Volume 47 | No. 1

Official publication of the Australian Education Union (SA Branch)

Vol 47 I No.1

February 2015

AEUJOURNAL SA Our kids need more support in the classroom

Inside: u Vale

Rob Durbridge: Union movement says farewell

u TAFE:

Funding cuts continue

Running Head

2

Features President’s View

#2

AEU Union Journal Training

Our kids need more support in the classroom

TAFE funding cuts continue pages 6 – 7 Budding stage and costume designers may have to go interstate as cuts announced at AC Arts.

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 6 March 25 #3 May 1 May 20 #4 June 5 June 24 #5 July 24 August 12 #6 August 28 September 16 #7 October 16 November 4 Subscriptions: Free for AEU members. Nonmembers may subscribe for $33 per year.

Print Post approved PP 531629/0025 ISSN 1440-2971 Cover: Craig Greer Printing: Lane Print

Inside: u Vale

Rob Durbridge: Union movement says farewell

u TAFE:

Funding cuts continue

Our kids need more support in the classroom Vale Rob Durbridge pages 12 – 13 There are more students with special needs in mainstream classes than ever, but where’s the funding?

page 10 Union movement says farewell.

Advertise in the AEU Journal. Reach over 13,500 members across South Australia.

8272 1399 journal@aeusa.asn.au

Obituary

Vale Hoss aka David Husband

L

ong time AEU activist and APY Lands teacher David Husband, known as Hoss to those he knew, sadly passed away soon after his retirement at the end of 2014. Kenmore Park School Principal, Tuppy Ruff shares some memories of a good friend and colleague.

I met Hoss at the end of January 1999 at my first PRT Meeting in Adelaide. I was walking with another PRT to go and get something for our tea, when we passed this man sitting on his roo bar wearing a ten gallon hat. Our first thoughts were, who’s the dork?

The next day when we attended our meeting, to our surprise this dork with his 10 gallon hat was in our meeting and was one of us.

His ideas for fixing things straight away and stating how it should be done were an eye-opener, but his way of getting his message across was another matter and I was glad I was a Statewide PRT and not an Area PRT like him.

In January 2001 Hoss became a Statewide PRT based on the APY Lands. Our partnership in crime began, and a strong friendship developed.

His passion for teaching and learning on the APY Lands was his driving force.

Kids loved his sense of humour and he encouraged them to engage with him.

He loved working with the kids, especially cooking and computing.

I recall when he first came to Kenmore Park and introduced himself to the students as Hoss. Some students had poor hearing and thought he said horse and started calling him horse. Well he did correct them with his stern voice “My name is HOSS not HORSE!” At Kenmore, and I believe across the Lands, he would call the kids “Sunshine”.

Hoss supported lots of programs, like the Secondary Gateways Cattle learning program, SAPSASA football carnival and the Sports Day program. He was a staunch AEU Rep, Branch Council delegate and

Photo: Susan Martin

member of the Country Conditions Consultative Committee. He embraced the Anangu Education Services Annual School Conference and wore a costume to the themed dinners. He thought it was funny when a teacher once dressed up as him.

Hoss was a lover of fine wine and food and would indulge us with his culinary skills. He could make the best baklava – even better than the Greeks themselves.

Knowing I like to eat my sweets first, he continued over page 3 3

Enviroweek continued Obituary Cont. would make me wait until I had my main meal before offering it to me.

Hoss had a passion for RM Williams clothes and shoes. One of his most prized purchases were his expensive crocodile skin boots which he wore proudly.

Hoss was very competitive and loved to play scrabble with his colleague Zanee (Cushway). You could tell when he lost as he went a bit quiet, however Zanee reckons he was a gracious loser.

Yes, he could be frustrating and overbearing at times, but he liked people who gave as good they got from him. And

yes he could be opinionated, but this just made him human. If you were down and out he would be the first person to lend a helping hand.

Hoss was not an easy person to get to know; he was very private and valued his privacy. I remember at one of the Anangu Education Service’s annual school conferences in Alice Springs, Hoss and I would walk in the mornings discussing the pros and cons of the program. One morning I thought he had stood me up, so I went walking alone. Half way back I met up with Hoss who didn’t look quite

himself. He told me his brother in England had died. Wow! This information came as shock to me – to think there were more around like him! But it was my pleasure to be his friend and support him in his hour of need.

As time went by, Hoss gradually shared information about his family in South Africa and the UK. He proudly showed photos of his family and his many trips abroad.

Hoss was a valued mate and his loss has hit hard - he will be sadly missed. n Tuppy Ruff

Learning Program

A world premiere full of wonder and worms, music and mud, at the 2015 Adeaide Fringe.

www.facebook.com/mcnirthatesdirt for ages 4-11 Starring Tim Overton Patch Theatre’s ‘Cranky Bear’ & Ashton Malcolm State Theatre’s ‘Othello’

Holden St Theatre Feb 16 - 21, 23 - 28 11 am and 1:30 pm Mt Barker Library Mar 1 11am and 2 pm The Art Centre Port Noarlunga Mar 5 - 7 11 am and 2 pm Campbelltown Function Centre Mar 13 - 14 11 am and 2 pm SCHOOL BOOKINGS MIRANDA 0425373303 miranda.hamp@gmail.com

Creative Classrooms Teacher Workshop Presenter and composer: Paul Rissmann

This bespoke workshop is a chance for teachers to work with internationally acclaimed educator to explore practical and innovative ways to foster creativity in their own classroom. Inspiring professional musicians and teachers to develop their own creative skills is an integral part of Paul’s career in the UK and around the world.

Sunday 14 Jun, 1:30 - 4.30pm, Grainger Studio

Visit aso.com.au/learning for more info and application form. Cost $80.

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4

President’s View

Funding

Once more unto the breach …

Federal govt. has no vision for public schools

AEU President David Smith writes

It’s time Education Minister Christopher Pyne admitted to the failure of his Independent Public Schools (IPS) policy and shifted his focus to equity and properly funding disadvantaged schools.

NSW became the latest state to accept funding from Minister Pyne’s $70 million IPS fund, without agreeing to create a single Independent Public School.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said IPS was bad policy and a distraction from the real issues of inequity in schools funding and the Abbott Government’s abandoning of the full six years of Gonski funding.

“There is no evidence that Independent Public Schools do anything to improve results, and huge amounts of evidence that directing funding to disadvantaged schools and students can improve outcomes and change lives,” Ms Haythorpe said.

IPS is Minister Pyne’s flagship policy and yet another State has politely rejected it. NSW will get funding from the IPS program for autonomy programs, but won’t create Independent Public Schools.

Haythorpe said that under Pyne’s plan, public schools will get an average of $9500 each – a far cry from the $944 million they will lose if the Federal Government does not honour the last two years of the Gonski agreement with NSW. “Prior to the election Minister Pyne announced that his goal was for 25 per cent of schools to become Independent Public Schools by 2017, operating outside of State education systems, and that the Federal Government would fund schools directly to achieve this,” she said.

“This goal is in tatters because a majority of the States have realised that IPS will do nothing to lift standards and have rejected the program.”

NSW has joined Victoria, SA, ACT, and Tasmania, in saying ‘thanks but no thanks’ to the IPS concept, accepting money for autonomy programs without actually creating Independent Public Schools.

“Minister Pyne now has no vision to improve the performance of public schools beyond cutting their funding. He needs to act immediately to remedy disadvantage in schools, especially for the over 100,000 students with disability currently getting no support funding,” Ms Haythorpe said. n

Henry V’s ‘Once more unto the breach’ gee-up to his troops may be a trifle misplaced in our context but as 2015 gets under way, there are many tasks and potential conflicts our Union is facing. And we need to be prepared.

We do so with the confidence that we have a sound membership base and a firm commitment to a fair and just public education system. The latter is clear for all to see in our Charter for Public Education passed by Branch Council in 2013. That is, and should be, in our minds as we tackle the many issues of the new year. It is what prevents us from being merely reactive. It gives us an educational, philosophical and democratic framework to all we do.

As all members are aware, the bargaining for the next Schools and Preschools Enterprise Agreement begins soon and, given the current Agreement expires in the middle of the year, it will occupy us all in further thinking and planning in the course of the year. It is critical that all members keep abreast of EB developments and make a positive contribution to the general debate as the year goes on.

To a degree, we have already partly shaped our position on the central matters of greatest importance to the membership, and as Area Branch Council Meetings take place during the year, that position will be finalised. We are hopeful that the EB negotiations with the Government will go well, but it is critical that we are all well informed and in the best possible position to vote on the Agreement when that time comes.

There are many other matters on the boil, and while at times we are sometimes portrayed as simply reacting to someone else’s actions, that reaction is

entirely in line with what we believe in and stand for.

Consider the following significant matters. TAFE and the reduction of services, staff and courses of that fine public vocational education provider; recent interstate elections cast that one into clear relief. Independent Public Schools (SA version with its emphasis on underperforming staff) still needs considerable negotiation with DECD. Partnerships – while some of our members report that the Partnerships are going well, others are still seriously concerned about the basic unanswered questions concerning governance and funding.

