Volume 47 - No. 6

Vol 47 I No.6

Official publication of the Australian Education Union (SA Branch)

September 2015

AEUJOURNAL SA JACK MAJOR AEU Branch Secretary HOWARD SPREADBURY AEU President DASH TAYLOR JOHNSON AEU Vice President JAN MURPHY AEU Vice President

New leadership elected Cast your vote for Branch Executive INSIDE:

Against your rights at work

u SASSLA:

We want your stories

u Gonski:

2

FEATURES PRESIDENT’S VIEW

#2

AEU UNION JOURNAL TRAINING

Australian Education Union | SA Branch 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 8272 1399 JACK MAJOR AEU Branch Secretary HOWARD SPREADBURY AEU President JAN MURPHY AEU Vice President

DASH TAYLOR JOHNSON AEU Vice President

SASSLA: pages 8 – 10 The Principal association that is out to take away your hard-won rights.

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.

Deadline Dates #7 October 16

Publication Dates November 4

Subscriptions: Free for AEU members. Nonmembers may subscribe for $33 per year.

Print Post approved PP 531629/0025

New leadership elected

ISSN 1440-2971 Cover: Craig Greer Printing: Lane Print

Cast your vote for Branch Executive INSIDE:

Against your rights at work

u SASSLA:

We want your stories

u Gonski:

2015 AEU SA Branch Elections

Gonski in SA:

pages 12 – 18 With a new leadership team elected unopposed, members can vote in a new Branch Executive.

pages 6 – 7 We need your school’s story.

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

8272 1399 journal@aeusa.asn.au

LE TT E RS TO TH E E DITO R

Dear Editor, Men are fast becoming the Tasmanian Tiger of Education. I have spent many years in the Junior Primary having been trained in years R–4. During the last thirty years I have noticed that men are a rare commodity, and becoming rarer.

In the last ten years I have seen a dramatic decline in male student teachers at my school. The ratio of male to female teachers is approximately one in five and at my son’s school it is similar.

Over the years I have made many observations and I need to say that males are needed in teaching for many reasons and not just for the token “male role model”. I am also aware that in many circumstances we teach in different ways and that this should be valued and even encouraged.

I am hopeful that men can be encouraged into a career in Education but I must say that acknowledging there is a shortfall and addressing it would n be a good first step.

Lynden Claridge, Nairne PS

Dear Editor, As you will know the AEU has previously supported our campaign against the Federal Government’s policy of Compulsory Income Management for those receiving welfare payments in the Playford council area.

Compulsory Income Management (CIP), a policy which remains popular among politicians and has recently been pushed by mining magnate Twiggy Forrest, lacks any evidence proving it helps the finances, health, or job prospects of unemployed people — it is ultimately designed to create an uncomfortable welfare system and drive people into unsuitable work.

CIP unfairly targets our most vulnerable, quarantining a large proportion of an individual’s welfare payment, leaving them with few choices as to how they spend their money. It is disempowering, dehumanising and does nothing to help lift those in receipt of welfare out of poverty.

The Anti-Poverty Network is a local community organisation that has the

backing of Uniting Communities and SACOSS (South Australian Council of Social Service). We are holding a conference in early October as part of AntiPoverty Week which involves bringing speakers and delegates from around the country to Adelaide to discuss real strategies that will assist lifting people out of the poverty cycle.

As you can imagine, we have some major costs to cover: the interstate guests are mostly low-income people, including Income Management clients from the NT, members of the Victorian Homelessness Union, sole parents, unemployment activists, and others. We will also be providing childcare for the two days of the event, and assisting group members from the outer-suburbs to attend the conference, through petrol vouchers to assist with car pooling, and possible mini-bus hire. We are running a fundraising campaign and would appreciate your support. (See link below) n

Thanks for your support Pas Forgione Anti-Poverty Network SA

8: www.gofundme.com/ys2wetjc

Fundraising campaign here:

3

???????? CONT.

One STAFF, One UNION!

Early Childhood Conference

º

5 1 0 2 EB 2015 º º EB º 5 1 0“All Fired Up!” 2 EB Fri 9 Oct 2015 9.15am - 3.30pm

Dinner: thurs 8 Oct @ 6.00pm

Are you a member of the union that fights for your wages, conditions and a strong public education?

The Astor Hotel, Pulteney Street, Adelaide

º

JOIN THE AEU AND HAVE A SAY IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR PROFESSION!

Call our membership section on 8272 1399 or join online: : www.aeusa.asn.au/join.html

Authorised by Jack Major, Branch Secretary, Australian Education Union | SA Branch, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 © 2014

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Authorised by Jack Major, Branch Secretary, Australian Education Union | SA Branch, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063 © 2014

Australian Education Union | SA Branch To register go to: www.aeusa.asn.au>events & courses for further information email: training@aeusa.asn.au

WHEN Monday, 28th Sept. - Tuesday, 29th Sept.

TIME 9.00am – 5.00pm WHERE Karrparrinthi - Wellbeing Centre 51 Bower St Woodville SA SHine SA is holding a FREE two day workshop in Adelaide for any teachers/workers currently working with Aboriginal young people. This workshop will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to teach a comprehensive relationships and sexual health program within the context of Aboriginal schools.

It will cover topics such as relationships, public and private, risky behaviour, contraception and sexually transmitted infections among others.

A wide range of activities and resources for use in the classroom will be demonstrated. Places are limited so registrations are essential.

Registrations close Friday the 18th September For further information contact: Melody Howitt on (08) 8300 5364

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PRESIDENT’S VIEW

Changes in the Department and here at the AEU AEU President David Smith writes

I

n all the recent flurry of the DECD reorganisation, it’s difficult to find a deep-seated commitment to Public Education. You could be excused for thinking that should be central to any and all of the actions of the government department charged with running the system. Of course it should. If it were there, as it was in the preamble to the last iteration of a DECD Strategic Plan, it would put into context, and indeed guide, all the proposals currently facing the Department.

To choose a few, let us contemplate the basis for the KPMG review of DECD structure, the Strategic Plan, the Building a High Performing System document and the Stephen Lamb review of departmental funding. There are probably more. Underlying any of these, is there an overt statement defending Public Education and its purpose in our society? Not that I have seen. Is there a link to the central position of Public Education in guiding and providing students who will question and contribute to a vibrant and imaginative democracy?

Not that I can see. In their absence, the opposite seems to be far more likely.

A few officers of the AEU were consulted by the KPMG reviewers. Our first question to them was “Have you been provided with the DECD theory of change as a basis of this review?” They hadn’t. That is troubling. What must come first, the purpose and rationale of the whole system or its structure and functions? The answer is too obvious.

Late last month there was a meeting of hundreds of school and preschool leaders to hear of the restructure proposed as a result of that KPMG review.

By the way, many noted that the gath-

“Functional and structural issues aside, as important as they are, let us not forget that the purpose and health of Public Education should guide all of those deliberations.” ering of every principal and preschool director in the State took place on the last day of Book Week, a very significant event for the communities of hundreds of those present. The AEU was invited to attend and we appreciated that. Clearly, any organisation should review its purpose, role and functions from time to time, so having the review is justified, especially because with the amalgamation of Education and Families SA there may have been duplication of services. What we were told at that big meeting did not, however, provide much detail about the proposed changes. There was some restructuring, and more re-naming, but many at the meeting were expecting specifics.

Many were disappointed by that.

However two proposals gained considerable support. They are the increase in resources for Education Directors and the creation of an Aboriginal Education Directorate. The former fills a very obvious need. Let’s remember that the EDs were originally supposed to exist for a very short time – was it a year? – before the Partnerships would become selfsustaining. Oh, yes? The latter, if properly managed, fulfils one of the requirements put to the Minister and Department in March this year by the recently formed Coalition for Excellence in Aboriginal Education. A critical need, too, as widely and frequently expressed by our Aboriginal members, is that the Directorate be led by an Aboriginal person.

