THE LONG ROAD TO FULL FUNDING What this historic win means for all Australians
YOUR ROLE HAS GROWN. HAS YOUR CLASSICICATION? Reclassification for our support staff EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER A breakdown of
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What’s in this issue?
A historic union win for public education
With our state securing a deal with the Federal Government to fully fund public schools, we’re entering a new era for public education in South Australia. This historic achievement was long-fought and won by AEU members. Your voices, stories, and passion made this win possible. Change takes time, but when it happens, it’s worth every effort.
While we celebrate this major victory, we also need to prepare for what’s next. Increased funding will spark discussions on how best to use these resources. Now is the time to strengthen relationships and develop the skills needed to influence decisions that shape public education at every site.
Get involved in our training and education opportunities to connect with other educators and build your skills. Each term you can attend your Area Meeting led by one of our Officers to discuss local issues, network, and share ideas that will benefit your site and students.
Collaboration at the sub-branch level is also key. Your site’s Organiser, trained in Growth Coaching, can help navigate challenges, manage conflicts, and drive positive change through teamwork. Sub-Branches should be at the heart of site-based decision-making, with Organisers
What you need to know
+ After more than a decade of lobbying, AEU members have secured full funding for public education
+ Public educators know how best to allocate these new resources
+ We need to grow membership to ensure this hardfought achievement is put to the best possible use
working alongside members, particularly Sub-Branch Secretaries and Workplace Organising Committees, to develop strategies for real impact.
The strength of our union comes from its members. More members mean a stronger voice. Have conversations with colleagues who aren’t yet members or invite our Growth Team to your site to help grow our collective power.
Securing $1 billion in funding for SA public schools is a massive achievement, but making sure it’s used effectively to benefit kids and safeguard our profession requires ongoing effort. Now is the time to get involved, work together, and ensure public educators’ voices shape the future - because no one understands what our students need better than you.
MATTHEW CHERRY, BRANCH SECRETARY
Accept nothing less
Thirteen years ago, the Gonski Review made it clear: public schools needed urgent, needs-based funding to give every child a fair go. As a former principal of an underfunded primary school, I saw firsthand that lack of resources meant teachers stretched beyond capacity, students missing out on the support they needed, and a system that expected us to do more with less – leading to an unprecedented educator shortage crisis. Since then, we’ve fought relentlessly to change that.
As educators, parents, and union members, we’ve campaigned, lobbied, and refused to accept anything less than full funding for public schools. We’ve made enormous progress, but we’re not there yet.
Last year, the federal government signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, promising to bring public schools and preschools up to the minimum School Resourcing Standard for the first time. For South Australia, that means a billion dollars over ten years. This is funding that could change lives, won by AEU members. And while this agreement is a step forward, work still needs to be done to ensure public education gets the fair and thoughtful funding distribution it needs to truly deliver on the promise of Gonski.
As public educators, we’re the experts on what underfunding looks like. Large class sizes, crumbling infrastructure, exhausted teachers, and students who aren’t getting the specialist support they need. Schools in rural and disadvantaged areas are hit hardest, and we see the consequences every day.
If you’d like to read more about the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, scan here
We need real investment in teacher recruitment and retention, in professional development, and in support for students with additional needs. Every dollar must go where it’s needed most, ensuring that the schools educating the bulk of Australia’s most vulnerable students are not left behind again. We have come too far to stop now. Our fight is not just for funding. It’s for fairness, for equity, and for a future where every public school is resourced to give every child the education they deserve. Governments must deliver, and we will hold them to their promise. Together, we will make sure the promise of Gonski is fully realised for every South Australian student.
JENNIE-MARIE GORMAN, PRESIDENT
The long road to full funding
It's 2011. I'm teaching a year one class in Bankstown, in South-west Sydney. Mid-morning, a new student is dropped off in my classroom. Her name is Zainab. She’s just stepped off a plane from Syria, where things are getting dangerous. Protests fill the streets, the army is firing on civilians, and the country is on the brink of civil war.
Zainab speaks no English, communicating only through hand signals. Fortunately, there are a few Arabic-speaking students in the class, and together we do our best to make her first day as smooth as possible.
