AEU Journal Vol. 42 No. 01 | February 2010

Vol 42 I No.1

Official publication of the Australian Education Union (SA Branch)

February 2010

AEUJOURNAL SA

Not

“MY SCHOOL” SPECIAL FEATURES ◆

Arbitration: the IRC

hands down its decision

.edu.au ◆

My School: the new

website takes a beating

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FPERAT E SUI D RE N ST’S VIEW

AEU JOURNAL

Not

“MY SCHOOL”

State Elections page 7 With the statewide poll on 20 March, we profile the education policies of the contending parties.

.edu.au

Arbitration: the IRC hands down its decision

◆

MySchool: the new

website takes a beating

League Tables

Arbitration

pages 10 – 14 Stopping school league tables is the single biggest challenge facing public education workers today.

The IRC hands down its decision on salaries.

pages 8 – 9 and 16 – 17

L E T T E R S TO T H E E D I TO R

TOP LETTER

*Winner of TOP LETTER!

Letter to the Deputy PM Dear Julia,

It is with considerable regret I must write to express dismay at your continuing pursuit of educational goals that have no apparent link to evidence-based international best practice.

Your My School website will attempt to compare schools with information gleaned from extremely narrow sources and will create an arbitrary index of disadvantage upon which to compare like schools. The international experience of league tables in the US and the UK – upon which you seem to be basing most of your policies – has not resulted in improved educational outcomes in those countries; both have been considerably and consistently behind Australia in the PISA studies since 2000.

Ted Brierley from the International Confederation of School Principals has said, “The problem is, very rarely, if ever, have funds been generated in sufficient quantities to enable any improvements to occur in those failing schools… it just doesn’t work and the politicians may say this but they never back up their rhetoric with effective action, never anywhere in the world in the

AEU Journal 2008 Dates Deadline #2 March 5 #3 April 23 #4 May 28 #5 July 23 #6 August 27 #7 October 15

Publication date March 24 May 12 June 16 August 11 September 15 November 3

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SPECIAL FEATURES ◆

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

last decade.”

If teachers collectively decide a policy is not in the interests of their students, then that policy will not survive.If you continue to misuse the results of national tests, I will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues if we collectively decide not to administer the NAPLaN data collection.

■

Wayne Bickley, Parafield Gardens HS

SA Teachers: the willing workhorses

There are many initiatives released to assist schools to increase learning outcomes and success for students.Many of these, such as the new SACE, Smarter Schools Program, National Curriculum, Primary Connections – Science, Big Ideas in Number, have a great deal of merit in their own right.

Schools regularly volunteer for projects, trials and pilots. Some of these have been quite successful. It is imperative that when initiatives are released the practicalities of effective management and reasonable workloads are examined. It is admirable to join new programs but if existing school programs are resourced in the same historical way, eventually cracks appear.

Site leaders and staff are willing to do things better, however, there needs to be caution about proceeding with new schemes without examining all existing functions and the impact of new initiatives.

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

8272 1399 journal@aeusa.asn.au

Winner of best letter receives two premium tickets to a performance by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

journal@aeusa.asn.au

System thinking will show if you introduce one thing it will impact on others. Risk management on workloads, impact on curriculum, public relations, safety and psychological health is imperative for any new initiative. If we introduce layer upon layer to the same resource base, eventually the cracks will form and the dam will burst.

When teachers are released with a TRT, they are still required to manage and care for their class and student wellbeing, set relief lessons, communicate, mark work and report. It is important to engage in ongoing training throughout each school term. However, it does have an impact on the management of the learning program.

Previously, the AEU has proposed a progressive training and planning time model that would enhance professional development and teacher programs, but it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

New initiatives and change are welcome to update our education provision and to achieve great results. The work schedule and expectations of site leaders and staff, and impact on current successful student programs, needs to be examined carefully.

■

Paul Rowe | Principal, Loxton PS

3

Australian Education Union | SA Branch Registration & Info: www.aeusa.asn.au

N E W A E U V I CE P R E S I D E N T

AEU PRESIDENT’S VIEW

From one battle to another: we must stop league tables

After two years, we finally have an outcome on our hard fought salaries dispute. Unfortunately the part of the arbitration dealing with workload and other conditions has been postponed until later in the year. We recognise the IRC has an incredible amount of material to review in order to reach a full decision on these complex matters.

The decision handed down on salaries finally delivers nationally competitive salaries for our members. However, it also breaks the historical nexus between schools and TAFE, the ramifications of which are likely to be felt in future EB rounds. Refer to pages 8 – 9 for more information on the IRC decision.

I want to thank AEU members for their determination, courage and patience over the course of the last two years. It has been a long but worthwhile fight, not only for our own conditions but for the betterment of Public Education in this State.

League Tables: At Federal Conference

on January 19, we made a critical decision, not only for our union, but for the education profession and the schools and students we work with every day.

Each and every one of us knows the devastating impact the publication of league tables will have on our schools and students. We know league tables attack every social justice principle that we fight for and that our union holds as the highest priority.

For months, the entire education profession has been lobbying State/ Territory Governments and the Federal Government for measures which will prevent the misuse of NAPLaN data for the publication of league tables.

The Federal Government has been put on notice that this is an issue of fundamen-

tal importance which has united the education community right across the nation.

From princ ipals, teac hers, governing c ounc ils, parents, sc hool c ommunities, academics and education professionals, there is a strong commitment to take a highly principled stand to protect our students and our schools from bad policy decisions made by politicians.

Colleagues, it is dangerous: • when politicians ignore the expert advice of the profession; • when politicians know the impact of these bad policy decisions will be dangerous to the wellbeing of our students; • when they know the impact of bad policy decisions will lead to the misuse of NAPLaN data for the publication of league tables; and • when they know the publication of league tables will mean our students and their schools will be used as fodder for an adult spectator sport.

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: “I can absolutely guarantee that there’s not one part of the Education Revolution that’s about naming and shaming schools, I won’t do that. I don’t believe in doing that... it’s not about naming and shaming.”

The critically important and highly principled decision we must make with respec t to non-c ooperation with NAPLaN, declares we will not allow our students to be harmed, nor our schools to be named and shamed by the misuse of NAPLaN data for publication of league tables.

Across the term, AEU officers will be visiting sites with further information about the Say No to League Tables campaign.

I urge everyone to give this matter your endorsement and support should noncooperation become necessary due to the Federal Government’s lack of action by the deadline of 12 April 2010.

At August Branch Council, South Australia wholeheartedly endorsed the federal campaign. We will stand with our union colleagues and the education profession right across the nation with strong opposition to league tables. We will not be found derelict in our duty of care to put our children first before bad policy decisions and in our duty of care to protect our children from harm.

■ In solidarity, Correna Haythorpe AEU President

Welcome to David Smith Elections for AEU Branch Executive and Principal Officers were held toward the end of last year and elected along with some new faces was well-known union stalwart David Smith. David has taken up the position of Male Vice President for the first time in his long involvement with the AEU. The AEU Journal caught up with David and asked about his history in the union.

“I have been involved with SAIT and AEU for a long time. My deputations to education ministers and DECS began in 1968 when I was ...continued over page 3

Federal Conference Resolution: League Tables On 19 January AEU Federal Conference made the following resolution on the important issue of school league tables.

Given our ethical and professional responsibility to our students and broader school communities, the Federal Conference of the AEU resolves that: • the profession cannot and will not cooperate in the implementation of NAPLaN unless satisfactory measures are introduced to stop the further creation and publication of league tables; • the AEU together with its Branches and Associated Bodies will allocate its full resources to: – mobilise and organise the profession in support of this campaign, and – provide the necessary information to parents and the broader community about the critical importance of stopping the further creation and publication of league tables. The AEU will continue to work closely with the parent movement to achieve this.

A special meeting of the Federal Executive will be convened on 12 April 2010 to assess the extent to which the government may have heeded the concerns and calls of parents, teachers and principals to introduce appropriate measures to stop ■ league tables.

5

AEU VICE PRESIDENT’S VIEW

BUSHFIRE POLICY

Bushfire protocols Both AEU Vice Presidents meet with DECS to fine-tune protocols for catastrophes

Grace under pressure In my first column for 2010, I would like to pay tribute to AEU members for the incredible determination, solidarity and dignity demonstrated during a very difficult two years of standing together in defence of salary justice and decent working conditions.

Stage I of the arbitration decision did not deliver everything we sought in our Award application, but it did deliver significantly improved salaries, and a much better result for every member than any of the government offers.

AEU members can take pride in other significant victories in 2009. Most notably, in the vicinity of 50 schools and preschools remain open this year, thanks to the united efforts of sub-branches and their communities. Throughout 2009, government constantly promoted the virtues of Education Works, most notably in the Spencer Gulf and the Riverland, but also in a number of metropolitan districts. The key selling points were platitudes such as fewer transition points for students, stronger school leadership, smaller class sizes and more curriculum choices. [DECS Workforce Fact Sheet August ‘07] Fortunately, members and parents resisted the rhetoric and were not beguiled by promises of long overdue facility upgrades in return for school and preschool closures. Many communities overwhelmingly rejected the calls from on high to exercise their choice to close schools and preschools that have been public assets for generations.

2009 was a hard year for our union by any standards, but ultimately there were many gains – Arbitration Stage I, Education Works, 500 more permanent jobs for SSOs and ECWs and, above all, member resilience and strength against the odds.

Hemingway defined courage as ‘grace under pressure’. AEU members displayed grace under pressure in abundance throughout 2009, with some spectacular results. We confronted the difficulties with dignity and have much to be proud of.