One of the few specific changes, and the one that the media jumped on, was the suggestion that about three hundred employees, probably in the cur-

rent Teaching and Learning area will be taken from head office and be placed somewhere else. Just where they are to go, and what functions they will perform remains unclear. There are many people employed in Teaching and Learning whose support is highly valued by those in schools and preschools. It is surely not a simple matter of dispersing them, without considering which aspects of that work are best centralised and which should be closer, or indeed in, schools and preschools.

It seems to be an obvious example of structural change without the underpinning detailed reasoning. Not to mention the fact that Teaching and Learning are the very heart of an Education Department, and any real or perceived reduction in their importance is both perplexing and worrying. Given the fact that there will be staffing reductions as part of the $190 million cost cutting in head office, as reported to the Parliamentary budget estimates session a few weeks ago, we would hope that compared with other sections of the Department, teaching and learning will not be disproportionately affected.

In the forthcoming restructure consultation period there needs to be a thorough teasing out of all these many issues. Functional and structural issues aside, as important as they are, let us not forget that the purpose and health of Public Education should guide all of those deliberations.

AEU Elections As you can see elsewhere in this Journal we are currently engaged in our own elections. Some have been elected unopposed. More of this later, but I am delighted that President-elect, Howard Spreadbury, and Vice Presidents Jan Murphy and Dash Taylor Johnson will be in office from the start of next year.

They will provide forthright and considered leadership to the union in these challenging times. As for the other elected positions, especially for Branch Executive members, I encourage you to vote. It is not only your democratic right, it’s your opportunity to ensure you and your colleagues are strongly represented over the next two years n In solidarity, David Smith 5

GONSKI CAMPAIGN

Gonski Week: October 26 – 30 (Term 4, Week 3)

Gonski: have I got a story for you!

Hindmarsh Target Seat Coordinator Chris Champion reports

D

id you know that:

• The South Australian State Government signed a six-year agreement in 2013 for schools to receive full Gonski funding from 2014–2019, with two-thirds of the funding not reaching schools until 2018-19?

• Once in power, the Abbott government back-flipped on its commitment to fully fund Gonski and is only committed to funding up to 2017?

• This means a direct loss of over $200 million to SA public schools in 2018-19?

Frustrating isn’t it?

Peter FitzSimons, the new Chair of the Australian Republican Movement, recently spoke at the National Press Club about the republic model he hopes can be put to the people of Australia in the next 5 years. The following statement resonated strongly with me: “... But to get there, it has to be bipartisan. How fantastic if, when that 6

moment comes, when the PM and opposition leader are aligned on supporting a republic, they don’t play politics with it, they go with the rest of us, gently, saying we can do this! And what a legacy it would be for that PM and opposition leader to be a part of – something the nation would thank them for ever after...”

Wouldn’t it be nice if this could be the reality for education funding?

No politics, no left or right, no nastiness … just both parties agreeing that needs-based funding of education, in perpetuity, is the right thing to do for every child in Australia, and the right thing to do for this country.

So, until that pig flies past my window, I’m working closely with schools and the broader community in the Hind-

1From left: Angela Vaughan, Sub-branch Secretary, Lockleys PS; Nic Groshenny, Parent, Plympton PS; Tom O’Callaghan, Principal, Plympton PS; Rod Sutherland, Principal, Lockleys PS marsh electorate to broaden their understanding of Gonski and ensure education funding finds a strong place in the hearts and minds of voters in the lead up to the next election.

What’s happened thus far?

I’ve met with several school principals, been invited to sub-branch meetings and addressed some school Governing Councils.

I’ve held a roundtable meeting that outlined the Gonski campaign and emphasised the importance of school stories as a key strategy in engaging parents and the community.

A campaign team has now been established and has met to start planning activities across the electorate.

The benefits of school stories Schools across South Australia are doing great things with the Better Schools (Gonski) funding they have received in 2014 and 2015.

In Hindmarsh, and around the state, schools are being asked to write their story that reflects the benefits derived from additional funding. continued over page 3

Right here, right now, we all have the chance to be a part of changing the history of education in Australia!

GONSKI CAMPAIGN This is from a current perspective, but also from an aspirational viewpoint – the opportunity to project into the future and dream of the projects, programs and supports that could be implemented and sustained with appropriate funding.

Gonski making a difference at Le Fevre High

These stories are vital connectors to parents and the broader community.

They resonate strongly because there’s a positive human element to them. They are powerful examples of how better resourcing gets better results that cannot be refuted by politicians claiming this or that myth to be true.

Indigenous kids are already experiencing the benefits of a more equitable schools funding model

These stories will help us build pressure on both sides of politics and ensure that education funding is a major issue for parties to consider and commit to as we head to the next election.

Gonski Week: October 26 – 30 (Term 4, Week 3) This is an important week for schools as we begin to build the momentum around Gonski.

In Hindmarsh, there will be a Gonski presence throughout the week involving schools and the wider community.

I encourage everyone to start thinking about what they could do at their school during Gonski week to strengthen their whole school community’s understanding of Gonski and the importance of getting loud and active! n

ACTION!!!

What can you do?

• If you haven’t already, sign up as a supporter at:

igiveagonski.com.au • Visit the igiveagonski facebook page and start sharing articles, memes and photos • Get involved! Email me at:

cchampion@tsc.aeufederal. org.au or phone me on 0419 415 990 if you’d like to

get involved in the Hindmarsh campaign • Get active at your school and speak to your AEU organiser about Gonski.

A

t Le Fevre High School in Adelaide, where Indigenous students make up 20 per cent of the school population, extra Gonski funds have helped to give existing programs a future and to give them a “kick start”, says principal Rob Shepherd.

“It’s provided support for our whole package of pastoral care and staffing for Aboriginal programs,” he says.

One of the oldest schools in South Australia, Le Fevre is steeped in Indigenous history. Former students include members of the stolen generation and Aboriginal luminaries such as Charlie Perkins and John Moriarty, who figured prominently in the Freedom Rides in the mid-60s; Dr Gordon Briscoe, the activist, academic and international soccer player; and Billy Espie who joined the NSW police force, retiring as a patrol commander. Harold Thomas, the man who designed the Aboriginal flag, also attended the school.

A major success for the school is the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience program, run in conjunction with the University of South Australia, where students are exposed to various Uni courses in an intensive year-long program. “It’s highly motivating and also an opportunity for children to feel supported with Aboriginal adults accompanying them, and then they meet Aboriginal people in those venues who are studying and part of the delivery program,” says Shepherd.

Another program with a “very positive” effect on students is the teaching of the local Kaurna language, which is strongly supported at the school by Kaurna elder and Le Fevre Old Scholar Uncle Lewis O’Brien (pictured). Uncle Lewis is a renowned author, educator and ambassador for the Kaurna people.

In 2014 he and Rob Shepherd produced a documentary on the Aboriginal history of the school and the importance of

1 Uncle Lewis O’Brien with Le Fevre HS Principal Rob Shepherd.

Kaurna language. This documentary can be viewed on the Le Fevre High School website: www.lefevrehs.sa.edu.au “It’s important to have an environment where Aboriginal students can be really proud of who and what they are, and their cultural links. And there’s no doubt that access to Indigenous language is a powerful self-esteem issue for Aboriginal people, because the languages were not allowed to be spoken,” says Shepherd. “And it’s significant for this particular school community, because of the many stolen generation Aboriginal people.”

Meanwhile, the contribution of extra Gonski funds to the staffing budget has allowed the creation of more flexible roles, employed extra teachers, including Indigenous teachers, and support staff for the language program. It’s allowed the school to release curriculum coordinators from year level duties and there’s a new third Assistant Principal role covering “innovative programs and wellbeing”.

“It’s really reinforced the sense of cultural celebration and acknowledgement, as well as academic success.

