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Official publication of the Australian Education Union (SA Branch)
Vol 41 I No.2
March 2009
AEUJOURNAL SA
On Public Education Day, May 21, please bring an apple for your teacher www.appleforteacher.com.au
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FPERAT E SUI D RE N ST’S VIEW
AEU JOURNAL
The Big Build page 6 New facilities must be built the right way.
On Public Education Day, May 21, please bring an apple for your teacher
Australian Education Union | SA Branch Telephone: 8272 1399 Facsimile: 8373 1254 Email: journal@aeusa.asn.au Editor: Craig Greer Graphic Designer: Jo Frost AEU Journal is published seven times annually by the South Australian Branch of the Australian Education Union. AEU Journal 2009 Dates Deadline #3 May 1 #4 June 5 #5 July 24 #6 August 28
Publication date May 20 June 24 August 12 September 16
#7
November 4
October 16
Subscriptions: Free for AEU members. Nonmembers may subscribe for $33 per year. Print Post approved PP 531629/0025 ISSN 1440-2971 Printing: Finsbury Green Printing
www.appleforteacher.com.au appleforteacher.com.au
TAFE Ballot
pages 12 and 13 Phase two of the appleforteacher campaign begins in May.
page 14 Members vote NO to nonunion ballot.
Advertise in the AEU Journal. Reach over 13,500 members across South Australia.
8272 1399 journal@aeusa.asn.au
L E T T E R S TO T H E E D I TO R
TOP LETTER
*Winner of TOP LETTER!
Maternity Leave It is great to hear paid maternity and adoption leave has been extended to 14 weeks. The number of people in Australia who are not entitled to any paid maternity leave is a national embarassment. We are so far behind many countries in the world who seem to value more highly the importance of being at home with your child in these important first few months. A few years ago, with the support of the AEU, I argued for and won paid maternity leave even though I was a contract teacher who had not been working full time, or in my contract for a full year before I took leave. Correna Haythorpe, the then Women’s Officer, was great with her prompt replies to my many questions, her supply of all the information I needed and her commitment to fight for me if my claim was not accepted. I had to prove that I had worked as a Temporary Relief Teacher at least one in every six days in the past 12 months. Luckily I was able to do this. I had been told I was not eligible for any paid leave by the Department, and was glad I emailed Correna just in case, or I would not have even made a claim. If I had, just once, gone seven working days without a TRT day, I would not have received any paid leave. As all relievers know,
getting work at the beginning of the year is difficult, and whilst some weeks can be extremely busy, others are quiet for no apparent reason. I believe, as a TRT, I still have an important role within the Department of Education, and would like to receive the same rights as all other teachers. Next time I need to take maternity leave, I may not have done at least one day in every six and will not receive any paid leave. Is this fair? I don’t think so. International Women’s Day was yet another occasion to help us remember who and what we are fighting for when it comes to maternity leave. A government-sanctioned maternity leave package for all women workers, or primary care givers (we must remember the stay at home Dads) would ensure all parents get the support they need. It would show we value our children and are committed to their care. I Melanie Madsen
Ministerial Leadership It was good to see Mike Wohltman making complimentary reference to former State Labor Education Minister, Hugh Hudson, in the last Journal. I remember when, in the very early 1970s and at the outset of his term of office, Minister Hudson visited schools to see and hear for himself what was happening at the chalk face. I heard him speak on one such school occasion and the way he conducted himself at that meeting typified
his approach to his portfolio in general. He was accompanied at the time by a senior departmental bureaucrat. Early in the piece he called for questions and comments on education from those in attendance. His replies in response were clear, authoritative, progressive and honest. They were not always absolutely aligned with those of his bureaucratic companion who also responded to questions. The minister didn’t belittle his subordinate but, in at least one instance, made it abundantly clear in a firm and courteous way that whatever had been the case under the previous regime, the Labor minister was now the one in charge and that, under his guidance, the times were, indeed, changing in South Australian education. This was ministerial leadership with character, enlightenment, integrity and flair. Nowadays, alas, we are directed in our state education system by an army of uninspiring, anonymous, economic rationalist, bureaucratic figures that do more or less what they like beneath a minister who seems unable or unwilling to control them notwithstanding her many positive attributes in other directions. I Terry Hewton
The AEU Journal welcomes all letters. Top letter each issue WINS two bottles of wine.
journal@aeusa.asn.au
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Australian Education Union | SA Branch
NATA Young Scientists Award
Relief, TRT & Contract Teachers Conference
Science teachers looking for an engaging project for their students might want to consider the 2009 NATA Young Scientists Award. The competition, which is now in its third year, is open to individuals and classes in Years 5, 6 and 7 throughout Australia. Students can win up to $5,000 in science equipment for their schools.
23 April 2009 9.15am – 3.30pm Workshops include: How to build professional relationships • Legal Issues – protect yourself and your students • Women’s Issues – maternity leave, work/life balance • What makes a good TRT? •
•
How to get involved in AEU campaigns
Mallala Primary School, just north of Adelaide, received a Finalist Award for their entry in the 2008 Award. The aim of the award is to foster an interest in science and science careers among young people. This is especially important given how Australia's technical and scientific expertise is shrinking at an alarming rate. The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) is a government-endorsed, not-for-profit organisation that conducts technical audits of Australia's laboratories and other testing and inspection facilities. The competition encourages students to look at how science impacts on people’s lives. Entrants are invited to conduct a practical scientific experiment and in the first instance write a 300-word summary online. Finalists are then asked to prepare a poster illustrating in more detail how they conducted their investigation. The 2008 competition attracted a strong field of entrants. “I was impressed by the range of complex issues that the students addressed,” said NATA Chair, Dr Barry Inglis. “Clearly school students are concerned about the environmental issues affecting Australia and the world.”
Limited places available! Book now to avoid disappointment.
The submission deadline for the 300-word summaries is Friday, 7 August 2009.
To register: aeusa.asn.au/events
More information is available on NATA’s website:
www.nata.com.au/go/nysa
John Elvin p: 8255 3465 Northern Adelaide, Barossa Valley and Far North
Donna Glass p: 8263 2422 Eastern Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North
Mike Day p: 8261 6676
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AEU A E U PRESIDENT’S P R E S I D E N T ’ SVIEW VIEW
P U B L I C CO M M E N T
Building the Education Revolution (BER)
The people speak on apple for teacher site
New buildings are a great first step “Come on!!! Enough’s enough... Smaller class sizes are a must. How can individualised education occur when you have classes of 30+ kids?! Teachers and our kids are our future...”
Leah, North Plympton “I am a teacher at Saint Columba College and I support this campaign fully! Teachers are the lifeblood of the nation!”
Bev, Riverton “It is concerning that the Government doesn’t seem interested in making sure that there is quality education for all public students.”
Mary, Woodille Park “My Art teacher in Year 12 gave up her lunch times and after schools to tutor interested students. Because of her efforts I developed and continued to stay interested in Art and Education. Now I am studying to be a Primary School teacher.”
Kerry, Ridgehaven “A teacher of mine had such a great positive impact on my life that I have named my daughter after her. Our children spend 25% of each day with a teacher, which to me means that teachers have a huge impact on these children. We need to look after these teachers as they look after and care for our children.”
David, Millswood “My apple goes to Mr English (a highly appropriate name for an English teacher) who saw my potential and cared enough to give me assignments outside of class. Wherever you are, Mr English, take a bow. Without teachers, nobody learns anything. With great teachers, however, we learn how to become something.”
Leo, Walkerville “As a new arrival in 1960, very little support was given in the private school I attended. Changing to the public sector (Klemzig Primary School) was the best change my parents made. The difference in support was unbelievable.” I
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appleforteacher.com.au
The AEU extends congratulations to TAFE members for their strong stand in rejecting the State Government’s ballot for a non-union enterprise agreement. UNITED we stand! I In solidarity, Correna Haythorpe AEU President
Kate, Mile End
To sign the online petition go to:
With all the media hype and Premier Rann running around claiming full credit for delivering the $1 billion BER stimulus package to SA, one might reasonably ask “what is the Building the Education Revolution package really about?” First and foremost, it is an economic stimulus package for the building industry, not for education. While infrastructure investment in our schools is long overdue and very, very welcome, let’s be clear, not one cent of this money will go towards the much needed creation of education jobs in South Australia. The new libraries do not bring with them a guaranteed commitment to maintain current teacher librarian time nor do we see increased language specialists and science teachers for the secondary sector. At a recent summit, when asked about the State Government’s commitment to ensuring that the necessary staff were employed for the education revolution, DECS provided the usual “we will manage staffing in the way that we have always managed it” response. Note to DECS: given the number of beginning teachers who are skip-
ping across the borders or entering private enterprise, the same old tired approach to staffing and job creation will no longer do for South Australia. There is one very important point that both Prime Minister Rudd and Premier Rann have overlooked: building infrastructure is only the first step. New gyms, halls, language centres and libraries need human resources such as non-teaching and teaching staff to ensure that our children receive the maximum benefit. For this education revolution to be successful, we must be able to attract and retain staff in SA. To do this will require increased funding for our schools, preschools and TAFE by the State Government not only as part of arbitration but into the foreseeable future. In recent weeks, Premier Rann and Minister Lomax-Smith have mastered the art of ‘double dipping’ and have taken public credit for the BER federal funding that is coming to SA. AEU members are not that easily fooled by a tactic that is cleverly designed to lure the public into believing that Premier Rann has spent millions on education in SA. Several years ago, South Australia led the nation with a vibrant public education system. Successive governments with miserly fiscal policy have taken their toll on our preschools, schools and TAFE. It will be up to AEU members to make sure the provision of better funding for education is the government’s top election priority in the lead up to 2010. The launch of “appleforteacher”, a strong grassroots activist and community campaign, is a vitally important part of our pre-election strategy. On page 12, you will find further information about the next phase of the campaign. We seek the support of every AEU member in signing the online petition and forwarding it to your friends, families and colleagues. On Thursday 2 April at 4:30pm, we will rally on the steps of Parliament House (see page 11) to call for increased funding for Public Education and to remind the State Government that in these troubled financial times, the best investment that can be made is in our preschools, schools and TAFE. See you there!