But the reality is, no matter how much effort we put in, the gaps in support for students like Zainab are bigger than any one teacher or classroom can bridge. Without proper funding, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are always at risk of slipping through the cracks, no matter how hard educators work to paste over them.
Teaching in bankstown taught me a lot.
THERE ARE TWO AUSTRALIAS
The first is the Australia I grew up in - where my working-class migrant parents could become teachers, get good union jobs, and ensure we always had a roof over our heads. Then, there’s the Australia that too many kids, like Zainab, grow up in - where opportunities are limited by our country’s prejudices.
1 LESSON
In my first few years of teaching, I saw this divide everywhere. It frustrated me. In a country as wealthy as Australia, how could this be acceptable? Something needed to change.
Around that same time, the Gonski review came out. It confirmed what we already knew: too many kids were falling behind in an education system that wasn’t supporting them. It highlighted that public school teachers and support staff were doing the heavy lifting for students from disadvantaged backgrounds without the funding needed to match that responsibility.
But for the first time, we had a real school funding model - one that could deliver on the founding promise of public education: equity and opportunity.
THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE WON’T DO ANYTHING UNLESS WE MAKE THEM
I felt hopeful but frustrated. Politicians had been handed a blueprint to improve education. All they had to do was write the cheque. Why wouldn’t they?
AS UNION MEMBERS, WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE REAL CHANGE
3 LESSON
2 LESSON
That’s when I started to notice union members standing up, fighting for full Gonski funding. It’s also when I realised that if I was serious about making change for students like Zainab, great lesson plans alone wouldn’t cut it. I had to stand with my colleagues and demand better from our politicians.
I was invited to union meetings, rallies, train station stalls, social media campaigns, doorknocks, letterbox drops - you name it. And you know what? The deal got done. The then Premier, Barry O'Farrell, and Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, signed the first Gonski deal into reality. The other states and territories followed.
LESSON
4
JUST BECAUSE YOU WIN SOMETHING DOESN’T MEAN YOU GET TO KEEP IT
That was 14 years ago. Then, Tony Abbott happened. He promised a ‘unity ticket’ on school funding. He lied. He committed for four years and then pulled the pin just as the bulk of the funding was due to reach schools.
Zainab has finished school now. I hope she is still here, living her best life. But the truth is, thanks to shifting government policies like ‘no school left behind’ and ‘Gonski 2.0’, Zainab never had access to the full funding she needed and deserved.
NEVER STOP FIGHTING
For 14 years, you, me, and our fellow union members have fought for full funding. We’ve made ground. We’ve lost ground. Like every union campaign, it’s been a battle.
But this January, Anthony Albanese and Peter Malinauskas signed on to fully fund our public schools and preschools. That means an extra $1 billion over the next decade. This is an AEU member win that will benefit all Australians.
That means you, and every union member who stood together and refused to give up, made this happen. It means every Zainab will get the support they need to reach their full potential, and you will finally have the funding and resources to thrive as an educator.
But the fight isn’t over.
If we want to secure the future of public education, we must stay active in our union. We must keep showing up, keep organising, and keep demanding better for our students. Every hard-fought gain in public education has come because union members stood together and refused to back down. The next generation of kids are counting on us to keep going. Let’s make sure we do.
5 LESSON
MATTHEW COFFEY MEMBERSHIP AND TRAINING OFFICER
Early childhood education is changing for the better
South Australian families are set to benefit from one of the most significant investments in early childhood education in our state's history, thanks to the tireless advocacy of AEU members. In mid2024, the South Australian Government announced an unprecedented $1.9 billion investment over the next decade to deliver two years of universally accessible preschool. This funding is a direct result of the AEU’s unwavering campaign for properly funded, high-quality, free public preschool.
Since 1975, four-year-olds in South Australia have had consistent access to public, teacher-led preschool programs thanks to the advocacy of unions. The AEU has since continued the fight at a state and national level to ensure that all children, regardless of their postcode, have the right to two years of highquality, public preschool delivered by degree-qualified teachers and educators. The South Australian government’s recent investment is transformational and will shape the future for generations.
