AEU Journal Vol. 41 No. 3 | May 2009

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Official publication of the Australian Education Union (SA Branch)

Vol 41 I No.3

May 2009

AEUJOURNAL SA Together on the river: AEU members 100% united

INSIDE THIS ISSUE N

Education Works

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SACE survey results

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FPERAT E SUI D RE N ST’S VIEW

AEU JOURNAL

Together on the river: AEU members 100% united

Education Works page 14 The Government says schools choosing to close.

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 #4 June 5 #5 July 24 #6 August 28

Publication date 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 Illustrations: Simon Kneebone

Riverland focus pages 12 and 13 AEU Journal visits sites with 100% union membership.

Influencing curriculum page 15 Members vote NO to non-

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!

National tests are simplistic and flawed In many ways the Rudd/Gillard education revolution is turning out to be something of a nightmare. Most recently it has been the announcement of a second round of national numeracy and literary tests, and disparaging remarks on our state school system based on the results in the first round of them last year that is doing the harm. It is the claim of poor results in that last round that is being advanced as evidence of major failings in South Australian education and its leadership – a criticism being egged on in the media

by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.

Disappointingly, these tests are part of a wider utilitarian and reductionist federal government approach to education – a policy that is ultimately driven by a neo-liberal ideology and the elite interests it mainly serves. It’s an education policy that is all the more offensive because it is masquerades as progressive nation building.

The federal Labor government should know better. The measurement of school ‘performance’ on the basis of such narrow criteria is flawed in at least two ways: it is an

invalid way of measuring whether schools are any good or not; and the pressure it places on schools and educators to ‘perform’ has a distorting effect on education. It is depressing to see the federal government repeating the education mistakes of its Liberal predecessors in this way.

The broad idea of setting up what are effectively league tables of schools on the basis of narrow ‘performance’ criteria is a particularly bad idea. The main aim of schools – to educate young people as rational, compassionate and adaptable human beings able to take their place in an increasingly complex society – is one that is not easily measurable. The factors that make for good schooling are many and varied – much more so than the federal government allows – and are not reducible down to simplistic measuring sticks like literacy and numeracy. There are much better ways of improving modern education that do not involve falling so badly into line with the economic rationalism currently afflicting modern society.

Still, while the forces of darkness in education are powerful and significantly pushing education backwards on this issue, all is far from lost. The Australian Primary Principals’ Association is currently one voice of reason and enlightenment on the subject in the media. The Association is quite right:

we do need to maintain a broader enlightened curriculum which includes a due emphasis on numeracy and literacy as essential and important components but which has this in due proportion with the equally essential and important wider aspects of the curriculum. The Association correctly identifies the danger of schools teaching to the tests at the expense of other areas in the curriculum in order to reap the rewards of a favourable test result. It’s a danger that recalls the discredited ‘payment by results’ approach of years gone by.

What the Federal Government must learn is that it is the kind of educational balance and proportionality that the Association has in mind that is essential in our educational planning for the future and which is a vital part of the bedrock on which truly progressive nation building must rest.

I Terry Hewton Terry is a retired teacher and AEU member

The AEU Journal welcomes all letters. Top letter each issue WINS two bottles of wine.

journal@aeusa.asn.au 3

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Aboriginal Members Conference

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For further info: Nola Foster T: 8272 1399 To register: www.aeusa.asn.au/events

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NATA Young Scientists Award 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.

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.”

The submission deadline for the 300-word summaries is Friday, 7 August 2009.

More information is available on NATA’s website:

www.nata.com.au/go/nysa

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AEU A E U PRESIDENT’S P R E S I D E N T ’ SVIEW VIEW

The day we celebrate our union history “Life begins to end the day we are silent about things that matter.”

Martin Luther King

Union solidarity: AEU Leaders from around the country in Adelaide for 2 April rally. From left: Mary Bluett (Vic branch), Leanne Wright (Tas branch), Correna Haythorpe (SA branch), Bob Lipscombe (NSWTF), Steve Ryan (QTU), Angelo Gavrielatos (AEU Federal President) and David Kelly (SSTUWA).

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appleforteacher.com.au

It is the day when we celebrate our union history. When we join together as a trade union and labor movement and march to commemorate the courage and actions of people in past times who stood up for what they believed in. They fought for workers and their families against the oppression of the bosses or the government of the time.

Rosa Parkes, the African American woman who changed the course of history for her people by refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man once said: “Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”

Mayday is a time to remember and acknowledge our past. From the Eureka Stockade to the shearer’s strikes; the fight for an eight hour day and the fight for equal rights and pay for women; to the Your Rights at Work campaign and the defeat of the Howard Government and WorkChoices; and for the AEU, the latest Enterprise Bargaining campaign.

As I looked around the crowd this year, I saw the banners and the flags of our unions held high. It is with sadness but no surprise that I did not see many from the Australian Labor party – the people we elected to lead this state.

The party that was born from our trade unions and that is elected to represent the people. The party that is meant to uphold the traditional labor values that are central to our unions and our work. There were a few committed politicians who still had the convictions of their beliefs to stand with us.

As for the rest of the party, they were not at May Day because they have forgotten their heartland.

It will be our greatest challenge in the lead up to the next state election to call these politicians to account for their abandonment of SA workers.

The AEU has been entrenched in a long industrial dispute over our enterprise bargaining. For 17 months, we have been belittled and ignored by the State Government.

We have been denied a fair pay outcome because we refused to separate TAFE and would not accept the school funding model which was attached to the Government’s offer. Why did we refuse? This funding model is not about increasing dollars to our schools – in fact over 350 schools will lose large sums of money. There is a sneaky clause that will enable Treasury to change the dollars delivered to schools on a whim.

If Treasurer Foley is having a financial crisis, he can shave off as much as he likes from the per capita amount per child to give his budget a massive boost and there will be little that we can do to stop this. Bargaining

To sign the online petition go to:

May Day is our day!

is meant to be about getting a better deal not worse.

If this money goes from our schools, we will see larger class sizes and massive job losses for contract and casual staff. That is not an offer; it’s a tragedy! A pay deal which is funded by the loss of money from our schools, or which places at risk the jobs of our colleagues is simply unacceptable. It would take resources away from the children that we work with every day – 167,000 children in the public education system who, no matter what postcode they live, in deserve the best possible education that this state can buy.

We have been called greedy, lazy and liars by the State Government. AEU members do not take to the streets because they are greedy or for a lie. We take action because we fight for what we believe in and we fight to improve the conditions in which we work and the conditions in which our children learn.

This is what May Day is about; the solidarity and the power that we have when we stand united and strong. And we will need that collective strength as we get ready to face the challenges of the future, particularly those created by the global financial crisis, and what it will mean for our members and their families as corporations and governments cut spending and cut jobs. There is no doubt that we will ‘cop flak’ as we speak out against injustice and call for more funding, more spending, more economic stimulus.

However, we must speak out and we must never be silenced.

For in the words of Martin Luther King: Life begins to end the day we are silent about things that matter.

I In solidarity, Correna Haythorpe, AEU President

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CO M P E T I T I O N I N E D U C AT I O N There was consistent positive correlation between the level of social and ability segregation between schools and the number of religious or Catholic schools in an area.

The authors of the study said they were not able to make any causal assertions about why faith schools were associated with increased social segregation. They said schools may be responding to competition by “cream-skimming” the more able pupils to raise league table performance. Alternatively, it may simply be the case higher income families are choosing to apply to faith schools.

The study concluded the tendency for many schooling systems to become stratified in the long-run is one of the problems with operating a quasi-market in education.

It says this stratification is a problem for policy-makers who hope to use choice and competition to raise standards. One of the co-authors of the study, Rebecca Allen, lecturer in the economics of education at

More evidence that Gillard’s faith in competition is misplaced Trevor Cobbold discusses a recent study from the UK

J

ust as John Howard and David Kemp did, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have placed their faith in competition to improve school performance. This faith is proving entirely misplaced with many recent studies around the world showing that competition and markets in education fail to improve student performance and create greater social segregation between schools.

The latest evidence on the failure of competition in schooling comes from a study on the impact of choice of religious schools on student achievement, presented at the annual conference of the Royal Economic Society in the UK in April.

The study by academics at the London School of Economics and the Institute of Education concluded there is “significant evidence religious schools are associated with higher levels of pupil sorting across schools, but no evidence competition from faith schools raises area-wide pupil attainment”.

One of the co-authors of the study, Anna Vignoles from the London School of Economics, told The Economist magazine: “What is described as a quasi-market clearly is not working” (23 April 2009). The Economist

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itself was forced to concede the pro-market and competition approach to education by Britain’s Labor Government has failed: “That it hasn’t worked is clear.”