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OHS&W
The Big Build: teaching and learning on a construction site The Federal Government economic stimulus package for schools, is of course, very welcome. Suddenly, money is available for some of the desperately needed capital works and upgrading that most public school communities have had on their needs list for years. And it does seem logical that to prop up the construction and manufacturing industries, the fund needs to be spent without too much delay. But it’s not only about building and manufacturing; it’s also about finally getting some of what we've been seeking for a very long time – investment of taxpayers' money in public schools. After waiting so long, we must not waste the chance to create the most effective and inspiring outcomes by failing to identify and rectify the likely pitfalls that tend to accompany large-scale projects. These potential stumbling blocks – or in OHSW terms, risks – will need attention at all levels in order to avoid problems for staff and schools. Our concerns are based not only on past experience, but also on some of the comments made by state and federal politicians upon the announcement of the stimulus package. For example: “No architecture award seekers need apply!”
Contact Jill on:
In saying this, Premier Rann unfortunately modeled a ‘something is better than nothing’ approach to making decisions about what schools should build and how they should proceed, i.e. expectations should not be too high.
jcavanough@aeusa.asn.au
DECS does have a selection of templates for school buildings that meet the basic requirements of building codes that can be wheeled out and amended to meet site variations. Clearly, this will be useful in cutting down development time. And obviously there are plenty of wish lists that have languished on site agendas for years. But this combination of "what we need" and "what we can have" and "what's on the shelf" is not enough on its own. It will be a tragic waste of money if the thorough local input needed to make the best use of such rarely available resources – in terms of suitable, sustainable and energy efficient design – is disregarded. Such shortcuts will likely lead to entrenched and costly problems in the nature, quality and safety of the finished projects. There are plenty of examples of recently built school buildings where, for example, glare, noise, security, disability access, ventilation, lighting, storage and similar design issues have emerged as problems
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after construction because of inadequate consultation beforehand. We must not let this be repeated in either the new federal projects or in the super schools.
‘Use it or lose it’ Again, this attitude taken by the State Government raises concerns regarding the processes for bringing the projects into being. There are many legal requirements when changes are made to a workplace, but it looks like these may be seen by the State Government as ‘expendable’ in the rush to build; they might get in the way of the "free" federal money. Key here is the requirement under Regulation 1.3.1 of the South Australian Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act for “employees to be consulted” when changes to their workplace are planned. Yes, this does take some time, and yes, site managers have been briefed, but that’s not consultation. DECS must urgently implement a procedure to ensure consultation with all employees is supported in every site as part of this exercise. The time for all sites to do this properly with every staff member, as well as community, volunteers and other interested parties must be made available, along with the necessary extra resources in terms of release time. It will not be sufficient for the State Government to ignore its own legislation so that it is not seen as taking too long or costing more.
Project management There are no prizes for guessing who will shoulder the biggest burden when it comes to managing the preparation for and
then the ‘whole-of-site’ aspects of each site's ongoing building project – and principals are already overworked. There will be another complex layer of management needed: meetings and ongoing communication with contractors and subcontractors and inevitable staff and parent concerns. The isolation of the building area controls some risks, but can in itself create movement and access problems for staff, students, visitors and suppliers. Not to mention the potential for physical injury. Will there be additional support provided to sites to cover these issues? To what extent will the staff and their representative, the HSR be involved in the ongoing decision making that will be needed? Will it be enough to prevent injury? How will these needs be identified and met? Where will the time for this come from? How will DECS help?
What the AEU has done We have already outlined some concerns with DECS’ State OHSW Committee and with SafeWork SA, which should be developing guidance material to support safe construction practices in the specific context of school sites. Further representation will be made to government and DECS according to ongoing analysis and in response to concerns raised by members. If you wish to raise anything related to the OHSW aspects of ‘the big build’, contact the AEU’s OHS&W officer, Jill Cavanough (email left). I
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BOOK REVIEW
I T ’ S A FAC T Campbell et al utilise an intriguing combination of social history, statistical data and interviews with parents to portray the obsession of families with giving their children “an edge over others”. Many middle class parents will go to almost any lengths to pursue a school of choice in both the public and corporate sectors. This trend escalated significantly during the Howard decade. Ironically, the Prime Minister who claimed he would create a more relaxed and comfortable Australia instead fostered a climate of fear, anxiety and aspiration through socially divisive funding policies, together with pronouncements that responsible parents were to be defined in terms of their willingness to make sacrifices for their children – fairly unsubtle code for the value of education equating to how much parents were prepared to pay for it. Campbell notes that in 2004 more than a quarter of state subsidised non-government
School Choice: How parents negotiate the new school market in Australia Craig Campbell was a former member of Branch Executive and a brilliant teacher of History and English in South Australian secondary schools until 1990. At that time, he was refused leave by the Education Department to complete post-graduate studies in education and subsequently migrated to Sydney. Campbell recently retired from his position as Associate Professor of Education at the University of Sydney. In the past decade, he has written a host of publications on the social history of schooling. His latest book School Choice, co-authored by colleagues Helen Proctor and Geoffrey Sherington, explores the effects of more than three decades of lavish funding of private schools and the emergence of highly competitive marketing in the schooling sector. The central thesis of School Choice is the Australian public’s commitment to supporting the institutions of a civil society has been eroded by collective anxiety and aspiration, which feed off and fuel each other.
schools charged more in fees per student than the total resources allocated per student in government schools. School Choice deconstructs the mythology of a free market, arguing the reality is a managed quasi-market of choice, where schools select students as much as parents select schools. The private sector has developed a range of strategies to avoid dealing with the complexities of students with disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural problems. These are accompanied by proactive strategies that secure the enrolment of academically gifted children, many of whom have undertaken most of their schooling in the government system. The reputation of corporate schools, as well as that of ‘selective’ high schools in the New South Wales context, is built largely on the result of a filtering process that aims to capture students who are almost bound to succeed and excludes those who constitute a level of risk. School Choice portrays an Australia which is increasingly divided on the basis of class,
particularly in the sphere of education. Parents with the means to do so are actively seeking networks of social influence, credentials and educational settings where their children will be given an “edge over others”. Its concluding chapter questions the sustainability of the new regime of choice, not only in terms of equitable education for all children, but also in terms of tax-supported funding of multiple schools. This publication lays bare the ascendancy of competition over community, self-interest over the collective good. It provides a timely analysis of the failure of social policy that has been based on the myth of choice, a myth that has been manipulated to legitimise directing additional resources to those who already have them in abundance at the expense of those who lack them. Australia can ill afford this waste, either in fiscal or human terms. Campbell, Proctor and Sherington name and define a problem of national significance. Fear, anxiety and aspiration have long guided educational policy. It is high time they were replaced by principles of fairness and decency, and education regained its status as the foundation stone for democracy and general prosperity, rather than being regarded as a commodity to be purchased for individual advantage. In the post Howard era, the AEU is actively lobbying the Rudd government to accord priority in funding to Government schools. If the concept of choice is to have any validity, students of parents who lack the means to pay expensive fees for education should have access to at least the same level of resources as those attending corporate schools. Furthermore, Australia should be adopting the position of most European countries, where government schools are the schools of choice, and private institutions are essentially residual. School Choice is recommended reading for everyone with a commitment to providing the best possible education to all Australian children. I Anne Crawford AEU Vice-President
School Choice is available online at:
tinyurl.com/baj5lg $32.95 AUD inc GST
Support the campaign against Pacific Brands’ sacking of 1,850 Australian workers. The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia needs your support. Go to www.makeithere.com.au and sign the petition. Help to keep our manufacturing industry alive.
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MEMBER OPINION
P R O F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO P M E N T
What members think: A negotiated education funding dispute success “...the public education funding dispute has dragged on for too long and should be resolved now.”