The new Integrated Support Services structure has sparked a recent flurry of concern among our members who are preschool and school leaders over what seems to be a reduction in service to vulnerable students. The DECD Strategic Plan and accompanying documents, the current DECD Funding Review, and the new iteration of External School reviews all require serious thought and discussion with DECD and within our union. Universal Access to 15 hours of preschool education per child per week is an issue solved for now, but there is no surety for the future. And then there are NAPLAN, the Australian Curriculum, National Professional Standards, all of which require action and monitoring on our part.

In addition, South Australia still faces the huge reduction in the federal schools funding reforms caused by the Federal Government’s refusal to honour the full six years of Gonski money. SA stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of that.

All of these form our work as a union.

To achieve the best results we need to remind ourselves of our collective purpose to do the best for all education workers and the students of the State.

We must stand together and strong. n In solidarity, David Smith

5

TA FE Focus

AC Arts has a growing reputation for success With the Fringe and Adelaide Festival on our doorstep the importance of expanding Arts training, not cutting it, should be obvious, writes Craig Greer.

C

TAFE

uts to Stage Design and Costume Design courses integral to the production house training model at AC Arts TAFE campus in Adelaide’s Light Square could spell disaster for what some say is the country’s best Arts training institution.

The AEU Journal understands that staff and students are concerned that cutting these two courses will impact badly on the SA Arts scene, which draws heavily from the college’s highly skilled graduates.

Toward the end of January, the AEU was made aware of an email sent from TAFE senior management to middle management and others which read: “Seeking your support to disseminate the attached communiqué which details the cessation of Costume for Performance and Footwear Production – no new enrolments from the start of 2015”.

The communiqué claims the courses are no longer viable due to low enrolments and high running costs. A heading entitled “Consultation” simply says: “This paper has been developed to provide staff and internal stakeholders with information on the decision made

by TAFE SA to cease the delivery of the following educational programs: • Footwear Production • Custom Made Footwear • Costume for Performance.”

Apparently announcing the reasons for closing the courses is TAFE’s way of “consulting”. The AEU Journal has been contacted by a student who, having received a letter from TAFE announcing the course was closing, called their lecturer to find out what was going on – the lecturer couldn’t provide any details because the student’s call was the first they’d heard about it! That’s not “consultation”, in anyone’s book.

Upon investigation, the AEU Journal 6

has also discovered that neither staff nor students are aware of any money being spent on the promotion of the costume design or stage design courses in recent memory, if ever. One wonders how enrolments, which its understood were only two or three below optimal, can improve when no-one knows the course exists.

One student the AEU spoke to said despite years studying another course at AC Arts, they had no knowledge the courses existed either!

The show must go on As a way of maintaining some kind of focus on stage and costume design, management’s response to calls to retain the courses has been to create study streams within the existing Live Production course.

But this won’t cut it. What makes AC Arts special in the world of Arts training is its production house model where the students in the various courses work together to create actual productions, and it’s this model that distinguishes AC Arts from other training institutions around

the country. Management are fully aware of this yet have cut these crucial courses in order to make what are likely to be relatively minor cost savings.

If you go to any Arts event in South Australia there will be AC Arts graduates working on production; they’re employed because they receive the highest quality training available and have the practical experience that is driven by AC Arts’ production house model.

If these courses close and SA loses its ability to produce talented stage designers and costume designers, those skills will have to be sourced from interstate. It will also mean the loss of students to interstate Arts training courses – students who will make contacts there and not return to South Australia.”

Building on success For AC Arts to grow its reputation as one of Australia’s premier Arts training institutions it needs to be bold and innovative. Potential exists, for example, to tap into the international education market as other South Australian tertiary institutions have done. But according to insiders, this isn’t happening. Reducing options by closing courses critical to the success of the widely lauded production house model is no way to ensure the long-term viability of the college. TAFE, the State Government and AC Arts management must invest in what is already a fantastic example of highly skilled South Australians nurturing local talent. A lack of creative thinking and determination will surely put in jeopardy the very model AC Arts’ success is built on. That will be bad for the Arts and bad for South Australia. n

Another AC Arts success story Miranda Hampton is proof SA can produce talented Arts practitioners, we just have to keep them here, writes Craig Greer.

O

ne of the many highly skilled AC Arts students achieving success in industry is Stage Designer, writer, performer and sculptor extraordinaire Miranda Hampton. Miranda’s latest gig, McNirt hates dirt, is advertised on Pg. 4. It’s a stage production for kids which she has written and designed herself.

“The show is aimed at children between four and 11 years of age,” says Miranda. “It’s an interactive performance that involves the kids in all aspects of the show while promoting the importance of soil and sustainability – a topic teachers may even want to explore with continued over page 3

Issue: Leaders

Make sure you are being paid correctly!

Have you been in a leadership position and returned to the classroom as a teacher?

The AEU has assisted a number of teachers who have been underpaid when they have concluded their tenure in a Band A or Band B leadership position and returned to a classroom teaching position.

In each instance the teacher was eligible to be paid at Key Teacher Fallback 2 ($95,148) but had been paid at Key Teacher Fallback 1 ($91,751) or less.

The Enterprise Agreement 2012 states: their students!” she says with a grin.

Miranda’s work is so good she’s been asked by organisers of the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, the world’s largest exhibition in the field of scenography and theatre architecture, to participate in this year’s event.

“McNirt hates dirt has been accepted as one of the only live theatre performances at the quadrennial in Prague, so a team of five of us are heading over.

They’re all AC Arts graduates in acting, tech and design. It’s really exciting and I still can’t believe it,” she says. “It’s not that long since I was in Belgium presenting at a conference with a fellow student, so two European experiences so close together is amazing.”

Miranda says she couldn’t have achieved what she has if not for the high quality training provided by staff at AC Arts. “We’re really lucky to have an Arts training facility like this,” she says.

“The production house model really is one of a kind – I don’t know of anywhere else in Australia this is happening. The added bonus is all the lecturers have real industry experience and are working in the industry. It’s an amazing place and a real asset to the South Australian Arts industry.”

“The amount of hours we get with lecturers is fantastic, and not just your own, I have input from others who hap-

pen to be involved or around the place.

For example, I previously studied sculpture here and my lecturers there will come and look at what I’m doing in stage design and advise, and it’s all because we’re under one roof and everyone’s excited about working collaboratively,” says Miranda.

When asked about plans to reduce Stage Design to a unit with the Live Production course Miranda says it would offer a good introduction but nothing like the full-time course that’s helped kick-start her professional career.

“There just won’t be enough hours in the day to achieve what you would in a dedicated three year stage design course, so you’re not going to be able to compete with students who are doing that interstate. You would really have to leave South Australia in order to compete on that level,” she says.

As a mother with two young children, Miranda points out that she would have found it impossible to study stage design if it wasn’t offered at AC Arts. She says that studying in Adelaide has been pivotal in making local industry contacts.

“Your final graduating year is really important in forming an industry network and if that’s interstate well…” n See Ad on page 4 for information on where & when you can catch Miranda’s Adelaide Fringe show McNirt hates dirt.

Permanent teachers who accumulate five years or 1035 days of service from 1 January 1990 occupying positions of key teacher, Band A or Band B leader (formerly known as coordinator, assistant principal, senior leader, deputy principal, principal and/or preschool director), or a combination of these tenured appointments and who are not reappointed to such positions, shall be classified and paid at the level of key teacher fallback.

This fallback provision will also be maintained for Coordinators (Band B) in district or regional offices where it is an existing provision.

From the first full pay period to commence on or after 1 October 2010 the key teacher fallback classification will be Advanced Skills Teacher 2.

From the first full pay period to commence on or after 1 October 2012, the key teacher fallback classification for eligible preschool teachers will be Advanced Skills Teacher 2. n

Action

• Check your earnings advice to see whether you are being paid correctly.

• If you believe there may be an irregularity in your pay, contact the AEU Information Unit on 8272 1399 for further advice.

7

Opinion

The IT ‘cloud’

D

In my view the basic problem goes back to the initial choice of Windows as the official platform for public education in South Australia. Instantly the scene was set for an IT environment prone to viruses, hacking, and a frustratingly circular inbuilt help system.

Full disclosure: I am a dedicated Appleist. This is being sent from my Mac. Nevertheless, compare the sign-up process of any commercial or social media website or forum to the workflow on the DECD intranet. Other sites must often be written and run from Windows servers. And they work, effortlessly.

Observe the organic, logical flow. You enter your name and details and press next. You sign an agreement and press continue. You are sent an email with your username and password, you log 8

Offensive language detected in email.

Mail Delivery System <MAILER-DAEMON@pitt7chi-dec-ipc01.hosting. telstra.com>

Huh? I’m sure I didn’t say anything offensive in my application. That would just be silly. Try again... this happens several more times. By now I do feel like writing something offensive, it might even get through! But instead I call the DECD IT helpline. They are sympathetic but tell me that “the filters on the mail system are very sensitive and sometimes misconstrue a few letters next to or even near each other as naughty words.” They also tell me that “the filter has an exceptionally extensive vocabulary”. It must include most sub-dialects and slang from every language in the galactic subsector because I can’t see any English words to misconstrue in my expression of interest. They sympathise again but can only agree with me that, “Yeah, it’s nearly impossible to pick where it’s finding the offensive language... it could be in the body of the text, the email header, or even the folder the attachment is in on your computer.” I check all these but I still can’t find anything rude. One more go, changing the subject line and the short message to say my expression of interest is attached.