Because they’re very interlinked – wellbeing, self-esteem, being valued, having a voice, having a presence, being recognised, and being an important part of a school community,” says Shepherd. n 7

SASSLA

1 AEU member leaders rally on the steps of Parliament as part of the 2010 Arbitration dispute.

SASSLA: Against Your Rights at Work

Principal association SASSLA (South Australian State School Leaders Association) has well and truly nailed its colours to the mast in a recent statement on its website.

S

ASSLA, the self-described “Voice for State School Leaders” responded to the Friday August 28 meeting of principals, called by DECD to hear about KPMG’s plans for the future of the Department, by endorsing the “very clear message” from DECD CE Tony Harrison.

“SASSLA is clearly arguing for the removal of conditions and policies that protect your rights at work.”

“To do this,” SASSLA said, referring to DECD’s improvement agenda, “DECD need the capacity to bring staff with them unfettered by industrial hindrances and monolithic bureaucratic practices that have been entrenched in our system for decades by the AEU.”

hindrances” as class size limits, NIT entitlements, overtime for SSOs and ECWs, part-time conditions, country incentives and extra release time for beginning teachers.

This amounts to an open declaration of war by SASSLA on such “industrial 8

It is an attack by SASSLA on such “monolithic bureaucratic practices” as recruitment, selection and placement policies, merit selection policies, and

the role and function of PACs. Not only this, ‘unfettering’ so called industrial ‘hindrances’ will directly impact upon the workload of educational leaders to the detriment of their wellbeing and the good of public education.

The Funding Commitment One of the so-called “industrial hindrances” to the Department and SASSLA is the Funding Commitment. The funding commitment in the current EB provides funding certainty, protects South Australian public schools and preschools’ resources from funding cuts, and enforces a 3% funding indexation per annum. The Commitment is vital to continued over page 3

SASSLA ensuring that all children in our schools and preschools continue to access a strong, vibrant and equitable public education system.

Without these protections public schools and preschools could be subjected to the $190 million in cuts demanded from DECD as part of the efficiency dividend. Instead, thanks to the AEU and its members, the funding is protected.

Just think what would happen if SASSLA and DECD get their way and the commitment is removed? Which programs at your school could be lost and which children could miss out?

Such protections were not provided by the Department or State Government.

They were won by the AEU over many years through the unity and collective action of our members. It was the action of AEU members on the streets outside Parliament House that delivered this outcome and the action of AEU members will protect it.

Your Rights at Work SASSLA is proposing for the removal of conditions and policies that protect your rights at work.

You know only too well that your working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. SASSLA, which promises to protect the “career, reputation and wallet” of its members, has no equivalent to the AEU’s “Charter for Public Education” (see page 10) which pledges us to work in the interests of our students.

In posing for school leaders the question “Why SASSLA?”, there is no reference to public education advocacy or the interests of students.

Should all power go to the principals?

SASSLA, however, shares many of its objectives with Christopher Pyne and David Pisoni. Like them, it wants more power to be given to principals, even running a members’ conference earlier this year under the heading “Power to the Principal”!

David Pisoni has told the SA Parliament that he wants to get rid of PACs so as to unfetter the hands of principals.

He and Pyne push the WA model of Independent Public Schools which gives principals more power to select and remove staff at their schools.

ONE STAFF ONE UNION! “A united front as one staff, one union, is the best way to achieve good school leadership, not an ‘us versus them’ mentality…”

Attacks on Gonski funding Neither Pyne nor Pisoni are committed to the Gonski funding model, finally achieved after 30 years of AEU campaigning to end the resources gap between public and private schools, and within the state school system.

On 24 January 2015, SASSLA posted an article alleging that the South Australian Government, along with the Australian Education Union, “devised a unique formula which provides the overwhelming majority of funds to the highly disadvantaged schools”. It further alleged that the model “was poorly negotiated for South Australian schools with most of the funding being delivered in years five and six”.

The anonymous author clearly refused to accept, or did not understand, the Gonski Review Committee’s recommendations on funding for need with loadings for compound disadvantage.

Nor were they aware that the tail-end of the Gonski funding arrangements was a national structure that all states and territories had to accept and not something that had been negotiated

for SA alone.

Nor were they aware that the Measure of Socio-Educational Need (MOSEN), used as the allocative mechanism for the disbursement of Gonski funds on the basis of need, had been developed by the AEU, DECD and three principal associations, well before the Gonski report was handed down. MOSEN was originally intended to replace the seven categories of the Index of Economic Disadvantage with a more accurate sliding scale measure of disadvantage.

Nevertheless, this SASSLA member felt knowledgeable enough to speak for all principals in declaring that they hoped “to curve (sic!) this extremely disproportionate level of funding.”

Trading off your conditions for their gain In an earlier website post, SASSLA, which is not a registered industrial organisation and will not be a signatory to the next Enterprise Agreement, declared that it would be pursuing differential pay for principals. That is, if DECD offer a flat increase of x% to all employees, SASSLA will demand x+y% for Band A and B leaders. SASSLA has the right, as a bargaining agent for its members, to pursue such a demand but has no ability to enforce it.

And how do they see themselves achieving a higher pay increase for principals than for anyone else?

“DECD have advised that they will be seeking direct productivity benefits continued over page 3 9

SASSLA

“...executive contracts are precarious in nature, lack transparency, and stifle sound educational leadership...” for more pay. We understand that pay increases will reflect the Government’s 2.5% Public Service Pay Policy. However, we intend to bargain for specific tradeoffs to counteract this,” said SASSLA. Will SASSLA seek to “protect its members wallets” by trading off nonprincipals’ rights at work, and the removal of employment protections even for their school leader members?

Security of employment under a registered industrial instrument, rather than the ‘executive contract’ Principal notion proposed by DECD, could be a SASSLA trade-off. Public sector type executive contracts are precarious in nature, lack transparency, and stifle sound educational leadership and professional decision-making at the expense of budget cuts and ‘efficiency’ measures. Such unregulated employment practices serve to divide and conquer, and reward those who will conform without question.

Security of employment promotes ideological debate that enhances our profession and subsequently, learning outcomes for students in the public education sector.

So, who has the power?

Public education has the power, through the collegial practice of educational leaders, teachers, AEWs, SSOs and ECWs, to ensure that funding for education is best used to meet the needs of the children and students entrusted to us.

That is why the AEU has run very successful seminars in metropolitan and regional venues, led by retired principals David Tonkin and Garry Costello, on the theme of collaborative leadership, of a leadership that is embedded within a team of professional educators and not separated from or standing above it.

A united front as ONE STAFF, ONE UNION! is the best way to achieve good school leadership, not an ‘us versus them’ mentality that only serves the individual ambition and ego of a selfinterested few. n 10

Charter

Public Education Charter South Australia Australian Education Union | SA Branch

Public education is a social necessity because it provides opportunities for, and is welcoming of, all students regardless of background. Valuing the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, it serves as a gateway to a democratic and cohesive Australian society.

We, the undersigned, pledge to:

Public Education

1. Work in partnership with families, communities and school leaders to build a strong, vibrant and equitable public education system so that all children and students have success in education and life in a fair and just society.

2. Promote a broad education and curriculum that includes academic, intellectual, emotional, social, physical, aesthetic, artistic, cultural and vocational development so that children and young people can find and follow their hopes, dreams and passions.

3. Model for students the processes of active citizenship by having open and democratic decision making in preschools, schools and TAFE which includes, values and empowers all stakeholders.

4. Ensure that preschools, schools and TAFE are staffed by teachers, leaders and educators who are qualified, trained, respected and secure in their employment.

5. Ensure that our children have well maintained public places of learning with infrastructure in public education that is at the forefront of purpose and design.

6. Support excellence in teaching by ensuring teachers, leaders, lecturers and support staff are well prepared, are supported, have manageable class sizes/student groups, and have time to collaborate so that they can confidently and effectively undertake their professional responsibilities.