I guess we’re aware the dispute could have been over and done with well before the global financial crisis. I don’t think it should come into the equation at all and I think most people feel the same. Our position hasn’t changed; our personal financial situations are the same. You’ve been a sub-branch secretary for 30 years, how does the current dispute compare to those that have come before?
Kym Wenham (above), a teacher at Hallett Cove South Primary School, speaks to the AEU Journal. What is your role at the school? I’ve been Sub-branch Secretary here for four years and in every school I’ve worked in for the last 30 years. How are members at your sub-branch feeling about the way the government has handled the education funding dispute? Like me, most of our members are frustrated. Members here are actually feeling quite militant and many would be happy if we went out and stayed out. The members here are particularly frustrated by the fact the government undervalues what we’ve been doing. We would have thought they would have come to the party by now – so to speak. I think they’re trying to paint us in a bad light while they promote themselves positively to the community. As a teacher, you would come into contact with parents quite a lot. What feedback do you get from them on the dispute? Are they supportive? I think people who have children in schools are very supportive of what we’re trying to do because they see it as not only a pay dispute but also as a funding dispute. They know this is detrimental to their kids’ education and that many of the private schools are flush with funds. The government is now arguing that the global financial crisis means they can’t afford our claim. What do you think about this?
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I can never remember people feeling as militant as they seem to be at the moment. They’re certainly expressing opinions they might not have had in recent years. Also, there’s been an obvious increase in people joining the union, so I think that’s an indication this is as bad as it had been for a very long while. The Rudd government’s stimulus package is a positive step forward in the area of infrastructure, has there been a problem with this kind of funding over the years? I think one of the big areas of concern over time has been the lack of funds to get basic repair work done. Upkeep of facilities is important and unfortunately for us, as our student population has decreased, so has our funding, yet we still have the same number of facilities to maintain. So in our case I imagine we would want to use the stimulus money to do quite a bit of repair work but I’m not sure this kind of expenditure meets the criteria. What are the members at your site doing to stay active and positive around the AEU’s campaign for a new agreement? Our members are keeping abreast of the progress with the dispute via, fax, emails and the AEU website. Signing the current petitions and speaking to parents at every opportunity. We have had dialogue with our local member, Chloe Fox, who has given a sympathetic ear to our dispute. We are, however, frustrated that the Commission has blocked more radical action and we are aware that our claim, to many, might seem greedy in the light of the current economic climate. I
In-principle agreement was reached between the AEU and the State Government/ DECS during the 2008 Enterprise Bargaining process for the implementation of an employee self-declaration for DECS’ out-of-hours professional development scheme. This effectively removes the high level of bureaucracy and inconsistent administration of the policy, introduced as a cost-saving strategy by the Liberal Government in the 90s. Implementation of this change is effective for the 2009 school year. Eligible employees will sign off on their own out-of-hours professional development in order to access the 37.5 hours or part thereof. Approval from site managers will no longer be necessary. The scheme remains purely voluntary. AEU members cannot be required to participate in training or professional development activities in their own time. As a result of the self-declaration, AEU members can make a personal and professional determination of their voluntary outof-hours participation in training and professional development. A standard form is signed by members at the end of the year with the standard declaration. It is simply acknowledged by the site leader and filed in the employee’s site file. Agreement for the self-declaration was placed in jeopardy when DECS were insisting that professional development activities needed to relate to the employee and the site/district/department. Importantly, DECS agreed to the insertion of the AEU suggested words, “Professional development activities are relevant to the individual and may also relate to site, district and Department priorities and needs. The Strategy relies on the professional obligation of employees to ensure that the activities are of a professional nature and are intended to develop the individual’s capacity for current or future work within the Department.” DECS have also ended their discriminatory practice of depriving access to employees whose paid maternity leave happened to fall within the last week of Term 4. DECS have agreed to extend the paid maternity leave by the individual’s entitlement. This was put into effect in time for the end of 2008. Other improvements that the AEU has achieved to the Training and Professional Support Strategy Guidelines include: • Scope of activities to be relevant to the individual and may also relate to the site/ District/Department priorities
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V I CE P R E S I D E N T ’ S V I E W • Travel time in excess of one hour for attendance at a relevant professional development activity may be credited, rather than the current limitation of at least three hours • Negotiating duties with the Line Manager for Week 10 if the employee is required to report for duty, rather than being required to submit a training and development plan • Removal of tedious auditing requirements of the self-declaration. Despite these changes, the AEU remains opposed to DECS’ Training and Professional Support Strategy primarily because it is strategy which only recognises voluntary out of hours professional development. The AEU continues to call upon the State Government and DECS to adequately invest in the public education workforce of today by: • Establishing a quarantined professional development fund for all preschools and schools. A representative committee would oversee appropriate expenditure at the site level • Meeting its basic obligation to fully fund system and mandated training including release time so the training can occur during work time
The policy still has elements of industrial unfairness particularly in regards to entitlement and eligibility, which are items to be pursued in arbitration. For example, a person employed for less than one year is not entitled to the 37.5 hours at pro rata. Each full term is calculated at an entitlement of one day or 7.5 hours. It is a relatively a small cost to ensure fairness by making this 1.25 days or 9.375 hours.
Undoubtedly the agreement for a selfdeclaration of voluntary out-of-hours professional development is a positive step. However, AEU members are still left with mediocre support from their employer to improve personal performance. We have a significant challenge ahead of us to restore some semblance to the 80s and 90s when this state led the nation in education reform. I Marcus Knill AEU Vice President The Training and Professional Support Strategy Guidelines can be located on the DECS website at:
http://tiny.cc/ooow2
had already decided on and publicly released. We may have been able to get some answers at this meeting but the committee member from Treasury had retired a few weeks before. He was either irreplaceable or it was simply a bad time for someone from Treasury to ‘take questions on notice’, ‘take it on board’, ‘give it fulsome consideration over time’, ‘seek advice’ or, indeed, ‘seek instructions as to whether there will be instructions’. In the meantime, the AEU representative on the government’s committee wrote to the Education Minister and the TAFE Minister in early January to discuss the potential impact on the attraction and retention of education staff in country areas. After all, they are in Cabinet and of course are accountable to the interests of their portfolios. The TAFE Minister gave a courteous reply stating he was having some post CDGP leave but would reply as soon as he got back in early February. He did, stating that he was happy to meet but in doing so pointed out that ‘only’ 25 TAFE employees were currently accessing government employee housing. A meeting was arranged but the earliest he could meet was the beginning of April. The Education Minister’s correspondence officer wrote back late January stating this was a matter for the Infrastructure Minister and had been flicked to him accordingly. The AEU wrote back asserting the attraction and retention of quality educators to the country is surely an issue for the Education Minister. But sadly I have yet to receive a response. There was hope someone from the government would be prepared to sit down for half an hour to discuss the issue when the AEU received correspondence from the Infrastructure Minister’s correspondence officer. Alas, this was not an issue for the Infrastructure Minister, it was a matter for the Treasurer and had been passed on accordingly. The Education Minister ducks for cover and passes responsibility to the Infrastructure Minister. The Infrastructure Minister ducks for cover and passes responsibility to the Treasurer. And, sadly, the Treasurer has yet to write or speak a word to the AEU about this MYBR measure. When the Liberal Government was in power in the early stages of this century, I was in earshot of a Labor politician in the Rann Opposition during a media interview. The most poignant moment was when she bellowed, “That’s a stupid way to run a governI ment!” How true those words were. Marcus Knill AEU Vice President
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appleforteacher.com.au
It is also industrially unfair SSOs and ECWs are eligible, but not if they are employed casually for less than two terms and less than 15 hours per week. It’s a nonsense to suggest that based on their employment status, these employees do not need the same level of professional development.
I recall only too well growing up in the 70s and 80s, and being amused at such television programs as Are You Being Served, George and Mildred, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em and Faulty Towers. Yes Minister! was one show that I didn’t appreciate, naively thinking at the time it was far-fetched and so way beyond what could be reality that it wasn’t funny. Now that I’m nearing my 40s, my eyes have opened to the machinations of how governments, relentless and obsessed with holding power, work. So much so, that I now get a serious laugh at Yes Minister! and indeed the modern Australian version of political satire – The Hollowmen. Consider this beauty from a DECS official when fronting for negotiations after the expiry of our Enterprise Agreement when asked when we were to receive a new offer, “My instructions that I have for you today is that I have no instructions”. Believe me, I have many such examples from negotiations, but I wish to centre this article on an important issue currently unfolding. In late December, the State Government hands down a Mid Year Budget Review, and creatively refers to it as the ‘MYBR’. It’s interesting timing, because this is when most people are more concerned with the CDGP (Christmas Drinks, Gatherings and Parties), and the state’s economy is of relatively low interest. You could say it’s a good time for a government to try to slip in some significant cost cutting measures because most of the electorate might get a glimpse of the evening news but won’t hear anything due to the CDGP. As part of this MYBR there’s a hard decision handed down by the Treasurer: to sell off around a third of the government housing stock. This bold and brave move will apparently improve government housing for government employees. It equates to around 340 teacher houses and 190 police houses that will somehow be improved being sold. The government’s own Public Employee Housing Advisory Committee was not consulted before this measure was announced. In fact, it was not even so much as informed. At its meeting on 23 December, it resolved to write to the Infrastructure Minister to request a briefing. In true Yes Minister! style, the government’s advisory committee requested to find out what was going on so it could advise the government on something that it
To sign the online petition go to:
• Providing post-graduate study scholarships to embark on further Higher Education study in the field of education.