Wed 1/10/2014 15:29

Again:

[Email Dropped Offensive Language]

Mail Delivery System <MAILER-DAEMON@pitt7chi-dec-ipc01.hosting.

Prospect Kindergarten teacher Unjay Markiewicz is waiting, with bated breath, for the sky to clear. o you know what my LearnLink password is? Well, I’m not going to tell you, but it is an uncomplimentary phrase directed at the design of the diabolical DECD online systems.

trator because it had encountered the following events.

in and you are on.

This is, sadly, not the case with DECD. We could all go on with endless instances of frustration, but I shall limit myself to one recent experience.

Putting in an Expression of Interest Cruising the HR section of DECD’s website I came across a call for expressions of interest, which I thought looked interesting. So I downloaded the form, filled it in, attached it along with my CV, and emailed them to the address specified. Easy!

Except... a minute or so later, I got this:

This sender alert message was generated by DECD Email System Adminis-

continued over page 3

Vice President’s Report

telstra.com> Wed 1/10/2014 15:29

[Email Dropped Offensive Language] This sender alert message was generated by DECD Email System Administrator because it had encountered the following events.

Offensive language detected in email.

Warning: You are a repeat offender. You will be terminated... I may have made up that last line.

The solution I print off my documents, put them in an envelope and take them into 31 Flinders Street to be hand-delivered. Even this is confusing because the staff on the front desk have only worked there for two weeks and think I am a builder putting in a tender.

However, I eventually make myself understood and people are phoned and asked to come down through the new bullet-proof glass security wall to collect my papers. I can remember the old days, when you could walk through the doors, go to the lift, press a button and see whomever you needed to see. Now, as a reflection of our too-security-conscious times, it’s more like going to Langley.

This is the modern world “Please submit an online application.

Note: this is not possible as we have a really badly designed mail system. Your application is important to us. After feeling a sense of hopeless angry frustration, you may wish to print off your application and deliver it by hand.

Thank you for attempting to contact DECD.” I wonder if teachers in Finland, some of the most respected in the world, have this much trouble communicating within their own system. Have legal and risk concerns outweighed trust in the professionalism of DECD staff to the extent that our IT system is an obstacle to our productivity instead of an aid? Have security worries given birth to an admin system so convoluted you literally have to read the manual to perform the simplest task? And have teachers and leaders with increased curriculum, admin and reporting loads got time for anything less than a well designed, easyto-use system? n

Australian Curriculum: a big issue for members AEU Vice President Howard Spreadbury writes “The AEU believes schools should be encouraged to consolidate familiarisation and awareness with the identified subject areas.”

Welcome to what will be a big year of activity as we embark upon enterprise bargaining with the state government for a new Agreement to improve members’ salaries and conditions. This period provides an opportunity for members to take stock of their work in the context of provisions already established in the current Enterprise Agreement. One of the key areas of concern for members in schools is the implementation of the Australian Curriculum.

During 2014, the AEU developed a position in response to member feedback through a survey conducted early in the year and responses to group discussion held at November Branch Council. In December the AEU raised the following issues with the Chief Executive of DECD: • High workload associated with implementation of the Australian Curriculum, in particular the “overcrowded curriculum” as identified by teachers, academics and the federal government reviewers • Lack of appropriate and consistent professional development and resources across the state • Concerns in relation to adaptation of the Australian Curriculum for students with additional and special needs and differentiated curriculum content in the context of mixed ages and composite classes • Need for more exemplars of student work, teacher plans and assessment.

Preschool members received notification from the Minister late last year that a new agreement had been signed with the federal government for further funding for Universal Access to 15 hours of preschool education for all children in the year before school. This followed a lengthy period of uncertainty due to the federal government changing the performance indicators and funding arrangements for states and territories.

Members who had received additional hours of work to deliver the programs are pleased to have continuity however the agreement is only for a further year with no on-going commitment from the federal government for 2016 and beyond.

The AEU position is that the current timeline for implementation, particularly the assessment and reporting components, should be put on hold until there is clarity about agreed changes to curriculum content and achievement standards as a result of the review. The AEU believes that schools should be encouraged to consolidate familiarisation and awareness with the identified subject areas.

The AEU Curriculum and Professional

Last year AEU members engaged in a campaign targeting the federal Minister and Assistant Minister to commit to continued funding. The outcome, late as it was, was welcomed by the AEU however the campaign will need to continue this year to ensure that members do not experience the same uncertainty and frustration and that early childhood education continues to receive the level of funding that our young children deserve. n

Development Committee has also conducted an analysis of the 30 recommendations of the federal government review and this, following endorsement

by Branch Executive, will be available on the AEU website. In his response, DECD Chief Executive Tony Harrison has confirmed that any changes to curriculum content or implementation will require agreement by all state and territory governments.

Universal Access update

9 9

Obituary:Head Rob Durbridge Running

A giant of a man, gone but never forgotten A widely respected unionist, activist and internationalist, Rob Durbridge, will be missed by many.

“In defending the rights of workers Rob always started from the premise that we are here to improve workers’ rights, not to trade off their conditions.”

Following a period working as an industrial officer for the AEU which began in 1988, Mr Durbridge was elected AEU Federal Secretary in 1994 and served in the post for 12 years.

A true internationalist

F

ormer Federal Secretary of the Australian Education Union, Rob Durbridge, passed away on 10 November 2014 after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was

aged 68.

Rob left behind memories of a passionate and committed advocate for public education, workers’ rights, social justice and peace.

Educated in Adelaide, Rob Durbridge was active as a university student in the Vietnam War movement and the Communist Party of Australia (later serving as joint National Secretary) for which he was rewarded with a lifelong ASIO record.

He began teaching with disadvantaged and disengaged youth in Adelaide in the 1970s, then in Bathurst.

10

During his period as Federal Secretary, Rob maintained active involvement in the AEU’s overseas aid program, which sought to lift the living and working standards of teachers in developing countries, while increasing access to public education for students. His close work with the Vietnamese teachers union was an extension of his involvement in the anti-Vietnam War movement.

He also pushed for reforms to global peak body Education International to ensure equal representative rights for teacher union members from less developed nations.

Rob took part in employment projects in south-east Asia run by Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA. Rob Durbridge left the AEU at the end of 2005 to become the inaugural executive director of the Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) but returned to the union’s national office as an industrial officer for a further four-year stint in 2007.

In retirement, he continued to teach and mentor younger trade union officials and leaders through the ACTU’s Organising Works and other programs.

He also volunteered one day a week with at-risk teenagers in Stawell in west-

ern Victoria, near where he and his wife Wendy lived in retirement.

Outside of work, Rob was known for his passion for music – especially folk music, where he specialised on the banjo – booming voice and infectious laughter.

Current AEU Federal Secretary, Susan Hopgood, said: “Rob was always a listener, a persuader, an activist, an organiser and an incredibly wise man. He was a man of wit, of intellect and ideas. He was a mentor to many.”

“A giant among his colleagues and across the progressive labour movement, Rob’s passing leaves the world a better place for his having trod its paths,” she said.

Alongside his activism, Rob was remembered for his generosity of spirit.

Mr Durbridge’s daughter-in-law, Jo Keen, recalls his selfless generosity on one occasion towards a homeless family.

“While walking their dog, he and his wife Wendy came across a family of five living out of a car,” she posted on facebook.

“Rob and Wendy took them back to their place, fed them, gave them some money and then Rob handed over the keys to his and Wendy’s house in the country.”

“The family were invited to live there rent and utility free until they found their feet. Rob thought this no big deal. To do otherwise would never have occurred to him. He did it because it was right.”

Rob Durbridge’s funeral was held at Landsborough, Victoria on 15 November.

He was buried in an Australian Unions NAIDOC Week t-shirt and AEU life membership badge and was carried out to the strains of the Billy Bragg song ‘Goodbye, Goodbye’.

A memorial service was subsequently held at the AEU SA Branch on November 26. Around 50 people were in attendance, many sharing their fond memories of their relationship with Rob and his work as a unionist and progressive activist.

SA Unions Coordinator of Industrial Services Angas Story MC’d the event. He had this to say about Rob: “He was incredibly determined, unwavering and highly principled in his work as an industrial officer. In defending the rights of workers Rob always started from the premise that we are here to improve workers’ rights, not to trade off their conditions.”

Rob Durbridge epitomised what it is to be a trade unionist. He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Vale comrade. n

Interview

First AEU Federal President for SA! Earlier this year Correna Haythorpe succeeded Angelo Gavrielatos as AEU Federal President. The AEU Journal caught up with Correna to discuss her new role.

Journal: Congratulations on your appointment as AEU Federal President, you must be excited about this new challenge?

Correna: Thank you, yes I’m looking forward to working with our union members and community groups around the nation.