Religious schools (called faith schools) funded by the Government are a significant feature of the English schooling system, educating 15 percent of secondary school children. They are a legacy of the 1902 settlement between the Government and the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches for their schools to be transferred to the state sector. There is relatively high demand for places at religious secondary schools.

The study found no proof that providing parents with the choice of a religious secondary school either raised results or helped drive up standards in other local schools. Students in areas with more faith schools made no greater educational progress in secondary school in any of the four subject areas tested than students in areas with fewer faith schools.

The study also analysed data on student sorting between schools and school stratification to provide an explanation as to why no competitive effects were found from the presence of faith schools. It found the presence of faith schools is associated with greater stratification of local schools in the social background of their student intake.

the Institute of Education at the University of London, wrote in the Guardian (23 April 2009): “This sends an important message about other choice reforms, particularly those introduced into more egalitarian schooling systems such as Sweden. Choice may be an effective route to improving standards in the short-run through competition for pupils, but if the choice system is also stratifying, the incentive for schools to compete will eventually start to decline. Any short-term gains are unlikely to persist in the long run.”

The study provides yet another warning that the policy of the Rudd Government to increase competition between schools by reporting school results and publishing league tables is likely to exacerbate social division in education in Australia without improving student achievement.

I Trevor Cobbold is the Convenor of the Save our Schools Canberra group, read more articles from Trevor at:

www.soscanberra.com ‘Can school competition improve standards?

The case of faith schools in England’ by Rebecca Allen and Anna Vignoles. Available at: www.rebeccaallen.co.uk/

publications.html

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BOOK REVIEW

I T ’ S A FAC T

The Global Assault on Teaching, Teachers and their Unions Stories for Resistance. Edited by Mary Compton and Lois Werner

While some essays in The Global Assault on Teaching, Teachers, and their Unions seem unrelated to the title, such as the contribution on homophobia in St. Lucian schools, they all make it convincingly clear that the education sector is going through a critical phase and that educators and their unions should make all efforts to counter a number of attacks – assaults on the quality of the profession, on the content of what is being taught in schools, and on the role and purpose of education.

The contributions are without exception written by experienced and committed educators and unionists operating on the progressive left. They are not educating isolationists but strongly embedded in what goes on in society at large. As Lois Weiner states: “Teachers unions must draw a clear line between neoliberal ideology and a contrasting vision of society.” Unions have a task beyond technical and education responses.

They must develop a vision on what society should look like. This view is underlined in the interview with Education International (EI) president Thulas Nxesi who states: “we must challenge those powerful teacher unions who are still refusing to be part of their labour centres” and “we have to build a massive coalition with the whole civil society.” Nxesi is lauded in one of the essays since his election led to a revitalisation of EI “leading the organisation in a different political direction, one that confronts neo-liberalism’s global assault on teacher unions and public education.”

A clear message emanates from the various essays in this book: teachers and their unions cannot fight the battle on their own but have to build alliances: as educators, as workers, as parents, as members of their society.

Various contributions outline that leadership in many unions is not adequately and

sufficiently focused on fighting the battle for social justice. According to Weiner: “Teacher unions need to acknowledge educational inequality´s persistence and its eradication as a political and social priority. Unions should be “refuting neo-liberalism’s contention that ‘democracy’ is synonymous with the ‘free’ market.”

In line with this analysis, various contributions contain challenging remarks to the teacher unions at national and international level – remarks that contain optimism for change in the direction of “an international teacher union movement, one that works with global justice activists outside its ranks.” Such international movement – according to BCTF’s Larry Kuehn – can build successful resistance to neo-liberalism.

Optimism also from Mary Compton – former president of the Nation Union of Teachers from the UK – stating that “a more assertive and democratic teacher union movement is possible and can turn back the neoliberal agenda.” She deplores that “the tremendous potential force that is contained in those 29 million teachers organised into trade unions is not being used.”

In her essay, Mary Compton gives a vivid account on how the Blair Government had ‘an abusive relationship’ with the British teachers union. Much to blame on Blair, but no less blame on the British teachers unions who allowed it to happen. A relationship in which Blair’s New Labour became the executing agent for neoliberal policies. Compton notes: “there is no doubt also that the division in the teachers’ ranks is one of the main breaks to effective action.” Unity is the answer, but then “only through unity in struggle”, not through unity in complacency and so-called social partnerships, which, in the end, turned out to be an alibi for the implementation of a neo-liberal education agenda.

The essays combined give a vivid picture of the global trend and the consequences on a national level. Is there an international conspiracy, well prepared and well thought through? The book sometimes gives the impression there is. But in the end there is no proof of such masterplan. What is visible, however, is “Neo-liberalism’s global foot-

“...teachers and their unions cannot fight the battle on their own but have to build alliances: as educators, as workers, as parents, as members of their society.”

print”. Essays from Namibia, Mexico, Denmark and the West Indies show what this footprint looks like. Particularly dramatic is the contribution of John Nyambe from Namibia. He notes that in the end it is not the Namibian Government that shapes its own educational destiny. And worse, the policies run counter to what the Namibian Government claims to stand for: elite education and social stratification instead of towards education for all, a move away from learner-centred pedagogy.

South Africa, Mexio, UK, China, India, West Indies, Australia: all face tremendous threats they have to resist. A resistance that can only be done in close alliance with likeminded organisations.

The Global Assault on Teaching, Teachers, and their Unions provides an analysis and gives tools for action. It is an in-depth contribution to the debate that is necessary, within unions and within the teaching community at large; a debate on the threats and the answers. The collection of essays and interviews takes a stand. In days when according to many ideology is a matter of the past, this book convincingly shows the opposite. More than ever, unionism has to show its ideological feathers before the promoters of neo-liberalism get their way. I Rob Durbridge Federal Industrial Officer The Global Assault on Teaching, Teachers, and their Unions is available online at:

http://is.gd/yo83 $32.95 AUD incl GST

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T RT & CO N T R AC T T E AC H E R CO N F E R E N CE 2 0 0 9

TA F E I N T E R V I E W

First time event a success Journal meets Sam Lisle-Menzel reports...

MEGA manager What is one thing you will take away from this conference?

• “Persistence pays off – stick with it.”

• “How to keep yourself safe legally.”

• “I felt more confident about being a TRT after sharing information with other teachers.”

• “We’re getting good support from the AEU.” What action will you take as a result of the conference?

• “I’ll approach my main school to seek Professional Development.”

• “I’ll pass on information learned to other work colleagues.”

• “I’ll investigate other services the union offers.”

• “Follow up/take more responsibility for own pay – without giving up.”

• “I’m going to get on with 2010 job search now!”

• “I’ll be asking for feedback and implementing some of the ideas raised by principals in the What we look for in a TRT session.”

• “I’m going to talk to my regular school about organising Smartboard training for TRTs.” The AEU continues to work to improve conditions of casual teachers and to improve the levels of permanency in employment.

Our arbitration case contains witness statements from long-term contract teachers and the impact of this system of employment on their lives. In conjunction with arbitration, we continue to liaise with DECS around declaration of vacancies and advertisement of positions.

AEU membership is available for contract teachers, TRTs, HPIs, SSOs, ACEOs and ECWs at a discounted rate. Many members choose to pay per fortnight on direct debit from their bank account in order to make membership manageable during uncertain employment periods. The 2009 rate is $9.60 per fortnight debited from your bank during term time only.

I

Join our cause on:

Share the applefor teacher with your friends and family.

Go to www.causes.com/fb/appleforteacher 8

1 TAFE member Peta Pash, manager of mobile device development initiative MEGA Journal: Peta, what is MEGA and how did you come to work in the mobile development area?

PP: MEGA stands for Mobile Enterprise Growth Alliance, it’s an industry driven program, supporting participants who form teams to create applications and games for mobile devices. I got involved having managed the digital media and IT program at Tea Tree Gully TAFE. During that time I found it very difficult to get industry input. In 2006, the digital content industry said of the 20,000 VET university graduates around Australia that none of them meet our needs; I had been trying to engage industry to make sure that we had met their needs but hadn’t really done that well. Then an opportunity arose to apply for some Government funds, so we came up with this idea that we’d have a virtual centre of excellence for interactive media and games in Adelaide. We weren’t successful, but industry were really excited about it. We managed to draw in quite a few stakeholders from the mobile content industry and we’ve formed MEGA to support cross-disciplined groups who work together to conceptualise, create, market and pitch their product.

Journal: Can you give our readers an example of the type of thing being created – what practical application do they have?

TAFE

We had a fantastic response from AEU members to sign up for the Relief and Contract Teacher conference.

This conference, organised and run

by AEU Staff and AEU members, had over 100 registrations and all in all it was a great success.