Every good wish for a happy, healthy ■ and successful 2010!

Anne Crawford, AEU Vice President 6

In January, we had a series of meetings with DECS to fine-tune the bushfire protocols for employees and students at schools and pre-schools, for days with catastrophic fire conditions.

Many questions had been raised by members at the end of last year and we felt the need to clarify the protocols and ensure the safety of all concerned on such days.

The November 2009 Branch Council meeting set out our requirements and concerns, and we have conveyed them to DECS. The DECS publication Questions and Answers for Staff was by and large an improvement. We were very pleased that the ‘paramount concern’ in all instances is the safety of staff and children.

AEU Branch Executive raised further issues to do with travelling through districts declared as catastrophic, and we continue to negotiate with DECS on those matters. However, if members feel for reasons of personal safety or family commitments, that it is impossible to travel through a catastrophic zone, they should inform their line managers and discuss alternatives such as special leave or working from home.

The DECS CE’s letter to parents and care-givers of 9 February goes some way to answer our earlier concerns. Previous DECS utterances required principals and

Welcome to David Smith continued 3 SRC President at Adelaide Teachers College and a member of the TTA, a now forgotten junior section of SAIT. That year we confronted Minister Joyce Steele, Director General Johnny Walker and Deputy DGE Alby Jones in their lairs over student book allowances,” he says. “I was engaging in student activism but didn’t know it was called that at the time.”

The following year David became president of the Port Augusta – Quorn Association, a northerly branch of SAIT. “Ever since, I have had a very positive relationship with our union and have done

pre-school directors to contact all of their children’s families personally by phone after 4.00pm on the eve of a day forecast as having catastrophic conditions.

We are pleased the circular places greater responsibility on parents to inform themselves of potential closures, and that they need to lodge up-to-date emergency contacts at their school or pre-school.

What’s even more pleasing is the change of emphasis to ‘we will communicate with you’. We expect that will mean a centralised information system, possibly based on SMS messages, to save principals and directors from making an enormous number of phone calls during the evening. At a large school on a catastrophic fire-ban day it could easily require hundreds of calls. That would place a totally unacceptable responsibility and workload on staff and would also have a severe impact on their family responsibilities.

The worst possible scenario would be on a Sunday, if the Monday had been forecast as having catastrophic conditions.

Some schools already have an automatic SMS program linked to EDSAS for absentee records, and these can be adapted for bush fire warnings.

Our discussions with DECS are continuing and we encourage members to contact us with any ideas or concerns.

■ Anne Crawford and David Smith, AEU Vice Presidents what I could to make a contribution.”

“In more recent times I’ve been subbranch secretary at Kapunda High School, delegate to Branch and Area Councils, taken a seat as a member of AEU Branch Executive for ten or so years, served a couple of terms as Branch Treasurer and have taken an active role in a number of regional and metropolitan street rallies.”

“Now that I am Vice President, I look forward to a new and probably even more intense involvement in the AEU.” “Towards the end of last year I took part in a deputation to Minister LomaxSmith. I thought, here we go again.”

The AEU congratulates David on his election to the Male Vice President position and wishes him the best of luck in what will be a very busy role over the next two years.

■

U PCO M I N G E L E C T I O N S

State Elections

The AEU wrote to major political parties last year asking for their education policies. The Democrats replied on 5 February, and the Greens later in the month, but neither major party has seen fit to send educators, through their union, their policies on education.

Labor has said it will provide its policy before the election, and the Liberals have issued partial policy statements. A special page on the AEU website will be devoted to updating members with parties’ policies as they become available.

The comments below have been prepared by AEU research officer Mike Williss. They do not state a preference for any party. Members should make their own informed judgement about which party best supports public education.

The AEU is not affiliated to any political party. Membership fees are not donated to political parties.

AEU members known to be standing for election include Brett Ferris and Lynton Vonow (Greens), Joe Scalzi and Penny Pratt Liberal).

GREENS AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS Currently without representation in Parliament following David Winderlich’s resignation from the party.

The Democrats have a candidate standing against Mike Rann and will offer at least one Legislative Council candidate.

Policies include: • Supporting a fully-funded, free and secular public education system for pre-school, primary and secondary levels.

• Adequate payment for the work teachers do…it is a matter of shame that the SA Government has fought the union’s claims for so long.

• Opposing the Federal Government’s My Schools website.

• All TAFE colleges in the Adelaide South region must be kept open.

Source: letter to AEU President (policies not online).

Comment: Education policies favour public education.

LIBERAL Isobel Redmond missed a golden opportunity to win the support of educators when she rehashed the discredited P 21 model of local school governance in her Local Control of Local Schools policy.

Tried to regain ground by latching onto our campaign for students with special needs.

A lonely Mark Parnell continues to punch above his weight on a range of issues.

Greens refer us to their national education policies which are largely in accord with AEU policy.

• Smaller class sizes • Ban on publication of league tables • Pay justice for teachers • Maintaining TAFE courses • More special needs funding • Keeping corporates out of the classroom Source: http://greens.org.au/node/771 Comment: A minor party supportive of public education. Poised to double its representation in the Legislative Council.

FAMILY FIRST The party has two Legislative Council members.

Policies include: • Defending parents’ rights to choose schooling that supports their family’s values.

• Promoting recognition of governmental responsibilities to support parental choice in education.

• Rejecting the government’s Scroogelike attitude towards teachers’ pay.

• Supports My School but critical of misleading content.

LABOR I could identify a couple of positive policies and quote from the source document below.

And then I could get tarred and feathered and driven out of town.

An appalling record of hostility towards the AEU and our claims for improvements to education and to members’ wages and working conditions.

Perceived by many to be arrogant and out of touch on a range of issues.

Source: http://www.sa.alp.org.au/download/now/ sa_labor_platform_2009.pdf Comment: A government elected on an education platform, but has largely failed to deliver. Read their policies but remember what we’ve been through!

OTHER There is likely to be a richer field of independent candidates in this election owing to the emergence of local issues.

Some independents are already sitting members. These include former Australian Democrat Winderlich and local members Bob Such, Kris Hanna, Geoff Brock and Rory McEwen.

One of the “E”s in the FREE Australia Party apparently stands for Education, and the local comrades in the Communist Party are challenging Michael Wright in Lee.

Source: http://www.isobelredmond.com.au/

Source: http://www.familyfirst.org.au/documents/ EDUCATION_001.pdf

Wilbur Klein, the SA Nationals candidate for Flinders says “It is time for Government to offer teachers more incentives to live and work in the country.”

Comment: A party showing little support for public education. In opposition has not pushed the government on this issue.

Comment: A minor party largely supportive of private and religious schooling as an alternative to public education.

Comment: You will have to judge each on his or her merits.

Sources: Various

7

A R B I T R AT I O N D E C I S I O N

Salaries decision handed down by IRC After a two-year dispute we finally have an outcome. So what are the key features?

DECS AWARD

Having awarded an interim pay increase of 3.75% in January 2009, the Commission awarded three pay increases with the first backdated to October 2009.

4% October 2009 4% October 2010 4% October 2011

Reclassifications

These increases will be boosted for around half of AEU members by the introduction of a new Step 9 classification.

This classification will be accessible to teachers who are currently at the top of the incremental scale.

What does this mean?

A new step 9 in the teacher salary scale will be introduced from the first pay period to commence on or after 1 October 2010 at the rate of $79,816 (inclusive of the 4% increase operative from that date), providing a salary increase of 8.1%. An additional 4% salary increase is payable in October 2011. Current Step 8 teachers who access the new Step 9 will receive a compounded salary increase of 21.3% over the life of the Award.

How will it work?

The new Step 9 represents a departure from the existing salary progression – through automatic incremental progression – because it introduces recognition of competency as a feature of progression.

The new Step 9 will be available to teachers who have completed 207 duty days at Step 8 as at 1 October 2010.

Step 9 will recognise high quality classroom teaching, the criteria of which can be assessed in terms of: • knowledge base on student learning • high quality instruction • proficiency in specialized areas of learning • implementation of targeted teaching strategies and skills • improved student performance and educational outcomes • acting as role model and mentor to less experienced teachers.

8

More information on the requirements for reaching Step 9 is available on the Arbitration section of our website.

AST1

The new Step 9 replaces the AST1 classification. Existing AST1 members will translate to Step 9 from the first pay period to commence on or after 1 October 2010, providing a salary increase of 4.9%. An additional 4% salary increase is payable in October 2011. Therefore, existing AST1 members will receive a compounded salary increase of 17.75% over the life of the Award.

Key Teacher (fallback)

AST2 will become the Key Teacher (fallback) pay rate for teachers not reappointed to tenured leadership positions after the introduction of the new Step 9 from the first pay period to commence on or after 1 October 2010.

Leadership Reclassifications in Schools

• The inclusion of a new PCO9 classification for principals of super schools.

• A provision that allows for the appointment of deputy principal in a super school to the PCO5 classification.

• The removal of the existing Coordinator 1 level and the translation of teachers who hold such positions to Coordinator 2. This equates to an additional 4.3% salary increase for Coordinator Level 1 from the commencement of the 2011 school year.

Although AP and DP classifications will not be integrated, these positions will be clearly delineated by identifying appropriate work based definitions.

Preschool Directors

A new PSD4 classification for preschool directors will operate from the first pay period to commence on and after 1 April 2010 for preschool directors engaged in one of the following centres: • A Children’s Centre for Early Childhood Development and Parenting.

• A centre with a childcare component including a centre with long day care places.