KEY WINS INCLUDE:
This funding is a huge step forward, but our work is not done. We must now galvanise our collective strength to ensure this investment is implemented properly, with clear commitments to public provision, secure staffing, and quality learning environments
Over five years to roll out universal three-year-old preschool $339.7 million
Over four years for 30-hour preschool programs for the most vulnerable children $127.3 million
Over four years to grow & support the early childhood workforce $96.6 million
Over four years to partner with Aboriginal communities in early childhood education $14 million
A NATIONAL PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
The AEU’s success in SA strengthens our federal fight for a national plan that guarantees two years of free public preschool for every child in Australia. The Federal Government must now:
+ Develop a nationally consistent approach to preschool funding
+ Prioritise public provision and stop relying on the private sector to fill gaps
+ Invest in workforce strategies that secure qualified, well-paid educators.
The AEU’s 2025 statement on preschool funding calls for these changes. We’ve proven that unionism works, now we need to push for national reform.
SHAPING THE WORKFORCE STRATEGY
The AEU has also played a key role in shaping the Early Childhood Workforce Strategy, ensuring that educators are supported and retained. Wins include:
+ Country loading allowances for regional educators—an AEU win secured through enterprise bargaining
+ Scholarships of up to $25,000 for early childhood teaching degrees
+ Fee-free TAFE pathways for early childhood qualifications
+ A strong focus on Aboriginal workforce development and cultural safety.
This funding victory shows what we can achieve when we stand together. But funding alone is not enough. We must continue to fight for public control, quality conditions, and the rights of educators and children. By staying active in our union, we ensure that every dollar won makes a real difference where it’s needed most: in public early childhood education.
This is your win, our win, and a win for future generations. Union power makes change happen. Let’s keep pushing forward.
KENDALL PROUD VICE PRESIDENT, AEU SA
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ACHIEVE A COMMON PURPOSE
OPEN TO AEU SA UNION LEADERS: SBS, HSR REPS, WOMEN’S CONTACT OFFICERS, PAC REPS, SSO REPS, BRANCH COUNCIL DELEGATES, AND EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
+ HOPE FOR THE PROFESSION What’s on the
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+ UNION LEADERSHIP: skills and development
Your role has grown. Has your classification?
Securing the full Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) is a huge achievement for public education, won by AEU members. It ensures that schools and preschools will have the funding they need to provide every student with the best possible opportunities to succeed. However, while this victory promises a stronger future, fair pay for support staff cannot be deferred until the additional funding arrives.
Each year, we support SSOs, ECWs, and AEWs through the reclassification process. We know lots of support staff are already undertaking work well beyond their classification level.
Has your role become more complex since you first started?
It is a common experience. Over time, support staff gain a deeper understanding of their school or preschool environment, require less supervision, and take on greater responsibilities. Perhaps you now work independently with small groups, manage classroom set-up and pack-down for every activity, or have become the key contact for a site-wide program. Maybe you’re the go-to adviser for technical issues. If this sounds like you or someone you know, you’re not alone. As experience grows, so too can the scope of your responsibilities. It is essential that this work is properly valued and that pay reflects the actual duties performed.
Too often, we hear that there is ‘not enough funding’ to reclassify or increase the numbers of support staff. Schools and preschools operate under immense financial constraints, and leaders are constantly balancing competing priorities. But if you’re being asked to perform duties above your classification level without appropriate remuneration, this constitutes wage theft.
The full SRS funding is a crucial step towards a betterresourced public education system. However, fair pay and correct classification should not be something support staff have to wait for. That’s why we’re focused on ensuring all support staff are accurately classified through our Know Your Worth campaign in 2025.
If you believe your classification does not reflect your responsibilities, now is the time to act. Reach out to us to discuss your classification and ensure your work is properly recognised and paid.
SADIE GENT VICE PRESIDENT
Support staff classified at Level 1
Feeling guilty?
From countless conversations with women members, one thing stands out as the biggest barrier to taking control of their workload, attending training, and setting boundaries: guilt. It’s the weight that keeps them up at night, the voice in their head whispering that they should be doing more.
Education is often described as a calling. You’re constantly reminded to ‘remember your why.’ But for many, this sense of duty comes at a cost.