We, the undersigned, expect:

1. Government to respect Aboriginal children, young people and families by acknowledging the ownership and ongoing relationship of their people with their land, and the importance in their education of their culture, language, law and ceremony.

2. Bipartisan political support within the South Australian parliament for the active promotion of public confidence in our preschools, schools and TAFE.

3. A long-term commitment by the South Australian Government to the full funding of TAFE and the funding of preschools and schools to a resource standard shown to achieve age-appropriate and sustainable learning outcomes, with additional loadings based on categories of disadvantage and with weightings based on their complexity.

4. Fair reporting of the achievements of public education in the mass media.

5. A strong single system of public education not fragmented by unproductive division into school types such as “independent public schools” and others.

6. Enhanced decision making for educational leadership, staff and communities in curriculum and assessment to ensure improved learning outcomes for students.

Passed at Branch Council, 23 November, 2013

1 The AEU’s Charter for Public Education which pledges us to work in the interests of our students.

TAFE needs more teachers and less bureaucrats Funding cuts in TAFE are depleting teaching staff and handing students to private providers writes Tony Sutherland

N

ews of further jobs to be cut from TAFE in South Australia has confirmed what many already knew – that the private provider outrage regarding the State Government’s decision to redirect funding to

TAFE and away from private RTOs has not led to an improvement in the situation for TAFE. It is projected that 495 full-time jobs will be lost in TAFE by 2019. The Legislative Council Budget and Finance continued over page 3

TAFE FOCUS Committee was told TAFE currently had 2,320 fulltime workers but needed to reduce that to 1,825 workers by end of June 2019. This is based on forward budget estimates as State Government funding decreases to TAFE SA. This does not take into account any growth in FFS (Fee for Service) dollars, International students or other Commonwealth funding (such as that for English as second language).

Campus closures have not been ruled out, so some can be expected.

Substantial cuts are already underway In apprentice trades such as those in building and construction or metal trades, there has been a downturn in the number of apprentices but this is not the only factor behind the cuts to teaching staff. WorkReady, will actually provide less funding per student than its ill-conceived predecessor Skills for All, and will also place a cap on the number of places it will fund.

The building construction industry is renowned for fluctuations in activity; consequently student numbers also fluctuate. Since there is currently a downturn in both the building and manufacturing industries, the number of new apprentices is lower than average.

It is hoped that numbers would increase

To make matters worse, the numbers actually attending TAFE last year were greater than the numbers officially recorded on the system thanks primarily to the poorly designed Student Information System which leads to errors in registration and resulting. On top of that, Skills for All counted and paid for only those students that completed a subject, not those who enrolled and attended for only part of a course but who, nevertheless, required staff and facilities for the period of their attendance.

Quality takes a back seat Over the years, the number of studenthours required to justify each lecturer position has gradually increased. Larger numbers may be practical for some courses, such as those taught online, this is not true across the board. For trade areas with a substantial practical component, the class sizes required to achieve these student hours are impractical. In trade areas it is quite difficult and possibly dangerous to increase class sizes when carrying out practical activities such as electrical wiring, machining, bricklaying, welding and so on.

With 400 staff made redundant over the last two years, and current Business Unit reviews indicating that a further 70 more staff will be declared excess this year, any further cuts should aim at reducing the high overhead costs in non-teaching staff that TAFE’s education programs must support. A further reduction in front-line teaching staff will erode the critical mass of teachers that ensures TAFE SA maintains credibility as a quality VET training provider. n

Q

Do I have to inform my employer that I have been charged with a criminal offence?

A

The Code of Ethics imposes an obligation on all public sector employees to advise their line manager, at the earliest opportunity, if they are charged with a criminal offence.

The Code of Ethics was revised in July 2015. Fact Sheets on Professional Conduct Standards can be accessed on the DECD website. Topics include: • Professional and courteous behaviour • Criminal offences • Reporting unethical behaviour • Making public comment • Use of government and public resources • Conflicts of interest • Outside employment • Acceptance of gifts and benefits

Q

I have been asked to give evidence in a custody matter involving a student in my class.

What should I do?

A

In the first instance you should politely decline. It is DECD Policy (Administrative Instructions and Guidelines) that DECD employees do not agree to give evidence in custody matters. You should inform your Line Manager immediately.

If you are subpoenaed by a party to give evidence you are compelled to attend Court to give what evidence you can. If you receive a subpoena you should tell your Principal/Director or Educational Director and contact the DECD Legal and Legislation Unit. n For further information on these two issues please contact the AEU Information Unit – see details right 3 Anne Walker, AEU Legal & Information Officer 11

% 8272 1399

No planning for the future

in years to come. However, the accounting methods the government has imposed on TAFE require that staff numbers should reflect only the demand in the current period. When demand increases in future, and as staff retire, there will be a gap in the experience and knowledge that will not be easy to fill.

Questions from the Workplace

TAFE

The decision to consolidate building and construction trades from Gilles Plains, Regency and elsewhere to the Tonsley Campus has had a negative effect on student enrolments. When the move to the former Mitsubishi site was first proposed, TAFE managers estimated that two thirds of the apprentices at Regency campus, where the vast majority of electrical students attended, would have to travel further to attend the Tonsley campus. Not surprisingly, students have moved to other providers that are located closer to their home or work. In some trade areas, the numbers at TAFE have dropped by 50% or more.

“WorkReady, will actually provide less funding per student than its ill-conceived predecessor Skills for All…”

AEU Information Unit | Weekdays | 10:30am – 5pm |

In the electrical program in the metropolitan area there will be a cut of about 13 full-time positions out of a total of about 49. The AEU understands that some staff have agreed to accept voluntary separation packages but others will be declared excess.

AEU INFORMATION UNIT

AEU ELECTIONS 2015

Voting for the 12 General Division Members of Branch Executive is by members assigned to the General Division, excluding SSO and Children’s Services members. The electorate for SSO Executive Member is SSO members. Ballots are also being conducted for positions as Federal Conference Delegate and on Federal Committees.

Enquiries: AEU elections are conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). All enquiries regarding this election should be directed to the AEC Returning Officer phone: 8237 6551 Timing: The ballot will open on Wednesday 7 October 2015 and close at 10.00am on Monday 26 November 2015.

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• Activist as local sub-branch secretary.

• Organiser with area responsibility representing members across all sectors.

• Representing members in industrial negotiations including acting as a witness in Arbitration.

• Chair of the National Early Childhood Committee since 2007.

• Member of the AEU Federal Executive since 2007.

• AEU Vice President 2014 – 2015.

As President, I will continue to provide a strong voice for members by:

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Howard Spreadbury Jan Murphy Dash Taylor Johnson David Coulter Kelli Owen Paul Petit

AEU Involvement:

• Advocating for public education across all sectors.

• Representing members in negotiations with government and the employer.

• Having a strong commitment to social and environmental. issues and social justice, equal opportunity and democratic decision-making.

• Providing leadership to develop the AEU as an organising union.

• Improving members’ conditions through negotiating new Enterprise Agreements.

• Placing the AEU as a strong voice within the public sector union movement.

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• Branch President • Female Vice-President • Male Vice President • Children’s Services Executive Member • ATSI Executive Member • TAFE Executive Member

for for AEU President

• Teacher including TRT and contract in schools and preschools.

• Preschool Director in Port Pirie.

• Organiser with Early Childhood focus.

• Vice President with responsibility for Curriculum and PD, Early Childhood, Work Health and Safety, New Educators, Performance and Development, Country Conditions, National Professional Standards, Overseas Trained Teachers.

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The following Officers of the union for 2016 -2017 have been elected unopposed and consequently there is no ballot required for these positions.

Experience:

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Ballots are being conducted for the following Branch Executive positions: • 12 General Division Members of Branch Executive • SSO Member of Branch Executive

HOWARD SPREADBURY

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This AEU Journal carries statements submitted by candidates in the election for members of 2016 – 2017 AEU Branch Executive.