A stupid way to run a government
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VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
A N N O U N CE M E N T S
Regional Consultative Forums
Australian Education Union | SA Branch
As a result of the Enterprise Agreement 2006, District Consultative Forums were established in 2008. Following the recent realignment of Districts into Regions, these Committees are now called Regional Consultative Forums (RCFs). RCFs can play a positive role in promoting effective consultation between schools, preschools and regional offices. They meet once per term and discuss a range of matters including, but not restricted to: • Regional Learning Plans • Provision of professional services support • Regional programs, resourcing and workload implications. Whereas PACs deal with matters directly impacting on a particular school, RCFs focus on issues that are of significance across groups or clusters of sites. This could include access to specialist services in areas such as disability, behaviour support or student wellbeing. Other matters for discussion could be the resourcing of new initiatives, access to training and development or regional priorities in teaching and learning. Each RCF is chaired by the Regional Director and has two AEU representatives, one based at the relevant office, and the other in a school or preschool. A list of AEU representatives on RCFs across the state is available on our website at http://tinyurl.com/cpbsux It is the responsibility of regional directors to ensure the timely distribution of minutes and agendas to schools and preschools. The AEU extends its thanks to members who are participating in these forums and encourages the broader membership to table matters of concern or suggestions for improved practice as agenda items through their representatives.
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To be presented on a date TBC These awards recognise the contributions made by preschools, schools and TAFE campuses and AEU members to public education in South Australia. Your sub-branch is invited to nominate its workplace or an individual. Nominations should be endorsed by the sub-branch and sent to:
Jack Major, AEU Branch Secretary, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 no later than Friday, 1 May at 5.00pm. To nominate, provide a supporting statement of up to 200 words that details contributions made in at least one of the following: •
Advocacy for public education
•
Community involvement and support
•
Positive outcomes for public education and students
•
How a program or initiative has contributed to a positive view of public education.
Artwork Matt Walker
SACE SURVEY: A survey has recently been distributed to all members involved in the new SACE in order to gauge workload implications, training and development needs and other resources required as part of the implementation of this initiative. All members who are teaching or preparing for the new SACE, including those in leadership positions with a focus on SACE, are encouraged to respond. A report on the survey’s finding will appear in the next Journal. I Anne Crawford AEU Vice President
2009 Public Education Awards
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Artwork Matt Walker 11
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F O C U S | A P P L E F O RT E AC H E R .CO M . A U
Bring an apple for the teacher Phase two of our community campaign kicks off in May ...is the place to go if you are ever having a bad day. Check out THE PICK: online messages of support from parents and the community. There you will find comments like this: “As the parent of a son with Asperger’s Syndrome, I know he would never have made it to Year 12 without the support of some sympathetic and hardworking teachers. Two came to his 21st, another still exchanges books with him, and he remains in contact with a couple more. It is thanks to their persistence that he now has a DipMus and is studying
for a BA. Many teachers go over and above the call of duty on a regular basis, and deserve at least to return to their previous status of parity with a government backbencher's pay. Few MPs spend as many years on the job, let alone developing our major resource and hope for the future – our children.” From Alison | Upper Sturt The campaign website also contains many video messages collected as the Apple Central bus visits preschools, schools and community events around South Australia. AEU members have been actively involved with bus visits, making sure that parents and community members know the key issues around the education funding dispute. With one-on-one conversation, we are able to clear up the misconceptions perpetuated by the State Government and media that this is just a pay dispute and draw people’s attention to the funding issues. We are taking the Apple Central bus to a number of community field days and shows in the coming months and there is still time to organise a visit if you have an event coming up. Please contact the AEU Information Unit on 8272 1399 if you have a suggestion or email them to aeusa@aeusa.asn.au For those of you on facebook, we have set up a ‘cause’ (see advertisement pg 13). Join the cause and then send it onwards to all of your friends with a message to sign our online petition. Phase two of the campaign will coincide with Public Education Day on Thursday 21 May. Using the word ‘teacher’ as a collective noun to describe all education workers, we will be holding a statewide “Bring an Apple for the Teacher” day for preschools and schools. This is a small gesture of support that our parents and students can make to say thank you for the guidance and dedication of all education staff in SA. The intent is to use this phase of the campaign to gather community support for the education funding dispute. In the April holiday mailout, AEU sub-branch secretaries will receive a plan of local action with a list of activities that could occur in your communities on this day. For example,
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morning teas hosted by governing councils in recognition of staff, a targeted community petition signing event and, lobbying of local members of parliament. The campaign will also be supported by paid advertising in the press and on radio both in the metro and country regions. Leaflets are also available if you would like to promote this event in your community. With respect to TAFE, AEU TAFE Divisional Council will meet prior to Branch Council and discuss how best to coordinate Public Education Day activities. Further information will be provided at a later date. In your discussions with parents in your community, please remind them of the following message: Our dispute has been running for over a year now and it has had an impact on everyone. If we accepted the government’s low offer, funding for your child’s education would be in jeopardy because we’d also have to agree to Treasurer Foley’s agenda to eat away at:
• class sizes • school facilities • numbers of teachers, teacher/librarians, school counsellors and school services officers • individual learning support for students • resources for preschools, schools and TAFE. Source: AEU Campaign flyer Our experience on the road has been overwhelmingly positive. The majority of parents know that our fight for better funding is about making sure SA children receive the highest quality education. And finally, whilst it is fantastic that the majority of petition signatures are from parents and community, we do need to add the signatures of 14,000 members so if you haven’t signed the online petition at www.appleforteacher.com.au please do so ASAP. See you on Apple Central Bus! Correna Haythorpe AEU President
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A P P L E F O RT E AC H E R .CO M . A U | F O C U S
1 Pictures from Apple Central’s recent trip to Kangaroo Island
KI members have a field day “It’s really nice to see and hear all the positive comments from a whole range of people in our community...”
AEU Coordinator Bill Hignett is a regular visitor to Kangaroo Island and said Public Education is held in high regard on the island. “The community on the island are very supportive of the teachers and education staff and in the past have been very appreciative of our efforts to get a fair and just deal for public education,” he said.
The field day took place at the Kangaroo Island Racecourse just outside of Kingscote. Local AEU members and AEU staff, including Branch President Correna Haythorpe and Vice-President Anne Crawford, were there to meet patrons.
Mr Hignett says support for the AEU’s campaign to end the current education funding dispute comes not only from union members but also from the wider community.
“These communities understand the ramifications of the government’s funding model and are prepared to fight side by side with the union to ensure their schools remain viable.”
“It was a fantastic day, hundreds of people stopped to look at the displays of student work and then signed the appleforteacher petition. I had several conversations with people who expressed their concern about the Rann Government’s lack of commitment to increased funding for South Australian preschools, schools and TAFE,” said Ms Haythorpe. AEU member Bill Jenner from Kingscote Campus, Kangaroo Island Community Education said he was buoyed by the local support. “It’s been a really successful day. It’s really nice to see and hear all the positive comments from a whole range of people in our community, it’s been fabulous.” I
Join our cause on:
Share the applefor teacher with your friends and family. Go to www.causes.com/fb/appleforteacher
What can you tell our readers about your subbranch? “Our sub-branch is quite large – 80 members, mainly teachers but there are a small number of SSOs and around half the leadership are members of the union. Our sub-branch has attended all the rallies, including the SSO rally – we had fifteen members there. We’re all frustrated and annoyed with the way the government has refused to seriously negotiate, not to mention their tactics of delaying the interim pay rise.” SALLY HANAN | Teacher What do you think about the way the government has handled the education funding dispute? “I think it’s really disrespectful of us as practitioners in our work. We work incredibly hard and they know we work hard… I think the government’s approach is extremely disrespectful. The interim salary increase was just an insult and typical of the type of government we’ve got. There’s just no excuse for it. They say they value education but when it comes to their bottom line, children don’t count.” CAMERON GROVER | Teacher How do you feel about the Labor government at the moment? “I’m completely and utterly annoyed with the Labor Government. I’ve been handing out how-tovote cards for the ALP for around 25 years. I’ve told my local member that I won’t vote for her. If the government really wanted to they could resolve it now. They seem to have made a decision to antagonise and take on the teachers. The hard line they’ve taken has created a big feeling of mistrust and they will wear it come election time.”
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appleforteacher.com.au
“Schools are vitally important to community life. This is particularly so in country and isolated areas. The governing councils of the KI schools have been very supportive of our campaign and have been actively lobbying the State Government. In particular, they have been writing letters to Minister LomaxSmith and asking her to end the education funding dispute.”
