shores Holiday Villa #25.

3BR (sleeps 8). Secure behind dunes at Normanville. Golf, horse riding, pools, beach, lawns, cafes.

T: 0413 155 460 www.stayz.com.au/23983

PORT ELLIOT HOLIDAY ESCAPE

Stunning new, a/c, 4BR, s/cont.

Close to Main St. cafes, shops, restaurants, galleries. Horseshoe Bay, swim, surf and fish. Walk/ bike trails, markets, wineries, Steam Ranger Cockle train. Special rates. E: jack.k@live.com.au www.allseasonsescape.spaces. live.com

SEAFRONT HOLIDAY HOUSE: Yorke Peninsula “Oceanfront Escape” 2-storey hse w. pergola

to beach & farmland views, secl, 4 BRMs, full kitchen, BBQ, DVD/ VCR/TV, billiards, fishing. Peaceful & relaxing, great for kids.

Contact Brenton: T: 0409 864 682 E: bjejstevens@bigpond.com CEDUNA BEACH HOUSE: S/cont, beachfront, BBQ/DVD/ LCD/ TV, r/c air. Sleeps 6. Corp. rates AEU members. Main st and jetty 5 min walk. T: (08) 86253343

Houseboat: (near Mannum)

AEU members are offered a 10% disc. during shoulder/off pk.

Sleeps 10. T: (08) 8277 8751 E: tandu.prucha@bigpond.com www.bundara2.net/

AN INVITATION TO RETIRED OR RETIRING TEACHERS & SSOs Have you retired or are about to retire? Are you seeking opportunities to maintain or increase your level of fitness and want to learn more about your city and surrounding hills and bushland? Are you seeking companionship with other retired teachers and their partners as well as other walkers from a range of backgrounds (not just teaching!)?

The R.T.A.Walking Group is a sub-group of the Retired Teachers’ Association and is affiliated with Walking SA. Walks are organised at several levels. Rovers walk from 14–18 kms, Walkers – up to 10kms, and the Strollers and Amblers – up to 5 kms. We walk in conservation and national parks within the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula, suburban beaches, and along the six creeks of the Adelaide Plains, the River Torrens Linear Park and other suburban trails. It’s a great way to get to know your city and surroundings! A camp is also organised each year in country areas within South Australia or Victoria.

If you are interested in finding out more about our walking group, you are invited to contact: our Secretary, David Tassell | T: 8293 4320 email: dtassell@internode.on.net or our Convener: Tony Nichol | T: 8396 1682

22

NOTICE BOARD GLENELG NTH/TOWNHOUSE RETREAT: Rent for short/long/

hols. Good, quiet, peaceful location, mins frm Jetty Rd, close to tram/bus stops. Secl. T-Hse feat.

3 BRM, new kitchen, 2 toilets, ldry, bath, sep. dining, lounge, a/c, gas heating, patio area, carport, garden. T: 0437 847 034 E: wendyvoight@bigpond.com For Rent: ff private apartment in Glenelg for hols or wkds. Spa, heated pool, steam-rm, sauna, gym etc. Plasma TV, 100m to beach.

T: 0403 606 052

35mm SLIDE SCANNING Adelaide & Hills: Do you have

old slides gathering dust and deteriorating? Have them professionally scanned at high resolution and transferred onto CD. 19 yrs exp., reasonable rates.

T: 0401 590 875 WORKSHOP: Stress management, personal dev. and learning difficulties: Brain Gym – an intro wkshop. Movements to ‘switch on’ the brain. T/F: (08) 8768 2537 E: gibbons@seol.net.au

Go SCUBA Diving with Elite Dive Academy: Are you a diver,

FOR SALE: Certified organic cos-

France – South:

metics & personal products. www.bodytune.mionegroup.com

Lovely Village House. Languedoc region. T: 0403 314 928 (Julie) www.myfrenchhome.com.au

CAMERON CAMPER TRAILER FOR SALE: Sits on 6’ by 4’ trailer with electric brakes and water tank. Opens out to create a 17’ by 7’ space. Full annexe incl. Good cond. $3,200 T: 0407 324 559

House Sitting: Mature couple, teachers, non-smokers, exp. pet owners, gardeners seek hse sit while new home is built. Adelaide Nth pref. Available for the entire Term 2 – 2011. Referees avail.

E: edgell.zajac@sehs.sa.edu.au E: Pam.Zajac@tafesa.edu.au T: 0409 608 518 or 0409 280 019

House Sitting: Prof. couple seek hse sit, Adelaide & environs, late July – Oct. 2010. Non-smokers, hse proud, exp. renovators, repairs, gardening, animal caring.

Contact Chris & Eleanor Oyston T: 02 6236 3008 E: oystons@iinet.net.au

ROOM FOR RENT:

but haven’t been in the water for a while?! Get $50 off a PADI TuneUp program to refresh your skills.

T: (Steve) 0413 134 827 E: info@elitediveacademy.com.au www.elitediveacademy.com.au

Female to share 3BR house with 2 others in West Croydon. $150/wk includes phone, internet, electricity and water. T: 0431 518 683 E: marguerita.edwards@student. adelaide.edu.au

Australian certified organic products: for personal use & gifts www.bodytune. mionegroup.com

CIVIL CELEBRANT: Dr Tom Haig: weddings, renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies, funerals and baby namings. First class personalised services with AEU members receiving a 10% discount on services upon request.

T: 85311726 or 0439 687 529 E: tomhaig@internode.on.net www.tomhaig.com.au

Brain Gym® 101 long weekend

2011 Double Teaching Exchange opportunity to Ontario, Canada

Health Harmony & Happiness: Weekend in Robe April

course in Robe Mar 12 & 13, June 11 & 12 to assist people to relax & focus, be organised, learn and communicate more easily.