Integral to the success of the day was AEU member and 2008 Rosemary Richards Scholarship winner Jennie-Marie Gorman (pictured) who used her scholarship money to plan and execute this event. Jennie-Marie is a former contract worker and has a passion for improving conditions for casualised staff.

While the conference was activity driven, members also benefited from various presentations. Staff from DECS, including Michael Papps, Superintendant Site Human Resources, provided valuable information on staffing processes relevant to employable teachers.

AEU member Leaders shared their experiences and thoughts on the qualities they look for in relievers and contract teachers.

There were also a number of workshops for members to choose from including: Keeping yourself safe – yard duty, drinking at the pub and facebook, Womens’ issues – family friendly rights, and Entitlements – LSL, Special Leave etc. just to name a few.

Want to know what participants thought of the day? Check out some of their comments: What did you like most about the conference?

• “I had time to ask questions and got the answers I needed.”

• “Most TRT/contract teachers have similar problems/issues – great to know I’m alone!”

• “There was relevant, practical information from the horse’s mouth i.e. principals.”

PP: Well, for example, last year the winner of the pitch prize and also the best business proposal was called Chronicle Mobile. It was an application to document chronic pain on your phone. This app allows them to record exactly when and where on their body – there’s an image or avatar on the phone – and what intensity that pain is. The pitch panel thought that pain sufferers would be interested, along with GPs and pharmaceutical companies trialing new pain relief products.

Journal: MEGA sounds quite innovative, how is it being received by tertiary providers?

PP: Well our program has now expanded to

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include Victoria and NSW – both of which I manage with local coordinators. The reception has been great; it’s now accredited as an elective in the three universities in South Australia in undergraduate and postgraduate media, IT and screen programs and we are exploring VET accreditation.

Journal: As manager, how do you describe your role in MEGA?

Journal: Tell us about the Amy Award.

PP: Oh, well, that was a shock. The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) gives out awards each year and I received this year’s Outstanding Contribution Award. But really the award belongs to all the people who gave me the opportunity to make it happen. I mean it wouldn’t have happened without the people who work with me or the industry here nominating me.

1 New Educators (from left) Chris Popplewell, Alaison Butterfield, Ellen Steinborner and Holly Godfrey.

New Educators make an apple tree

Sam Lisle-Menzel reports on the recent New Educators Conference held at the AEU.

Journal: You’re still relying on project funding to keep MEGA up and running, will it keep going or do you have something else in mind?

PP: We’re just writing a business plan for MEGA and proposing how it might become sustainable into the future. Industry throws money in at the moment but because of the global crisis it’s a bit harder this year. All the multi-nationals are in Sydney so we’ve got someone from the industry at the moment working to try and get some national funding.

DEEWR, who have given us our national funding, have said that that won't continue at the end of this year.

It’s really frustrating when something is seen as a project rather than an ongoing program so we're trying to have a look to see whether there might be other national funding. With any luck we can keep it going.

It’s been a fun ride.

The AEU congratulates Peta Pash and her colleagues on their achievements in VET. I

2008 Australian Education Union [SA Branch] Financial Reports In accordance with S265 of Schedule 1 of the Workplace Relations Act, members are advised that a summary of the Auditors Report, Financial Statements and Notes and Reports for the year ending 31 December 2008 are published on the AEU website:

www.aeusa.asn.au/yourunion

New Educators

PP: Well, I think I see my role as a servant. I mean, what the MEGA team does – that’s myself and part-time people in each state – we make it really easy for industry to be involved and to share their expertise, and then we provide the support that they require. Each team has an industry mentor that we’ve located to work with the team and the mentors all do it for free or a box of chocolates, which is great.

Using the theme ‘apple for teacher’ there was always going to be comments and puns relating to the apple at the 2009 AEU State New Educators Conference, but I don’t think anyone expected to create an apple tree!

Over 100 participants at this year’s conference built a three metre by three metre apple tree using the theme ‘Support for Beginning Teachers’. Members wrote how they found support as early career teachers on the tree’s leaves. By and large, most new teachers found support, assistance and resources from their colleagues. I’m sure it doesn’t surprise AEU members to know it is the members in schools that support new teachers and help them survive and thrive in the profession.

Continuing with the apple theme, AEU SA President Correna Haythorpe shared the ‘budding’ of the appleforteacher campaign with participants and urged members to have petitions signed in their local communities.

If a New Educator from your site attended the conference, you might like to have a conversation with them about how they could complete their petition sheet and get it back into the AEU. The more signatures we can present to State Parliament the better.

Further organising activities included apple messages. Teachers in their first three years are in the best place to tell the government what they need to stay on and succeed in the profession and with this in

To sign the online petition go to:

mind they wrote messages to Mike Rann – on apples! Later in the year, a delegation from the AEU’s New Educators Network will take these ‘apple messages’ to Mr Rann and urge him to support beginning teachers and those that support them in the Public Education system. With the apple messages, members created our apple tree.

Along with the ever-popular workshops on classroom management – this year copresented by our very own South Australian presenters and Lynette Virgona from Western Australia – participants could select workshops that related to their own personal, professional or industrial needs. Popular choices were once again Voice Care with Speech Pathologist Johanna Flavell, Entitlements, Leave and Handy Hints for Beginning Teachers and Application writing for Local Selection Positions.

Networking also continued to be an important part of the two-day conference. Sitting together at tables with teachers from similar teaching backgrounds, finding like minded teachers who sought the same support as them to karaoke and BBQ on Friday evening, all proved to be good ways to make new friendships and contacts.

A big thank you goes to all of the Subbranch Secretaries who encouraged new teachers to become members of the AEU or to register for this conference. It is clear that AEU members at sites across the state are keeping beginning teachers in the public education system and are helping them develop as teachers while having a laugh along the way. Cheers!

I Sam Lisle-Menzel AEU Organiser

appleforteacher.com.au

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SACE

SS O F O C U S

SACE survey reveals serious concerns

Time for a coffee?

Jackie Bone-George reports...

Finance officer Elly Liffner gives us a taste of life as an SSO

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through no fault of their own.

The vast majority of AEU members are very concerned about implementation timelines because of this lack of information. Most do not believe they will be ready for next year, despite the significant additional workload they have incurred in endeavouring to familiarise themselves with the new SACE.

Some comments from the SACE survey include: • “I can’t see how it can begin in 2010.”

• “I feel totally unprepared for the new SACE and am considering bringing my retirement forward to avoid what I believe will be an extremely stressful few years until proper training is provided. Something that could have been an exciting development has become a focus of stress and dread.”

• “I am concerned documents are still not available and that subject support will not be available until later in the year.”

Such statements were replicated many times in the survey responses.

The AEU has met with and written to the Minister to advise her of our serious concerns regarding the timelines for the new SACE, the timetabling implications for the schools; problems associated with course counselling and subject selection for students; and the need for all teachers to be fully prepared before implementing the new curriculum in 2010. Unless these questions are addressed as a matter of urgency, students in senior secondary are at risk, as are our members.

The AEU will continue to lobby the Minister and senior DECS officers in order to resolve these issues. In addition, the AEU SACE Reference Group will continue to consult with members to keep you fully informed about emerging issues. Members wishing to provide input should contact the AEU Information Unit on: 8272 1399 or email AEU Vice President, Anne Crawford at: acrawford@aeusa.asn.au I

Ahhh…don’t you just love Mondays? The start of a new week! A week full of promise and optimism. Promise that you’ll stay on the diet all week and optimistically hoping the work fairies have cleared your desk on the weekend and left you a clean slate.

8am – first one at the school, should be nice and quiet for the first half hour, time to get a coffee, check the fax machine, look at my emails, read the day notes, write up the absences.

Damn, can’t get the front door unlocked!

Looks like the door has been vandalised over the weekend – better go through the back door and stick a note on the front door.

The phone is ringing – Lauren won’t be at school today – she’s sick. I scribble down the details just as someone is banging on the front door – I point to the note and make wild gesticulations to indicate that they will have to go to the back door.

I let her in the back door – she looks concerned. James has done a runner – has he come to the school? I tell her I’ll check out in the yard and give her a call after morning fitness.

Ben hands me a note – he is late because he slept in. He hasn’t had breakfast and has no food for recess or lunch – can we organise something? I go to make him a sandwich – 0no bread. I fix him some cereal and tell him to come back later for a sandwich.

The phone rings again, can I get all the Jones children into the front office by 10am for a meeting? I buzz their classes.

Someone has managed to get the broken door working.