Candidates’ advertisements are published in alphabetical order.

The united team for all members

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Branch Executive Election 2015

Endorsed by Smith,

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Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

The united team for all members The united team for all members JAN MURPHY for AEU Female Vice President

Endorsed by Smith,

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Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

for AEU Male Vice President

Experience:

• Current Branch Executive member.

• Teacher at Le Fevre High School.

• Worked in metro, country and isolated schools as a contract, TRT and permanent classroom teacher and leader (SA & WA).

• International exchange teacher (Canada & USA).

• Broad leadership engagement in literacy, curriculum and behaviour management.

• 27 years as a unionist and educational practitioner.

AEU activism:

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• Sub-branch Secretary, Area Council President (Pt Pirie), AEU Panelist & PAC member.

• Branch Council Delegate.

• Active participant in Area Meetings, campaigns and AEU rallies.

• Founding Member of AEU SA’s Environment Action Group.

• AEU AO Review Committee member.

• EB Member Action Planning Group.

• Ongoing involvement in the Gonski campaign, Area Meetings, Branch Council, rallies, marches and union advocacy.

As Male Vice President, I will campaign for:

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• Greater acknowledgement of the high quality outcomes achieved by members every day.

• Improved workload protections and transparent processes for all.

• Increased engagement of the membership in order to build our commitment and capacity to stand up for public education.

• Strengthening members with the skills, knowledge and support to be more effective through sub-branch, PAC and professional training.

• Improved communication and collaboration with DECD. • Genuine recognition of the workload demands on education workers.

• Continued advocacy for social justice principles.

• Building stronger connections with members.

• Increased recruitment & retention of members in preschools, schools and TAFE.

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Experience: • 2012 - 2015 – Current Vice President AEUSA • Teachers & Leaders Workload Review Project Team (2011).

• 26 years as primary classroom teacher, predominantly country & small schools.

School-based AEU activism: • Sub-branch Secretary, AEU Panel & PAC member.

• Branch Council Delegate & AEU AO Review Committee member.

• AEU National Women’s Conference delegate.

• Active participant in Area Meetings, campaigns and AEU rallies.

In my role as current AEU Vice President: • Member of successful EB12 and EB15 negotiating team.

• Principal Officer responsibilities: SSOs, Early Childhood, Status of Women, TRT & Contract Teacher, LGBTI and Special Education Consultative Committees and Recruitment & Selection.

• Ongoing involvement in Federal & State campaigns, area meetings, rallies and member support.

As Female Vice President, I will continue to campaign for: • A positive profile for members in a high quality, well resourced, highly regarded public education system.

• Improved workload protections and fair and equitable processes for all members.

• Empowered, well trained PACs and sub-branches with the skills, knowledge and support to resolve workplace issues and ensure member entitlements are met.

• Improved workload protections and fair and equitable processes for all members.

• Recruitment, retention and engagement of members in preschools, schools and TAFE.

DASH TAYLOR JOHNSON

Endorsed by Smith,

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Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

AEU ELECTIONS 2015

The united team for all members

The united team for all members

SARAH BENNETT

Experience:

• Range of education experiences in primary, secondary, SACE, libraries, TAFE. • Strong advocate for public education with understanding of a range of contexts.

• Strong understanding of diversity issues for members.

• Strong advocate for diversity, social inclusion and social justice.

Union Activism:

• LGBTI Consultative Committee, Status of Women Consultative Committee 2013 – 2015.

• Branch Council delegate 2013 – 2015.

• SA representative for the AEU LGBTI Federal Working party inclusive of contributions to AEU Federal Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy adopted by Federal Conference 2014 & 2015.

• SA Delegate to LGBTI caucus at AEU Federal Women’s Conference – 2014 & 2015.

• Women’s Contact Officer role.

• Women In Leadership Development program participant.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for:

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• Actions supporting improvements in working conditions in public education.

• Actions supporting diversity and social inclusion in schools and learning environments.

• Actions supporting members to access improved parental entitlements.

• Actions addressing workload and family life balance for educators.

• Actions supporting our colleagues in the TAFE sector.

Endorsed by Smith,

JACKIE BONE-GEORGE

for AEU Branch Executive

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

The united team for all members

Endorsed by Smith,

ANN CLARKE

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience:

• AEU member for 25 years.

• Sub-branch Secretary at numerous sites and a strong activist in all EB campaigns the AEU has fought.

• Currently the Targeted Seat Coordinator for the Gonski campaign in the Hindmarsh electorate. My role aims to place pressure on all sides of politics to commit to the full six years of Gonski funding and ensure that students and teachers get the necessary resources to deliver positive student learning outcomes.

As a member of the Executive I will:

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• Ensure the best interests of the members I’ve been elected to represent are at the heart of every decision I support.

• Advocate for better resourcing and acknowledgement of the work of sub-branch secretaries.

• Strengthen the relationship and connection between members and the AEU office.

• Provide a strong voice that reflects the values and beliefs of members.

Endorsed by Smith,

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience: • Secondary Teacher with rural and metro experience.

• Port Augusta Secondary School, 2010–13.

• Seaton High School, 2014.

• AEU Organiser, 2015.

AEU activism: • Sub-Branch Secretary at Port Augusta Secondary School, 2011–13.

• Sub-Branch Secretary at Seaton High School, 2015.

• Branch Council Delegate at Flinders, 2011–13.

• Branch Executive Delegate, 2014.

• National New Educators Conference, 2012 & 2013.

• WILD Participant, 2013.

• Anna Stewart Participant, 2013.

• ACTU Union Leaders Training, 2012.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: • Celebrating and valuing of Public Education.

• Celebrating and valuing educators as professionals.

• Protecting and bettering the conditions for education professionals.

• Access to high quality education for all.

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AEU Activism:

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

The united team for all members

CHRIS CHAMPION

• Worked in remote, rural and metropolitan areas across South Australia since 1989.

• Have held a variety of teaching and leadership roles including: teacher, Coordinator, Project Officer, Counsellor, Assistant Principal and Principal.

for AEU Branch Executive

Teaching Experience: • Remote country high and area schools.

• Disadvantaged metropolitan high schools.

• Acting Coordinator: various roles/locations.

• 15 years at Open Access College.

Union Activism: • 1996, 1998 - current: AEU Branch Executive member.

• 1990 - current: Branch Council delegate.

• 1996 - 1999: AEU Women’s Officer & Vice President.

• 2003: Acting AEU Federal Women’s Officer.

• 1998 - 2014: AEU Federal Conference Delegate.

• 2000 - 2008: AEU SSABSA Board nominee.

• 2003 - 2014: Teachers Registration Board (AEU nominee).

• Member/past member of Status of Women and Finance Committees & numerous standing/ad hoc committees and working parties developing AEU policy.

As a member of Executive I am committed to: • Fighting for a strong fully funded, free public education system.

• Improving the working conditions of all education workers.

• Recruiting and retaining members.

• The principles of effective participation and inclusivity.

• Maintaining control of the education agenda.

For our union to remain strong we must work collectively for the good of all members, maintain relevance and, above all, apply our democratic principles.

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Endorsed by Smith,

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson 13 13

AEU ELECTIONS 2015

The united team for all members

The united team for all members

DAVID COULTER

BRETT FERRIS

for AEU Branch Executive

for AEU Branch Executive

Endorsed by Smith,

Endorsed by Smith,

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Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

The united team for all members

The united team for all members LARA GOLDING

Experience:

EXPERIENCE: My nearly 12 years as a proud teacher includes:

for AEU Branch Executive

AEU Activism – I have been active in:

• A range of campaigns, including Contract Teachers, Your Rights at Work, Enterprise Agreement actions, State Budget Cuts and Workload campaigns.

• Mentoring new sub-branch secretaries.

I stand for a Union which:

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• Listens to and represents the interests of members in preschools, schools and TAFE. • Supports individual members in times of need.