Journal: I believe this is the first time a South Australian has held the position of AEU Federal President, you do realise that brings extra pressure, right?

Correna: At the end of the day, the person you go home with is yourself.

The only pressure that I feel is to make sure that I achieve what I set out to do in a way that ensures I can sleep at night. It’s an honour and a privilege to do the work that we do – fighting the good fight for our students and members. Being a South Aussie though, I will have to make sure I resist the pressure to barrack for a Melbourne footy team whilst I’m here!

Journal: You represented members in South Australia for six years in your role as SA Branch President, what will you take from that experience to help guide your work as Federal President?

Correna: I never felt alone in that position. Having 14,000 members stand with you when you have to negotiate or fight for better conditions is very empowering. In my new role I will be working alongside 200,000 members around the nation as I take up the issues at a federal level. Our members understand the difference that education can make to children and communities, they know why the Gonski campaign and stopping the cuts to TAFE are important, and they are prepared to campaign for change. That provides my motivation for taking this next step.

Journal: What is it about public education that inspires you to commit so strongly to your work in our union? Are you just a workaholic?

Correna: I’m far from being a worka-

holic. You have to have balance and time with family and friends is very important. Public Education gave me this opportunity. I am eternally grateful to the teachers at Streaky Bay Area School who saw in me something that at the time I didn’t know was there.

They changed my life, encouraged me to reach for the stars and I hope that my work in our union provides similar opportunities for students across the nation.

Journal: Our union has some big challenges ahead, particularly with relation to improving schools funding; what’s the next step to making sure the Gonski recommendations are fully implemented?

Correna: We have a federal election ahead and it is vitally important that we continue to campaign for the full implementation of Gonski. Over 100,000 students with a disability are missing out on the funding support that they need because the Abbott government has not implemented the disability loading. The students and schools that need this funding the most are missing out and I think it would be an arrogant government that walked away from the most comprehensive review of schools funding in over 40 years.

Schools know the difference that this funding will make for their students and I know that people will step up yet again and campaign to secure the full six years in the lead up to the federal election.

Journal: When we look around the globe we can see reforms taking place which seek to undermine the universal and democratic right to a publicly funded education. The US and UK, where charter and academy schools are ubiquitous, are two prime examples. How do we prevent such reforms taking hold here in Australia?

Correna: We have to be vigilant and alert to any moves to privatise or commercialise the provision of Public Edu-

cation. What has happened in the US, UK and many other countries where private corporations are moving in with intent to make a profit out of public schooling cannot be allowed to happen here. I believe the Federal Government’s Independent Public School agenda will set the framework for privatisation and I would urge people to educate themselves about what has happened overseas with similar reforms.

Pasi Sahlberg’s work on the Global Education Reform Agenda (GERM) is well worth reading. n 11

Cover Story

Student complexity – a burning issue that needs a solution Craig Greer says special needs funding requires an immediate boost and asks, where’s Gonski?

T

alk to any teacher working in a mainstream school with high complexity and they’ll tell you it’s an incredibly challenging gig. More children with identified learning difficulties are participating in mainstream classrooms and teachers are finding it harder and harder to manage with the current level of support.

“It’s very difficult to get support for students and those you get support for will have really quite significant intellectual issues.”

Take Noarlunga Downs Primary School as one of many examples. While the school does have a dedicated special class, teachers in mainstream classes are faced with increasing workload as the percentage of high complexity students gradually increases.

Education Plans, and quite a few who had extreme behaviour issues due to trauma – they required written escalation profiles to help us understand what triggers extreme behaviour and how to deal with it. I would say that well over half my class had special needs and I had an incredible gap in ability between the lowest and highest performing students,” she says.

AEU member and teacher Peta Harnois told the AEU Journal that her class last year was highly complex, resulting in very long hours and additional stress.

“Last year I had five Aboriginal students requiring Individual Learning Plans, two students under the Guardianship of the Minister, four students on Negotiated 12

We often hear teachers talking broadly about complexity in their class and it’s not hard to tell that they’re overworked.

But it’s not until you discuss the nitty gritty of lesson planning that you really get a sense of how excessive workload comes about. Tailoring curriculum to so many students at different levels of ability

in the one class is incredibly challenging and requires strategies that are workload intense.

“I have to have everything on the board,” Peta says. “You can’t just put work on the board at one year level and expect all the students to cope. You’ll have some kids shut down because it’s all too hard. Everything you do you have to modify. I’m about to do an addition task with my class and I have to have three sets of questions to ensure everyone can understand the task.”

“Last year I had a good amount of support due to the RAP funding. Nonetheless the complexity of the class creates a lot of stress and a significant amount of extra work. I would say I was averaging around 60-70 hours each week with all the planning, the writing of NEPs and so on,” Peta says.

Peta’s Principal at Noarlunga Downs is Gaynor Steele, she says the bar has got higher and higher with respect to what level of funding support is available for particular special needs and that is adding to the complexity in schools.

“It’s very difficult to get support for students, and those you get support for continued over page 3

Award

“It all comes down to a lack of funding and it needs addressing at the highest level of government.” will have really quite significant intellectual issues. It’s the same for the special class. In some ways, it’s harder and harder to get in,” she says.

“Classroom teachers here are amazing in dealing with the complexity of their students – kids with trauma, kids with attachment disorder – there’s heaps of them in every class. And then you have the kids with disability or cognitive delay and challenges with speech. We have a couple of kids in Year 3 and 4 who are very difficult to understand and there’s no support available for them after Year 2.

Students with dyslexia attract no individual funding support. These are the things teachers are dealing with on a daily basis,” she says.

Laura Toland is a second year teacher at Northfield Primary School. As if your first year teaching isn’t challenging enough, Laura’s class last year was highly complex, with a considerable number of students requiring extra support. But as Laura explains, that support isn’t necessarily enough.

“The problem I had last year was that I had a lot of children who weren’t identified as needing extra support, so there wasn’t funding to provide them with assistance. I tried to set up lots of things for the parents to do at home because it’s really hard to get that support happening for everyone in the classroom; I had an autistic boy in the classroom who got a lot of attention from SSOs. I also had nine children who didn’t speak English at home. I had children with unexplained low literacy levels. I also had a child who was incontinent and had constant specialist appointments. It was really hard to give adequate time to the kids who were doing well and needed to be extended.

I’m trying to focus more on that this year,” she said.

Speaking to Laura it’s obvious she is a very dedicated and capable teacher.

However, with pressures such as these,

it’s no wonder nearly 40 percent of teachers in their first five years are deserting the profession.

Leadership who support teachers like Laura are feeling similar pressure and in many cases have their hands tied by a funding model that simply doesn’t recognise complexity. It’s clear they are doing the best they can with the resources available. Laura, for example, was provided with some SSO support for her autistic student, as mentioned, and she also received support four lessons a week from a specialist teacher. But it simply isn’t enough to ensure every child gets the opportunity they deserve to succeed. It all comes down to a lack of funding and it needs addressing at the highest level of government.

Where’s Gonski?

The Abbott Government made an election promise in 2013 to increase the ‘disability loading’ paid to schools from 2015. However no money was put aside in last year’s budget and a meeting of State and Territory Education Ministers in November last year confirmed this will not happen until 2016 at the earliest.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said recent figures revealed in the media that show wealthy private schools are receiving up to $40,000 per child are cause for great concern.

“These figures are deeply worrying and exacerbate concerns we already have that show at least 100,000 students with disability are not receiving funding support because the Abbott Government failed to implement its promise to fully fund disability through a needs-based loading in 2015,” she said.

“These figures clearly show that if the Abbott Government does not commit to the full six year funding of the Gonski education reforms, with their goal of bringing all schools to a minimum resource standard, we will be left with an even more inequitable system than we have now,” Ms Haythorpe said.

Teachers like Laura Toland know all too well that there are many more children in the system who don’t qualify for any support. It’s an issue that is becoming more critical by the day and, if not addressed with the rollout of needsbased funding as recommended by the Gonski Review, has the capacity to severely impact on outcomes in public schools for years to come. n

1 Sanjay receives the award from AEU Vice President Jan Murphy.

Adelaide Uni student wins inaugural achievement Award November 12 was the final day for Adelaide University Education students and the first time the AEU has presented what will be an annual award recognising excellence in a final year practicum.

AEU Vice President Jan Murphy was on hand to present the inaugural award to student and AEU member Sanjay Mohanaraj for an Outstanding practicum report in a public school and a commitment to public education.

Congratulations Sanjay! n

AEU Information Unit

Open Weekdays Do you have a question your union rep can’t answer?

Don’t forget the Information Unit is open Monday – Friday

10.30am to 5.00pm For assistance call:

%: 8272 1399 13

Vice President’s Report

Enterprise bargaining provides an opportunity to act on workload AEU Vice President Jan Murphy writes...

If you are reading this article you are likely an AEU member and well aware that EB15 is almost here. If you are a potential member, there’s no better time to join and support your member colleagues and stand together to improve salaries and conditions through enterprise bargaining.

EB15 – what about workload?