For our ancillary staff, guilt can mean hesitating to apply for reclassification, even when they’re working above their classification level, because the student they support is only funded for a certain number of hours at a lower level. For our teachers, it can mean sacrificing their own health and wellbeing, staying up late to differentiate lessons for students who don’t receive the funding they need. For our leaders, it can mean barely making it home before the sun sets in the height of summer.
Whatever form it takes, the guilt of filling gaps caused by a funding shortfall grinds away at you. That little voice insists you must put the students first and that ignoring it means a student will miss out.
And so, you continue. Because for some of these students, you are their sole source of hope and opportunity.
But imagine a different reality. One where you can finish your work and leave it behind, knowing students are getting what they need without sacrificing your career growth, your health, your time with loved ones, or your own passions. Imagine a system where schools are funded to at least the minimum standard required to truly support every student.
What you need to know
+ For too long our profession has stayed afloat on educators putting kids before themselves, far beyond the scope of their role, time, or funding
+ Educators should not feel personally responsible for the shortfalls of an underfunded system
+ Full funding of public education represents an opportunity to redress this balance
Well, that reality is within reach.
Thanks to the tireless campaigning of AEU members across the country, the Federal Government has announced that all schools and preschools will receive the full minimum Schooling Resource Standard funding. This long-overdue investment must be carefully and rigorously overseen by the same collective strength of members that secured the deal in the first place.
In South Australia, this funding represents a real chance for students to get what they need without you having to bridge the gap. It means having the support to differentiate lessons, the opportunity to apply for the reclassification you deserve, and the ability to spend more time with those who matter most.
But to make sure this funding delivers for both students and staff, we need strength in numbers. If you know a colleague who wants to see this money make a real difference, encourage them to join the AEU. Together, we can ensure this funding is used where it’s needed most and finally free ourselves from the guilt that has weighed us down for too long.
JAKI HEIM WOMEN'S OFFICER
Term 2 Planner
Hi, we’re your new Growth Team!
In 2025, the AEU’s commitment to building strength and solidarity in the profession has taken an exciting step forward with the introduction of the new Growth Team.
As Growth Team Officers, our job is to connect with educators across South Australia, highlighting the value of union membership and making sure everyone - members and nonmembers alike - understands the power of being part of a strong collective.
Over the past few months, we’ve been out and about, visiting schools, catching up with Sub-Branch Secretaries, and building relationships with educators at all levels, including support staff, teachers, and leaders. Since the start of the year, we’ve visited 46 primary and secondary schools and connected with future educators at university O-Week events.
Another big focus for us has been supporting early career teachers through Orbis workshops and helping student members as they step into the workforce. This hands-on approach has already seen 30 student members transition to full AEU membership. In term one alone, we’ve directly assisted 262 educators in joining or updating their membership, and many more are considering it after talking with us.
The stronger our membership, the stronger our collective voice. By working closely with Organisers and sub-branches, we’re helping to grow the AEU’s influence in schools, preschools, and TAFE sites. More members mean greater bargaining power, stronger advocacy, and a louder voice when it comes to improving your pay, conditions, and support.
Having recently been in the classroom ourselves, we know firsthand the increasing pressures educators face. That’s why we’re so passionate about growing our union; because when our membership is strong, we all benefit. We’ve both served as union reps in our own schools, and we’re committed to making sure every educator has the backing they deserve. Every conversation, every new member, and every strengthened connection helps build a more powerful union. We’re excited to keep working alongside members like you to grow our collective influence and ensure that we make a real difference to the future of public education.
THOMAS GIBBS GROWTH TEAM OFFICER
Union strength, solidarity, and educators working collectively.
Growth, progress, and increasing union membership
Protection, advocacy, and the support that membership provides.
Voice and advocacy in improving conditions for educators.
Get to know us!
Our new Growth Team is focused on growing membership and strengthening our power as the voice for public education. If you're looking to increase membership at your site, get in contact with our Growth Team today. They can support and guide you through helping your colleagues to join the AEU.
Joining the union is the right thing to do. It’s a smart thing to do.
I’m honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Growth Team and contribute to member training and education, after 15 years working in public education and the union movement. I’m looking forward to us all working together to build this mighty union and create an unstoppable movement of public educators.