Coffee? I glance at the clock. No time. I have to drop the lunches off at the deli. Are everyone’s lunch order boxes in the front office? No! One is missing. I buzz the class to

SSOs

The AEU SACE Reference Group has been meeting regularly this year and would like to thank all members who contributed to the recent survey about the new SACE. In addition, the Reference Group organised a SACE forum on May 7 for members to exchange ideas and discuss issues of concern.

The results of the survey have been used as the basis for arbitration witness statements. They have provided the AEU with key information about the progress of the implementation of the new SACE in worksites.

Of great concern is the lack of information in relation to a number of curriculum areas.

Schools need the information as a matter of urgency to complete curriculum handbooks, which are the basis for course counselling, serving as a guide for students and parents in selecting subjects for years 11 and 12.

Parents of students in all year levels require this information to help their children make informed choices about pathways to TAFE, university and future work options.

The dearth of information puts pressure on teachers who are at the front line, counselling and advising parents and teaching the PLP for the first time.

Many AEU members, including those with years of experience in teaching senior secondary, are reporting they simply do not have the information to confidently conduct subject counselling this year.

Members who are attending information sessions provided by the SACE Board often emerge with additional questions rather than answers. These members are regularly required to provide professional development for other staff in their school using the “train the trainer” model. Those who are leading the training and development are often unable to provide clear and accurate information to their colleagues because they themselves have not been provided with accurate information. This engenders a lack of confidence in staff delivering the training

Journal-No03|09_lv 2

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CO M M U N I T Y C A B I N E T F O R U M remind them. After dropping the lunches off I call into Woolies to pick up some bread for emergency lunches.

I get back to the school and remember I promised to ring James’ mother to let her know if he’d turned up. He hadn’t.

A child slinks in through the back door but I’m distracted by someone at the front desk – she’s here to see the Jones children.

A few minutes later I remember the child who came through the back door – I look in the darkened time out room, he’s curled up in the foetal position under the chair. I tell the principal.

James has arrived at school but is refusing to do his work. He storms out the front door. I make another call to his mother.

A teacher rings the front office, Joel has not returned to class after morning fitness – he’s over near the basketball court, and can I get him? I hurry to the basketball court – no child.

A few minutes later another call from the same teacher – can someone take Joel to buddy, he’s refusing to follow instructions.

Coffee? No, it’s almost 11 – time to pick the lunches up from the deli. Before I leave, I spend ten minutes answering emails, returning phone calls and looking through the work placed in my pigeonhole since last Thursday.

The morning rush seems to have subsided. I receipt some money for the Easter raffle and the Canberra camp. The principal has signed all the cheques I left in her pigeon hole last week, I envelope them, write them up, stamp them and post them while I pick up the lunches.

Ahh, the lunches have all been distributed. I can start my work for the day.

SSO

Fast forward to 3.30. I’ve done the month-end banking and backed up the data.

Administered various medications; dealt with two bumped heads, one twisted ankle and two vomiters.

First Aid aside, the afternoon passed without much interruption – a couple of phone calls, parcel deliveries and the occasional call for help from the classroom teachers. Time for a coffee? The phone rings…

It’s the district finance officer. My budget is giving him ulcers. I haven’t offset the Term 3 intake with an expense and I’ve input the Special Ed income twice.

I amend my errors, holding my breath in anticipation of the impact on our closing figures. This is serious stuff.

3:45 – Damn! It’s end of month; I have to get to the bank. The phone rings again just as I’m dashing out the door, I run back to answer it: “Do you have the number for the kindy?” I reel it off and rush to the bank.

3:55 – The bank teller asks how my day was – “Wonderful” I tell her.

At least I stuck to my diet…

I

1 (Inset) Mike Rann (above) The Premier presenting with Cabinet (right) AEU delegation attending the forum

Government Ministers dodge the tough questions AEU members attend community forum The State Labor Government has been running regular Community Cabinet meetings since coming to office – approximately four per year. These meetings involve the State Cabinet visiting particular electorates and then holding a community forum on one of the evenings. Interestingly, in the year before the last election, they held ten. This year will be no different, except this time AEU members will be asking some hard questions about their commitment, or lack of it, to Public Education.

Twenty-two members and community supporters all dressed in Apple for Teacher and AEU t-shirts attended the recent Community Cabinet forum at the Marche Club in Newton. They mingled with other community representatives and government ministers before formal proceedings began.

While mingling, one AEU member spoke to Premier Rann, urging him to intervene in the education funding dispute. In doing so, she reminded Mr Rann of what happened in Western Australia and how the Labor Government there fell, in part, due to the dissatisfaction of members of the AEU. According to the member in question, the Premier’s response was dismissive.

Beginning formal proceedings, the Premier – as one would expect – told us all how good his Government is and introduced his Ministry. Having made their sales pitch, the Ministers took questions from the floor.

Members of the campaign group were able

to put three questions to Minister LomaxSmith about student counsellors, teacher librarians, class sizes, special needs students and the lack of guarantees.

We then had to sit through the Minister repeatedly telling us how she respects teachers and how they are valued by the Government. She should have been telling her colleagues because we weren’t buying it.

Minister Lomax-Smith began her response to every question by referring to each of them as “very technical.” The Minister gave long answers but failed to give any guarantees about class size or funding beyond two years. She repeated the worn out phrase that the funding issue was before the Industrial Commission being arbitrated.

Afterwards, some of our members engaged in a conversation with Minister Lomax-Smith, again suggesting the dispute has gone on for too long and public education workers deserve more from a Labor Government.

Again, their pleas fell on deaf ears.

The event produced some great camaraderie and enthusiastic action from members who are frustrated and angry at the Government’s arrogant and dismissive behaviour.

They vowed to continue the fight against the State Government at every opportunity.

The group has now formed an action group keen to pursue this campaign right up to the next election. Congratulations to all those involved.

I

Ken Case, AEU Organiser

AEU Member Metropolitan Migrant Teacher Support

Dinner

June 17 | 6pm - 8pm

Migrant teachers face their own personal challenges when they venture to Australia to use their skills in the classroom.

If you are a migrant teacher and a member of the AEU, we invite you to register your interest via email (below) to attend a dinner with other migrant teachers working (or seeking work) in metropolitan Adelaide. The venue will be dependant on

Venue | to be advised

how much interest we receive in this type of event. I will notify interested members of venue and cost by June 1 in order for you to confirm your place.

If you are outside of the Adelaide area please feel free to email me and I will seek to connect you with other migrant teachers in your area.

Sam Lisle-Menzel, AEU Organiser

Register your interest via email: slislemenzel@aeusa.asn.au

Journal-No03|09_lv 2

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FOCUS | RIVERLAND

1 Steve McKinnon & Julie Bambrick,

1 Chris Linke, Ramco PS, SSO

1 Barrey Niven, Ramco PS, Principal

Ramco, SSOs

100% union: sites in the Riverland are showing the way Craig Greer reports...

1 Stephanie Semmler, Teacher, Winkie PS

S

tanding on the bridge at Blanchetown, the view looking up the Murray River is spectacular. The sense of calm one gets from it’s sheer beauty is only disturbed by the passing traffic and the realisation that the parched land beyond the river’s banks is craving more rain.

The soil that was once producing in abundance is now failing to yield. The people that work the now arid land are certainly feeling the pinch. The fruit blocks are disappearing one by one, along with some of those who built their livelihoods tending the now endangered citrus and grape groves. These days, avoiding fruit fly is a lesser challenge for communities who are already experiencing the full effects of climate change.

But the Murray River has made this place special and those who have grown up around it, or have been lured by its beauty, are staying put, determined to get through these challenging times in the hope that things will eventually get better.

Despite the hardships, there’s a great community spirit in the Riverland, and as microcosms of the broader community this spirit is particularly evident in the local schools.

12

1 Jock Frankel, SSO, Winkie PS

1 Rachel Burnell, Teacher, Ramco PS

“...it’s rare that anyone leaves the school, it’s a great place to be...”

the kids, which has always been the best thing about my job,” she says.

Situated just a few minutes out of Waikerie, Ramco Primary is a small school of around 150 students and a very dedicated and friendly staff team. And as of last week, they have the impressive distinction of 100 percent AEU membership.

Walking into the office, you can’t help but feel at home. More often than not, staff, students, and visitors alike, are greeted by SSO, Chris Linke. Chris is a dedicated AEU member of 31 years and has been at Ramco for most of that time.

“Ramco Primary has been my love and my life”, says Chris, whose warm smile makes you feel instantly at ease.

“I’ve seen a lot of change over the years.

It’s a lot busier than it used to be. My role has changed from working mostly with students; to working in the front office dealing with what at times seems like a mountain of paperwork. It’s a lot more bureaucratic, but I still have lots of contact with

“The workload has increased substantially and the union has fought hard, and is still fighting to improve the conditions of all staff, SSOs included.”