Around 20 AEU members were on the job setting up a large display of children’s work, handing out information flyers and, of course, juicy red SA apples.
ASHLEY LINDNER | Sub-branch Secretary
To sign the online petition go to:
After successful trips to Port Pirie and Port Augusta, the Apple Central Bus sailed across the high seas to attend the Kangaroo Island Field Day near Kingscote. This very successful community event has won a number of awards including the Australia Day Community Event of the Year and was the ideal place to talk to the community about Public Education.
M E M B E R CO M M E N T S F R O M H A L L E T T COV E R – 1 2
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TA F E BA L LOT
Victory vote for ‘No’ TAFE lecturer John Hunter talks about the recent non-union TAFE Ballot.
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Ironically, all of this one-sided communication probably did more damage than good to the ‘Yes’ vote. People want balanced debate and resent being told what to think. They are understandably suspicious of one-eyed positions: if it is so terrifically good, there must be something wrong with it! Guess what folks, you were right! It will be interesting to observe the behaviour of people who so strenuously advocated the ‘Yes’ vote if arbitration leads to a better salary outcome than that which was the subject of the ballot. If arbitration leads to a better level of income, will these people accept only that which they so actively advocated? If consistent, one would expect them to take only the lesser, original amount. I wouldn’t hold my breath... Lastly, on the theme of ‘take note’, our opponents focussed on the issue of salary and appealed to the hip pocket nerve. They no doubt cynically anticipated we would take the money and run. Well, here’s a newsflash, we didn’t. Instead, the AEU struck a chord as we were much closer to the concerns of TAFE employees. I’m convinced that many of my TAFE colleagues voted as they did because there are broader aspects of any potential Agreement they believe must be addressed, but which are not being taken seriously by our opponents. For starters, what about a fair and future orientated arrangement to deal
quality services, and there are aspects of the Skills Strategy which seriously trouble them. So, as an open comment to our opponents, ‘please take note’ of these concerns or you run the risk of becoming further estranged from an already, I’m sad to say, disenchanted workforce. In closing, maybe this should have been called the ‘we hope it gives our opponents a jolt’ vote, in the hope the ballot gets the other side to start taking a more flexible and less belligerent attitude to negotiation. But that would also be too, too silly. Despite the clear rejection of the proposed Agreement by TAFE staff, the State Government’s public statements indicate they are likely to press forward with their agenda of having a separate industrial instrument governing the rates of pay and terms and conditions of employment of TAFE Educational Staff by asking the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission to arbitrate and make an Award in lieu of an Agreement. The AEU has already applied to the Commission seeking a single Award for all education workers in South Australia regardless of whether they are employed in preschools, schools or TAFE. Whether it be by ballot or via arbitration, the government’s tactic is the same – divide and conquer. I
TAFE
During February the State Government conducted a non-union ballot of TAFE employees in an attempt to gain support for an enterprise bargaining offer that had been rejected by AEU TAFE members. The result of the ballot is that 68% of TAFE employees voted to reject the offer.I spoke with my partner about a snappy, rhyming title for this commentary on the ‘Separate Agreements’ ballot at which I was an AEU scrutineer. She suggested the following: • The ‘we’re all in the same boat’ vote • The ‘gloat’ vote • The ‘please take note’ vote I decided they were all far, far too silly. On reflection, I mused ‘hang on, they do reflect some of the major issues surrounding the result’ which, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now, was a resounding victory for ‘No’. TAFE staff comprehensively voted to stay ‘in the same boat’ as their school sector colleagues. They made an unselfish and principled decision and I’m very proud to be associated with all of my fellow TAFE employees. TAFE staff simply did not fall for the crude divide and conquer tactics of our opponents (The term ‘opponents’ is, with regret, used deliberately, and so they shall remain as long as they continue to adopt such an intransigent and confrontational approach to negotiations). The vote was an unqualified endorsement of the position taken by the AEU – united we stand, divided we fall. Now, regarding ‘gloat’ – and I’m smiling as I write this – I know it is not nice to be selfsatisfied at someone else’s failure, but in this case, it’s fun. It is particularly so when the other party had all of the advantages. Speaking of which, how many letters did you get, and what view was promoted on your website? I believe this form of communication from senior managers raises a serious ethical issue. I was under the impression that in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, senior public servants are expected to remain politically neutral. This seems to have been compromised in this instance and at what cost to democratic traditions? Concerning another aspect of cost, next time you are told to ‘tighten your educational belt’ you might just ask if it would be possible to consider drawing upon some of the funds that have apparently been set aside for senior bureaucrats to promote their personal political positions.
with workloads and how about a reasonable classification structure? Further, there are matters which fall somewhat outside the framework of any possible Agreement, yet which impact upon it. To provide just a couple of examples: many TAFE employees are alarmed at our diminishing resource base and the impact of this on our capacity to continue to provide high
John Hunter is a lecturer at TAFESA Adelaide city campus .
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J O B R E A DY CE RT I F I C AT E
M I N I M E D I A CO M P E T I T I O N
Win a digital video camera Call for Submissions
Sweet report leaves a sour taste
AEU Research Officer, Mike Williss
At the urging of peak employer bodies such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ACCI), and the Business Council of Australia, the Rudd government is developing a certificate of ‘job readiness’ for school leavers. The ACCI’s proposal is the Job Ready Certificate (JRC) be for all school leavers. The Government proposal is to target the third of school leavers who go directly from school to work.
He suggests that the JRC be earned by students in work placements as part of vocational courses. He proposes a minimum of four work placements of five days each, with the student being assessed in each work placement against a total of eight ‘employability skills’ and 13 ‘personal attributes’. Sweet proposes the employer should do the assessments through use of workplace supervisors, although he clearly envisages teachers having a role in aggregating individual employer comments. The workload implications for teachers are evident in the following section of Sweet’s report, A Role for Teachers: “Even though workplace supervisors should have the main role in assessing young people’s job readiness, the coordinators of schools’ work placement programs will need to be involved. For example, teachers will need to have an important role in ensuring that students are prepared for their work
Should the scope of the JRC be widened to all school leavers, as the ACCI wants and as several options in the Sweet paper provide room for, then the workload will certainly have to be imposed on more than just the work placement coordinators at the school level. There is also the danger the JRC might be seen as a filler for the Personal Learning Plan now being taught in its first year as part of the new SACE. While one business leader at the consultation I attended was heard to remark “preparing kids for work has dropped off the radar in schools”, several of the school leaders present seemed less than enthusiastic about what they saw as “yet another layer on top of what we already do”. Perhaps the ACCI and the BCA should concentrate on certifying workplaces as ‘employment ready’ with a set of criteria including support for union membership, family friendly work practices, fair wages and conditions, strong OHSW practices, and anti-racism and anti-discrimination policies, to name a few. I
will be awarded to the winning member/s nominated sub-branch for workplace use. Prizes will be awarded at the judges’ discretion.
TWO CATEGORIES Category 1: Best Digital Media produced by educators in their first 5 years of employment.
Category 2: Open category for Best Digital Media.
CRITERIA: 1. Must include the following creative element: ‘appleforteacher’ 2. Must be no longer than 30 seconds. 3. Must be G Rated and suitable for viewing by the general public and education stakeholders.
4. Must be suitable for posting to the appleforteacher website or to YouTube.
5. Open to AEU | SA Branch financial members only.
6. Entries close on Friday 22 May at 5pm.
ADVICE: If children or government buildings are featured, all appropriate departmental procedures must be strictly followed. Copyright will rest with the producers, but the AEU | SA Branch will have full permission to use the film for non-commercial public showings.
TECHNICAL INFO: Entries must be submitted on DVD. A technical advice sheet will be forwarded on request. Members wishing to improve their skills are invited to attend the Digital Media Workshop held during the school holidays (April 17).
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1399 email: training@aeusa.asn.au
In a discussion paper for the federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Prof. Richard Sweet outlines the case for the certificate and the options for its implementation.
placements, that they are familiar with what will be assessed and how it will be assessed, and that they respond positively to their assessment. A record will need to be kept of the assessment results. There will need to be somebody who can act as an arbiter or moderator if there are quite significant differences in assessment results across different work placements. Somebody to act as an arbiter and to ensure fairness will also be important if disagreements arise between young people and workplace supervisors about assessment results. Strong partnerships between schools and firms will be needed to make sure that the assessment process is effective.”
PRIZES: 2 digital cameras valued at approximately $1300 each
For further information contact: Lynn Hall phone: 8272
AEU members are invited to produce a 30 second digital media clip to be shown at Branch Council on 30 May.
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I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S DAY M A R C H 2 0 0 9
URGENT SAWA APPEAL SUPPORT KABUL WIDOWS
Features of the event
Friday, 3 April | 6.30 – 9.30pm
Australian Education Union | Main Hall • Brief overview of SAWA’s work. 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 • “Kabul 2008”: Screening of documentary made by Matthias Tomczak (SAWA’s convener) after his recent trip to Kabul. Open discussion on documentary with Matthias.