MATTHEW COFFEY MEMBERSHIP AND TRAINING OFFICER
As a Growth Officer, I engage with non-members and existing members across SA. With my experience as a secondary teacher and sub-branch secretary, I bring a current and in-depth understanding of the challenges in education. I firmly believe that every public educator should be a member of the AEU. A union strengthened by its members will be better equipped to advocate for and enhance education for all.
GAYE ROSE GROWTH TEAM OFFICER
I'm really looking forward to working with sites and their AEU representatives to support members and grow our union. Our Growth Team spends the majority of the time in sites, so make sure to come and have a chat when you see us!
THOMAS GIBBS GROWTH TEAM OFFICER
The fight isn’t over
After years of relentless campaigning by the AEU nationally, public schools are finally on the path to full funding. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that the Federal Government will increase its Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) contribution to 25 per cent while eliminating funding loopholes is a direct result of this sustained advocacy. But history shows no victory is secure, especially when it comes to public education under the Coalition.
2013
Since 2013, successive Coalition governments have undermined public education. Despite promising ‘no cuts to education,’ Tony Abbott’s first budget slashed $30 billion from schools, gutting the Gonski reforms that aimed to ensure all students had access to the resources they needed.
2017
Malcolm Turnbull went further in 2017, tearing up signed Gonski agreements and enshrining a funding model that saw private schools receive 80 per cent of the SRS while public schools were capped at just 20 per cent. By 2023, only 1.3 per cent of public schools in the ACT were fully funded, while 98 per cent of private schools exceeded the SRS.
2018
THE COALITION: A LONG HISTORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION CUTS
Scott Morrison continued this pattern, introducing bilateral agreements that allowed states to inflate their public school SRS shares by 4 per cent through nonschool expenditures, depriving schools of resources while private institutions flourished.
The Coalition’s agenda has been clear: prioritise private schools while leaving public school students behind.
Their refusal to back full funding has widened the education divide, undermining the futures of millions of Australian children.
2024
The Albanese government’s commitment to full and fair public school funding is a stark contrast to the Coalition’s legacy of cuts and neglect. With the federal share increasing to 25 per cent, matched by a genuine 75 per cent state contribution, public schools will finally have the resources they need to support every child’s learning.
The Australian Greens and many Independents have also been unwavering in their support for public education. Their commitment to properly resourcing public schools stands in stark contrast to the Coalition’s indifference and cuts.
Tellingly, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has remained silent on this commitment, leaving open the possibility that a future Coalition government could again strip funding from public schools. He has also aligned himself with far-right rhetoric, attacking educators and pushing ideological battles that distract from the real issue: ensuring all children receive a quality education.
The upcoming federal election will determine the future of Australia’s education system. Voters must choose between a government that invests in public education and an opposition with a record of cuts and ideological attacks on educators.
The AEU, alongside the ACTU, community organisations, and parent and principal groups, is committed to keeping education at the forefront of the election debate. A strong national and local campaign will be essential to ensuring Australians understand what’s at stake.
Public education is the foundation of a fair and flourishing society. It equips children with the skills they need to succeed and strengthens Australia’s future. Now, more than ever, we must stand together to protect this historic win and ensure every Australian child has access to a fully funded public school.
The fight is not over. Educators, parents, and voters must demand that every government, now and in the future, upholds its responsibility to fund public schools properly. This is not just about education; it is a fundamental social and economic issue that will shape Australia for generations to come.
CORRENA HAYTHORPE FEDERAL PRESIDENT
Greens candidate Joanna Wells and Labor member Louise-Miller Frost at our Boothby community event
Members for Sturt speaking at our community event
A union victory for every Australian
Since December 2011, when the Review of Funding for Schooling, better known as the Gonski Report, was handed to the Gillard Government, Australia has had a Schools Resourcing Standard – an indexed dollar amount, weighted for various individual factors such disability or financial disadvantage, that is necessary to ensure every child receives the learning support they need to thrive.
Put simply - for over 13 years, State and Federal Governments have explicitly known they are not providing the two-thirds of Australian children who attend public schools with the educational foundation that they know leads to better employment, well-being, health and social mobility outcomes.
We have knowingly let down multiple generations despite being equipped with all the evidence we need and allowed social and economic inequality grow significantly as a result. There are now, finally, signed agreements with all States and Territories that will take public school funding to the full Schools Resourcing Standard over the next ten years.