Chris says that it’s great working in a site where everyone is an AEU member.

“We all support each other and the staff here are great. It’s rare that anyone leaves the school, it’s a great place to be – and even better now we have 100 percent AEU membership!”

Stephen McKinnon is new to Ramco Primary School and working as an SSO for 14 hours per week. He joined the union when AEU organisers visited the Riverland recently. Coming from the private sector, union membership is new to him, but he says that SSOs deserve a better deal and hopes that collective action through the union can help to achieve it.

“Many SSOs like myself don’t have the security of regular hours, I’d like to get permanent work and although there appears to be plenty of work to do, it’s very hard to gain permanency. I’ve got a family to support

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FOCUS | RIVERLAND and need more security. I think this is a good reason to join; we can’t win on our own.”

Steve’s colleague, SSO Julie Bambrick, echoes these sentiments.

“Permanency is the be all and end all for me. I need the security of regular hours and by that I don’t necessarily mean full-time; if I could get twenty hours a week permanent work, I could top up when more hours are available. As it stands now, I don’t know how many hours I’ll get, so it’s very hard.”

Ask a colleague to join, they just might say “yes” 7 AEU members at Waikerie Children’s Centre JOCK FRANKEL SSO, Winkie PS “I’ve been a member for a few years now.

The AEU supported me in getting more hours and permanency after 11 years. It makes me feel more comfortable and secure. Now I know for sure what I’m bringing in so it’s much better.”

Barrey Niven started as the new Principal at Ramco Primary School this year and says it’s a great place to work.

“Staff collegiality here is wonderful, there’s a great focus on children’s learning, which is what we’re here for – our core business is learning and teaching,” says Barry.

Barry is also a long time member of the AEU. He says at present there are two key industrial concerns for him as a leader. The first of these is time.

“The management demands are growing exponentially but the time isn’t. At the moment probably 95 percent of my time is spent on management and five percent on educational leadership, which is not what my job specs says it is,” he says.

According to Barry, a shift in the balance of work would make it easier for him to perform the role of an educational leader.

Listening to Barry advocate a greater focus on teaching and learning, and talking with the sub-branch members at Ramco, it’s clear they have the interests of the students at heart and better still, they are willing to fight for improved outcomes. The support they show each other at the site and their commitment to unionism is reflective of the broader community spirit.

One of the keys to the success of the AEU’s new approach to recruitment is the involvement of existing members, particularly through the work of sub-branch secretaries and the support of site leaders. The role of the sub-branch secretary in setting up opportunities for organisers to spend time with potential members is also significant in facilitating a period of time dedicated to conversation about the benefits of being a part of our union.

Given that a significant proportion of new membership is generated through these dedicated exercises, the AEU is planning further recruitment drives in both country and metropolitan areas as one means of ensuring the continued growth of our union.

Look out in the next issue of the AEU Journal for ideas on how you can help build union membership at your worksite.

Why I’m in the union: Riverland members tell JOHN ROBERTSON Sub-Branch Secretary, Winkie PS “Like most people, I joined for the support the union provides. The AEU gave me fantastic advice when I had a grievance and it’s nice to know what are rights are. Without the AEU where might not ever know.

1 John Robertson, Teacher & Sue Andrew, Principal, Winkie PS

“The AEU understands our circumstances and is very supportive of the schools and its staff. The union provides great assistance with the many processes leaders are required to go through.”

Teacher, Winkie PS “I joined up as a beginning teacher.

Among other things, AEU membership provides opportunity for networking which in turn provides an extra layer of support.”

RACHAEL BURNELL Beginning Teacher, Ramco PS “As a beginning teacher you don’t feel quite prepared when you first come out of uni. All the staff here are union members and have been very supportive. The workload was a bit of shock at first but with help from the staff here I’m getting used to it and really love teaching.”

ANGELA MILLER Teacher, Waikerie Children’s Centre “I first joined as a beginning teacher and went to the Beginning Teachers Conference.

The conference helped me get me thinking about the bigger picture. It also made me realise that I wasn’t alone and that there was support out there.”

CHRISTINA ZIEGLER Director/Teacher, Morgan Kindergarten/ Waikerie Children’s Centre “I joined in 1989 and took some leave to have a child. I rejoined the union because we decided we wanted to use Teachers Health and we’ve also used the solicitor services. But of course there are many other advantages to membership.”

KYMETTE DIXON Preschool Director, Waikerie Children’s Centre “As an Early Childhood Educator I believe it’s important to be a part of the AEU as we work to keep early childhood education on the agenda. It’s important that we keep raising the profile of early childhood in our communities. With changes to funding over recent years, we need to ensure that early childhood is never considered second rate in terms of funding priorities. As an early childhood leader we need to maintain the respect and equality within the education leadership in our community.”

I

13

appleforteacher.com.au

The land is dry and water is scarce, but the people of the Riverland have a positive outlook and a unity that is sure to get them through the tough times ahead.

I

It is great to see education workers across a range of positions signing up to the AEU in significant numbers. It’s especially positive for sub-branch morale and pride when we see sites achieve 100 percent union membership. Along with Ramco, both Winkie Primary and Waikerie Children’s Centre (pictured) have both achieved that feat.

STEPHANIE SEMMLER

To sign the online petition go to:

“There’s lots of research that says a savvy educational leader is focusing on student learning which will in turn have a significant impact of student learning outcomes.”

During week 11 of Term 1, AEU organisers put their recruiting skills into action once again, this time focusing their attention on schools, preschools and TAFE sites in the Riverland.

Journal-No03|09_lv 2

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V I CE P R E S I D E N T ’ S R E PO RT

Education Works forges ahead Are schools choosing to shut their doors?

Anne Crawford discusses...

A summary of the key issues is available at:

“...larger and fewer schools and preschools would lead to enormous long-term savings for the State Government...”

www.aeusa.asn.au

Schools and preschools in South Australia are currently facing the greatest potential threat of closure and amalgamation ever seen in our State’s history.

In April the Minister for Education announced more than 150 schools and preschools were “voluntarily investigating options to restructure”. The Minister added: “I stress this is a locally driven initiative and completely voluntary.”

The Minister’s use of language is interesting. ‘Restructure’ is, of course, code for close or amalgamate under the auspices of Education Works Stage II. ‘Locally driven initiative’ is open to considerable question.

It is simply inconceivable so many school and preschool communities would suddenly be seeking, entirely of their own volition and initiative, involvement in discussions about closure and amalgamation.

The Minister’s stance on Education Works is remarkably akin to her position on staffing under the new funding arrangements for schools being proposed by the State Government in the current Enterprise Bargaining impasse. The Minister proclaims decisions will be made at local level regarding the number and type of staff to be engaged at

14

each school, and this will somehow automatically benefit students and communities.

In the case of Education Works, she asserts schools and preschools will only close with community assent.

In both instances, the Minister emphasises the importance of choice at the local level. What she fails to disclose is these choices are largely spurious. Schools facing budget cuts under the new funding arrangements will not be able to make good staffing choices. Instead they will be forced to reduce staffing levels and when concerns are raised by parents or AEU members, the Minister will be able to attribute the problem to local decision-making.

With Education Works, the Federal Government Building the Education Revolution (BER) funding is being used by the Government and DECS as the catalyst to put pressure on school and preschool communities to make hasty decisions about restructuring.

Communities are being encouraged to consider participation in Education Works by being advised they can have bigger and better facilities if they amalgamate. Many communities where schools have been waiting for basic maintenance and upgrading for

years under this Government will be very tempted if additional funding is suddenly on offer. If this results in closures or amalgamations, any criticisms can easily be deflected by the State Government as the outcome of communities making these decisions themselves. Again they will simply be able to wash their hands of any problems, all in the name of ‘empowering the community’.

The reality is very different from the glossy public face of Education Works. There is little evidence of meaningful consultation with key stakeholders. DECS employees are obliged to tow the party line and are fearful of recriminations if they raise concerns, just as they were in the heyday of Partnerships 21.

Many parents would be totally unaware amalgamation inevitably leads to reduced staffing levels and a loss of leadership and expertise for specific age groups of students.

Where two or more schools amalgamate, two or three principals are replaced by one.

SSO time is lost and there may be additional reductions. A host of other questions need to be asked as well, in relation to playing space, transport issues and greater distances for parents and students to travel.

The State Government has never produced a rationale for why R-12 schools and larger schools are inherently better for students, community and educators. The key argument is always based on better facilities, which should have been provided in the first instance. The BER funding has been a windfall and they fail to point out schools will get this funding irrespective of their participation in Education Works. Nor do they explore with schools the possibility of pooling BER funding without agreeing to closures or amalgamations.