A movement based course to balance the hemispheres for your personal goals. Register with Heather. T: 87682537 E: gibbons@seol.net.au

Teach in Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada, 2- storey hse, 4 brm, 3 bath and only 5 kms from school. Pop. of 5000, located 2 hrs drive from Toronto, a close knit community with all the perks of a large city, incl. hockey arena, skateboard park, soccer oval, pool and lots of family friendly parks. Town and nearby communities w. beaches, boating, water sports. Teaching in middle & upper primary.

Contact Darryl Carter, Manager, International Programs T: 8226 1150 or 0402 250 929 E: darryl.carter@sa.gov.au

16 – 17. Contact Heather.

T: 8768 2537

Aldinga Beach House From: $680 Week 5 minute walk from beach, opp.

National Park, sleeps 8, ff, TV, DVD, Microwave, Air Con. T: 0418 843 711 E: acaciahouse@optusnet.com.au

Advertise in Members’ Market for FREE! Rent, sell, buy or offer goods and services. Send ads to:

journal@aeusa.asn.au

we’ve got you covered...

Eastern Adelaide, Adelaide Hills,and Yorke Peninsula

Donna Glass 8263 2422

Southern Adelaide, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Limestone Coast

Wayne Copley 8322 7837

Northern Adelaide, Riverland, Murray Bridge and Aboriginal Lands

Mike Day 8261 6676

Southern Adelaide and West Coast

Peter Dinan 8381 1739

Western Adelaide, Whyalla and Mid North

Northern Adelaide, Barossa Valley and Far North

at work and at home, call us to make a confidential appointment

Susan Walters 8340 1477

John Elvin 8255 3465

Credit Union SA Ltd • ABN 36 087 651 232 • AFSL/ACL 241066 • 400 King William Street Adelaide 5000 • Ph: 8202 7777 23

Car loans for every stage of your journey.

No matter what sort of car you’re looking at, we can help you get on the road.

Drop in, call 8202 7777 or visit creditunionsa.com.au

Lending criteria apply. Fees and charges apply. Terms and conditions available upon request. Credit Union SA Ltd ABN 36 087 651 232 AFSL/ACL 241066

President’s View

Union Training

Heading-1

Anna Stewart Memorial Project 2008

Intro

Australian Education Union | SA Branch

Body Copy

Election Notice

Nominations are called to fill the following positions on AEU committees.

Legal Defence Appeals Committee The Legal Defence Appeals Committee determines appeals arising from the Union’s Legal Defence Rules. Four positions for a term of office ending March 2012.

Nominees must be 2011 Branch Council Delegates who are not members of Branch Executive.

Administrative Officer Review Committees Administrative Officer Review Committees consider applications for Administrative Officer vacancies and recommend preferred candidates for appointment. Four female and four male positions for a term of office ending March 2012.

Nominees must be 2011 Branch Council Delegates.

Curriculum and Professional Development Management Committee The Committee is responsible for policy development in relation to curriculum and professional issues and oversights the AEU professional development program.

One vacancy for a member working in the schooling sector for a term of office ending March 2013.

Closing Date: Nominations for these vacancies must reach the Returning Officer, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside 5063, no later than 12.00 noon on Thursday, 24 March, 2011. Nomination forms are available from the AEU. Nominations may be accompanied by a 200 word supporting statement.

Election Procedure: Ballots for contested positions will be conducted at Branch Council on Saturday 26 March 2011. Further information on these positions is available from Jack Major phone 82721399 or email: aeusa@aeusa.asn.au Peter Norman Returning Officer

25

Public Education Week Body Copy

Book Series

Learning in a Changing World Series This excellent series of short, informative texts addresses how the process of learning is evolving – including the array of resources available in the digital age, changing curriculum, and the different teaching strategies needed in order to use new media and technologies.

The series presents the core areas for educators to consider for 21st century learning: the digital world, virtual worlds, curriculum integration, resourcing, and the physical environment. All are essential elements to enable and empower our students to be lifelong learners and active participants in our society.

Designing the learning environment: discusses the elements of effective learning spaces for individual reflection and group collaboration, with consideration to room ambience/aesthetics, colours, air temperature, acoustics, furniture and in particular, the needs of students whom occupy and interact in these spaces. This text delves into an array of research and learning theories, using these as a platform for planning, and concludes that such planning should be learning-driven, human-centred and flexible.

Virtual worlds: explains technology’s promise of the immersive worlds in virtual environments, and the need for evolving literacy in 21st century leaders of education to match the creative minds of their students. This text uncovers the opportunities provided by virtual worlds, role-playing games and 3D immersive worlds, so as to be able to create more interactive library, educational and cultural projects. The challenge offered is to accept that virtual worlds are here to stay and that schools can, and should, embrace learning in interactive environments.

26

Connect, communicate, collaborate: discusses the revolutionary shift to multimodal student learning, and the challenge of others to un-learn and relearn in order to grant students access to 21st century learning methodologies. This text provides the background theories, foundation knowledge, inspiration and motivation to get readers started.

Curriculum integration: presents a curriculum integration matrix for students learning in the 21st century and a changing Australian landscape, among varied and complex information environments. The Curriculum Integration matrix is structured on the research-based model of the Information Search Process, establishing a set of potential strategies and approaches for designing quality teaching and learning through Guided Enquiry.

Resourcing for curriculum innovation: discusses literacy in the advent of the digital age, amid an environment with everincreasing information volumes and where the book is no longer the sole information resource. This text provides both an approach to developing school library collections and a balanced view of the types of resources required for student learning.

“Learning in a Changing World” ACER Press RRP $89.95 complete set or $19.95 ea.

Order online at:

https://shop.acer.edu.au