• “Bahar”: traditional Afghani musicians. • “The Three of Us”: Adelaide band. for purchase:
• Afghan handicrafts • Nibbles and soft drinks. Entry by $10.00 donation. All money raised will go to support SAWA’s Vocational Training Centre in Kabul.
Enquiries – P: 8333 3479 W: www.sawa-australia.org
SAWA-Australia supports the Vocational Training Centre for war widows in Kabul, Afghanistan. The aim is to give these women the means to feed their family and pay their rent through secure income. SAWA’s funds are sufficient to support the literacy courses available at the Centre, but the vitally needed training course for handicraft production is currently funded through a loan that has to be repaid.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO THIS!
Sponsored by Support Association for the Women of Afghanistan, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Australian Education Union.
Please come to a special fundraising event and be entertained at the same time! 16
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WOMEN’S FOCUS
Family Friendly Matters – where are we now?
Paid Maternity/Adoption Leave In 2001, the first DECS employees to gain paid maternity leave received the grand total of two weeks. Now, in 2009 – eight short years later – we have achieved 14 weeks paid maternity leave through recent EB claims. In addition to the attainment of 14 weeks paid leave are the following gains: • Women can now split their paid maternity leave in any way they wish. This will allow staff to divide their paid leave over two financial years for tax purposes. It also gives staff the choice of taking any combination of their leave entitlement at half pay. • Women now have the right to return to work on a part-time basis into any tenured position they previously held until the tenure ends or the child’s second birth-
day, whichever comes first. This extends your right to work part- time. Currently you can request to work part-time up until the child starts school. • Paid adoption leave may now be taken concurrently by the employee and their spouse/partner – where they are both employees of DECS – to the aggregate period of 14 weeks at full pay or 28 weeks at half pay, or any combination of full or half pay. Please note that employees contemplating paid maternity/adoption leave at half pay should seek advice on superannuation from Super SA (Ph. 8207 2094) prior to such leave being taken, in order to make arrangements for the continuation or suspension of employee and/or employer contributions during the period of the leave without pay component.
1 AEU Women’s Officer Tish Champion with the huge pregnant woman before leading the 2009 International Women’s Day march (pictures left).
maternity/adoption leave. Women were previously denied access to full maternity benefits if their contract had expired.
There are several agreements which have been reached between the AEU and DECS during this EB which are major improvements for our members. For instance:
• A woman who has completed any hours toward the Professional Development Support Scheme and is on paid maternity/ adoption leave during week 10 of Term 4, will now have her paid maternity/adoption leave extended by any hours accrued. In the past, anyone on paid maternity or adoption leave forfeited any right to hours accrued.
• A woman on a tenured contract who is entitled to the 14 weeks of paid maternity or adoption leave no longer loses any unused portion of her entitlements to paid leave that fall outside of the dates of the contract. DECS has agreed to extend an employee’s contract date to accommodate any accrued entitlement to paid
While these issues have been agreed to in principal, and DECS have issued circulars to sites confirming their implementation from 1 January 2009, individual problems will continue to arise. If you or anyone you know is having difficulty accessing any of these new initiatives please contact Tish Champion (details below). I
Our Biggest Gains
Anna Stewart Memorial Project
Work, Life Union ^ Balance
25 May – 5 June 2009
The Anna Stewart Memorial Project is held every year at the end of May. It is a living memorial to the life and work of Anna Stewart. Anna worked tirelessly and passionately to involve women directly in deciding on principles and priorities to put before unions and government in order to achieve real quality of status and opportunity for women. The project involves a two-week training course for women unionists and includes:
• • • • • •
Work shadowing Workshops Worksite visits Attending Parliament House Developing skills and confidence Having fun This is a fully funded program, including TRT provision and travel and accommodation support for country members.
All women union members are invited to apply. Please submit a 200 word statement outlining your commitment to women’s issues and your union by Thurday 9 April. For further information on this joint unions project, please contact the AEU Women’s Officer 5
Tish Champion
T: 8272 1399 E: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au 17
appleforteacher.com.au
As the 2009 school year marches on, so too does the arbitration for an Award and the AEU’s Apple for Teacher campaign. After so much talking, negotiating and corresponding, you wouldn’t think there was anything left to do or say? Now the talking will be done in the Commission before the full bench. Unfortunately, there is still plenty to be sorted out and the battle has really only just begun. One consolation however, is the huge advance we have made with the family friendly aspect of our claim through ongoing negotiations with DECS. How far have we come?
To sign the online petition go to:
AEU Women’s Officer, Tish Champion reports.
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I N T E R N AT I O N A L
IWD – different circumstances, same struggle Trade unionists in Colombia live with the fear of government persecution.
Accusations of links to guerrilla organisations are a common tactic of the government. Liliany is the first of a group of prominent opposition figures to be arrested in a government-orchestrated witch-hunt against tradeunionists and rights activists.
“Liliany is the first of a group of prominent opposition figures to be arrested in a governmentorchestrated witch-hunt against trade-unionists and rights activists.”
A lot of Australians have been shocked by Liliany’s arrest and the thought that she now languishes in the Good Shepherd Prison for women in Bogota.
unionists have been assassinated in the past ten years. Around 3,000 common graves have been found. The army stands accused of 1,115 ‘false positives’ – the murder of youths who are subsequently dressed in the uniforms of the guerrillas. There have been 17,000 ‘disappearances’ of people standing in the way of pro-US, elite-dominated governments in Colombia. Roughly 35 percent of the members of the current parliament, including President Alvaro Uribe, have connections with paramilitary groups that do the work deemed too dirty for the official armed forces.
A
nother International Women’s Day has been and gone and Australians are left wondering whatever happened to those burning aspirations for equality at work, at home and in society more generally. Pay rates lag. Paid maternity leave, for many workers, is a luxury we can’t afford in boom or bust – or at least so we are told. Unions are limited in what they can do about this by a decade of anti-union legislation and an ideological barrage. The AEU’s recent gain has come after too many years of struggle. In other parts of the world these examples of justice delayed and denied are compounded by almost unimaginable violence and oppression. Take Colombia for instance. Colombia has for decades been in the grip of a social crisis and an armed struggle between the country’s armed forces, ruthless rightwing paramilitaries and leftist guerrilla movements. It is the most dangerous place on earth for trade unionists. Over 2,500 trade
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The reasons behind this nightmare are obvious – profits, resources and land. The army and paramilitaries are clearing great swathes of land belonging to peasant, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian inhabitants. Over four million people have been displaced by state sponsored terror and the war of resistance that it has provoked. The most common targets of terror and assassination in these poor communities are the bearers of knowledge – health workers and teachers, mostly women. Peasant unions do what they can to unite rural workers and communities but the toll for their efforts is very high. Fensuagro-CUT is the main trade union council uniting agricultural workers in Colombia. It has been suffering increased persecution in recent times as the Uribe Government presses for total victory for the neo-liberal agenda in the countryside. On August 8 last year, a representative of the union body, human rights activist and documentary filmmaker Liliany Obando, was arrested in her home in front of her mother and two young children. She stands accused of rebellion and gathering resources for leftist guerrillas.
They remember her as a softly spoken, consistent advocate of a peaceful solution to the social crisis in Colombia. She has visited Australia twice. On her most recent tour, in 2007, she was gathering support for a human rights monitoring project for rural workers in Colombia. She impressed audiences with her calm persona, her confidence and grasp of the complex issues facing her homeland. Many have responded to calls to support her immediate release. While members of the paramilitaries enjoy privileges in detention and special consideration before the law, Liliany has been denied her right to home detention while the case against her is prepared. The Colombian constitution guarantees this right to parents with responsibilities to look after children. Of course, this is not the only right denied to Liliany and the other 7,000 political prisoners in Colombia. Political prisoners in Colombia probably feel the significance of International Women’s Day, questions of trade union and other human rights more keenly than their sisters and brothers in Adelaide. But the struggle is the same. As we press on for justice around our demands, we should take advantage of relatively easier circumstances to show solidarity with the trade unionists and other human rights activists in Colombia. Liliany Obando toured Australia on two occasions in the last few years while working for Fensuagro’s international relations commission. Many Australian trade unionists, human rights activists and members of the broader community had the privilege of meeting Liliany during her visit and hear her stories. We were all struck by her courage and inspired by the accounts of resistance of the Colombian people to the human rights violations perpetrated by the government. I Further information about the case of Liliany Obando can be accessed online:
www.freeliliany.net/ Giles Goldsmith is a freelance journalist working in Adelaide
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P R E SC H O O L S
Universal access to 15 hours preschool AEU Lead Organiser, Howard Spreadbury
SA TRIALS: The Rudd Government’s initiative to provide access to 15 hours of preschool education for all four-year-olds in the year prior to school continues to be trialled in a number of centres across Australia. Key components of the plan include a specific focus on indigenous children, education provision delivered by four-year qualified early childhood teachers, and a workforce strategy designed to create additional university places to prepare teachers or build on existing child care qualifications. The total resource allocated to the implementation over a five-year period is approximately $530 million. In South Australia, trialling the implementation of 15 hours of preschool education commenced in nine sites in Term 3 last year. Five of these sites are DECS preschools, including an integrated preschool/child care setting and a Child Parent Centre. At this stage, the centres involved are progressing with the trials on a term by term basis.