The biggest issue raised during EB15 consultation has been workload. Within that, the most often identified area to date is students with disability and special needs. Members in preschools and schools are being asked to complete an activity that will illustrate class and group complexity. The display of your ‘class photos’ at the AEU will provide a statewide picture of class, school and preschool complexity for Branch Council, DECD officers who come for meetings and EB negotiations and, through the media, the broader community.

Through EB15 we will be seeking far greater support for those students who have the highest needs, and the teachers, leaders and all staff who provide that support.

A second sub-branch activity aims to prioritise those specific aspects of workload that are impacting members most.

This will further inform the EB15 negotiating team and provide direction for the planning of future AEU member actions.

To gain improvements to teaching and learning conditions, and we know the two generally go hand-in-hand, we need you to stand up and access those entitlements already hard won, and to fight for further improvements. What’s your sub-branch prepared to do? How far are you prepared to go to have your work overload addressed?

14

“Members not permanently employed have been unable to begin contracts or take up permanent positions.”

Details of the class and preschool group photo activity and workload prioritising have been given to members who attended the first round of Area Meetings. All resources and information for individual members will also be distributed via AEU e-News and to sub-branches via fax.

DCSI clearance checks – appalling delays are impacting members AEU members are being sent home from their schools and preschools due to delays with their clearance checks.

Children have the right to be safe in their schools and preschools. DECD has an obligation to carry out clearance checks to ensure that, for the sake of children, students, staff and the public education system as a whole, no one is at risk.

Some AEU members are required by DECD to have clearances provided by the Department of Community and Social Inclusion (DCSI). This includes swimming & aquatics instructors, SSOs, ECWs and AEWs/ACEOs. It’s appalling that some AEU members are being directed away from their workplaces because there have been processing delays. Members not permanently employed have been unable to begin contracts or take up permanent positions. Members who have lodged applications as far back as October are being humiliated in their school communities and will potentially suffer financially while they wait for the bureaucratic wheels to turn.

Leaders are enduring increased workload as they are required to find replacement staff to ensure schools and preschools continue to function properly.

And for those who are sent home, their work either mounts up until they come back or it adds to the workload of their colleagues.

The AEU has been able to assist many members in having their applications ‘escalated’ and clearances processed. While this assistance from DECD and DCSI has been very helpful and gratefully received, the broader issue must be addressed. AEU members are being penalised by one government department for delays in another.

The TRB is turning around applications for teacher re-registration in a matter of days. These applications now include clearances that require checking the same databases that are used in the DCSI checks. I’m not aware of any teacher members who have been unable to work because of delays in their clearances. Why can’t the same efficiency be achieved by DCSI for instructors and ancillary staff?

The AEU has raised this with DCSI, DECD and their respective ministers. Members of the community have responded with disbelief and support to our statements in the broader media.

The time taken to process applications is unacceptable and must be addressed. Members must be treated with respect and must be paid if their clearance applications are delayed through no fault of their own.

The AEU does not accept that three months is a reasonable timeframe for processing clearance applications. However, to avoid being caught without a clearance, we encourage members to get applications into DCSI as soon as they receive their initial six month reminder from DECD. We will continue to do all we can to support members in getting delayed applications fasttracked and will also support members seeking reimbursement where they have been financially disadvantaged by these delays. n

Allowances

Leaders

Leadership development schools can’t afford to ignore

Allowances – are you claiming them?

Protective Clothing Allowance

Locality Allowance

The Protective Clothing Allowance has increased to $146 per annum from the commencement of the 2015 school year.

If you are a teacher working in one of the designated country schools, DECD requires you to put in a form each year to claim your correct locality allowance.

If you do not put in a claim form you may be paid a nominal allowance which is less than that prescribed in the Teachers (DECS) Award.

The Locality Allowance is contained in Schedule 2 and Clause 5.8 of the Teachers (DECS) Award. The amount of locality allowance varies depending on location.

Teachers in schools more than 320km from Adelaide are eligible for locality allowances that compensate for:

The allowance is payable to teachers and SSOs (including part-time employees) who spend 50 percent or more of their time teaching in the following areas.

Teachers who work in: • Secondary science, art, design and technology studies, home economics, agriculture or physical education • Special schools, units or classes • SSOs who work in special schools and school laboratories.

The Protective Clothing Allowance claims should be made on form ED161.

Action

• Please ensure that all eligible members are aware of their entitlement to claim this allowance. They should put in a claim for this year and up to six years retrospectively if not claimed in the past.

• If there are teachers and SSOs who are non-members they may wish to join the AEU so that they can get access to information on allowances and other important matters.

Membership forms can be downloaded from the AEU website at:

www.aeusa.asn.au/joint.html

• Adverse environment • The cost of travelling from distant schools to Adelaide for vacation periods • Abnormal depreciation of motor vehicles • Increased cost of living and some aspects of isolation.

For claims, use form VL115.

n

Action

• If you are in a school more than 320km from Adelaide (incl. Whyalla), your sub-branch should hold an AEU meeting and have all members complete and submit the form VL115 to claim the locality allowance.

The AEU leadership development program, delivered in schools by former DECD Head of Schools Garry Costello and former AEU President and Seaton High School Principal David Tonkin, is broadening out to more schools and regions each year. The highly valued program supports leadership teams in developing their understanding of successful leadership and the characteristics of leaders for ongoing collaborative application at the school level.

The program provides leaders with the opportunity and impetus to collectively lift their eyes above the daily grind and to link their broader understandings with their daily practice.

John Pirie Secondary School has taken part for the last two years and Principal Roger Nottage can’t speak highly enough of the program.

“Gary and David are inspirational leaders and bring a deep understanding of leadership practice and effective communication with site based staff. They have great motivational techniques to assist with school improvement. This will be our third year of involvement and there’s been massive take up and involvement from the leadership team and aspiring leaders,” he says. “I think it’s been incredibly successful. It’s had a huge impact on the development of our school culture and leadership teams.

It’s not just highly desirable, I’d say it’s essential to our leadership strategy and improvement journey,” Roger said.

This year John Pirie SS has invited leadership teams from across the partnership to participate.

“It’s an activity that has supported our school, but we’ve agreed it’s such a valuable experience that this year we’re involving our colleagues from across the partnership,” Roger says. “The program has contributed significantly to the growth of achievement at our school.

Garry and David have provided great motivation and inspiration to the leadership group to take on the challenge.

See page 21 for details of upcoming opportunities to get involved in the AEU n Leadership Development Program.

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Running SS O Focus Head

A very happy Christmas for AEU SSOs! AEU SSO Organiser Lisa Sigalla reports…

Recently, AEU Organiser Lisa Sigalla went to visit SSOs Sue Gaskin and colleague Sue Ball at Roma Mitchell Secondary College to find out how their Christmas and New Year break was after a long but successful AEU campaign 16

finally gave them the option of spreading their pay over the year in 2014.

Lisa: Were you nervous about opting into this new scheme?

Sue Gaskin: At first I was a little nervous. It was a big adjustment as I knew that the Department would be taking a big chunk of my pay to put away. So the first few weeks were a bit hard, but I knew I would adjust and that I would be paid every fortnight during the year, especially during the holidays. I was also really happy that I finally had the choice to do this; it was what I wanted and needed in order to survive financially and as a result I feel more valued and respected by DECD. Lisa: How did you feel leading up to the Christmas break?

Sue G: I felt relaxed. Everything had been paid for and I knew that I would be paid during the break. When I got my last pay I nearly fell over! I have never had that much money in my account at the start of the year; I was so excited!

Lisa: What did you do over the holidays?

Sue G: I had a wonderful Christmas, I knew that I wouldn’t be getting any nasty calls or letters stating I was overdue on some bills. I did a bit of work in another job for a few days because I wanted a bit more money but what was fantastic was that for the first time I got to choose if I wanted to work; I didn’t have to work in order to get by. I spent time with my family and felt really relaxed and happy for the first time in ages.

SSOs

It was two years ago that SSO Sue Gaskin rang the AEU Information Unit to ask why she couldn’t spread her pay over the whole year? ECWs and AEWs could, so why couldn’t she as an SSO? Sue was having a hard time over the long holiday break, with bills like rent and electricity due, Christmas presents to buy and the usual day-to-day costs of running a home. The stress of knowing she wouldn’t be able to get by if she didn’t work another job wasn’t something she looked forward to. Like most parents she hoped for some time over the summer break to rest and recuperate and to spend time with her daughter before starting a new school year working with special needs children.

1 From left: SSOs Sue Ball and Sue Gaskin from Roma Mitchell Secondary College.

Lisa: Sue, why did you choose to spread your pay over 52 weeks?

Sue Ball: I saw this as an equity issue.

I didn’t think it was fair that we were going without pay over the holidays.

Why weren’t we allowed to do this? It wasn’t like the Department needed a new pay system to make it happen; they had the technology but simply didn’t want the hassle. Once the campaign was won I felt very happy knowing that the mortgage would be covered and I am now able to book a holiday this year to visit family.