• Integrated sites including: – Rural Integrated Centres – centres integrated with childcare – centres integrated with at least one government and non-government agency.

TAFE AWARD Separate Awards and Salary Nexus The Industrial Relations Commission determined there will be separate Awards for DECS and TAFE, and to break the salary nexus between DECS teachers and TAFE lecturers. However, the Commission decision has provided a far superior lecturer classification structure than that offered by the government.

Salary Increases 3.75% January 2009 3.5% October 2009 3.5% October 2010 3.5% October 2011

New Lecturer Classification Structure

The Commission determined a new structure consisting of eight levels: six non-promotional and two promotional levels. The new structure will come into operation from the first pay period to commence on or after 1 May 2010.

Paragraphs (36) and (37) of the Commission’s Decision Summary states: (36) Levels 2-6 will be subject to competency and/or qualification based progression using generic level descriptors. Level 5 will equate in work value terms to the current lecturer step 8. Level 6 of the new structure will contain leadership and a range of other ASL 1 duties and represents an additional level of progression for lecturers. There will be no additional qualification requirement at Level 6 but professional development in relation to the higher level functions will be required.

(37) ASL 2 will become a promotional position at Level 7 in the structure.

Principal lecturer will become the second promotional position at Level 8.

The qualifications component of progression is set out in ‘Annexure C’ of the Commission’s decision. This can be found in the arbitration section of the AEU website.

The terms of the generic lecturer level descriptors and a process for the assessment of competency for the purposes of progression must be agreed by the AEU and TAFE by 10 April 2010, and will be included in a classification schedule within the Award.

A R B I T R AT I O N D E C I S I O N

A E U I N F O R M AT I O N U N I T

The Commission’s decision also envisages that subject to the qualification requirements being met, progression through levels 1 to 6 would be on an annual basis. The timing of assessment of competency will be based on the presumption of annual progression.

The AEU has published both the summary and full decision on our website along with the salary schedules for all sectors of the membership. They can be found in both the News and Arbitration sections of the site.

■

No. The relativities between the Band 1 Teacher Classifications and the Band 2 Promotional Classifications (Coordinators and APs) and Band 3 Principals/DPs will remain given the AST2 classification (top of Band 1) has the across-the-board salary increases applied.

Q

Q A

YES – The Commission’s decision provides compounded salary increases of:

All DECS classifications (including SSOs, AEWs and ECWs)

16.7%

Teachers currently on Step 8 who move to Step 9

21.3% 17.76%

All TAFE classifications 15.03% (minimum of ) A number of lecturer steps will receive greater salary increases due to restructuring of the lecturer classification scale.

The government’s final offers were: All DECS classifications (including SSOs, AEWs and ECWs)

11.4%

Teachers currently on Step 8 who move to Step 9

13.6%

AST1

11.7%

All TAFE classifications

13.6%

(generally, at best) Salary increases were linked to a less favourable restructuring with initial increases from 1 October 2008, (generally 0% to 3.5%), 0% to 2.5% from 1 January 2009, 3.5% from 1 October 2009 and 3.5% from 1 October 2010.

How much back pay will I receive?

However, this is a matter that needs to be clarified between the Commission and the parties (AEU and DECS).

Q

Should TAFE Lecturers who have applied or intend to apply for assessment as ASL1 or ASL2 in 2010 continue with the process?

A

YES. Applications can be made for ASL1 and ASL2 until 30 April 2010 (ie before the Commission’s decision becomes operational). If successful, ASL1 would translate to the grandparented ASL1 level, and ASL2 would translate to Level 7.

Q A

Who will be eligible to apply for AST2?

The Commission’s decision is silent on this issue. The AEU asserts that any new Step 9 teacher will be eligible to apply for AST2. However, variations to existing industrial instruments would need to be made.

The eligibility of contract teachers to apply for AST2 will also need to be addressed.

Q A

Will DECS contract teachers be eligible for Step 9?

YES. A contract teacher wishing to progress to Step 9 will be able to submit a professional development plan (PDP) in the same manner as a permanently employed teacher. Monitoring the performance of teachers at Step 9 will be via an annual review. However, there will be continuity of appointment to Step 9, in the same way as it is currently for teachers on Step 8 of the salary scale.

■ Salary rates payable for each classification and salary step level are published on the AEU website:

www.aeusa.asn.au

Q A

Am I able to access information stored in my personal file at my workplace?

Under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 you are entitled to access you own personal information in your file. Circular No. 12 of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Information Privacy Principles also gives you a legal right to have access to information in your file.

Q A

Am I able to return to work on a part-time basis after maternity or adoption leave?

All DECS permanent staff are entitled to return to work after maternity or adoption leave on a part-time basis until the child’s second birthday. This change came into effect from 1 January 2009.

For TAFE employees, the AEU understands that DFEEST, while having a more flexible leave policy, will honour a similar commitment.

Q A

Can the Mandatory Notification update training be done watching the DVD in our own time?

The three-hour update is designed to be run in workplaces or district offices as face-to-face training only. If any sites are handing out a DVD to staff to watch on their own and then ticking them off a list as having done the updated training, this information should be reported to the DECS Child Protection Unit. Members should not be put at risk of having their teacher registration refused before they have not done the three-hour face-to- face training.

If leaders have any concerns, they should phone: Gaye Brimacombe, DECS Child Protection Unit.

Q A

Is my principal required to approve my voluntary professional training and development activities?

As from 2009, eligible staff need only to provide to their site leader, an employee declaration by the end of week 9 in Term 4, which states they have voluntarily undertaken 37.5 hours (or pro rata for temporary staff ) of professional development activities outside of school hours.

It is no longer a requirement that such activities have to be approved by the site leader. The site leader only has to sign an acknowledgement that they have seen the employee’s self-declaration.

■ Anne Walker, AEU Legal & Information Officer 9

8272 1399

4% will be back paid from 1 October 2009 - each classification and step level will be different. If back payments are made in the pay period ending 18 March 2010, a current Step 8 teacher will receive $1310.77, a PCO3 will receive $1703.08, an SSO-1 Step 6 will receive $764.31, and a TAFE ASL2 will receive $1304.77. Of course, these amounts will change if they are paid in a pay period either preceding or following 18 March.

Applications for assessment in 2010 are due in at the end of Week 4, Term 1. However, due to an error in a DECS Circular, applications lodged by 19 March 2010 will be accepted.

Q & A from the Workplace

Officers of the AEU Information Unit are available Monday – Friday from 10.30am – 5.00pm. Phone:

Should DECS Teachers who have applied or intend to apply for assessment as AST1 in 2010 for reclassification to AST1 at the commencement of the 2011 school year continue with the process?

YES. The AEU advice is to continue with the process. Members currently on salary incremental steps below Step 8 who have applied for assessment in 2010 should continue with the process so, if successful, will translate from AST1 to Step 9.

Is the Commission’s decision more favourable than that offered by the government?

Q A

Will Step 9 affect the relativities between teachers and leaders?

A

FAQs for members

Current AST1 who move to Step 9

Q A

L E AG U E TA B L E S I N B R I E F

SC H O O L L E AG U E TA B L E S

UK tests boycott

Deputy PM Gillard shows her true colours

Australian teachers are not alone in organising to boycott standardised tests, the results of which are used for the construction of league tables.

Julia’s iron jaw spins the media but educators know better

Both the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) confirmed late in January they would be balloting members to support a boycott of the annual Standard Assessment Tasks (SAT) tests in May.

“At this stage, I’m not going to rule anything in or anything out but we will do whatever we need to do to make sure the tests happen.”

The British Government claims that if head teachers boycott the tests their actions would be deemed unlawful. Unions have countered this by saying the tests are unnecessarily stressful and their boycott is a legitimate action over conditions.

Gillard: I’ll leave that to schools and school communities to work out.

NUT and NAHT have argued any boycott “would categorically not be strike action”, pointing out pupils would attend school as normal and teachers would teach lessons.

On demeaning teachers Journalist: On the email: “Julia, I think teachers should get a life. Every other job needs to be assessed to see whether they are doing a good job. It is important if students don't know the 3 R’s, this is fundamental learning.”

Meanwhile, a senior government advisor on special educational needs (SEN) has accused schools of over-diagnosing slow learners as SEN students in order to boost school rankings.

■

Truth exposed

Gillard: Could’t agree more.

On threats against the AEU Journalist: The teachers are saying they will walk away from the national tests... how will you cover for the teachers if the tests go ahead?

Within 24 hours of the My School website going online, newspapers in NSW, Victoria, the ACT and NT had constructed and published league tables of schools.

Gillard: At this stage, I’m not going to rule anything in or anything out but we will do whatever we need to do to make sure the tests happen.

Now league tables can be purchased anywhere in Australia – for $97. Online profiteers Australian School Ranking have taken the data from the My School website and named and shamed schools based on superficial NAPLaN results and misleading ICSEA values.

Journalist: Are you talking about strikebreakers?

“You cannot get on My School and search and sort schools into some big list. That is not possible,” said Julia Gillard

Gillard: We’ll do whatever we need to do...

On not worrying that schools may be damaged by My School Journalist: We’re hearing from principals from some of the schools performing a little lower in the test scores that parents are already pulling kids out. What sort of impact will that have on those schools?

Gillard: Parents make education choices for all sorts of reasons.

prior to the launch of the My School website.

On increasing the cost of education

Julia Gillard should accept she has been proven wrong, and take down the My School website immediately.

■

Journalist: Do you think this will increase private school fees over time? A school doing really well is likely to up those.

10

On not worrying about teaching to the test and narrowing the curriculum Caller: My daughter is in Year 9 this year.