• Works with members to develop and implement strong and incisive campaigns on key issues e.g. excessive workloads, adequate staffing to support all students with learning needs, anti-educational effects of high stakes standardised testing.

• Acts as a powerful public voice on behalf of members.

• Builds alliances with like-minded professional organisations and community groups.

• Fights for Public Education.

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

for AEU Branch Executive

• Teaching Maths, Science, Physics, PE, special needs and research project.

• Lead facilitator of Classroom Management and Instructional Strategies regional and school-based professional development program.

• Maths and SHIP Coordinator at Seaton High School.

• Numeracy Coach, eTeacher, AST 1.

My nearly 10 years of active service in the AEU includes:

• Supporting our new teachers by leading Classroom Management and Student Engagement workshops and holiday courses 2009 – current.

• Branch Executive 2008 – 2009 and 2015.

• Branch Council Delegate.

• Seaton High Sub-branch Secretary.

• New Educators Network (NEN).

• Women In Leadership Development program (WILD).

• Status of Women’s Consultative Committee (SOWCC).

If elected I will continue to advocate for:

• A reasonable workload and fair working conditions • A family friendly workplace.

• Behaviour management support.

• Properly funded support for the increasing numbers of students with learning difficulties.

• Professional autonomy in our classrooms.

• Valuing our profession.

• Public education as a public good • Member voice within AEU decision-making.

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• Contract, country and metro teacher.

• Coordinator and Assistant Principal.

• Former Sub-branch Secretary, Organiser, and AEU (SA) President.

• Current PAC Rep.

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ANDREW GOHL

Endorsed by Smith,

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I am the English & Languages Coordinator and Subbranch Secretary at Open Access College, fulfilling similar AEU roles, as well as PAC Rep, at a range of metro and country schools. I have also represented educators in my community on Branch Council since 2008 and Branch Executive in 2009 and 2014-15.

Commitment to AEU Activism: In 2009-2010, I sought and won preselection with the SA Greens to challenge then Education Minister, Jane Lomax-Smith, for the Seat of Adelaide at the 2010 State Election. I worked with a great team of Public Education supporters to campaign on a pro-Public Education platform, in direct opposition to the Rann Government’s antiPublic Education position during our bitter three-year EB dispute. Our campaigning brought key announcements to build or expand public schools in Adelaide and surrounds from both of the old parties. In highlighting the Minister’s failure to properly value Public Education, we helped bring about her election defeat.

In 2008, I organised and spoke at several local rallies for EB2008 in the South East, developing skills and experience that I brought to a seconded position as an AEU Organiser in Term 4, assisting with the EB2008 campaign.

My role as a local AEU Representative involves keeping members at my site and Area informed of important campaigns and changes to the industrial landscape. I would relish the opportunity to broaden this role as a member of Branch Executive.

As a continuing member of Branch Executive, I will: • Ensure the State and Federal Government honour commitments made to Gonski, providing education workers with conditions that allow all students to meet their full potential.

• Ensure that that public schools remain publicly operated.

• Support new AEU members and growing our union.

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Experience: • Preschool teacher since 1980 and a Director since 1986 in both country and metropolitan areas.

• Worked in a range of sites including standalone preschools, integrated services and long day care.

• Worked as a project officer in early years curriculum and at present I’m the Director of Darlington Children’s Centre.

AEU Activism: • Union member throughout my career.

• Long-time member and Chair of the Early Childhood Consultative Committee.

• Experienced member of Branch Executive.

• Supported the Union wherever possible, including participating in enterprise bargaining processes, early childhood sub-branch meetings and supporting union representation on reference groups.

• I support my colleagues in sites by promoting the role and services of the AEU. As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: Improved conditions for AEU members working in all sectors, with a particular focus on the issues impacting the early years including workload and the impact of the National Quality Agenda.

Endorsed by Smith,

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

AEU ELECTIONS 2015

The united team for all members

The united team for all members

JENNIE-MARIE GORMAN Experience: I have taught in a range of R–7 schools in TRT, contract and permanent positions.

Currently Acting Deputy Principal in a Primary School.

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AEU Activism: • Federal Conference Delegate.

• Branch Council, Branch Executive, Branch Treasurer.

• Federal Women’s Conference Delegate.

• Active Gonski campaigner.

• AEU Women in Leadership Program Project Officer in SA and WA in 2012.

• Administrative Officer Review Committee.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: • The rights of all AEU members.

• A strong, well-resourced, public education system.

• Improved conditions for TRT and Contract Teacher members.

• An increased voice for AEU women members.

• A committed social justice viewpoint in DECD. Endorsed by Smith,

EVA KANNIS-TORRY

for AEU Branch Executive

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

The united team for all members

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience: • 30 years as a public educator.

• Teacher Stuart High School.

• Teacher Taperoo High school.

• Range of leadership roles at Thebarton Senior College including Senior Student Counsellor, Assistant Principal Curriculum, Assistant Principal Development.

• Acting Principal at Thebarton Senior College.

• Focus on learners from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Advocacy for young mothers, refugees and students who for a range of individual reasons have found access to education difficult.

AEU activism: • Active sub-branch member.

• Attended Gonski Leaders Forum in Hindmarsh.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: • Quality public education with quality teachers who are respected and supported as a profession.

• Maximum class sizes.

• Increased support for students with special needs.

• Increased support/training for new leaders.

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Endorsed by Smith,

The united team for all members

PENNY KARATZOVALIS

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Experience: • Anangu Schools on APY Lands - 4 years.

• Country Junior Primary and Primary Schools - 16 years.

• Currently Year 3/4 teacher Brighton Primary School - 7 years.

I am a strong, committed AEU activist.

My involvement includes: • AEU member for 30 years.

• Member of Status of Women.

• Member Branch Council delegate - Southern Urban Area.

• Participant of Anna Stewart Memorial Project.

• Current member AEU Branch Executive.

• Current AEU nominee on Teachers Registration Board.

• Active in various Gonski campaigns.

• Action to support AEU members rights.

• Sub-branch Secretary (current).

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: • The rights of AEU members.

• Improved working conditions of all education workers.

• Fair resourcing for Public Education.

• Work life balance.

Endorsed by Smith,

STEPHEN MEASDAY

for AEU Branch Executive

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience:

Union Activism:

• Significant experience as a teacher, a school leader and DECD officer in human resources, curriculum, disability services and project management.

• Significant experience in country, remote and metropolitan schools.

• AEU member for 37 years.

• Chairperson and member of the Leadership Consultative Committee for 3 years.

• Sub-branch Secretary for 3 years.

As a member of Executive I will provide: • Strong support for the elected AEU leadership team.

• A voice for action that will strengthen the role of our Union into the future.

• Representation and a voice for the interests of all members.

• A voice for recognition of the quality work of schools and preschools within DECD. I believe that the AEU can be a strong agent for positive change and provide educational leadership in our public education system.

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Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

Endorsed by Smith,

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AEU ELECTIONS 2015

for AEU Branch Executive (SSO)

The united team for all members KELLI OWEN

EXPERIENCE: • Over 38 years experience in rural/regional schools.

• Extensive experience in SSO roles: special education, classroom support, receptionist,

PAUL PETIT

for the TAFE member of the AEU Branch Executive

Experience: I wish to continue to represent the TAFE members on the Branch Executive.

• I am currently the Chairperson of TAFE Divisional Council of the AEU, SA and I have held this position since 2013.

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• I am currently the TAFE member of the AEU Executive, a position I have held since 2014.

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• I am currently the Sub-Branch Secretary at Elizabeth Campus (2013-2015).

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• I have previously held the position of Sub-Branch Secretary for the Electrical, Electronics and Plumbing at Regency Campus (2011-2012).

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• I have been a delegate to the TAFE Divisional Council for many years.

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• My tertiary qualifications include: B.Sc., B.E. (Electrical Engineering), Grad. Dip. Ed. (Education and Training of Adults), M. Eng. and PhD (Telecommunications Engineering).