Both Sues, say thank you to every AEU member who supported the “Our Pay, Our Way” campaign – every principal, teacher, SSO, ECW and AEW who, even if it didn’t affect them, wanted to show solidarity with members who really needed this choice. n

Running NAPL AN Head

Children in Detention

ICSEA comparison shows public schools doing well on NAPLAN

The Forgotten Children

AEU Research Officer Mike Williss reports

A

newly-released study by former Productivity Commission economist Trevor Cobbold has found that public schools are generally doing as well at NAPLAN as Catholic and private schools in the same ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) bands.

ICSEA is a value assigned to schools to reflect their socio-educational advantage. An ICSEA value above 1000 reflects advantage; a value below 1000 reflects disadvantage.

Looking at Year 9 NAPLAN reading results for 2013 (graph below), Cobbold found that the often-presumed superior test results of private schools compared to public schools is a myth.

“The results show that public schools are a good choice for parents,” said Cobbold. “They should not be beguiled by misleading private school marketing.”

The new study is the first comprehensive compilation of school results by SES categories across the three sectors.

It creates three categories of Low SES (ICSEA 800-949), Medium SES (ICSEA 950-1099) and High SES (ICSEA 11001200+). Each category contains a lower and a higher range.

“Medium SES public, Catholic and Independent schools have very similar results in most states and the ACT. For the most part, there are only minor differences that are within the margin of statistical error. Medium SES schools

800 700 600 500

account for 60-70% of schools in all states except the ACT,” says Cobbold.

“There is more variation amongst high SES schools. Public schools achieve significantly better results than private schools in the two highest high SES categories in NSW, Victoria and WA while results are similar in Queensland.

These are the only states with schools in all three sectors in these categories.”

“Little can be made of comparisons of results for low SES schools because there are very few Catholic and Independent schools of this type. It is public schools which largely serve poor communities,” he says.

SA public school results are significantly above their Catholic and Independent school counterparts in the ICSEA range of 1100 – 1149. (There are no SA public schools with ICSEA values of 1150 – 1200+).

There are similar results for SA public, Catholic and Independent schools with ICSEA values of 1000 – 1099. However, Catholic school results exceed public schools results in the ICSEA ranges of 950 – 999 and 900 – 949.

There are no SA Independent schools in these medium and low SES categories.

While the study is generally positive for public education, results for schools in the lower ICSEA value ranges again emphasises the crucial need for Gonski needs-based funding to boost opportunities for lower SES students. n

Chart A5: Average Year 9 NAPLAN Reading Scores by ICSEA Range, South Australia, 2013 Public Catholic Independent

400 300 200 100 0

800–849

850–899

900–949

950–999 1000–1049 1050–1099 1100–1149 1150–1199 1200+

The Abbott Government must ensure child asylum seekers are removed from detention centres and provided with an education, the AEU said today.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said the Human Rights Commission report “The Forgotten Children” had detailed serious violations of the rights of children in detention centres to access an education.

“This report details the shocking treatment of children in Australian detention centres and the horrendous damage it is doing to them,” Ms Haythorpe said. “It makes clear that longterm detention of children causes mental illness, trauma and harm which will affect them for their entire lives.”

Among the many serious issues raised is the lack of education for many of these children. Many have been denied education for months on end, or accompanied to school by guards.

“This is particularly serious because we know that education, conducted outside detention centres allowing children to engage with the community, is a protective factor against the long-term effects of detention.”

“Many of these children have suffered traumatic experiences before arriving in Australia and we owe it to them to ensure their traumas are not worsened.”

“It should never be policy to deprive children of an education by holding them in detention centres.”

Ms Haythorpe said that schools needed to be properly equipped to support and educate asylum seeker and refugee children, including giving them the opportunity to learn English.

“Schools in which asylum seeker children are enrolling must be provided with extra staff and physical resources to overcome any educational barriers experienced by these children,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“The Abbott Government must ensure child asylum seekers are removed from detention centres and provided with an education, the AEU told national media on the release of a damning report into the mental health of children incarcerated on Christmas Island.” n 17

8: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au

Email Tish Champion on

Running Head Women’s Focus

Welcome to 2015!

AEU Women’s Officer Tish Champion reports

Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Federal Government scraps proposed PPL scheme

W

hen Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on 2 February 2015, that he will shelve his election promise for improvements to the Federal Paid Parental Leave Scheme, it was, believe it or not, International Groundhog Day. Tony Abbott’s Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme has taken two steps forward and two steps back on a regular basis since September 2013 when, as a “captain’s call”, he announced it to the media.

During his 2013 election campaign Tony Abbott promised that his government, if elected, would reform the PPL scheme introduced by Labor in 2011 and improve all aspects of it. The Federal Coalition intended to increase payments from the basic minimum wage to full salary replacement, change the salary cap for eligibility, increase the length of the scheme from 18 to 26 weeks, and include superannuation contributions.

This bigger and better scheme was going to be introduced in July 2014.

In 2014, the government announced that their super-duper scheme would still go ahead but not until July 2015, and the original model introduced by Labor would remain in place until then.

2015 and Tony Abbott has announced that his government is shelving their long awaited PPL Scheme and will pursue better access to quality childcare.

In a perplexing attempt to defend the Coalition’s latest broken promise, Joe

18

Hockey said he spoke to a group of mothers at his child’s school, and they all want better childcare, not a PPL! Hint, Joe: mothers who have school aged children will of course be interested in childcare rather than the PPL. Maybe talk to a group of mothers at an antenatal class, their story may be quite different. Keep in mind also that mothers who live near your home in Hunters Hill NSW, which according to realestate. com, has an average house price of $1.6 million, may not even need the PPL or childcare!

While it may have been an exercise in vote-grabbing, with some describing it as middle-class welfare, the LNP paid maternity leave would nonetheless have provided extra and much welcome leave entitlements for growing families. However, big capital was never singing from the same song sheet, opposing the proposed legislation from the outset. So, on February 2, their wish was granted when, amid intense leadership speculation, Tony Abbott took the proposed bigger and better scheme off the table.

We can only assume the current scheme will remain under the yet to be released ‘Families Plan’. There is talk, however, that it may also go under the knife, with changes to eligibility criteria already being touted.

So, if you are pregnant and trying to plan your finances, it might be wise to only rely on the DECD Paid Maternity Leave of 16 or 20 weeks, depending on your length of service. In the up and coming negotiations the AEU, among many other things, will argue strongly for paid maternity leave protections. n

Pregnant? Sshh!!!

Sometimes keeping quiet is the best policy

T

here are national and local laws in Australia that cover equal employment, equal opportunity and anti discrimination. In theory, this

means that no one can be treated differently or denied access to opportunities or employment because of their age, association with a child, caring responsibility, chosen gender, disability, marital or partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexuality or the identity of their partner or spouse.

The Equal Opportunity Act (EO Act 1984) states that discrimination is against the law (unlawful) when, as a result of discrimination, someone: • feels humiliated, embarrassed, ridiculed, denigrated or segregated • is denied access or refused services • loses an opportunity or income.

Therefore, in an ideal world, women would not be treated any differently because they are pregnant. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world.

At this time every year I am approached by members who believe they have been denied a new contract because they are pregnant. For a variety of reasons some line managers are reluctant to offer contract work to a woman who is pregnant. Some of those reasons appear to be: • lack of continuity and disruption for the students • financial cost • parental backlash.

Women often feel compelled to disclose that they are pregnant. Sometimes this mysteriously coincides with no offer of further employment the following year. Not being offered work after successive and successful contracts at the one site can be extremely disappointing and stressful, particularly when you are relying on that contract to be eligible for paid maternity leave.

If you believe you have been discriminated against because you are pregnant, the AEU can assist you to address the issue with DECD or with the Equal Opportunity Commission. It is important to note, however, that discrimination is extremely hard to prove without what the Commission terms “hard evidence”.

Sometimes it can be easier to avoid continued over page 3

8: www.aeusa.asn.au/interest_women.html

Check out our Women’s Focus online

Notice Board

Australian Education Union | SA Branch ADministrative officer vacancY

Temporary Organiser The opportunity exists for an AEU member to take up a Temporary Organiser position for the balance of 2015. situations than to deal with them. I encourage women on contract to think twice about sharing that they are pregnant with colleagues until it becomes obvious. This can be difficult when you are excited about your pregnancy and want your friends and colleagues to know, but it is certainly one strategy you can use to avoid the possibility of discrimination.

Basically, if being pregnant makes no difference to a woman’s employment opportunities then there is no reason to tell your line manager. Sshhh!!!! n

International Women’s Day 2015 International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March each year when thousands of people all over the world get together in solidarity to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women and to make a commitment to advancing gender equality.

In Adelaide there are several activities that people can get involved in to celebrate the successes of women past and present.

Thursday 5 March IWD luncheon

Hosted by the International Women’s Day Committee SA, this event will be held at the Convention Centre.

This year’s guest speaker is Natasha Stott Despoja, Global Ambassador for Women and Girls.

Tickets: $55 and can be purchased at:

www.trybooking.com/GKAV

Friday 6 March

UN Women IWD breakfast This event has become the biggest breakfast held in Australia with over

The Officer will be responsible for developing and supporting member activism and providing advice and assistance to members on work related issues.

Job and person specifications and details of the selection process for these positions 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.

Applications must reach the Branch Secretary, AEU (SA Branch), 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 by Friday, 13 March 2015.