Clearly, larger and fewer schools and preschools would lead to enormous longterm savings for the State Government, with reductions in staffing, less sites to maintain and profits from the sale of properties being diverted directly to Treasury rather than invested in public education.

For this reason, the AEU has organised a series of forums for governing councils, other interested parents and AEU members, to discuss the closures and amalgamations (some are taking place as the AEU Journal goes to print). The Riverland session is on Wednesday 3 June at the Berri Resort Hotel.

Further forums will be organised throughout Terms 2 and 3 as the need arises.

AEU members are encouraged to attend and bring these forums to the attention of parents, particularly in instances where your school or preschool expressed interest in Education Works. Decisions regarding your school or preschool’s future should only be made when all the information is available and assessed in the best interests of public education. To inform discussion and debate, a summary of key issues for the consideration of AEU members and parents is available on the AEU website (see left). I

Journal-No03|09_lv 2

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CO R PO R AT E S PO N S O R S H I P O F C U R R I C U LU M

There’s big money in public schools – Just ask big business AEU Research Officer Mike Williss explains.

Corporate sponsorship of curriculum, and business school partnerships were back in the news last February with the announcement of McDonald’s sponsorship of an online maths tutoring program.

The home page features a McDonald’s logo and the words: “Proudly provided by your local McDonalds restaurant.” There are no further references to McDonalds within the website.

Quickly dubbed ‘McMaths’, the deal was warmly applauded by Julia Gillard. State Ministers, including Jane Lomax-Smith, generally distanced themselves from the deal, keenly aware of potential conflict between the various healthy eating programs initiated by state and territory departments and the effects of embedding in children brand recognition of a fast food company.

In fact, the attempt by businesses to access the captive market of school children with advertising linked to curriculum products is not new. SAIT State Council (as it then was) adopted a policy on corporate sponsorship as long ago as September 1993 to deal with this issue.

While some may believe there is a role for corporations to act with social responsibility, in effect putting back into the community through sponsorships of the McMaths type, the motivation for company involvement will always be linked to the drive for profit.

Enhancing the corporate image through acts of public benevolence is one way of securing company profitability.

Normally, corporate sponsorship of curriculum or curriculum-related activities is directly tied to the company’s primary area of production. In the case of McMaths, the fast food giant had used the program for its restaurant staff from late 2007 and was pleased with the extra skills obtained by staff in delivery of product to consumers.

British oil giant BP has recently funded the writing by WA teachers of its BP Energy Education Program which an April 30 press release from the company describes as: “designed to enhance and enrich the curriculum by exposing students to energy issues that are being experienced in Australia today…”

The company said the program was “aimed at developing the state’s scientists and engineers of the future.”

The BP program differs from McMaths in that while brand recognition and company profiling are still front and centre, there is no obvious push towards product sales; rather, the corporate intent is to nurture particular study pathways and career options.

This was also the intent of the partnership announced, in some secrecy, last November between Aberfoyle Park High School (APHS) and the Australian subsidiary of the United States’ fourth-largest weapons manufacturer, Raytheon.

APHS is one of three schools delivering the Ignite program for students with high intellectual profile. Under the terms of the partnership, launched by Mike Rann in the school’s science block, Raytheon will provide $150,000 per year for three years to provide laptop computers for the Ignite students. In return, Raytheon will have access to the students and mentor them towards a positive attitude towards science and maths, and towards possible future employment with the company.

Raytheon’s parent company makes items such as the Patriot missile and bunker-buster bombs and is a major profiteer from Israel’s incursions into Palestinian territory.

Australian CEO Ron Fisher is an annual

“The motivation for company involvement will always be linked to the drive for profit.” speaker at the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

The Australian subsidiary is involved in radar and electronic communications systems with direct military application, and is a major contractor on the Air Warfare Destroyer at Techport. Its projects there also include the replacement combat system on the Collins Class submarines, simulators for the upgraded F/A-18 Hornets, and the Electronic Warfare Emulator Pod, which is to be fitted to the BAE Hawk aircraft.

This would seem to place the Raytheon partnership at odds with AEU policy, which states: “No sponsorship under any circumstances should be accepted from corporations involved in the ownership of armaments factories, sales or manufacture of armaments and environmentally damaging products.”

I Sub-branches wanting a copy of the Corporate Sponsorship policy should contact the AEU Information Unit: 8272 1399

15

Journal-No03|09_lv 2

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W WO OM MEEN N’’SS FFO OCCU USS UPCOMING EVENT: WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN: FIGHTING FUNDAMENTALISM AND BUILDING THEIR OWN FUTURE

(from left) Matthias Tomczak, Barbara James and Sonia, The Three of Us, Bahar – Fraid and Jay

Urgent SAWA Appeal to support Kabul widows AEU Main Hall Friday, 3 April What a fantastic night! With energy and good will, the event began with some hard facts about the plight of women in Afghanistan and a personal insight through the eyes of SAWA’s convener, Matthias Tomczak, who showed his revealing documentary on life in Kabul today.

We were then fortunate to hear Sonia, a proud, courageous young Afghan woman, speak to us about her inspirational achievements. At Flinders University, through a Peace Scholarship Program, she has striven against all odds throughout her life to ensure her Afghan sisters have access to education.

The sweet, lyrical tones of The Three of Us followed; a young four-piece, Adelaide

band with a big future. Then we were back in Afghanistan with the music of Bahar. Fraid on armonia, sang some beautiful Afghan songs to the accompaniment of Jay on tabla.

Due to people’s generous donations, SAWA raised over $1500 which will go directly to support the Vocational Training Centre for war widows in Kabul. This is SAWA’s way of ensuring these women gain the means to feed their family and pay their rent through secure income. SAWA thanks and acknowledges the AEU for its outstanding help on the night. We also thank WILPF for their support of the event.

I Barbara James, SAWA Australia All other event details for the upcoming RAWA tour (right) are on our website at:

www.sawa-australia.org/events.htm

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION UNION

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Women +

Shazia Shakib, a member of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), will give a first hand account of the struggle for human rights, democracy and secular values in a country ravaged by war and religious fundamentalism.

For 30 years, through Soviet occupation, Taliban rule, the American invasion and the current reign of warlords, RAWA has continued the struggle for democracy, human rights and secularism. RAWA runs health clinics, schools and adult education centres.

The Taliban prohibited the education of girls and are still destroying schools and murdering teachers who dare to do so.

Thursday 28 May 2009 BRADLEY FORUM, UniSA City West campus Hawke Building - level 5, 50-60 North Terrace, Adelaide Jointly presented by the Support Association of the Women of Afghanistan (SAWA) and the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre To register for this event:

www.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/events/ 2009events/SAWA_ShaziaShakib.asp

CALLING ALL AEU WOMEN! Registrations for the

2009 AEU Women’s Conference have now opened on the AEU website.

The 2009 Keynote speaker is

Professor Barbara Pocock Director of the Centre for Work + Life University of South Australia.

The conference will also feature sessions by:

Jo Mason Principals Australia

Associate Professor Suzanne Franzway University of SA

Catherine Davis

at the CORE

Fri. 12 June & Sat. 13 June 2009

For further info: Tish Champion | T: 8272 1399 To register: www.aeusa.asn.au/events 16

Federal AEU Women’s Officer

Lise Moody Principal Consultant - Gender Equity DECS This conference is very popular and places fill fast.

If you wish to attend this years “Women at the Core” 2009 AEU Women’s Conference you will need to be quick!

7 See advertisement left for registration and contact details

Journal-No03|09_lv 2

12/5/09

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M AY DAY 2 0 0 9

Global crisis stimulates global action Workers around the world take part in huge May Day protests

M

ay Day this year took place in the midst of what is now commonly referred to as the ‘Global Financial crisis’ (GFC). Working people around the world are being reminded that we live in an unplanned and crisis-ridden economic system. Employers – due to the nature of the beast – are driven to chase maximum profits and to cut costs wherever possible. Such an environment does not auger well for workers who have a moral and democratic right to fair pay and conditions.

The present crisis has been made worse by financiers and speculators syphoning billions of dollars from the real economy of production and consumption and investing into a virtual casino economy to make quick gains from speculation and gambling on the stock market.

Working people around the world, unable to buy back the goods they produced for only a portion of the final market value, are bearing most of the hardship in what is essentially a crisis of overproduction – an unavoidable side-effect of the capitalist economic system.

Governments, with arguably little choice but to prop up industry in order to save jobs and reinvigorate the economy have, at least for now, become charities for the rich. Massive handouts of taxpayer dollars have gone straight to the banks, corporations and investment houses responsible for creating

the crisis in the first place. Inevitably, this has left a sour taste in the mouths of workers the world over, many of whom marched on May Day to voice their concerns and demand action.