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• Active in the ‘I Give a Gonski’ campaign.

• Member of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee.

• Member of the Early Childhood Consultative Committee.

• Women’s Federal AEU Conference delegate.

• Aboriginal Teacher’s Conference Organising Committee.

• Guest speaker at the AEU SA Women’s Conference 2015.

• Participant in the Women in Leadership Development [WILD] program (2012).

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As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for:

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• The full six years of Gonski.

• Indigenous Education. Aboriginal people are best placed to make decisions about Aboriginal issues in education for Aboriginal students. We need more support for our Aboriginal teachers and transparent pathways into leadership positions. I will lobby for continued support for Aboriginal Students, Aboriginal Teachers, Aboriginal Education Teachers and Aboriginal Community Education Officers with an emphasis on our beginner teachers to be nurtured and supported with relevant induction and training to operate efficiently.

• Meeting the 2% target for Indigenous employees with DECD. • The support of all women in the workforce and fight for equality at all levels.

• Early Childhood Education. The importance of early interventions for all children.

Endorsed by Smith,

The united team for all members TRISH PHILLIPS

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience: 24 years classroom teaching and B1 Leadership positions, country and Cat 2 metropolitan.

AEU Activism: • Sub-branch Secretary metropolitan and country schools.

• Current member of AEU Executive.

• AEU Status of Women Consultative Committee member.

• WILD (AEU Women in Leadership Development) 2013.

• SA Union Anna Stewart Memorial Project 2014.

• Branch Council representative for 2015. ‘Class Complexity-Students With Additional Needs’ delegation to Minister Close.

• AEU representative on DECD Australian Curriculum reporting committee.

• Actively involved in Gonski, EB and TAFE campaigns.

As a member of Executive I will: • Continue to campaign for improved conditions for teachers and Leaders in the ongoing EB negotiations.

• Work closely with the Principal Officers to continue to uphold members’ rights and entitlements.

• Support the union to provide quality training and development for members, including new educators, women and those in leadership.

• Promote the Union, recruit and support all members including graduates & overseas trained teachers.

• Fight for a strong and well-resourced public education system that is led by the goal of improved outcomes for all students.

Endorsed by Smith,

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Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

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Vote for an INDEPENDENT Voice on Branch Executive

AEU Activism:

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IF ELECTED TO BRANCH EXECUTIVE I WILL: • Actively represent and advocate the views and priorities of all AEU members.

• Support SSOs to fulfil career aspirations through improved access to well-resourced relevant professional development.

• Campaign passionately for issues relating to SSOs, including increased permanency, career pathways and improved reclassification processes.

Experience: • Aboriginal Education Teacher (AET), SA. • Classroom Teacher – Early Childhood & Primary, WA. • TAFE Lecturer, WA – Broome, Geraldton, Mingenew • TAFE Lecturer, NSW – Dubbo, Walgett, Lightening Ridge.

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Admin, Library, ICT • Workplace Union Leaders Course - 2014.

• PAC representative.

• AEU Sub-branch Secretary.

• Branch Council Delegate / Alternative Delegate.

• AEU SSO Consultative Committee.

• AEU Curriculum and Professional Development Committee.

• AEU SSO Reclassification Appeals Panel AEU Representative.

• AEU Women in Leadership Development (WILD).

for AEU Branch Executive

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ANNE NUTT

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

AEU ELECTIONS 2015

The united team for all members The united team for all members LEANNE SHANE

KENDALL PROUD

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Experience: • Currently teaching a Reception class at Mulga Street PS in Mount Gambier.

• I have taught in a number of locations across Country SA and also in the UK. • I have been a classroom teacher of children in Kindergarten through to year 6/7.

AEU activism: • Federal Women’s Conference Delegate 2015.

• Member of the Early Childhood Consultative Committee 2015.

• Active Member of the New Educators Network since 2009.

• Federal New Educator’s Conference Delegate 2011.

• Participant in Women in Leadership Development 2015.

• Participant in the Anna Stewart Memorial Project 2012.

• AEU activist in Port Pirie & Mount Gambier.

• Experienced Sub-branch Secretary & Branch Council Delegate.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: • A strong and united union.

• High quality Public Education for all.

• A fair and equitable needs-based funding model.

• High levels of support for new educators.

• Professional Development opportunities for all members.

Endorsed by Smith,

for AEU Branch Executive (SSO)

for AEU Branch Executive

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

Experience:

• 18 years working as an SSO in special education in Classroom support, ICT, Library, Administration and Special Projects.

• Currently working with education staff statewide offering support for students with disabilities as part of Adelaide West Special Education Centre’s Statewide Outreach Service. Experienced public speaker and professional development presenter, nationally and internationally.

AEU Activism:

• Anna Stewart Memorial Project 2015.

• Experienced AEU SSO Contact Officer and Sub-branch Secretary.

• Previous AEU SSO Consultative Committee member.

• Past member on AEU Special Education and WHS Consultative Committees.

• AEU Women in Leadership Development (WILD) participant 2011.

• Federal AEU Women’s Conference delegate 2011.

• Campaigned for SSO permanency conversion in EB 2011 & 2013.

• Supported the AEU with Arbitration statement in support of special education SSO staff rights & entitlements.

• Presenter and participant at SSO conferences.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for:

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• Advocacy for SSOs, representing the views of all sectors.

• An improved reclassification process.

• Members’ rights, ensuring SSOs continue to have a strong presence within the AEU. • Advocacy for increased SSO focused professional development.

• Raising the profile of SSOs within DECD and the wider community.

• Funding for SSO supplementation, to have SSOs replaced when on leave.

Endorsed by Smith,

The united team for all members

MALCOLM VAUGHAN

for AEU Branch Executive

CHRIS TURRELL

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience:

• Over 25 years in leadership positions in Area, small and large primary schools across the State.

• I understand that all levels of leadership in schools are being expected to do more with less resourcing and significantly increased levels of personal accountability in a system that has cut support in every area.

• At least a 0.4 teaching load at both junior primary and primary and secondary levels.

• I understand the pressures that classroom teachers are currently experiencing in the areas of curriculum design, planning for students with individual needs, classroom management and systemic accountability.

Activism:

• Branch Executive (current member).

• For 8 years, a member of the Principals’ Consultative Committee, supporting and promoting the views of AEU members in leadership positions.

• Representative to the National AEU Principal Committee for 2 years.

• Sub-branch and Branch Council participation.

• Previous membership of regional leadership groups.

• Previous executive member of several professional leadership organisations and reference groups.

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As an AEU Branch Executive member I will continue to:

• Promote the quality of Public Education in our diverse society.

• Ensure preschools, schools and TAFE operate in a democratic manner that values the voice of all AEU members.

• Promote a real and meaningful work/life balance for all members through manageable workload and appropriate staffing of all sites.

• Work to ensure full Gonski funding.

Endorsed by Smith,

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

EXPERIENCE: • My entire teaching career has been in country schools - Cummins Area School, Mannum High School and Kingston Community School.

• Coordinator for 33 years at Kingston, teaching Politics, History and Agriculture.

Union Activism: • Sub-branch Secretary for many years and have been proud to promote the AEU and the quality of public education in conservative rural areas.

• Served on the Country Conditions Committee for six years and chaired the meetings in the last two years.

• Current member of AEU Branch Executive.

If re-elected to Branch Executive I will campaign strongly for: • Competitive salaries that will attract and keep young teachers, especially in country schools.

• Close scrutiny of the allocation of federal funding for both state and private schools.

• Promotion of the AEU as a professional organisation for all teachers.

• Appropriate salary and working conditions for TRTs and contract teachers.

• The elimination of the NAPLAN tests.

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AEU ELECTIONS 2015

The united team for all members

The united team for all members

BRAD WALLIS

RHIANNA WOODBURY

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience:

• I’m in my fourth year of teaching.