Australian Education Union | SA Branch ELECTION NOTICE BRANCH EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Casual Female Vacancy The term of office of this Casual Vacancy is until 31 December 2015.

Nominations close with the Returning Officer, AEU, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside 5063 on Friday 13 March 2015.

In accordance with AEU Branch Rule 48(15) Branch Council will appoint the successful candidate in an election conducted at the Branch Council meeting held on 21 March 2015.

A nomination form is available at: www.aeusa.asn.au/nomination.pdf and from the AEU. Nominations may be accompanied by a 200 word supporting statement which will be distributed to Branch Council Delegates.

Peter Norman Returning Officer

2,500 people attending. Hosted by Senator Penny Wong, the keynote speaker this year is Susan Carland who, in 2012, was voted in the top 20 Most Influential Australian Female Voices.

The AEU has a tradition of hosting a members table to support the great work done by UN Women who transform the lives of women and girls around the world.

Due to the growing popularity of this event, it was sold out too quickly and the AEU were not successful in securing a table this year. Next year!!!!

Friday 6 March – evening IWD Adelaide march & rally

The march will start in Victoria Square and finish at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in Grenfell Street with celebrations, entertainment and the announcement of this years Gladys Elphick Award winners. Since 2003, the Gladys Elphick awards have recognised the community spirit and work of Aboriginal women throughout South Australia.

So – put on your purple t-shirts and join me and other AEU women in a show of solidarity at the 2015 IWD march.

Always a fun night! n 19

Council Dates for 2015

Branch Council Meetings Upcoming dates for 2015 are:

Saturday, March 21 Saturday, May 30 Saturday, August 22 Saturday, November 7

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º

Thurs 26 March

5.00pm – 6.30pm

An after work forum which covers current hot topics in early childhood education.

Open to: All AEU members who are early childhood educators.

For further info or to register:

www.aeusa.asn.au >events&courses

‘15

* Upcoming Event

TRT & Contract Teachers’ Conference Thurs 16 April

9.30am – 3.30pm

A 1-day conference for TRT and Contract Teachers with workshops on current issues.

Open to: AEU members who are TRT or Contract Teachers.

For further info or to register:

www.aeusa.asn.au >events&courses 20

The Legal Defence Appeals Committee determines appeals arising from the Union’s Legal Defence Rules.

Four vacancies for a term of office ending March 2016. Nominees must be 2015 Branch Council Delegates who are not members of Branch Executive.

Administrative Officer Review Committees

Early º Childhood Forum

Election Notice Legal Defence Appeals Committee

Upcoming dates for 2015 are:

* Upcoming Event

Australian Education Union | SA Branch Nominations are called to fill the following positions on AEU Committees.

TAFE Divisional Council Meetings Friday, March 13 Friday, May 22 Friday, August 14 Friday, November 6

AEU Election Notice

Administrative Officer Review Committees consider applications for Administrative Officer vacancies and recommend preferred candidates for appointment.

Four female and four male vacancies for a term of office ending March 2016.

Nominees must be 2015 Branch Council Delegates.

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

One vacancy for a term of office ending March 2017.

Standing Committees: Finance: The Committee is chaired by the Treasurer and prepares the AEU budget and reviews expenditure on a quarterly basis.

One female and one male vacancy for two years ending December 2016.

One male and two female vacancies for one year ending December 2015.

Country Conditions: The Committee monitors country working conditions and makes recommendations to Branch Executive on appropriate policy and action.

One female vacancy for two years ending December 2016.

One male vacancy for one year ending December 2015.

Consultative Committees: Consultative Committees provide advice to Branch Executive on matters affecting their membership sector. All positions are for a one year term of office ending December 2015.

Status of Women – Two vacancies.

Women members from all membership sectors and classifications.

Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee – One vacancy.

Indigenous members from all membership sectors and classifications.

Contract and TRT – Two vacancies.

Unemployed, Contract and TRT members.

Early Childhood – Eight vacancies (a majority of whom shall be Children’s Services Act employees). Members working in Early Childhood Education.

Closing Date:

Nominations for these Committee vacancies must reach the Returning Officer, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside 5063, no later than 12.00 noon on Thursday, 19 March 2015.

A nomination form is available at: www.aeusa.asn.au/nomination.pdf and from the AEU. Nominations may be accompanied by a supporting statement of not more than 200 words.

Election Procedure: Ballots for contested positions will be conducted at Branch Council on Saturday 21 March 2015.

Peter Norman Returning Officer

AEU Tr aining and Development Program 2015

E ve n ts & C ourses | Te rm 1 & Hols AEU/DECD Personnel Advisory Committee [PAC] Training Thurs 5 Mar, Tues 17 Mar, Wed 1 Apr and Mon 20 Apr The AEU strongly recommends that all members of the PAC, including principals, AEU reps, equal opportunity reps and non-teaching staff reps who did not complete the update or full training in 2014, register for PAC training.

Book Online: www.decd.sa.gov.au/hrstaff/

AEU Leadership Development Program 2015 [City] Thurs 5 Mar & Thurs 27 Aug

5:00pm – 8:00pm 5:00pm – 8:00pm

This program will support leadership teams in developing their understandings of successful leadership and the characteristics of leaders, for ongoing collaborative application at the school level.

Open to: School leadership teams.

AEU Leadership Seminar Wed 11 Mar

5:00pm – 6:00pm

This seminar will provide a professional development opportunity for AEU leaders to explore a practical approach to prioritising workload with David Tonkin. Video conferencing available.

Open to: All members who are school based principals, deputy principals, senior leaders and preschool directors.

SBS/Workplace Reps Courses Course 1 Day 1: Wed 18 Mar 9:15am – 3.30pm Day 2: Thurs 19 Mar 9:15am – 3.30pm A 3-day split course designed to build and strengthen the sub-branch and assist members to work together to resolve workplace issues effectively through various decision making structures and consultative processes.

Day 3: Mon 18 May, Fri 31 July or Mon 14 Sept 9:15am – 3.30pm Attendees may select the Day 3 date that suits them best.

Open to: Newly elected workplace reps, sub-branch secretaries and WOC members.

AEU Environment Action Professional Development Thurs 19 Mar

4:30pm – 6:00pm

This seminar is presented by the AEU Environment Action group and will focus on taking environmental action in schools and to

highlight what is currently happening and what we can do.

Open to: AEU Members.

Public Speaking and Meeting Procedures Fri 20 Mar

9:15am – 3:30pm

A 1-day course to develop members’ confidence in decision-making forums. Meeting procedure, assertive communication and public speaking skills are covered in a practical workshop format with a focus on federal funding issues.

Open to: All AEU members and in particular Branch Council Delegates and union reps on PAC, Governing Councils, Sub-branch Secretaries, activists etc.

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Day 1: Mon 13 Apr Day 2: Tues 14 Apr Day 3: Wed 15 Apr

9:15am – 4:00pm 9:15am – 4:00pm 9:15am – 4:00pm

A high demand 3-day course facilitated by Professor Dale Bagshaw and practicing mediators covering the theory and practice of mediation. It is essential that participants attend all three days.

Open to: All educators, particularly those in leadership positions & Sub-branch Secretaries.

Cost: AEU Members $110: Non-members $330 incl. GST. No cost for elected Subbranch Secretaries/Workplace Reps.

AEU Early Childhood Forum

SSO Reclassification Workshop

Thurs 26 Mar

Tues 14 April

5:00pm – 6:30pm

See Ad left on Page 20

AEU New Educators’ Conference Fri 27 Mar Sat 28 Mar

9:15am – 4:00pm 9:15am – 2:00pm

See Ad (below right)

Classroom Management for New Educators [City] Mon 13 Apr & Wed 15 Jul

[Pt Pirie] Fri 24 Apr & Mon 6 Jul

9:15am – 3:30pm 9:15am – 3:30pm 9:15am – 3:30pm 9:15am – 3:30pm

Highly recommended by new teachers this 2-day practical course builds on the keynote and workshops run at the AEU New Educators’ Conferences. Participants must attend both days. This course is facilitated by experienced teachers and is recommended as a practical way to develop new teachers’ skills in the classroom. Participants will receive a course workbook and lunch.

Open to: AEU members who are new teachers in their first 5 years of teaching.

Safe Schools! Supporting Gender and Sexual Diversity Workshops [Kadina] Mon 13 Apr 9:30am – 2:30pm This is a practical workshop to support schools as safe places free from homophobic bullying and harassment. The workshop is run with support from Safe Schools Coalition SA and the AEU (SA Branch) Consultative Committee for the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender & Intersex community (LGBTI).

Open to: AEU Members.

For further info on any of the above events and courses, email Phoebe Gunn on : training@aeusa.asn.au To register go to : www.aeusa.asn.au>events

8

Leaders’ Conflict Resolution through Mediation

& courses

9:15am – 3:00pm

A 1-day practical workshop to assist SSOs in applying for reclassification.

Open to: Any financial AEU members in non-teaching positions

WHS Conference: Respect in the Workplace Wed 15 April

9:15am – 3:30pm

This conference will support AEU members to provide leadership in making positive changes to their workplace culture using OHS tools.

