An opportunity for bold change

and practically, which will also positively impact learning outcomes for your students. But we continue to be met by a Department that fails to understand the relationship between industrial conditions and improved learning for students. Instead, educators continue to labour under a system fixated on data collection, administration, and flashy initiatives which are now proven to have no benefit for student outcomes.

Campaign Director, Callum Penley, explains how coming together is exactly what our enterprise bargaining campaign requires.

Last year, the AEU commissioned the University of South Australia to undertake first-of-its-kind research into the changing nature of education work. The purpose was to provide rigorous academic data to inform our bargaining platform. Subsequently titled Teachers at Breaking Point, the research demonstrated beyond argument that industrial working conditions are central to fixing the crisis in public education.

While we commend policy efforts to address the teacher shortage crisis, they do not adequately address a workforce at breaking point. Attraction to the profession is one piece of the puzzle, but quick cash incentives only go so far when considering what educators find upon commencing their careers.

Teachers at Breaking Point shows that half of all South Australian educators plan to leave the workforce in the next five years, which would have a catastrophic impact on a system already falling short for the communities it is supposed to serve. If we are to maintain a quality workforce, the Government must come to the table.

The AEU has a bold plan for a bright future in public education. We’re campaigning to improve your working conditions meaningfully

There is an alarming gap between what we know is needed to rebuild a healthy public education system and what the Department is likely to propose and fund. We urgently need to build momentum both within the profession and our communities.

I met many of you at our recent campaign briefings around South Australia, where we worked to empower you to talk confidently about our enterprise bargaining platform.

Our platform is simple. We want more time for quality teaching, more support for students, and a salary increase commensurate with the value of your work. If adopted, we would see increased non-instruction time, a restriction on new initiatives, an additional adult in every classroom, and an attractive salary to ensure we retain our professional workforce. These are common sense measures that would make a real difference to you and the students you support.

As we take much-needed steps toward improving your working conditions, we need you to spread positive messages about our goals. You are uniquely positioned, as trusted community members, to influence sentiment and build solidarity.

Members like you, on the ground, in sites, are the ones who will drive this campaign. Your relationships with colleagues, parents, and your community are invaluable. Here are some simple things you can do to support us at the bargaining table:

SPREAD THE WORD. Bold change is going to require political pressure, and we need activated sites and supportive communities to create that pressure. We've developed a comprehensive campaign pack with conversation frameworks, and online resources you can print and display at your site, just visit aeusa.asn.au/campaigns

BUILD OUR STRENGTH. The more members we have, the more successful we'll be. You are the face of our union, and the best way to encourage a colleague to join is to describe what being part of the AEU means to you.

SHARE YOUR STORY AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. The Department needs to see the impact their inaction is having, and your real-life experiences go a long way in helping us do that. Head to fixthecrisis.com.au to share your story.

I know that every public educator is working extremely hard under tough conditions, but we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. The AEU will continue leading the charge so that together, we can secure bold change for a bright future in public education.

CALLUM PENLEY, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, AEU SA