When she was in Year 7 they had NAPLaN practice for weeks in the lead up to the test, everyone knew when it was happening, so I think the results are a bit contrived by the schools.

Gillard: ...working on your literacy and numeracy skills is not wasted work because they are the foundation stones of learning.

On league tables (1) Gillard: My School is not a league table...You cannot get on My School and search and sort schools into some big list.

That is not possible.

(AEU comment: The Canberra Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne Herald Sun and the Northern Territory News all ran web-scraping software over the My School site and constructed and published league tables.)

On league tables (2) Journalist: What will the government do if third parties do create league tables?

Gillard: The media is always free and has been free in the past to report on education.

■

SC H O O L L E AG U E TA B L E S

The “Statistically Similar” Farce My School data is based on the same flawed model that hands over massive funds to private schools says Mike Williss.

P

rince Alfred College Principal Kevin Tutt recently told Sunday Mail journalist David Nankervis that he was “completely surprised” to see some of the schools deemed by the ACARA My School website to be statistically similar to his own.

Nankervis ran a piece titled Spot the Similarities under pictures of the feudal bluestone castle that dominates PAC and a shabby transportable just inside the grounds of isolated East Murray Area School. They are taken to be “like schools” by the ACARA website.

Tutt further observed PAC was not listed as statistically similar to fellow boys’ college St Peters.

The reason for the anomalies is concealed within the method used to create each school’s ICSEA (socio-educational advantage) value.

It is the same method used to determine Commonwealth funding for private schools.

Created by Howard but maintained by Rudd and Gillard, the formula has resulted in massive overpayments to some of the wealthiest private schools in the land.

Gillard has said repeatedly that the ICSEA value is based on parental income.

It is not.

ACARA accessed the home addresses of every student enrolled in an Australian school. They then located that address within an Australian Bureau of Statistics census collection data (CCD) area.

CCDs comprise around 220 families.

The average income of these 220 families is deemed to be the parental income for those students within that CCD. Schools might have a dozen – or many more – CCDs from which they obtain their students. A proportional weighting is applied to each CCD’s average income depending on the number of students it supplies to the school.

Let us say, for argument’s sake, that 70 above-average (for the CCD) families send their students to private schools. The private school data will understate the actual income of these students. The private schools they go to will look to be worse off than they really are.

If the remaining two-thirds of students are from under-average income families, and they go to the local public school,

their data will overstate the actual income of these students. This school will look to be better off than it really is.

It is easy to spot the glaring anomalies like PAC and EMAS, but why should Blackwood High have to be ranked as a like school of St Peter’s (not even PAC can achieve that!), while neighbouring Aberfoyle Park High has only one (out of 60) like schools in South Australia, and that is Sacred Heart Middle School (Years 6–9, all boys and half the enrolment of APHS). None of its 59 interstate like schools is particularly noteworthy.

These are the not so obvious anomalies that bedevil schools like Blackwood High.

Its NAPLaN results are linked not with APHS’s, but with St Peters, Scotch, Walford, Mercedes and any number of top grammar schools interstate.

According to Blackwood’s Principal Susan Hyde, some 56% of students eligible to enrol at BHS leave the zone for other, mainly private schools.

Yet Blackwood’s ICSEA score of 1150 is even higher than St Peters’ 1149 because of the high income families in the CCDs near the school. If the actual parental income of the real students who enrol at BHS was taken into account it would have a lower ICSEA score and be more fairly compared to schools against whom its NAPLaN results may then contain more greens and fewer reds.

The ACARA My School website should be closed while it contains such inaccurate and misleading data.

The same data must be taken right out of the equation for future funding arrangements for private schools.

■ Mike Williss AEU Research Officer 11

SCHOOL LEAGUE TABLES

www.myschool.edu.au When the My School website went live, South Australian educators joined the nation-wide chorus of condemnation.

The AEU Journal spoke to union members to get their reaction on the so-called comparisons of “like schools”.

REBECCA KNIGHT | Year 3-4 Teacher Elizabeth Downs Primary CPC-7 (teaching 7 years)

“In the UK we had always received really good results from inspectors so league tables were demoralising especially in schools with special needs kids.

The government then studied the progression of student achievement across the years – the degree which a child improved from year 2 to year 6. Even though the kids were below the national average, it showed what the teachers and schools had achieved in improvements.”

MATT WALKER | Photography Teacher

Clare High School (teaching 5 years)

“I am very opposed to the idea as it judges schools on just two things, which are important, but schools do much more than just teach literacy and numeracy. What about judging the school on whether the students are happy, engaged and passionate about learning? Are students looking forward to coming to school?

Do they feel valued? Do they feel like they have achieved? Gillard’s simplistic and narrow vision of ‘helping schools’ by publicly naming and shaming them is misguided. It will only serve to stigmatise communities, schools and students.”

MALCOLM VAUGHAN | Kingston

Community School (teaching 30 years)

“The creation of league tables will have a disastrous effect on country schools. Despite the fact we have outstanding year 12 results, the ability to compare country schools with like schools in city areas would only increase the foolish belief that country students would do better in big private schools.”

12

LARA GOLDING | Teacher

Seaton High School (teaching 7 years)

“I’m definitely against league tables and think the My School website is inaccurate and misleading. NAPLaN tests are narrow and only test one year level. It doesn’t show how a student might progress through a school. Countries like Finland have an excellent education system without league tables.”

JENNY MASLEN | Year 4-5 Teacher Port Noarlunga Primary School (teaching 33 years)

“My personal feeling is if it’s to map progress within a school then they might be a good idea.

To rate similar schools against each other may be fair – but to compare all schools with disadvantaged schools and those with high numbers of disabled students can only demoralise staff, parents and students. Politicians should expend their energy on supporting students with disabilities and those from poorer homes and not just label them. Anyone can generate data. It’s what you do to change data that’s the key to progress.”

CHRIS TURRELL | Principal

Wasleys Primary School (teaching 26 years)

“DECS’ Smarter Schools National Partnerships Information dated 18 Jan 2010 in part states: ‘Of the 160 schools in South Australia that have been identified under the Federal Government’s disadvantage score provided by the ABS based on their residential address or proximity to the school…146 of these are DECS schools’. How would the listing of these schools in a league table do anything but further label their communities as educational ghettoes?”

EVELYNNE RICHARDSON | Year 4-5 Visual Arts Teacher, North Adelaide PS (teaching 38 years) “Student achievement in NAPLaN appears to be the sole measure for league tables and does not take into account broader curriculum learning or student wellbeing.

It could certainly encourage a narrowing of curriculum areas offered to students and misinterpretation of all aspects of student learning and achievement by those outside the educational field.”

BRIONY MONAHAN | English Teacher William Light R-12 School (teaching 15 years)

“I think the league tables are not a good idea. The experience in the UK and US has created a class system of schools and our own experience in Tasmania created controversy with the school being named and shamed.”

TOM FROSSINAKIS | SA Teacher Currently mathematics consultant in USA (teaching 41 years) “I detest league tables if they in any way resemble the horrid English model. Having experienced league tables while teaching in England and USA. I know how dangerous they are. When I read an article titled The One Hundred Worst Schools in England, I almost had a fit, especially as I had just visited one of the schools near the top of the list and witnessed the incredible work done by so many devoted educators. How can numbers tell the qualitative educational story of any school? There is, of course, a need for accountability and open access to any educational institution’s performance data, but it must give a much fuller and meaningful picture other than a shame or glory list of, at most times, questionable criteria. Educational outcomes are some of the hardest factors to quantify and a lot of work is still needed in this area.”

SCHOOL LEAGUE TABLES

LEE DUHRING | Assistant Principal

Education Centre (teaching 29 years)

“Information about our schools is available publicly through annual reports and information about students is available to parents though testing, reporting and anytime on request. I am opposed to crude league tables.”

PATRICIA CAVANAGH | Year 4-5 Teacher Woodcroft Primary School (teaching 30 years) “I’m horrified. It’s not a true reflection of schools or students – so to be used as a guide of whether schools are succeeding or failing is inaccurate. I’m sure this will reflect on students’ self-esteem, on their families and staff if everything boils down to one number on a page.”

JICKY ATKINSON | Visual Art Teacher Bowden Brompton Community College (teaching 10 years) “I haven’t looked at the site yet as I’m worried about how Bowden Brompton will be portrayed. We’re talking about kids who are already quite disadvantaged – do we need that very public disadvantage echoed through the education system as well? Perhaps that money could have been better spent on resources and teachers in schools like ours that need them in order to really make a difference.”

WAYNE BICKLEY | Technical Studies Teacher Parafield Gardens Primary School (teaching 5 years)

“Julia Gillard is deliberately using information that was clearly collected for another purpose. It’s really interesting the politicians have chosen to emulate the UK and the US – two nations whose education results are far below ours. So why are we doing this?”

CHARLOTTE HOLMES | Year 4-5 Teacher Evanston Gardens Primary School (teaching 5 years)

“I think it’s good in one way because it’s good to compare, however, I don’t think it’s positive because it’s based on just one test during the year and that’s not a good indicator of student achievements throughout the year.

Scientists don’t do an experiment once and use those results!”

OLIVIA BRETT | Drama Teacher Mark Oliphant College (teaching 10 years) “The website and the inevitable league tables seem at cross purposes with the State Government’s investment in new schools and the expansion of suburbs in north of Adelaide which aims to change how people view lower-socio-economic areas. Why would people move to a suburb whose schools will be on the bottom of league tables?”

test year 9’s do after their first year here. It belittles all the programs we have engaging our enormous ethnically diverse student population. Private schools will change to teach to the test whereas we will continue to educate.”