While there were some tense moments and confrontations in some European countries, including Germany and Turkey, workers in France marched in their thousands to demonstrate against rising unemployment and their disgust at the depth of the financial crisis that is crippling so many economies throughout the continent.

Significantly, the eight main French trade unions marched together in solidarity for the first time, contributing to an estimated 1.2 million demonstrators around the country.

In Iran, where it’s reported hundreds of teachers have been arrested in separate protests against low wages in recent months, workers were beaten and detained while attempting to join in with May Day celebrations at Tehran’s Laleh Park.

By far the biggest single rally took place in Cuba where hundreds of thousands of workers marched into Revolution Square in Havana to celebrate what is considered one of the most important dates on the country’s calendar. New President Raul Castro handed speaking duties to Cuban Workers’ Federation President Salvador Valdés Mesa who told workers that the GFC had left millions unemployed around the world and that workers should expect no immediate relief from the decades of hardship caused by the United

States’ economic blockade.

And in the United States, the epicenter of the financial crisis, thousands of marchers took part in rallies in most cities, protesting against the massive hand-outs afforded to those blamed for the crisis by both the Bush and Obama administrations.

Against a backdrop of mounting social tensions, this year’s May Day protests have been among the biggest in recent memory.

Back in Australia, the turnout was also strong, although Adelaide’s numbers were marginally down on last year when large crowds came out in defence of the WorkCover scheme which has since been decimated by the Rann State Government.

AEU President Correna Haythorpe (inset) addressed the May Day crowd that had assembled at Victoria Square, telling them the onus is on workers and their unions to hold the State Labor Government to account on issues such as workplace safety, the right to a fair go if injured at work, the right to a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay, the right to speak up and to fight for the common good and the right to belong to a union without fear or retribution. She also provided participants with the low-down in the AEU’s dispute with the government There’s no doubt access to these rights and liberties is not a given and we must continue to struggle against those who see fit to refuse them. May Day is one occasion that gives rise to such struggle.

I

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L E A D E R S | V I CE P R E S I D E N T ’ S R E PO RT

Leading the fight The AEU is pushing government for more time Throughout EB negotiations, mediation and now arbitration, the AEU’s focus has been to gain improvements to working conditions of school leaders.

Over the last three years, the workload of leaders in schools and preschools has increased. This has been clearly shown through the witness statements from members who are giving evidence in the arbitration.

The evidence that we have collected strongly supports what members have been saying for some time – that the workload and complexity of work has increased, and that something needs to be done about it.

Central to the AEU’s claim is increased

leadership administration time. It is unacceptable, for example, that the staffing allocation for principals in small schools of up to 99 students is 0.4. Just two days per week is deemed by the employer to be adequate time to lead a school community.

Another key area for the AEU through enterprise negotiations is to rectify the current disparity between Deputy and Assistant Principals. It is generally accepted that the work performed by these two separate classifications is fundamentally the same. DECS recognised that too, and subsequently devised an industrially flawed Associate Principal classification. Their model enabled PACs to determine classifications anywhere between PC01 and PC05 based on nebulous criteria. DECS have now thrown this out, and replaced it with the status quo.

DECS have conceded that it is inappro-

Australian Education Union | SA Branch

An Evening with the Education Revolution 19 June 2009

5pm – 9pm

Venue: Hotel Tivoli, 265 Pirie Street, Adelaide Key Speaker: Shane

Maloney

Best known as author of the six titles in the Murray Whelan crime thriller series. Has also written several articles for the AEU’s The Australian Educator publication. For further information www.shanemaloney.com

Guests in Attendance: • Professor Alan Reid (University of SA) • Professor Marie Brennan (University of SA) Cost: $25 for AEU members, $125 for non-members

Registration: Essential with payment by 5 June. Registration form available from the AEU website:

Country Participants: Travel and accomodation provided for AEU members only

www.aeusa.asn.au/events

Format: Cocktail reception, food and drinks provided

This event has limited numbers, so secure your place by registering today!

18

priate to base Assistant Principal classification on primary (Level 1) and secondary (Level 2) schooling, as is currently the case.

However, it has been apparent that they will only listen to changes that will either save money or are cost neutral. They have failed to recognise the reality that school leadership is increasingly complex and that the solution requires an increased investment.

The AEU’s solution is simple – abolish the Assistant Principal classification and only have Deputy Principals. Leadership administration time to be 0.5 for all Deputy Principals, with the exception of the category of primary enrolment between 160 to 219 which would attract 0.38.

Currently, Deputy Principals in primary schools kick in at an enrolment of 190, but only with a resource allocation of 0.1 - half a day per week. DECS have offered to improve this to 0.38 as a workload protection for primary Deputy Principals, however, the additional time will need to come from the Principal’s allocation. This means that, under DECS’ offer, a full-time primary Principal begins at an enrolment of 175, but at 190, reverts back to 0.72 leadership administration time. The sad reality is that the State Government has offered a form of workload protection by the way of maximum face-toface teaching for Deputy and Assistant Principals, but have not afforded this to primary Principals with a teaching component.

All secondary and many primary Deputy Principals currently have an allocation of 0.5 to perform their leadership work. The Government’s offer sees a reduction in this time to 0.38. This will increase workloads with a decreased allocation of time. Clearly, this is unacceptable to the AEU. Perhaps the best indication of the level the State Government’s disdain for school leaders is in its salary offer – 13.6% for the highest paid teacher but 11% over three years for school leaders.

Recruiting quality teachers and leaders into school leadership positions will be impossible if the Government continues on their self-destructive path of increasing workload expectations with less time and less salary.

I

What is Reconciliation Week?

Each year National Reconciliation Week celebrates the rich cultureand history of the first Australians. It’s the ideal time for all of us to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Another Reconciliation Week is upon us and following are some of the key events taking place in and around Adelaide .

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A R B I T R AT I O N

Arbitration not far away…

So what’s the latest news?

Over the last few months the AEU arbitration team has been working with members to collect the evidence needed to support our award application. This has led to the writing of 96 witness statements amounting to over 1750 pages of evidence plus attachments. In contrast, the employers statements total 60 pages plus attachments.

We wish to acknowledge the work of members who have assisted in the collection of evidence and who have agreed to write a witness statement. The time members have spent collecting information, writing the statement, and answering questions from our lawyers has been considerable. Most of this work has been done after hours in addition to their normal work.

The employer will now look at the AEU statements and provide a response. Once the employer has responded, the AEU witnesses will be given a chance to reply.

The arbitration hearing starts on 6 July 2009 and should end on 7 August 2009. A decision is not expected to be handed down until some time in Term 4.

We want to keep talking!

The AEU has always been committed to maintaining dialogue with DECS and has raised again with the Minister the possibility of future mediation. We believe if you are not discussing the issues and engaged in negotiations then you cannot reach agreement.

Both parties’ award applications show there is some level of agreement on most matters and full agreement on some matters.

We believe through a mediation process we can narrow the scope of the arbitration and possibly negotiate a new agreement.

For example, we have agreement on the Paid Maternity Clause and should be able to

reach agreement on the wording of clauses such as Salary Packaging and Training and Development to name a couple. With further discussion, we believe many other outstanding items can be agreed.

AEU President Correna Haythorpe has again written to Minister Caica seeking further discussion and we continue to call on the Minister to return to the bargaining table in an attempt to resolve more issues.

What is in the AEU’s award application?

The AEU is seeking a single award to cover preschools, schools and TAFE. The employer on the other hand is using a range of legal tricks to try and separate TAFE and DECS.

Maintaining Current Conditions The AEU, in its award application, wishes to maintain a number of items that are in the current agreement or are currently industrially protected or agreed items. This includes items such as:

• TAFE lecturers non-attendance days • TAFE professional development and Training The employer’s award diminishes the current protections for employees in many areas. It erodes them by either changing the clause or not including it in the award application. In regard to the items left out, we are unclear if the removal of this range of entitlements is an oversight or if it is a calculated attempt to remove these industrial protections. For example, the employer has excluded clauses relating to seconded teacher provisions and adult re-entry schools. On the other hand, we know about their intentions to downgrade the PAC; it’s been written into a clause that diminishes consultation and decision making processes in schools.

Seeking Improvements The AEU’s Award application is a comprehensive document that seeks improvements for all categories of employees covered by the award.