Whilst the AEU welcomes the initiative in meeting the educational needs of young children and their families, there are a number of factors which require specific monitoring prior to the expansion of the total program across all preschool provision. These include additional resourcing required by centres to support the plan, improvements to infrastructure to provide additional space and facilities and potential industrial implications for members in relation to conditions of work and Award entitlements. In the context of individual children accessing five preschool sessions each of three hours duration, no individual staff member should experience increased contact time or reduced non-contact time or have other entitlements such as lunch breaks eroded. Members in preschool value their time to meet as a staff team, to engage in effective planning for future programs and to have meaningful time to assess observations
1 AEU preschool members from Aldinga of individual children’s learning and development. Members also place a high value on programs that provide families with an important link to the preschool program when children engage in extension or pre-entry programs prior to age four. It is vital these programs and times for staff planning and development are not compromised as a result of an expansion of preschool sessions. The AEU is currently working with members in a number of the trial sites in South Australia in order to receive first hand information regarding the successes and any concerns generated by the changes to programs. I
CYBERBULLYING
There’s a new bully on the block Recent cases of cyberbullying give rise to new workshops
Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cyberharassment; they’re new terms because it is a relatively new phenomenon. But the vulnerability of young people in the digital age is a very real issue. Certain characteristics inherent in online technologies increase the risk that young people might be exploited or bullied. Unlike physical bullying, electronic bullies or stalkers can remain virtually anonymous using temporary email accounts, pseudonyms in chat rooms, instant messaging programs, text messaging and other methods to mask their identity.
“This interactive and cutting edge program is aimed at equipping educators to teach their students about cybersafety,” said ACMA chairman Chris Chapman.
The hour-long activity aimed at teaching internet safety is free for schools, targeting students in the last year of primary school. Children work online in real time liaising with community professionals to solve an internet-themed problem. It brings together a number of agencies with an interest in promoting online safety for young people, including state and federal police. In the scenario, children play the role of a school deputy principal concerned about the welfare of a new student, who may be being bullied by someone they have met in an internet chat room.
Free workshops are available across Australia and provide practical experience, resources and strategies for teachers.
Guided by a series of clues, children work collaboratively in teams to solve the mystery of what is worrying the student and why.
One resource for schools that can be accessed from the website is an online game called Cybersmart Detectives.
Details for participating in the Cybersmart Detectives online game are available at the website (right). I
To register for the ACMA’s free Cybersafety Outreach program go to: http://tinyurl.com/d6pgjr Workshops are scheduled to be held in Adelaide and Port Pirie during Term 2 19
www.cybersmartkids.com.au
Teaching students about the safe use of digital technologies has just become easier with the launch of a new cyber safety program.
Cyberbullies might also be emboldened when using electronic means because it’s simply easier to bully anonymously or remotely than in person. Additionally, electronic forums often lack supervision. In response to the problem of cyberbullying among young people in and outside of schools, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has launched a new professional development program designed for primary and secondary teachers.
Resources for teachers and parents at ACMA’s website:
Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies – such as email, chat rooms, discussion groups, instant messaging or SMS – to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group.
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VE R I CE CRU PR I TEMSEI D NET N T S V I E W
AEU welcomes 110 new members Following the success of targeted efforts to grow the union last year, AEU officers, in conjunction with subbranch secretaries, have embarked upon another series of member recruitment drives early in 2009. Having achieved a good outcome in the Upper Spencer regions of Port Augusta and Whyalla, it was determined that officers would return to these centres consolidating that effort, as well as meeting educators newly appointed to the area. Over a four-day period in Week 3, organisers working in pairs visited every school, preschool and TAFE campus in the two regional cities as well as outlying centres. Significant periods of time were spent based in sites enabling officers to meet with teachers, leaders, SSOs, ACEOs, ECWs and lecturers to explain the benefits and importance of being part of the AEU. As a consequence, more than 70 educators are now newly signed members. The role of the sub-branch secretary in
this exercise and the importance of preparation for these visits must be emphasised. Meeting with an organiser prior to the visit in order to map the sub-branch and develop a profile of the worksite in terms of potential membership is vital to the effectiveness of contacts with staff and maximizes opportunities to sign individuals to the union on the day. Sub-branch secretaries are also able to assist with the visit by facilitating meeting times and supporting potential members to spend time with officers to fully explore union membership and have their questions answered in detail. The co-operation of leaders is also a valuable component of the exercise. They ensure sub-branch secretaries are supported in their work and that officers are made welcome while at the site. During Week 6, a further four days were assigned to organisers to visit over 20 schools in the southern metropolitan area of Noarlunga with the resultant signing of a further forty educators to the AEU. To round off the term, organisers will travel to the Riverland in Week 11 where
SAIT Conveyancers We offer AEU members: • Free advice on real estate queries. • 25% off the Statutory or Land Brokers Society recommended fee structure.
• Expert and experienced professional work with Mortgages, Transfers, Strata Plan and Plan of Division Lodgments, Caveats, Discharges of Mortgages – indeed, all facets of conveyancing work.
1 AEU organiser Anne Beinke (left) recruiting Krystle Gertig of Augusta Park PS at the recent New Educators Conference.
most schools, preschools and TAFE sites will be visited over a three-day period in order to build union density across that region. At this time of a protracted dispute with the State Government over members’ salaries, conditions and education funding, it is vital that our union continues to grow in both number and activism. Member development programs and support for sub-branch secretaries and those in other sub-branch positions maintain their prominence in the overall work of AEU officers. There are a number of courses coming up (see page 21). If we are to campaign successfully in our local communities, it is vital that our membership is strong and united. Recruitment drives such as these are but one means of achieving that outcome. It’s all about growing the union, both at the worksite and across the state. I
‘09
Australian Education Union
SSO Conference Wednesday, 15 April 9.15am – 4.00pm Conference Dinner:
If you are buying or selling or are involved in any real estate matter, either through a land agent or privately, consult us.
Wednesday, 14 April | 6.00pm Accommodation and travel assistance available for country members.
Further Information Contact Anne Walker or Simon Willcox Phone: (08) 8410 6788 Fax: (08) 8410 6799 Located at SATISFAC •151 South Terrace • Adelaide SA 5000
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8272 1399 To Register: aeusa.asn.au/events Phone Irene Tam:
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A E U 2 0 0 9 T R A I N I N G A N D D E V E LO P M E N T P R O G R A M
TERM 1 | 2009 AEU/DECS MERIT & PAC TRAINING Merit Selection Training DATE Friday 3 April Monday 20 April
VENUE AEU Parkside AEU Parkside
TIME 9.00am – 4.00pm 9.30am – 4.30pm
VENUE AEU Parkside
TIME 9.00am – 1.00pm
Keeping you up-to-date
Online
PAC Training DATE Thursday, 2 April
DATE Wednesday 8 April
VENUE AEU Parkside
TIME 2.00am – 4.00pm
Book online at: www.decs.sa.gov.au/HR1/pages/default/training_dates/
Branch Council Meetings
TAFE Divisional Council Meetings
Dates for 2009 are: March 28 May 30 August 15 November 21
Dates for 2009 are: March 27 May 29 August 14 November 20
Sunday 5 April | 2.00pm -9:00pm & Monday 6 April | 9:00am-3:00pm 0r [Port Pirie] Sunday 17 May | 2.00pm – 9.00pm & Monday 18 May | 9.00am – 3.00pm A 2-day course on establishing regional union networks, running local campaigns and resolving workplace issues with member support.
Creative Actions Workshop Thursday 16 April | 9:15am-3.30pm A 1-day course to develop creative, fun actions linked to AEU campaigns, and which will engage members.
Digital Media Workshop Friday 17 April | 9:15am-3:30pm A 1-day course to develop digital media skills for use in the classroom or in campaigning activities. Members are encouraged to develop a short digital clip for the 2009 AEU Public Education Media Competition.
Democratic Decision Making Through the PAC Friday 1 May | 9:15am-4:00pm A 1-day course on resolving workplace issues effectively through various school decisionmaking structures and processes, in particular through the PAC.
Consultation Skills for Reps Friday 22 May | 9:15am-4:00pm A 1-day course on resolving workplace issues effectively through consultation using official consultative avenues.
Email to:
membership@aeusa.asn.au or call Rhonda on: 8272 1399
Teachers Golf Day Echunga Golf Club: (corner Echunga and Dolman Roads)
Monday 20 April 2008 (2nd Monday of the April holidays)
2009 UNION MEMBER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM District Union Networks [Renmark] and Campaigns
we need your
preferred email address
Merit Selection Pannellist Retraining
Women’s Contact Officers Course Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 June 9:15am-4:00pm A 2-day course for women members on the role of the AEU Women’s Contact Officer, and how to support women in their workplace.