IAN KENT | Principal, Kangaroo Island

Community Education (teaching 20 years)

“As chairperson of the AEU Principal Consultative Committee, I could sit down with a colleague and work out which schools will end up on the bottom – all have similar things in common: low socioeconomic area; rural and remote; high indigenous populations. The question I put to government is how are the league tables going to make a difference to schools that end up on the bottom? All it’s going to do is name and shame them and make it harder to attract quality leaders and teachers with experience. What is the Labor Government going to do to fix it?”

NOEL HOLMES | currently studying Education Doctorate (teaching 37 years) “League tables are unjust! Let’s not forget the Federal Government, just like the Liberals, is showing it follows the lead of the OECD. Such ‘global’ thinking, which is a really shallow interpretation of European reports, is not good politics or sound education practice. Think ‘glocally’ and get it right for South Australia.”

GORAN YAKAS | Art Design Teacher Murray Bridge High School (teaching 34 years)

“The notion of these league tables being an indicator of how our school fares is so ridiculous, I’m not even interested in looking at the website. We have a massive number of feeder schools (more than 10) – our school is being judged on one 13

SC H O O L L E AG U E TA B L E S

Lies, damned lies and statistics AEU Organiser Ken Drury says it’s time educators resurrected a familiar old device

I detect that the lie detector is experiencing a resurrection of utility and reputation. Why, even a politician’s future could easily be determined by one it seems.

While on the subject of the resurgence of the lie detector, I wish to advocate for the return of the crap detector. This was a useful approach first advocated by Postman and Weingartner in their 1971 publication, Teaching as a Subversive Activity. They advocated that every student should be educated in such a way so as to be a fully proficient detector of crap – to have an inbuilt crap detector.

I reckon the time is ripe for all school leaders to sharpen up or even embrace for the first time their crap detector. Why? A crap detector is essential if one is to adventure into the world of the ACARA website, My School.

Since the website went live on Thursday 28 January, millions of “parents” are said to have visited the site. Apparently no one else who is not a parent has – nor has anyone visited multiple times! If you have visited, not only are you a Gillard “parent” but you are additionally “hungry” for the information it contains. CDT – crap detector time.

By the time you’ve visited the website 14

“How can all statistically similar schools to Norwood – Morialta be remote indigenous schools?” and laboured through the information there, your crap detector will be in need of the equivalent of a 50,000 km service.

I won’t traverse the disgustingly obvious failings of the “information” – how can all statistically similar schools to Norwood – Morialta be remote indigenous schools?

How can you read the performance of a complex site like Hamilton SC from Year 9 NAPLaN data? Is NAPLaN data reliable and valid anyway? etc, etc – because there is a greater imperative emerging.

In the first few days after the launch of the website, news media were drawing up crude league tables showing the ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ schools. And now the inevitable – The Age in Melbourne reported on Friday, 5 February, that a directive had been given

by Victorian education authorities to schools to “teach to the test” to lift their performances on the new website at the expense of the broader curriculum.

The Age report goes on: Kevin Brown, the principal of Winters Flat Primary School in Castlemaine, said the department was forcing schools to narrow the curriculum

they offered. “I can understand why they are pushing this – it’s a cheap option and easy way to make a judgement,” he said.

Over the past week I have seen and heard statements by gutsy principals (all women) from interstate roundly analysing and criticising the data on the website and commenting on the dangers of league tables. Even the Independents and Catholics have joined in.

Independent Schools Victoria is urging parents to avoid focussing on league tables created from raw numbers of school results found on the Australian Government’s My School website. The Director of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Stephen Elder has stated: “Everyone in a Catholic school community knows that Catholic schools are much more than just a test result”.

SASPA President Jim Davies put out a detailed communiqué to SASPA members on the day of the launch offering ideas in order to interpret, consider and respond to the data. The strategies also included taking a proactive stance. We believe this is crucial.

On 19 January 2010, the Federal Conference of the AEU put Gillard on notice that unless measures (like legislation) were taken to prevent the compiling and publication of simplistic ‘naming and shaming’ league tables by the media, a boycott of the NAPLaN test this year would be put into effect. Gillard responded with threats to exercise her new national industrial laws to ensure the test went ahead – “I’m ruling nothing in and nothing out…but the tests will go ahead!” CDT !

School leaders are pivotal in bringing the Federal Government to their senses over these matters. Leaders can refuse to ‘open the box’. Leaders can ‘send it back’.

CDT! No 2010 data, no 2011 league tables.

It was therefore disappointing to see the leader of one principal association interviewed in The Advertiser and seeming not to support the AEU stance.

So, here’s the challenge to all AEU school leaders – indeed to all school leaders. Join in the AEU national Stop League Tables campaign. Be proactive in your communities: get into the media with criticisms of My School and positive stories about your school in the richer, broader context. Talk straight and assertively to your local MPs. Write to Rudd and Gillard.

Rev up your association to take collective action. If it comes to it, don’t administer the NAPLaN this year.

Time to hone that crap detector. Time to put it to work, and it’s fashionable again too! Time to join in and support the AEU campaign to Stop League Tables CDT! ■ Ken Drury | AEU Organiser School Leader Focus

2 0 0 9 A RT S AWA R D S As part of Evelynne’s award she will attend the NAEA (National Art Education Association) Convention in Baltimore, USA later this year joining 2000 visual arts educators from around the world. This year’s theme is Visual Arts and Social Justice.

1 Community Tree: mixed media art

installation from Jicky Atkinson’s students at Bowden Brompton Community School

Education and Arts Ministers’ Awards ‘09 Two AEU members are recognised for excellent work in their field The 2009 Education and Arts Ministers’ Awards for demonstrated excellence in arts teaching and leadership were won by North Adelaide Primary School visual arts teacher Evelynne Richardson for the primary category and Bowden Brompton Community College art teacher Jicky Atkinson for the secondary category.

Evelynne (left) studied teaching in NSW, moving to SA with her teacher husband in 1974.

After working at a number of schools, including Thebarton Primary for more than a decade where she focussed on art teaching, Evelynne began a dream position at North Adelaide Primary School.

A quarter of a century later Evelynne is as passionate about teaching visual arts to her reception through to year 7 students as when she began.

“I’m a believer in using art to enhance learning, encourage self-expression and to promote wellbeing,” Evelynne says. “It has been the most fantastic teaching experience. I’m doing what I love while working in a school community that values, supports

and appreciates the Arts. My colleagues and leadership not only value the Arts as being an integral part of the curriculum, but are also very supportive of the visual arts program.”

Evelynne says she likes to provide students with a varied program working with a wide range of mediums such as painting, sculpture, clay work, print making, collage, pen and ink, drawing, murals and mosaics.

“I organise Artist in Residence programs each year to provide students with opportunities to work with practicing artists in a range of fields, from glass etching, puppetry and silk painting to Chinese brush stroke, jewellery and clay sculpture.”

“I find students who are good at academics are often skilled in an area of the Arts. But I also find students who are not so academically motivated find success and rewards from their creative achievements. Each year I showcase students’ artist achievements by setting up a major art exhibition. I also ensure we celebrate students’ talents and learning by creating a colourful child-centred working environment.

“Art is never just within four walls, it’s an integral part of our everyday lives so it’s important children develop an appreciation of the many forms that art takes.”

Just returned from the 8th Annual Hawaii International Conference, Arts and Humanities, USA, secondary school award winner, Jicky Atkinson (left), is no stranger to receiving praise in her career. She graduated from the University of South Australia with two bachelor degrees at just 21 – her Bachelor of Visual Arts receiving gold class honors.

Her award recognises her teaching students at Bowden Brompton Community School encouraging them to explore art and produce high quality work, underpinned by a genuine concern for both their educational and emotional needs.

Using sculpture, aerosol, skateboard, and digital art, Jicky engages students through something they immediately identify with. “I aim for the stars, inspiring creativity through arts education that empowers and expands understanding and knowledge, building self-belief and capacity in every student every day,” Jicky says.

“I use my arts background to find practical ways to engage students who struggle

“Art is an essential part of the human condition and is an extension of our relationship with life and experience.”

Jicky Atkinson

with traditional methodology to develop creative teaching programs which align with the South Australian Curriculum, Standards and Accountability Framework.”

Co-homegroup teacher, Jason Rowe, says Jicky’s guidance has assisted many students using art to self-investigate and consider the impact serious and often dangerous social and emotional responses and behaviours have had on their lives.

“Many have emerged with improved emotional resilience and increased selfesteem,” Jason says. “The fact her art classes are highly sought after by the students is testimony the students find the curriculum relevant, engaging and stimulating.”

As Jicky explains: “Art is, I believe, an essential part of the human condition and is an extension of our relationship with life and experience.”

■

“the arts” 15

A R B I T R AT I O N

As it happened Enterprise Bargaining and Arbitration since 2007 2007

Development of AEU claim.

Consultation occurred across the state with members, Consultative Committees, TAFE Divisional Council, Branch Executive and Branch Council. The AEU’s claim is extensive, and includes salary increases of 21% for all education staff classifications, workload protections and professional development.

30 December 2007

Negotiations with Government began. South Australian (government

preschools, schools and TAFE) Enterprise Agreement 2006 provides that negotiations for a new Agreement may commence not later than 31 December 2007.

30 January 2008

Negotiations with government ongoing. Weekly meetings occur with

PSWD, DECS and TAFE representatives.

AEU details claim. Government states preference for separate Agreements for DECS and TAFE, but provides no detail for salary and workload matters.