The Award application seeks improvements in the following areas: • 21% salary increase • A new classification structure for TAFE. • Better employment arrangements for fixed term and casual employees • Workload protections • Improved country incentives

• Seconded teacher conditions

• 14 weeks Paid Maternity Leave

• Adult re-entry schools

• A new leadership classification structure for schools

• Recruitment and selection of staff • Union clauses

• Improved overtime arrangements for non-teaching staff

• Special leave

• Complex schools allowance

• Part-time teachers

• Salary packaging • Special class, school, unit class sizes • Swimming and Aquatics Handbook • Personnel Advisory Committee • On-call and recall allowances • Voluntary flexible work arrangements • Span of Hours for TAFE lecturers

The AEU’s Award application can be found on the website at:

www.aeusa.asn.au along with a comparison of the AEU and employer applications.

I

A B O R I G I N A L E V E N T S & CE L E B R AT I O N S I N M AY Reconciliation Breakfast Wednesday 27 May 7am for 7:10am start to 9am National Wine Centre Cost: $55 per person/$500 table of 10 Bookings: Essential Download registration form at:

www.reconciliationsa.org.au Reconciliation Down Rundle Friday 29 May, 10am to 4pm Rundle Mall, FREE community event

The Dreaming Tent Friday 29 May, 10am to 4pm South Australian Museum

FREE community events Bookings: Essential for hands on workshops for schools. Call Christina: 8207 7429

Events @ the AEU

Walk for Reconciliation

Tuesday 26 May

Saturday 30 May Walkers meet from 9am for a 10am sharp start; or meet at Pinky Flat from 11am to 2:30pm for family fun, Elder Park FREE

AEU Reconciliation Seminar

For info about all Reconciliations events:

Rosslyn Cox, State Manager, Reconciliation SA T: 8302 0493 E: reconciliationsa@yahoo.com.au W: www.reconciliationsa.org.au

W: www.reconciliationsa.org.au

National Sorry Day

Thursday 28 May

AEU Aboriginal Members’ Conference Monday 1 June (see Ad on page 4) “Our SUCCESS, Our FUTURE” For further info on events @ the AEU go to our website:

W: www.aeusa.asn.au 19

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N E W W O R K P L ACE R E PS CO U R S E

Learning to activate the sub-branch Taking on the role of sub-branch secretary for the first time is a challenge.

Questions one asks oneself are: How will I learn the skills I need? What will this mean to me? What will this mean for my colleagues?

At this two-day course, teachers and school service officers sat together with organisers exchanging ideas, telling stories, sharing ways of doing things, debating and together constructing a common understanding of their environment and workplace.

As part of the Union Education Program a variety of strategies were used by T&D Coordinator, Lynn Hall that assisted members in developing a greater understanding of their role within the AEU structure and the responsibilities of the Sub-branch Secretary.

The establishment of a Workplace Organising Committee, a small team that meets regularly, plans and can be actively involved in encouraging a high level of

20

activism in schools, can assist the sub-branch secretary to use a variety of strategies to organise and map their worksite.

Supporting the sub-branch secretary in workplace planning around current issues and campaigns such as: Focus on Learning, Apple for Teacher and general grievances, can build momentum for change and serve to build a range of skills to cater for the specific needs of the branch.

The training aimed at developing an induction pack for each school, as well as the provision of a range of resources for members to assist us in our role.

1 AEU members at the recent New Workplace Reps course.

An update on the EB, the arbitration and our campaign by AEU President Correna Haythorpe, provided us with some answers to take back to our schools. At the end of the session there was time for reflection and an opportunity to discuss the action plans and strategies we will use to inspire ourselves and our members for the benefit of our school communities.

I Carmen Kowalski, Greenwith PS

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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

M E R I T S E L E C T I O N R E PO RT

TERM 2 | 2009 AEU/DECS MERIT & PAC TRAINING

Merit Selection reference group established

Merit Selection Training DATE

VENUE

TIME

Friday, 19 June

AEU Parkside

9.00am – 3.30pm

Saturday, 20 June

Yulara Ed Centre

9.00am – 3.00pm

Wednesday, 24 June

Loxton Hotel

9.00am – 3.00pm

Tuesday, 7 July

AEU Parkside

9.30am – 4.00pm

Thusday 16 July

AEU Parkside

9.30am – 4.00pm

DATE

VENUE

TIME

Wednesday, 27 May

AEU Parkside

1.00am – 4.00pm

Monday, 1 June

Murray Bridge South PS

4.15am – 7.15pm

Wednesday, 3 June

Tumby Bay Area School

4.15am – 7.15pm

Wednesday, 3 June

Jamestown Community School

4.15am – 7.15pm

Wednesday, 10 June

Streaky Bay Area School

TBC

Monday, 15 June

AEU Parkside

9.00am – 12.00pm

Thursday, 18 June

Grant High School

4.15am – 7.15pm

Saturday, 20 June

Yulara Ed Centre

3.30am – 6.30pm

Wednesday, 8 July

AEU Parkside

9.30am – 12.30pm

PAC Training

Merit Selection Pannellist Retraining DATE

VENUE

TIME

Wednesday, 10 June

AEU Parkside

4.15am – 6.15pm

Wednesday, 24 June

Berri Hotel

4.30am – 6.30pm

Wednesday, 8 July

AEU Parkside

2.00am – 4.00pm

Book online at: www.decs.sa.gov.au/HR1/pages/default/training_dates/

Branch Council Meetings

TAFE Divisional Council Meetings

Upcoming dates for 2009 are: May 30 August 15 November 21

Upcoming dates for 2009 are: May 29 August 14 November 20

2009 UNION MEMBER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 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 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.

In April, DECS announced it would be conducting a review of its current Merit Selection Policy and Procedures, with the aim of implementing a new policy and revised procedures from the beginning of 2010. The AEU has already advised DECS this timeline is problematic, given the need to ensure all panellists and potential applicants for positions are fully informed of any changes to current practices prior to their formal implementation.

DECS commissioned Mr Bill Cossey, a former public sector CEO to develop a white paper which it is using as the framework for the review. The white paper and a feedback pro forma can be accessed at:

www.decs.sa.gov.au/HR1/pages/default/ merit_review/ DECS is also conducting a series of focus groups in May and June. The times and locations of these groups have been published on the DECS website. Meredith Evans from the Ethical Standards and Merit Protection Unit is the contact officer for the DECS consultation.

The AEU has established a Merit Review Reference Group to coordinate our response to the white paper and to identify aspects of the current policy and procedures that are working well and should be retained, as well as any changes that could improve selection processes.

The Merit Review Reference Group will hold its first meeting on 15 May. One of the key agenda items will be determining processes for seeking input from members for the AEU response.

I Anne Crawford AEU Vice President *See above left of this page for dates of upcoming Merit Selection training.

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All courses are held at the AEU unless otherwise specified.

For more info on courses, relief funding or to register go to:

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www.aeusa.asn.au/events 21

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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

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, 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.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

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.

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

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

‘09

Australian Education Union

Early Childhood Forum Friday, 29 May

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

9.15am – 4.00pm

Conference Dinner: Thursday, 28 May | 6.00pm For 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 Howard Spreadbury | T:

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N OT I CE B OA R D & 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.

E: semurphy@optusnet.com.au T: 0407 790754 a.h.

Kangaroo Island HOLIDAY HSE Set in bushland beside Harriet River and on Vivonne Bay, (Aust’s best beach), is Kangastay a 3BR fully equipped and comfortable holiday house. Close to all major attractions (Seal Bay, Remarkables, Admiral Arch and more) and great to relax, swim, and fish. Sleeps 6, linen provided, winter special discounts. Available for rent all year. Prices start at $100/night.

Book through the owner at kangastay@gmail.com or T/text Ros on: 0407 215 345.

HOUSEBOAT (near Mannum) There is still plenty of water for recreational boating and the shoulder and off peak seasons are the best ones to relax and enjoy the river. AEU members are offered a 10% discount during these times. Check out the Mannum web cam at the HHA website. Bundara accommodates up to ten people.

Visit us at www.bundara2.net.

E tandu.prucha@bigpond.com T (08) 82778751

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

ROOM FOR RENT: Share 3BR

RESOURCES NEEDED:

house with 2 others in Gawler. $70 per week plus expenses.

T: 0409 679 902

Unwanted literacy and numeracy resources for use in small village R- 9 schools in Bougainville.

E: ir211057@bigpond.net.au

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

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 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

WILLIAMSTOWN 5 ACRE TRANQUIL PROPERTY Do you like an Australian Native plant garden and beautiful views from every window? Are you looking for a magnificent country property near Gawler with beautiful gum trees? Solid brick 4BR home, 2 with BIR’s, 1 with full wall bookcase, rooms are spacious, all in top condition. Kitchen with new granite bench tops & W/IN pantry.

Solar h/water, new R/C S/S. U/cover parking for 4 cars + workshop. Garden shed, Security system, low maintenance garden recently relaid solid drive, dog yard, mains water.

Reduced to sell at: $469,950.

Inspect by appointment.

T: 8524 6043

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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