"The highest performing education systems are those that combine equity with quality. They give all children opportunities for a good quality education...Educational failure also imposes high costs on society. Poorly educated people limit economies’ capacity to produce, grow and innovate. School failure damages social cohesion and mobility, and imposes additional costs on public budgets to deal with the consequences –higher spending on public health and social support and greater criminality, among others. For all these reasons, improving equity in education and reducing school failure should be a high priority in all OECD education policy agendas.*
What you need to know
+ For nearly 15 years, the Government has knowingly underfunded public schools
+ Now, that’s about to change
+ This is a historic AEU member win for every Australian
Thanks to the relentless advocacy of the Australian Education Union; the determination of Premier Peter Malinauskas and Education Minister Blair Boyer; and the educators, community sector partners, and every-day South Australians who supported the For Every Child campaign, South Australian public schools and preschools will receive an additional $1b and reach full-funding for the first time. There’s more to celebrate about this outcome than the benefit for public kids and educators. When every child has the opportunity for a high-quality education, the whole community wins. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has long argued that all nations should recognise this in policy and funding priorities, stating, When education is properly funded our whole society benefits; all kids, all families, all communities, all businesses, all industries. This union-led win is a victory for every Australian.
* Equity and Quality in Education: Supporting Disadvantaged Students and Schools, OECD, 2012
*SA Bilateral - Interim School Funding Agreement 2025
BRAD CHILCOTT AM, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR: WELCOMING AUSTRALIA
Under the Full and Fair Funding Agreement, the Commonwealth has increased its contribution to 25 per cent of the SRS to put government schools on a pathway to 100 per cent of funding over the life of the agreement. This is subject to states and territories maintaining a share of at least 75 per cent of the SRS for public schools.
25%
75%
Solidarity and strength
As your union, we remain committed to advocating for all TAFE SA educators in the enterprise bargaining process. Achieving a fair and comprehensive agreement takes time, patience, and a strategic approach.
OUR KEY BARGAINING PRIORITIES
Our primary goal is to safeguard all existing entitlements while securing meaningful improvements. Key areas of focus include:
Ending excessive workloads
+ Reducing Instruction and Assessment hours
+ Significantly cutting administrative tasks
+ Enhancing overtime provisions.
Improving working conditions
+ Expanding flexible work arrangements
+ Increasing travel provisions
+ Boosting leave entitlements for maternity, primary carers, partners, and family carers.
Securing our workforce
+ Clear pathways to permanency
+ Guaranteed access to vital professional development every year
+ A pay rise commensurate with the vital work you do and the rising cost of living
+ Full back pay upon agreement approval.
Enterprise bargaining is a thorough process requiring careful negotiation to achieve the best outcomes for our members. The discussions so far have been constructive, with both the AEU and TAFE SA management committed to attracting and retaining high-quality staff. While we may have different approaches, the ongoing dialogue reflects a shared goal of improving conditions for educators.
The power of membership growth
A strong and engaged membership base enhances our bargaining strength. The more members we have, the louder our collective voice. If you’re already a member, consider speaking to colleagues about the benefits of joining the AEU. A united front not only strengthens our negotiating position but also builds a more supportive education community.
Your role in the process
Your input is essential. Sharing your experiences and challenges provides critical insights that shape our negotiations. Real stories highlight the importance of fair and equitable conditions. We encourage you to contribute, stay informed, and participate in union activities to amplify our collective voice.
What you need to know
+ The AEU continues to represent all TAFE SA educators at the bargaining table
+ Securing an industry-leading agreement requires patience and strength
+ Growing our membership density strengthens our collective bargaining power
As we navigate this process, persistence and solidarity are key. The AEU is dedicated to securing an agreement that reflects the dedication and professionalism of all TAFE SA educators. By working together and maintaining our focus on growth, we can achieve a fair and just outcome for all members. For ongoing updates and further information, visit our website. Together, through solidarity and strength, we can secure the rights and conditions that TAFE SA educators deserve.