Open to: AEU financial members in particular leaders and WHS reps.

AEU Contract & TRT Conference Thurs 16 April

9:15am – 3:30pm

See Ad left on Page 20

‘15

* Upcoming Ev ent

New Educators’ State Conference Fri. 27 March

9.15am – 4.00pm

9.15am – 2.00pm

Sat. 28 March

A 2-day conference for new teachers featuring workshops on current issues and classroom management.

Open to: Only financial AEU members in their first 3-years of teaching.

To register or for further info 777 follow the links.

21

Merit Selection

NOTICE BOARD

Merit Selection Training news

Seeking promotion?

Please remember that if you are going to take part in a DECD Merit Selection process you must have completed a full day of joint DECD/AEU Merit Selection training.

For DECD purposes full day Merit Selection training is valid for five years from the date of the session and for a further five years each and every time you sit on a panel.

For AEU purposes, the full-day Merit Selection training is valid for five years.

After five years you will receive notification from the AEU that you need to attend a retraining session as soon as possible. If you do not attend a retraining session you will be removed from the AEU database.

From 2015, Local Selection Training and Information Sessions attended in the past will no longer provide eligibility to sit on DECD panel processes.

For upcoming Merit Selection training sessions visit the AEU website:

8: www.aeusa.asn.au

Aspiring Principals, DPs, Senior Leaders, Coordinators

Announcing our new

$135

ONLINE PACKAGE

FOR APPLICATION WRITING AND INTERVIEW for all promotion positions in SA government schools Full school site licence $399 Tailored to DECD’s NEW MERIT SELECTION processes, this detailed 65 page booklet and PowerPoint shows you how to develop a dynamic résumé and cover letter, as well as many valuable ideas and hints to help you prepare for a powerful interview performance!

Available for immediate download at:

www.teachers–resumes.com.au WE ALSO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

Teachers’ Professional Résumés T: 0411 245 415 E: teachers-resumes@bigpond.com Serving Australia’s teachers since 1990.

ABN: 40 833 718 673

One STAFF, One UNION!

5 1 0 2 EB 2015 EB 5 1 0 2 EB Are you a member of the union that fights for your wages, conditions and a strong public education?

JOIN THE AEU AND HAVE A SAY IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR PROFESSION!

Call our membership section on 8272 1399 or join online: : www.aeusa.asn.au/join.html

Authorised by Jack Major, Branch Secretary, Australian Education Union | SA Branch, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 © 2014

8

Authorised by Jack Major, Branch Secretary, Australian Education Union | SA Branch, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 © 2014

22

1800RESPECT National counselling helpline, information and support 24/7 • Are you experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence?

• Seeking to support someone who is?

• We can help.

Call:

1800 737 732 or

go to: www.1800respect.org.au and connect to a councillor online

AEU Journal Online If you currently receive a hard copy of the Journal and would prefer to read the Journal online, please let us know by emailing:

journal@aeusa.asn.au

The AEU Journal is online at:

www.aeusa.asn.au/ journals.html

NOTICE BOARD

Member’s Market In order to cater for extra editorial space, the AEU Members Market now has a reduced space allocation in the Journal.

Advertisements will be printed at the discretion of the Editor and will not run in more than three issues in succession.

Kensington Town House: Quiet, private, comfortable 2 BR with QB’s. 5-min stroll to historic Rising Sun, Robin Hood, short walk to Parade and great parks.

BBQ, fully equipped, all linen supplied. From $130/night.

T: 0407 744820 E: dover.farm@bigpond.com

SECOND VALLEY HOLIDAY HSE: 4 BR brand new 2-story house – sleeps 9 plus 2 fold out couches.

5-min. walk to the jetty. Relax for wkend or longer. T: 0407654464 E: arthur1966.dellas@gmail.com

GOOLWA HOLIDAY HOUSE 15-mins from beach, shops and river. Sleeps 9, in-ground pool, decking with BBQ, fully equipped, A/C, etc. $100 night.

T: 0403 841 031 E: leonday@adam.com.au

STRESS, WEIGHT, HABITS?– RELAX! Hypnotherapy, Counsel-

ling, NLP, Relationships, Career, Smoking, Anxiety, Performance, etc. 15% Discount AEU Members.

Reg Chapman: T: 0419 829 378 E: nlpchanges.com.au

STREAKY BAY HOLIDAY HSE:

5-min walk to beach, in town, close to shops. Sleeps 13. Fish & boat facilities. New bath & kit; BBQ entertaining area and private spa suite avail. Starting rate $140 p/ night. T: (08) 8626 1539 E: ascaines@hotmail.com

The Mobile Muso Mechanic The long break is looming, I’ll come to you – and setup/repair, restring your guitar/bass and even tackle simple amp maintenance.

This new service is also available for school music rooms.

Frank Lang: T: 8248 0824

SAIT Conveyancers

We offer AEU members: Free advice on real estate queries.

Expert advice and professional experience with: • Mortgages, • Private Contract Transfers, • Strata Plan and Plan of Division Lodgments, • Caveats, Discharges of Mortgages, • All facets of conveyancing work.

If you are buying or selling or are involved in any real estate matter, either through a land agent or privately, consult us.

Contact us on:

Anne Walker

(: (08) 8410 6788

2 fully self-contained homes.

Sleeps up to 8. One with private beach/lake! 10% discount to AEU members. T: 0419 868 143 E: foumakis@hotmail.com W: www.victorharborgetaways. com.au

Teaching Resources: To give away: Folders hard/soft covered...upper to middle primary ...many topics covered...from retired teacher. Donation to the Smith Family. Interested?

T: 0418 834 174 (Jane)

Teaching Resources: Victor Harbor Holiday Hse: Retired teacher selling maths New, 4 BR, 2 bath, (2 x Qu, 2 x singles, 1 dble bunk), sleeps 8, 3 living areas, 2 balconies, views of hills & Granite Island, A/C, D/W, BBQ, C’pt, 2-storey, quiet location.

T: 0400 303 300 (Ian) E: ir211057@internode.on.net

Kingston Near Robe: 2-story on 22 kms of stunning beach stretching down to wineries.

Sleeps 8, 2 bathrooms. Or Balcony Suite, 5 RMs. Special from $70/ double, mid-week, off peak, min.

4-nights. T: 0402 922 445 (Judy)

resources. Rigby year 3/4 Student books. imaths year 3 (3 books) imaths year 4 (4 books) Back-to-front year 3 (3 books) Back-to front year 4 (4 books) T: 0447 890 234 (Diane) E: bluescrows@y7mail.com

HOUSE FOR SALE: 3 BR in Pt Noarlunga Sth. Close to great beaches and facilities. $295,000. T: 0435 489 429

OUTBACK TAGALONG TOURS Guided tours in your 4 wheel drive, with your gear loaded on the ‘Big Red Truck’. Hassle Free Outback Touring. Book now for our Spring Tour – Innaminka Races, Coward Springs, Warren Gorge.

T: David Connell – (02) 8885 4620 or Lyn Rowe – 0403 594 406 W: www.brtoutback.com.au

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

journal@aeusa.asn.au

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!)?

Walks are organised at several levels. Rovers walk from 14–18 kms, Walkers from 8–10 kms, Ramblers from 6–7 kms and Amblers up to 5 kms. The R.T.A. Walking Group is a sub-group of the Retired Teachers Association and is affiliated with The Walking Federation of SA. We walk in conservation parks, national parks and forestry reserves 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.

Simon Willcox

8410 6799 Email: anne@saitconveyancers.com.au SAIT Conveyancers

Victor Harbor Getaways:

Fax: (08)

located at Credit Union SA

Level 3, 400 King William Street, Adelaide, SA 5000

If you are interested in finding out more about our walking group, you are invited to contact: our Secretary, Roger Tagg email: rogertag@tpg.com.au 23

Teachers Banking Benefits.

1

2

Credit Union SA was established by a group of South Australian teachers back in the 1950s who wanted to not only ensure education workers and their families were looked after financially, but to support their community in the process.. a philosophy we still have today.

Teachers Banking Benefits is a package full of valuable offers and big savings that is available exclusively for education workers and their families.

Call 8202 7777, visit a branch or creditunionsa.com.au/TBB

Teachers Banking Benefits are available to members of the South Australian education community and their partners, spouses and children. 1Offer available for new home loans where at least $250,000 of the loan proceeds will be used to refinance a home loan from another credit provider. A limit of one cashback per application applies. This offer is not available with ‘special offer’ home loans. 2Offer available for new home loans of at least $250,000 providing that no loan applicant has owned a property at any stage. This offer is not available with ‘special offer’ home loans. A limit of one cashback per application applies. Membership and lending criteria and fees and charges apply. Terms and conditions are available upon request. The terms and conditions contain information that will assist you to compare products and help you to decide whether to acquire a product. These offers are limited and may be withdrawn at any time. The products described in this brochure are issued by Credit Union SA except where otherwise indicated. The Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice applies.

Credit Union SA Ltd 400 King William Street Adelaide 5000. ABN 36 087 651 232 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence Number 241066.