31 March 2008

Enterprise Agreement 2006 nominally expires. Agreement provisions remain in force until a subsequent Agreement or Award is made.

3 April 2008

Government Offer (1) for TAFE Education Staff • Salary increases linked to a new Lecturer/Lecturer Assistant Classification Structure with variable initial increases from 1 October 2008, 0% to 3.25% from 1 October 2009 and 3.25% from 1 October 2010.

• 18-24 contact hours – “safety net” only • Redefinition of “ordinary hours” to 7am – 10pm, Monday to Sunday • Separate Agreement for TAFE only

16 April 2008

Government Offer (1) for DECS Education Staff • Salary increases of 3.25% from 1 October 2008, 3.25% from 1 October 2009 and 3.25% from 1 October 2010 - 9.75% over three years; Step 9 teacher level if defined performance criteria is met • SCRFM – unfair funding and staffing model, with no industrial protection 16

• No adequate workload protections • PAC role diminished

20 May 2008

Following consultation with members, AEU formally writes to Minister for Industrial Relations rejecting government’s offers of 3 April and 16 April 2008, and stating motions passed at rallies by AEU members across the state: • AEU members condemn the Rann Government for its insulting, inadequate and inept enterprise bargaining offer for preschool, school and TAFE employees and deplore the government’s undervaluing of the public education workforce and students of South Australia.

• AEU members demand an improved enterprise bargaining offer for all membership sectors that properly addresses workload, class/group size, professional development, salaries and recruitment and retention is delivered by 5.00pm Wednesday, 28 May 2008 to enable its consideration by AEU Branch Council on 31 May. • That in the event a new and acceptable offer is not received by 28 May, AEU members commit to a campaign of escalating political, industrial and community action to support our Claims for a new Enterprise Agreement.

31 May 2008

Branch Council endorses a recommendation from Branch Executive to ballot members for a 24-hour stop work action on Tuesday 17 June 2008.

10 June 2008

Revised Government Offer (2) for DECS Education Staff • No change to salaries offered on 16 April 2008 • SCRFM – funding and staffing model is revised but remains unfair, with no industrial protection • Workload protections remain inadequate • PAC role remains diminished from current arrangements

11 June 2008

AEU ballot for stop work action on 17 June 2008 supported by 85% of members.

11 June 2008

Government notifies IRC (SA) of an Industrial Dispute in an attempt to avert the AEU’s 24-hour stop work action for 17 June 2008.

12 June 2008

Branch Executive meeting rejects 10 June Government Offer on the basis it did not adequately address member concerns in

A R B I T R AT I O N

relation to salary, workload, separate Agreements for DECS and TAFE, and other matters.

17 June 2008

AEU members take 24-hour stop work action in support for a much improved government offer for an Agreement for both DECS and TAFE Education Staff.

23 July 2008

Revised Government Offer (2) for TAFE Education Staff • Separate Agreement for TAFE only • No change to salaries offered on 3 April 2008.

2 September 2008

Mediation commences in the IRC (SA).

5 September 2008

Minister for Industrial Relations refuses AEU request for an interim salary increase.

18 & 19 September 2008

Scheduled industrial action is deferred on the basis that government accepted the AEU’s application to enter into mediation under s.197 of the Fair Work Act 1994.

1 October 2008

AEU lodges application for an interim salary increase of 7% for all education staff in DECS and TAFE.

29 October 2008

Revised Government Offer (3) for DECS Education Staff

• Salary increases of 3.5% from date of approval of Agreement, 3.5% from 12 months following the date of approval and 3.5% from 24 months following date of approval. In other words, no retrospectivity to 1 October 2008 as previously offered.

• SCRFM – unfair funding and staffing model, with no industrial protection • No adequate workload protections • PAC role diminished

29 October 2008

Revised Government Offer (3) for TAFE Education Staff

• Separate Agreement for TAFE only • Salary increases linked to a new Lecturer/Lecturer Assistant Classifica-

tion Structure with variable initial increases from date of approval of Agreement (generally 0% to 3.5%), 3.5% from 12 months following the date of approval and 3.5% from 24 months following date of approval.

In other words, no retrospectivity to 1 October 2008 as previously offered.

10 November 2008

Revised Government Offer (4) for DECS Education Staff

• Salary increases of 3.75% from 1 October 2008, 3.75% from 1 October 2009 and 3.5% from 1 October 2010 – 11% over three years; 13.6% for Step 9 teachers only, 11.7% for AST1 only.

• SCRFM – unfair funding and staffing model, with no industrial protection • No adequate workload protections • PAC role diminished

10 – 14 November 2008

AEU ballot for a full-day stop work action on Friday 21 November and rolling halfday stoppages in weeks 7 and 8 of Term 4 supported by 81% of members.

12 November 2008

Government makes application for an arbitrated Award on the basis the parties cannot reach agreement.

20 November 2008

IRC makes orders that the AEU and its members not engage in the 24-hour strike proposed for 21 November 2008 or any subsequent industrial action.

December 2008

Revised Government Offer (4) for TAFE Education Staff

• Separate Agreement for TAFE only • Salary increases linked to a new Lecturer/Lecturer Assistant Classification Structure with variable initial increases from 1 October 2008, (generally 0% to 3.5%), 0% to 2.5% from 1 January 2009, 3.5% from 1 October 2009 and 3.5% from 1 October 2010.

16 December 2008

Mediation concludes without a resolution, but results in some government commitments. Among these are the implementation of 14 weeks Paid Maternity Leave and improvements to the Training and Professional Support Strategy.

1 (above) Taking industrial action over the

course of the two-year long campaign.

7 (left) AEU and DECS officers with their legal teams at the IRC on Wednesday, 10 February to receive the Commission’s decision.

27 January 2009

AEU files in the IRC (SA), a comprehensive final award application, in response to the government’s application of 12 November 2008. The AEU’s final award application is extensive, covering all education classifications in both DECS and TAFE.

28 & 29 January 2009

AEU’s Interim Award application for a salary increase heard by the IRC (SA).

9 February 2009 The IRC (SA) makes an Interim Award of 3.75% salary increase for all DECS and TAFE education staff payable from the first pay period commencing on or after 28 January 2009.

18 March 2009 to 30 October 2009

Arbitration – Award applications of both the AEU and government heard before a Full Bench of the IRC (SA) on over 40 hearing dates from 18 March 2009 to 30 October 2009. The AEU submits nearly 100 witness statements from members across all sectors of the membership.

3 August 2009

The AEU starts its Opening Submission outlining its case.

10 to 14 August 2009

The IRC conducts site inspections of schools, preschools and TAFE. The Commission visits sites in Adelaide, Whyalla and Amata.

17 August 2009

AEU witnesses start giving evidence under cross examination before the commission.

1 October 2009

Employer witnesses start giving evidence before the commission.

26 – 30 October 2009

Closing statements are given to the commission by the parties.

10 February 2010

Commision hands down Part One of its decision. See pages 8–9.

■ 17

WOMEN’S FOCUS WOMEN’S FOCUS | EVENTS IN MARCH

International Women’s Day 2010

The 2010 keynote speaker is SA born award winning ABC foreign correspondent Sally Sara. Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day and hear Sally’s story.

Come to the International Women’s Day March 2010 When: Tuesday 9 March Time: 5.30pm Where: State Library lawns,

North Terrace, Adelaide

Guest Speaker:

Sharan Burrow, President ACTU

Performance:

Sister Act

We will march down North Terrace and Pulteney Street, finishing in Rundle Street East with drinks and food on the balcony of the Austral Hotel. This event is free for all participants.

The AEU has always been a great supporter of this march and this year will be even better as we expect a big AEU member presence in the crowd. The AEU encourages any interested members to join the AEU delegation – our AEU banners, flags and balloons will be flying so you can’t miss us! Simply come along and support this great event. Join with us and hundreds of other women in solidarity and

celebrate IWD in style!

Come along, join in and help celebrate IWD at these great events in March.

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The AEU is again hosting a table. All members interested in attending the breakfast are invited to forward a short expression of interest to me via email (contact details below) by Monday, 1 March 2010. The breakfast concludes at approximately 8.30am. Many of the AEU women who attended in 2009 were able to negotiate a late arrival to work.

This year’s Adelaide UNIFEM Breakfast Committee will donate all proceeds to UNIFEM Australia to focus on empowering women to end poverty by 2015.

■

International Women’s Day 2010 Lunch When: Wednesday 10 March Time:

12.00am – 2.30pm

Where: Adelaide Convention Centre,

North Terrace, Adelaide

Special Guest:

Poh Ling Yeow (Masterchef)

International Women’s Day 2010 UNIFEM Breakfast

For booking forms and information on this event, contact Tish Champion.

When: Friday 5 March

The 8th Gladys Elphick Award recognising the dedication and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to their communities and women’s issues in South Australia will be presented at ■ this event.

Time:

6.30am (for 7.00am start)

Where: Adelaide Convention Centre, Host:

North Terrace, Adelaide Senator Penny Wong

Gladys Elphick Award 2010

Join us and celebrate! Any questions about attending these events please contact: Tish Champion, AEU Women’s Officer | phone: 8272 1399 | email: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au

Jean Pavy Awards 2010 The AEU continues to honour those students who achieve a merit in Women’s Studies Stage II in year 12 with the annual Jean Pavy Award. Jean Pavy (pictured) was an educator and union activist who was instrumental in the Equal Pay campaign for women teachers in the 1970’s.

This year’s award ceremony will follow a Spotlight Seminar on the work and achievements of Jean Pavy.