ANGELA DEAN
ORGANISER: TAFE FOCUS, AEU SA
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Supporting Palestine as an educator
Over the past 18 months, discussion and action related to the ongoing genocide in Palestine has been suppressed within our workplaces under the guise of ‘impartiality’. While pro-Israel and pro-Zionist voices and organisations have continued to be amplified.
In mid-2024, we formed Teachers and School Staff for Palestine SA to counter anti-Palestinian racism within the South Australian education system and to advocate for the right of Palestinians to live free from violence on their land.
Our key objectives:
+ Educate and advocate: we provide resources on Palestine and support non-violent initiatives that pressure Israeli authorities to uphold human rights and international law, including the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement
+ Unite and organise: We mobilise teachers and school staff across South Australia to support and promote the rights of the Palestinian people
+ Raise Awareness: We inform school staff about Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, the plight of Palestinian refugees, and the struggle of Palestinian citizens of Israel for full equality and rights
+ Support Student Activism: We empower students in their efforts to advocate for Palestine
+ Build educational links: We foster connections between Palestinian and Australian schools to promote equal access to education and fundamental human rights
+ Challenge militarisation in education: We campaign against the involvement of weapons companies and military-linked programs in schools and universities
+ Promote Palestiinian culture: We share Palestinian literature, music, and arts within Australian educational spaces.
As our first action, inspired by our colleagues in Victoria, we organised a Vigil for Scholasticide in Palestine to demand an end to the complicity of Australian education sector leaders in the systematic destruction of Palestinian education.
We stood alongside members from Unionists for Palestine SA, Academics for Palestine SA, Students for Palestine Adelaide, and Women in Black Adelaide to mourn the more than 10,000 students and 700 educators murdered by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
The deliberate destruction of universities, schools, libraries, museums, archives, and cultural institutions has deprived over half a million Palestinian students of formal education for the past two years. Our vigil also called attention to the Australian education system’s complicity through direct and indirect partnerships with weapons companies and governments that arm Israel.
With many actions planned for 2025, we invite you to join us in this important ongoing work.
Email: teachersforpalestinesa@gmail.com
Instagram: @teachers4palestine_sa
Facebook: @teachers4palestine SA
FRI 23 MAY I 9:15 AM - 3:30 PM
NIGEL GRAMP, MEMBER OF TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF FOR PALESTINE SA
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Brain Breaks
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Riddles
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+ What comes down but never goes up?
Answers
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All submissions should be signed with name, membership status, and role description. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your submission.
Editorial policy: Not all articles submitted will be published. Articles, letters to the editor, and advertising do not necessarily represent the views of the AEU. Submissions may be edited for publication.
EDITORIAL DEADLINES:
AEU SA Journal Deadlines 2025
+ Term 3: 4 June 2025
+ Term 4: 27 August 2025
Professional Learning
Access a wide range of values-based professional learning to develop your practical skills and grow as an educator.
The sessions are in real time and allow you to work with other professionals to gain insight and grow as an educator.
AEU SA PAC Training
+ Mon 19 May, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
+ Tues 24 Jun, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Learn to access, investigate, and discuss the enterprise agreement and other documents in relation to PAC decisions.
Applying VIA Character Strengths in Professional Teams
+ Wed 7 May, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Explore the VIA Character Strengths framework and learn how to apply it to foster a positive team culture.
Using AI for Formative Feedback
+ Thur 8 May, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Using his extensive understanding of AI, Keith Heggart will discuss strategies to harness AI as a learning tool, focussing on formative feedback for learners.
New Union Representatives Training (Level 1)
+ Thur 8 May, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Fri 9 May, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Learn your rights and responsibilities as an elected union representative.
Women in Leadership Development (WiLD) 2025
+ Wed 14 May, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Fri 16 May, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Cost: By application only
+ For: Women and non-binary Principal and Preschool Director AEU SA members
Current and former school leaders share the challenges they faced in attaining leadership positions and the strategies they used to overcome them.
Key Online/ Virtual In Person
Check out the AEU SA website regularly for more dates and courses at aeusa.asn.au/upcoming
AEU Merit Selection Training and Retraining
+ Wed 21 May, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
+ Wed 4 Jun, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
+ Tue 17 Jun, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
+ Thur 26 Jun, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
+ Wed 16 Jul, 10:00am - 12:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
A two-hour retraining session for AEU members who last attended merit selection training in 2018 or AEU Members who want to be an AEU Representative on merit selection panels.
Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity and Respect Training 2025
+ Thur 22 May, 9:15am - 4:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Designed to give insight into Aboriginal Australian’s history and culture. It enhances and inspires participants’ knowledge and skills while promoting opportunities to examine personal values and challenges participants to promote a better understanding of Aboriginal Australia.
Reconciliation Conference
+ Fri 23 May, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Join special guest speakers Thomas Mayo and Natalie Gentle at this vital and engaging conference. Come together with like-minded members and learn how to carry out the work of Reconciliation every day.
Reconciliation APST 2.4 and Cross-Curricular Priorities in Primary
+ Thur 22 May, 4:30pm - 6.00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Jeanene will draw on her experience as a Primary Teacher to work with attendees to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders histories and cultures into the curriculum.
Reconciliation APST 2.4 and Cross-Curricular Priorities in Science
+ Thur 22 May, 5:30pm - 7.00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Natasha will take attendees through a researchbased process of embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and perspectives into the secondary science curriculum.
Staff Wellbeing : Debriefing at the End of the Day
+ Tue 4 Jun, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Kristy will guide attendees through formal and informal structures for staff to debrief, ultimately improving staff wellbeing.
Union Financial Governance Training
+ Thur 12 Jun, 9:15am - 5:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Compulsory training for elected Branch Council delegates and alternate delegates plus TAFE Divisional Council delegates.
AEU SA Union Leaders Confernce
+ Fri 12 Jun, 9.15am - 3.30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Bringing together union leader members who have empowered and developed others through their sub-branch.
Women in Leadership: The Glass Ceiling and walls 1 (National)
+ Thur 19 Jun, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Current and former school leaders share the challenges they faced in attaining leadership positions and the strategies they used to overcome them.
The Psychology of Effective Team Management
+ Thur 26 Jun, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Megan Corcoran will share approaches that foster collaboration and create an open and positive team environment to improve the effectiveness of teams in the workplace.
Classroom Management and Engagement Strategies : Port Augusta
+ Mon 7 Jul, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Tues 8 Jul, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Cost: $99 for members & $333 for non members
+ For: Members only
A highly regarded two-day course delivered by classroom teachers focused on new ways to engage students and create safe and accountable classroom spaces.
AEU SA PAC Training
+ Tues 8 Jul, 10:00am - 1:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Learn to access, investigate, and discuss the enterprise agreement and other documents in relation to PAC decisions.
Beyond NAIDOC : Understanding intergenerational Trauma
+ Wed 9 Jul, 9:30am - 11:00am
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Participants will be taken through the impact of intergenerational trauma on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families and strategies to support students and families in a culturally sensitive way.
Women's Conference 2025
+ Fri 11 Jul, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
Women, non-binary and gender-fluid members are invited to demonstrate how collective power and voice can make a difference in our working lives.
Techniques to Support Struggling Readers : Primary (Phonics)
+ Wed 16 Jul, 10:00am - 12:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
SOLAR Lab-trained teacher Jacqui Tarquinio will offer practical ways to identify struggling readers and utilise differentiated instruction to meet diverse learning needs within the classroom.
Approchaes to Supporting Learners with Dyslexia
+ Thur 17 Jul, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: Members only
This session will look at dyslexia through the Response to Intervention framework and explore strategies at each of the three tiers of support. Suitable for classroom teachers, as well as support staff who are working one to one or with small groups.
AEU SA Early Childhood Conference
+ Fri 18 Jul, 9:15am - 3:30pm
+ Cost: Free for members
+ For: AEU members working in Early Childhood
This free, member-led conference is essential for every passionate early childhood educator, at any level, looking to share, learn, and advocate for our profession.
Join the health fund that gives more back
At Teachers Health, our members come first. For over 10 years we’ve returned more in benefits than the industry average. Last year that meant 90c in every $1 of premiums went back to members.
So choose the health fund that puts your health and wellbeing first. Choose Teachers Health. Plus, join with Hospital and Extras by 30 April* to get 6 weeks free cover.
As an AEU SA member, you and your family are welcome to join.
Scan the QR code or call 1300 900 301