Conflict Resolution through Mediation
Registration: 8:30am Shotgun Start: 9:00am Cost: $25.00 Dress: No jeans please!
Bookings: www.sateachersgolf.com Kym Briggs: Sheidow Park School Phone: (08) 8381 8911 Email: ksbriggs@tpg.com.au • Open to all PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE education workers and friends • BBQ lunch provided
Wednesday 15 to Friday 17 July 9.15am-4.00pm A high-demand 3-day course facilitated by Professor Dale Bagshaw and practising mediators, covering the theory and practice of mediation as a proactive strategy in maintaining healthy workplaces. Participants must commit for all three days.
Potential Branch Council Delegates Course Friday 20 November | 9:15am-4:00pm A 1-day course on decision making in the union and the role of council delegates for those who may be interested in becoming a delegate in the future.
AEU New Activists’ Conference Monday 23 November | 9:15am- 4:00pm A 1-day conference for new teachers and young activist members. The conference features workshops on current and difficult issues in education and democratic educational practices. Participants will find out how to energise the teaching profession and engage the next generation of AEU members.
Travel by Camel – Discover the Outback Seven-day camel safaris June/July 2009. Leave your usual world behind. Explore safely with quiet camels and a small group. Departs from Coward Springs on the Oodnadatta Track, $1540.
www.cowardsprings.com.au/ camel-safaris.php or phone Prue Coulls on:
(08) 8675 8336 or (08) 8559 6144 OVERSEAS HOLIDAY STUDY TOURS
PNT Global Tours
Great savings on professional tour packages to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Laos & more.
Vietnam 11-days from $2,288 China 7-days from $1,395 India 7-days from $1,599 (fully inclusive with airfare) + tax
Specialised in school excursions to Asia.
All courses are held at the AEU unless otherwise specified.
For more info on courses, relief funding or to register go to:
tel: 1300 739 776 or (02) 8065 1455
www.pntglobaltours.com.au
www.aeusa.asn.au/events
Lic 2TA6016
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N OT I CE B OA R D
Members’ Market VICTOR HARBOR Holiday Hse: Enjoy a Break at ‘Southern Escape’! A beautifully renovated 3BR house within walking distance of the beach, skate park, shops, restaurants and the city centre. A ‘Home away from Home’ with all facilities. Large yard, great for relaxing and enjoying a BBQ and wine under the Pergola. T: 0413 920 554
FOR RENT: Week(s) accommodation in resorts in Australia, NZ, Asia, South Africa for $400 to $700pw, sleeps 2, 4 or 6. Ideal for family. Contact John: T: (08) 8295 3181 email: sterzlej@iprimus.com.au
FRANCE – SOUTH: Lovely Village House. $700 pw. www.hermes.net.au/villeneuve Contact Julie on: 0403 314 928
HOLIDAY RENTAL: Yorke Peninsula: Brand new up-market esplanade beach house ‘Manyana’ at Wool Bay (near Edithburgh). Features inc. spa bath, plasma TV, DVD, stereo,
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dishwasher. Tastefully furnished & quality equipment, 3BR, sleeps up to 7. Enjoy panoramic sea views, beach walks, walk to jetty, good fishing etc. Available school holidays, long weekends, weekends etc. Further info & bookings: www.countrygetaways.info T: (08) 8832 2623
HOLIDAY GETAWAYS VICTOR HARBOR: All Seasons Lakefront Getaway: Stunning self-contained luxury colonial home in the picturesque surrounds of Encounter Lakes, Victor Harbor. Private secluded sandy beach and lake at your back door! 4BRs. Sleeps 8. 2 spacious living areas. 2nd bathroom, 3 toilets & laundry. Large alfresco undercover entertaining area. Huge lawned backyard which leads to secluded sandy beach and lake. Lakeside Getaway: Stunning modern villa at Encounter Lakes, Victor Harbor. Only 100m to clean, sandy beach and lovely reserve.
5-min. walk to scenic Esplanade, walking and bike trail, cafes, restaurants and general store. 3BRs. Sleeps 6. Spacious Lounge/ Family/Dining room. 2 way bathroom, separate toilet & laundry. Enquiries and bookings: www.victorharborholidayhomes. spaces.live.com T: 8344 7921 M: 0419 868 143 E: foumakis@hotmail.com
HOLIDAY GETAWAY MARION BAY: Well furnished, near new house. Gateway to Innes National Park. Sleeps 8, 3BRs, large living area, TV and DVD. Spacious balcony with outdoor setting and BBQ. Only 5 mins to Willyama Beach and 5km to Innes National Park. Further info & bookings: E: kireland15@gmail.com
HOLIDAY HOUSE CARRICKALINGA: Recently completed rebuild. A stunning architecturally designed beach house at North Bay. 1 hour from the city. 2 mins to beach. ‘Crow's nest’ views to sea, beach and hills. Extensive decking, 4BRs, 3 brand new bathrms and brand new quality kitchen. 2 living areas.
Fully landscaped grounds with play areas/equipment for kids. Sleeps up to 10. Winter rate $500 weekend including cleaning. Available school hols. T: 0403 015 964
KOH SAMUI ISLAND GULF OF THAILAND Fully self contained 3BR, 2 bathrm spacious new family home with lge private pool & spa in quiet street of friendly mixed nationalities 300m from sunset beach. Enjoy the best of old world & new with shops, stalls, restaurants & cafes nearby + many attractions. Avail. for short – long term rental. Starts @ $50 per night 1–2 people. T: (08) 8955 8114 Hm: (08) 8956 2990 M: 0413 581 730
HOLIDAY RENTAL: NORMANVILLE South Shores Holiday Villa #25 3BR (sleeps 8).Secure gated community behind the dunes at Normanville. Golf, horse riding, pools, beach, lawns, cafes. Available all year including school holidays. www.stayz.com.au/23983 T: 0413 155 460
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N OT I CE B OA R D ABSOLUTE SEAFRONT HOUSE Lacepede House on Sea STUNNING SUMMER BEACH Seafood - Wine - Dolphins House 4th night free Or Balcony Suite. $80 plus, dble 6th & 7th night free. Discount meals. Conds off-peak. Kingston near Robe. T: 8338 2316 Messages: 0402 922 445 a/h
FOR RENT: Yorke Peninsula – right on the beach – hard to beat! Sleeps up to 8, all mod. cons. including R/C heating & cooling. Available also for school holidays & L/weekends. Reasonable rates. Min. rental 3 nights. M: 0428 780684 or T: (o8) 8449 8626 Kangaroo Island Getaway KI RURAL RETREAT Attractive self contained large rendered country home surrounded by garden and native bushland on 260 acres. Great for families travelling together or couples escape. Peaceful & private yet close to popular tourist spots. Comfortably sleeps from 2 to 12; 2 bathrooms, 2 queen beds, 2 spacious living areas, laundry, large patio area. From $180/night. Further info & bookings:
E: semurphy@optusnet.com.au T: 0407 790754 a.h.
ROOM FOR RENT: Share 3BR house with 2 others in Gawler. $70 per week plus expenses. T: 0409 679 902
ROOM FOR RENT: Share 2BR with female in Tea Tree Gully. Large well-lit, partly furnished room with built-in wardrobe. $100 per week plus expenses. Close to everything. No pets ...goldfish welcome. T: 0431 210 131
FOR RENT: f.f. private apartment in Glenelg for Xmas holiday or weekend rental. Heated pool, spa, steam-room, sauna, gym etc. Plasma TV, 100m to beach. T: 8376 3747 or 0403 606 052 WANTED TO BUY: Wood oven for cooking and heating suitable for indoor use. E: pobradovic@optusnet.com.au
35mm SLIDE SCANNING: Adelaide and Hills: Do you have old 35mm slides gathering dust and deteriorating? Have them professionally scanned at high resolution and transferred onto CD. Slides can be digitally enhanced to restore faded colours
and remove dust and scratches. 17 years exp., reasonable rates. Pick up and delivery, or come for a visit. T: 0401 590 875
WORKSHOP: Stress management, personal development and learning difficulties: Brain Gyman introductory workshop. Movements to ‘switch on’ the brain. T/fax: 08 8768 2537 E: gibbons@seol.net.au
FOR SALE: Surfboard 9'1" McTavish Malibu plus cover. T: 0405 399 068 FOR SALE: Retirees/Semi Retirees. Modern beachside home – South Arm (0pposite Bruny Island) Tasmania. 3 – 4BR, easy care landscaped garden with glass enclosed SPA. $400,000. T: 8177 0040
RESOURCES NEEDED: Unwanted literacy and numeracy resources for use in small village R- 9 schools in Bougainville. E: ir211057@bigpond.net.au
CANVAS Manufacture and Repairs: A–Grade Canvas: All canvas and general repairs. For a free measure and quote contact: M: 0413 738 008 FOR SALE: Certified organic cosmetics & personal products. www.bodytune.mionegroup.com
Advertise in Members’ Market for FREE! Rent, sell, buy or offer goods and services. Send ads to:
journal@aeusa.asn.au
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