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SPOTLIGHT SEMINAR AND JEAN PAVY AWARDS CEREMONY When: Thursday 4 March

6.00pm Where: at the AEU Offices, 1st Floor Conference Room, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside Time:

This year, two students are to be recipients of the Jean Pavy Award, having successfully achieved merit in Women’s Studies Stage II in 2009. For the first time, a male student will be honoured.

These students and their teachers will be recognised at a special ceremony following the Spotlight Seminar. The evening will conclude with a light supper.

All AEU members who are interested in attending the Spotlight Seminar and Jean Pavy Awards Ceremony can register their attendance by contacting: Tish Champion | AEU Women’s Officer Phone: 8272 1399 Email: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au

CO N F E R E N CE R E PO RT

RECRUITMENT

Private information has extreme value

More new members in Upper Spencer

Teacher and AEU Rep Nicci Pallant reports on the privacy conference she attended recently • Electronic Crime includes cyber stalking, spam & phishing used to spread malicious software and the possession of child pornography.

I also considered the following useful:

Crime Prevention

• Preventing crime is more effective than investigating crime.

• Users need to learn about the technology they are using.

• Trust is not an option on the internet.

Let’s not get all freaked out and fear mongering about this. That would widen the generation gap that needs paving up for the best interests of our kids!

Probably the best information I gleaned from the conference was “be as anonymous as possible”. Avoid postings that could enable a stranger to profile you.

Some things you should NEVER divulge:

• Names: Surname, mother’s maiden name • History – Education, sports teams, where you live • Interests – Pets, hobbies etc.

Called Losing my identity: Privacy, Identity and E-Crime the conference was run by the Privacy Committee of South Australia.

Although I left rattled by the continuous conclusion that education (schools) need to change the world, I found some really valuable resources, including the booklet private i which I consequently ordered for every student and teacher at my school.

I know you are as exacerbated as I am at the flippancy employed by most teens to their privacy, so some of the following facts could help them change their privacy settings in facebook: • Identity Crime can underpin and facilitate a range of crime including drug trafficking, vehicle theft and reidentification, money laundering, terrorism and people smuggling.

The best time to take care is when choosing passwords for account settings.

I encourage young people to create a fictitious person. Of course, facebook profile owners will be aware the Privacy Commission has ruled changes to the social networking site used by seven million Aussies. If you can still be ‘found’ on Facebook you can get help to ‘change your privacy settings’ on the site.

Probably the most useful presentation was delivered by Barry Blundell from SA Police. You can access his slides and more info on my blog:

www.digitalrevolutionary. blogspot.com Thanks to my union I am now more informed!

AEU member and rep, Nicci Pallant is a teacher at Hamilton Secondary College.

You can also download this booklet “private i” (above) from:

www.privacy.gov.au/topics/youth

■

For the third year in succession, AEU officers focussed their attention on recruitment in the Upper Spencer regional centres of Port Augusta and Whyalla. These are significant areas for the placement of new educators each year, so it is important for us to make contact with these people and talk with them about the advantages of being part of our education union.

What’s great about these recruitment visits is that we engage our sub-branch secretaries in the preparation phase and we get to talk to a range of people about why the AEU is relevant to teachers, leaders and support staff in country South Australia.

In recent weeks, officers visited most preschools and schools in Port Augusta and Whyalla, speaking with members and potential members alike. In all, approximately 80 new members were signed up in just over three days, as a result of oneon-one conversations about what is important about union membership, both collectively and in relation to individual benefits.

We continue to work closely with Teachers Health who are able to offer benefits to members which are second to none.

It’s great to see so many people who are keen to take up membership for the first time and for new educators to make sure that their student membership is upgraded to full membership upon taking up a new teaching appointment. It’s also pleasing to see a number of SSOs, ECWs and ACEOs also making a commitment to become members of the AEU. At a time when we are advancing the salaries and conditions of education workers in this state, it’s important people recognise union members have achieved these results through collective action.

Recruitment of new members should be a high priority for AEU sub-branches; it ensures the continued growth of our union as a force for the advancement of ■ public education in this state.

Howard Spreadbury, AEU Lead Organiser 19

CO N F E R E N CE I N S E PT. 2 0 1 0

Connecting in the Middle

A E U E L E C T I O N N OT I CE

Australian Education Union | SA Branch

ELECTION NOTICE

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

For further information and registration details:

In a connected world, what does the middle year student want to learn and need to learn about?

The 5th International Middle Years of Schooling Conference HELD AT: Adelaide

Convention Centre ON: Monday, 6 September 2010 THEME: Our Worlds: Connecting in the Middle

sapmea.asn.au/conventions/middleschool2010

In particular, the conference will use the interface between current global thinking and the wisdom of teachers working in the middle years to explore the complexities adolescents face in today’s world.

What does it mean to be an effective middle years teacher in the 21st century? The focus of the conference will be on examining the world in which adolescents live and the factors, including social and digital cultures that influence and engage them.

How does quality pedagogy personalise and connect curriculum to students’ life experiences and learning? What opportunities does digital technology afford us in engaging, supporting and challenging students to achieve high standards? What is it that highly effective middle schooling does to improve student engagement and achievement?

Conference delegates will be invited to contribute to the online discussion forum with middle years students, teachers and conference speakers prior to the conference.

Teachers are encouraged to then join over 800 delegates at the conference. The day will provide a culmination to the diverse discussions made online and will continue the symposium by highlighting the voices of our internationally and nationally acclaimed keynote speakers: • Professor Paul Deering | Hawaii USA • Professor Gary Stager | USA • Professor Erica McWilliam | Qld Aust • Dr Thelma Perso | NT Aust • Robyn Barratt | SA Aust On Tuesday 7 September teachers may choose one of a number of school tours led by a keynote speaker to see quality middle years practice in action.

For further information and registration details for the 5th International Middle Years of Schooling Conference please go to the SAPMEA website (see URL left).

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

Four positions for a term of office ending March 2011.

Nominees must be 2010 Delegates to Branch Council who are not members of Branch Executive.

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

Four female and four male positions for a term of office ending March 2011.

Nominees must be 2010 Delegates to Branch Council.

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

One vacancy for a member working in the schooling sector for a term of office ending March 2012.

AEU Delegates to SA Unions Council SA Unions Council meets four times per annum in March, June, September and December.

16 positions for a term of office ending March 2012.

Closing Date Nominations for these vacancies will close at 12 noon on Wednesday, 24 March 2010.

Nominations should be directed to the Returning Officer, Australian Education Union, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside 5063.

Nomination forms are available from the AEU. Nominees are encouraged to provide a supporting statement of up to 200 words.

Election Procedure Ballots for contested positions will be conducted at Branch Council on Saturday 27 March 2010. Further information about these positions is available from Jack Major phone: 82721399 or email: aeusa@aeusa.asn.au

Peter Norman Returning Officer BOOK REVIEW

This little kiddy Went to market Lively and readable, this energetic book shows how the corporate capture of childhood is helping to shape the submissive employees and uncritical citizens of the future.

Sharon Beder examines the way that children are subjected to consumerist conditioning at every stage of development, through

education, food and entertainment. She explores how children’s play is transformed into a commercial opportunity, and how corporations have increasing influence within schools, bringing business values into the classroom.

Sharon Beder is a leading authority on corporate and envrionmental issues, for which she has won a number of awards. She is the author of ten books, including Free Market Missionaries (2006) and Global Spin (2nd ed. 2002). She is a visiting professor at the University of Wollongong.

RRP $39.95, UNSW Press ■

A E U 2 0 1 0 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

CO U N C I L DAT E S F O R 2 0 1 0

TERM 1 | 2010 AEU/DECS MERIT & PAC TRAINING

Branch Council Meetings

Merit Selection Training DATE

VENUE

TIME

Thursday 25 February (wk 5)

Coober Pedy

Wednesday 3 March (wk 6)

AEU Parkside

9.00am – 3.30pm

Monday 15 March 2010 (wk 8)

AEU Parkside

9.30am – 3.30pm

Friday 9 April 2010 (hols)

AEU Parkside

9.30am – 4.00pm

C A N C E LLE D

3.30pm – 8.30pm

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

2010 UNION MEMBER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Thurs 25 & Fri 26 Feb

9:15-15:30

New Workplace Reps (Secondary Schools) Course For more information on courses, relief funding or to register go to:

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

Who can attend: AEU members working in secondary schools in the greater metro area who have not attended AEU 2-day union education courses. Recommended for new elected workplace reps/sbs; WOCs. Participants should bring at least one other member with them.

Thurs 4 & Fri 5 March

New Country Workplace Reps Course

9:15-15:30

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

Who can attend: AEU members working in country sites who have not attended AEU 2day union education courses. Recommended for new elected workplace reps/sbs; WOCs. Participants should bring at least one other member with them.

Thurs 11 & Fri 12 March

8:15-14:45

New Workplace Reps Course

www.aeusa.asn.au

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

Who can attend: AEU members working in the greater metro area who have not attended AEU 2-day union education courses.

Recommended for new elected workplace reps/sbs; WOCs. Participants should bring at least one other member with them.

Tues 16 March & Thurs 13 May

New Workplace Reps (Tea Tree Gully) Course

9:15-15:30 9:15-15:30

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

Who can attend: AEU members working in or near the Tea Tree Gully area who have not attended AEU 2-day union education courses.

Recommended for new elected workplace reps/sbs; WOCs. Participants should bring at least one other member.

Thurs 25 March

9.15–15.30

Skills for Members Workshop

1-day course to develop members’ confidence in decision-making forums.

Meeting procedures, assertive communication and public speaking are covered in a workshop format.

Who can attend: All AEU members.

Fri 26 March

New Branch Council Delegates Course

9.15–15.00

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

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

Wed 7, Thurs 8, Fri 9 July

Conflict Resolution through Mediation

9.15–16.00

A high-demand 3-day course facilitated by Professor Dale Bagshaw and practising mediators, covering the theory and practice of mediation. Participants must commit for all 3 days.

Who can attend: Leaders, OHSW and AEU reps and activists who are members.

Fri 13 August

Non-teaching Staff and SSO Contact Officers

9.15–15.00

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

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

Fri 19 November

9:15-15:00

Potential Delegates Course

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

Who can attend: AEU members.

All courses are held at the AEU unless otherwise specified.

Upcoming dates for 2010 are: Saturday, 27 March Saturday, 29 May Saturday, 14 August Saturday, 20 November

TAFE Divisional Council Meetings Upcoming dates for 2010 are: Friday, 26 March Friday, 28 May Friday, 13 August Friday, 19 November

T E AC H I N G R E S O U R CE S

Australian Geographic Australian primary school children and their teachers will have a vital new learning resource available to them in 2010, with the iconic AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC magazine launching a comprehensive interactive education program.

Designed for teachers, by teachers, the range includes a unique combination of magazines, books and state-of-the-art interactive whiteboard lessons for students in Kindergarten to Year 2 (Little Kids series) and Years 3 to 6 (Explorers series). The program also includes an educational storybook series, Our Australia, by renowned children’s author Phil Kettle.

Supplementary teaching aids, including DVDs, maps and posters are also available.

“This series is a significant development for Australian educators and school kids,” notes Australian Geographic Education general manager Jo Runciman. “We’re providing a quality resource that is relevant to the country we live in, the times we live in, and for the children who live here.”

For more information go to:

www.australiangeographic .com.au/Education/Index.htm

Attention all Women members

Interested in making a difference within the union? Vacancies still exist on the Status of Women Consultative Committee for 2010. Anyone interested in joining this team of dedicated and union proud women can contact AEU Women’s Officer, Tish Champion: phone: 8272 1399 email: tchampion@aeusa.asn.au 21

N OT I CE B OA R D

Members’ Market VICTOR HARBOR Holiday Hse:

Enjoy a Break! Beautiful renovated 3BR hse walking distance of beach, skate park, shops, restaurants and the city centre. ‘Home away from Home’ with all facilities. Lge yard, great for relaxing and enjoying a BBQ and wine under the Pergola.

T: 0413 920 554 E: crupi@chariot.net.au

HOLIDAY HOUSE, 'NORTH BAY', CARRICKALINGA: Architecturally designed new two storey beach house. 4BR, 3 bath, 2 living areas, European stainless kitchen, extensive decking and views. Suits 2 families. Sleeps up to 10. Play equipment for the kids.

View: www.stayz.com.au and visit North Bay at Carrickalinga for rates & availability. T: 0403 015 964

FRANCE – SOUTH:

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

HOLIDAY RENTAL: Yorke Peninsula: Brand new upmarket esplanade beach house ‘Manyana’ at Wool Bay (near Edithburgh). Features incl. spa, 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. Avail. sch. hols, L/weekends, weekends etc.

Info/bookings: T:(08) 8832 2623 W: www.countrygetaways.info MARION BAY: ff, near new hse.

Gateway to Innes National Park.

Sleeps 8, 3BRs, large living area, TV and DVD. Spacious balcony w. outdoor setting and BBQ. Only 5 mins to Willyama Beach and 5km to National Park. Info/bookings: E: kireland15@gmail.com

Kangaroo Island Getaway KI RURAL RETREAT: Attractive

self cont. large country home surrounded by garden and native bushland on 260 acres. Great for families or couples escape. Sleeps 2 to 12; 2 bath, 2 queen beds, 2 spacious living areas, laundry, patio. From $120/night.

T: 0407 790754 a.h.

E: semurphy@optusnet.com.au

HOLIDAY GETAWAYS VICTOR HARBOR: Kangaroo Island HOLIDAY HSE: All Seasons Lakefront Getaway: Set in bushland beside Harriet

Stunning self-contained luxury colonial home in the picturesque surrounds of Encounter Lakes, Victor Harbor. Priv. secl. sandy beach and lake at your back door!

4BRs. Sleeps 8. 2 spacious living areas. 2nd bath, 3 toilets & laundry. Huge lawned backyard.

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, walk/bike trail, cafes, restaurants

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.

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

Contact Anne Walker or Simon Willcox Phone: (08) 8410 6788 Fax: (08) 8410 6799 Located at SATISFAC / Level 3 / 400 King William Street

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and general store. 3BRs. Sleeps 6.

Spacious Lounge/ Fam/Dine rm. 2 way bathroom, separate toilet & laundry. Info/bookings: T: 8344 7921 M: 0419 868 143 E: foumakis@hotmail.com www.victorharborholidayhomes. spaces.live.com

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.

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. Avail. all year incl. school holidays. T: 0413 155 460 www.stayz.com.au/23983

Kangaroo Island HOLIDAY COTTAGE

2BR cottage nestled in woodland at Vivonne Bay. Close to beach and Harriet River, visited nightly by wildlife, abundant birdlife during the day, well located for touring popular KI attractions. Self cont., air con, full size stove, BBQ. Quaint, romantic and cosy! Sleeps up to 4 at $95pn. T: (08) 8341 9185 W: www.ravencottage.com.au E: enquiries@ravencottage.com.au

FOR SALE: WILLIAMSTOWN 5 acre tranguil property

Are you looking for a magnificent country property near Gawler with beautiful surrounds? Solid brick 4BR home, 2 with BIR’s, 1 with full wall bookcase, rooms are spacious, all in top condition.

Garden shed, Security system, low maintenance garden recently relaid solid drive, dog yard, mains water. T: 8524 6043 Reduced to: $469,950. Inspect by app.

N OT I CE B OA R D HOUSEBOAT: (near Mannum)

There is still plenty of water for recreational boating. 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.

Bundara accommodates up to 10 people. T: (08) 8277 8751 Visit us at: www.bundara2.net/ E: tandu.prucha@bigpond.com

ABSOLUTE SEAFRONT HOUSE

Stunning summer beach, dolphins - wine - seafood. House (neg) or beach or balcony suites from $45 per double. Min 4 nights. from $45 per double, mid-wk off-peak.

Kingston near Robe.

T: 8338 2316 a/h: 0402 922 445

ROOM FOR RENT: Share 3BR

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

T: 0409 486 088

FOR RENT: f.f. private apartment

in Glenelg for holiday or weekend rental. Heated pool, spa, steamroom, sauna, gym etc. Plasma TV, 100m to beach.

T: 8376 3747 or 0403 606 052

35mm SLIDE SCANNING Adelaide and Hills:

Do you have old 35mm slides gathering dust and deteriorating?

Have them professionally scanned at high resolution and transferred onto CD. 17 years exp., reasonable rates. T: 0401 590 875 WORKSHOP: Stress management, personal development and learning difficulties: Brain Gyman introductory workshop. Movements to ‘switch on’ the brain.

T/fax: 08 8768 2537 E: gibbons@seol.net.au FOR SALE: Retirees/Semi Retirees Modern beachside hme, Sth Arm

French Teachers (Secondary) from Metro-

politan France, West French Indies, French Guyana, Reunion Island and French Polynesia wish to get in contact with teachers for correspondence, exchange of flats or holidays. If you are interested, write to: SNES Echanges – Florian LASCROUX Syndicat National des Enseignements de Second degré 46 avenue d’Ivry – 75647 PARIS CEDEX 13 Télécopie: (33) 1 40 63 29 36 E-Mail: echanges@snes.edu

(0pp Bruny Island) Tas. 3 – 4BR, easy care landscaped garden w. glass encl. spa. $400,000.

T: 8177 0040

SEAFRONT HOLIDAY HOUSE:

Yorke Peninsula “Oceanfront Escape” 2-storey holiday house w. pergola overlooking beach & farmland on other side. V. secluded, sleeps 9, 4 BRMs, full kitchen, barbecue, DVD, VCR, TV, Billiard table, fish cleaning room (great fishing). Peaceful and relaxing, great beach for kids to swim and explore. Contact Brenton on: T: 0409 864 682/(08) 8387 1659 E: bjejstevens@bigpond.com

CEDUNA BEACH HOUSE:

Self-cont, beachfront, BBQ, DVD, LCD TV, R/C aircon, Sleeps 6.

Corporate rates AEU members.

Main street and jetty 5 min walk.

Available all year round for short or long term stays.

Ceduna Visitor Info Centre: T: 1800 639 413 & 08 8625 2780

GO SCUBA DIVING WITH ELITE DIVE ACADEMY:

Are you a diver, but haven’t been in the water for a while?! Get $50 off a PADI Tune-Up program to refresh your skills. Contact: T: (Steve) 0413 134 827 E: info@elitediveacademy.com.au W: www.elitediveacademy.com.au

CIVIL CELEBRANT: Dr Tom Haig

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

T: 85311726 or 0439 687 529 E: tomhaig@internode.on.net W: www.tomhaig.com.au FOR SALE: Certified organic cosmetics & personal products. www.bodytune.mionegroup.com

HOUSE SITTING:

Professional couple seeking house sit in Adelaide and environs, from late July to late October 2010.

Non-smokers and house proud.

Have wide experience in home renovations, domestic repairs and gardening. Good with animals and understand the need to leave any house sit in at least as good condition as found.

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

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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