• I’m a middle and senior school English, HASS, Modern and Ancient History teacher.

• I’ve also taught both PLP and Research Project.

• I have experience with the challenges of combined classes at both a middle school and senior school level. This includes mixed years levels and mixed subjects.

• I’m very familiar with the challenges unique to country teaching.

for AEU Branch Executive

Experience: • 6 years of teaching experience in preschools and Junior Primary classrooms.

• Worked in small country sites.

• Worked in a large category 1 site in the Metro area.

Endorsed by Smith,

Endorsed by Smith,

AEU Activism:

• I’ve been a member and represented the Eyre region on Branch Council since I started teaching in 2012.

• I have and continue to serve as Sub-branch Secretary and PAC rep for my site.

• I’ve attended and contributed workshops to a number of New Educators yearly conferences, and attended a Federal New Educators conference.

• I’m a member of the Administrative Officer Review Committee.

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As a member of Branch Executive, I will:

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

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• Be a voice for local and other country members.

• Promote public education and the vital role it plays in an equitable society.

• Work to support new educators and members.

• Fight for fair and realistic working conditions and expectations.

• Work to ensure that current and future governments make and honour commitments to the Gonksi funding model.

• Learn from the experience of others in the hope of doing all of the above better!

AEU Activism: • 6 years of AEU activism.

• Current member of AEU Branch Executive.

• Current member of the Early Childhood Consultative Committee.

• Participated in the AEU programs such as Women in Leadership Development and attended the Federal Women’s Conference.

• Past country Branch Council Delegate.

• Continue to engage in a variety of AEU actions such as the EB action committee.

As a member of Branch Executive, I will campaign for: As a current Branch Executive member I will continue to advocate for quality public education, with a focus on South Australia’s most disadvantaged students. My experience gives me a unique perspective on how policy can affect a large range of sites. I am very passionate about the early years and will continue to advocate for preschools and school-based preschools.

Spreadbury, Murphy, Taylor Johnson

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Sub-branches must engage in Enterprise Bargaining actions AEU Vice President Howard Spreadbury reports The most recent round of area meetings engaged members in the identification of actions they are prepared to take in order to achieve the best outcome in enterprise bargaining negotiations. It is time for members to determine what they are prepared to do to ensure a new agreement that addresses the identified concerns about workload.

At Branch Council on 22 August, delegates engaged in the identification of those roles which have impacted on NIT 18

and leadership time outside of those tasks expected of classroom teachers, leaders and preschool staff teams.

Subsequently, Branch Executive members have met with AEU officers to plan a campaign of actions to members that will quarantine NIT and leadership time to their original functions and job descriptions. Members will be asked to engage in a collective action of identifying what they currently do in their NIT and leadership time. This will lead to a sub-branch resolution limiting these times to the original intent of these allocations by the end of Term 3 with a view to further actions in Term 4.

Preschool staffing Preschool members need to be aware of the implications of two recent communiques from the Chief Executive regarding adult/child ratios which from 1 January 2016 will be based on 1:10 or 1:11 on enrolment, as required by the National Quality Framework regulations.

The first communique, sent on 20 August, indicated that centres would be staffed on the current Term 3 warranted benchmark figure, based on average attendances from previous terms, and that enrolments for next year be limited to that figure. continued over page 3

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

“It is time for members to determine what they are prepared to do to ensure a new agreement that addresses the identified concerns about workload.”

This is despite centres having physical capacity to enrol above that figure.

The major implication of this for young children and families would be turning away those who don’t meet the DECD Priority of Access policy to be placed in another centre.

This caused a major reaction from centre directors, parents and the media with Minister Close responding by offering an additional number of teachers to meet the shortfall of staffing to support children in centres which have capacity to enrol.

Subsequently on Friday 4 September, the Chief Executive sent a further communique to centres stating that enrolments would not be limited to the benchmark figure and that provided centres had capacity to enrol an additional six or more children above the 1:10 or 1:11 ratio, DECD will provide the additional 0.5 Early Childhood Worker salary to meet the adult/child ratio.

Whilst this goes some way to addressing the issue, centres with projected enrolments will not be staffed to enrol those children who will be re-directed to another centre.

The AEU continues to monitor the impact of this situation which has been known by the employer for some years.

Better planning could have alleviated the current anxiety for members and parents.

Universal Access Universal access to 15 hours preschool education remains uncertain for 2016 and 2017 as negotiations between the federal and state governments continue to establish agreement around funding arrangements. The AEU has taken this up with Minister Close and is seeking confirmation as to the timeline for finalisation of negotiations with the federal government. Centres and families cannot be subjected to the uncertainty experienced late in Term 4 last year.

The AEU expects that members will be advised in the near future as to the continued commitment to 15 hours for 2016. n

AEU TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2015

EVENTS & COURSES Term 3 & 4 Safe Schools Workshop Pt Augusta

AEU Aboriginal Members Conference

Wed 30 Sept 9:15pm – 2:30pm A practical workshop run by the AEUSA Branch Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Consultative Committee to support schools as safe places free from homophobic bullying and harassment.

Open to: AEU members.

Fri 20 Nov 9:15am – 3:30pm A one day conference for AEU SA Branch Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members on current educational issues of concern to our ATSI members. There will be a conference dinner on the evening before the conference.

This conference is organised with the support of the AEU SA Branch Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee.

Open to: AEUSA Branch Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.

Support: Relief, country travel & accommodation.

AEU/DECD Merit Selection Training & Re-training Sessions 1 Oct, 7 Oct Registrations for AEU Retraining sessions via email to:

lmangan@aeusa.asn.au Registrations for Full Day Training sessions via the ECU website ONLY:

www.decd.sa.gov.au/hrstaff/

AEU/DECD Personnel Advisory Committee [PAC] Training 2 Oct The AEU strongly recommends that all members of the PAC, including principals, AEU representatives, equal opportunity and non-teaching staff representatives who did not complete the update or full training in 2014, register for PAC training.

In 2014 there were significant changes that will affect the PAC. Book Online:

www.decd.sa.gov.au/hrstaff/

LGBTIQ Networking Function Fri 27 Nov 5:00pm – 7:00pm Join our AEU SA LGBTI Consultative Committee and staff for an opportunity to network with people from the industry. Light refreshments provided.

Open to: AEU LGBTIQ members and allies.

Super SA Financial Wellbeing Day Tues 15 Dec 10:00am – 3:00pm A holiday ‘drop-in’ day on financial wellbeing. Meet with industrial professionals and get you finances fit – fast!

Open to: Everyone! AEU Members and Non-members.

AEU Early Childhood Conference See Ad on page 4

Fri 9 Oct

AEU Middle Schooling Conference Fri 13 Nov 9:15am – 3:30pm A one day conference with focus on student engagement, achievement and the Australian Curriculum for teachers working with years 5 –10.

Open to: DECD employees working with years 5–10 (AEU members FREE; Non members $220.00) Support: TRT funding will be provided to teachers with working duties on the day (max. three per site).

AEU INFORMATION UNIT

Open Weekdays Do you have a question your union rep can’t answer?

Don’t forget the Information Unit is open Monday – Friday

10.30am to 5.00pm For assistance call:

%: 8272 1399

For further info on any of the above events and courses,

8: training@aeusa.asn.au

email Phoebe Gunn at

8: www.aeusa.asn.au>events & courses

To register go to

19

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

WOMEN’S ??????????????

FOCUS

> Sign the petition at 8:www.australianunions.org.au/ppl

Paid Parental Leave still under threat In Australia, the Abbott government continues to try to roll back the Paid Parental Leave Scheme introduced in 2011 with accusations that women are double dipping and rorting the system.

Double dipping and rorting sounds illegal and unethical and yet the scheme always included women who received an employer funded paid maternity leave scheme.

Perhaps Mr Hockey was thinking of his own practice of claiming a $270-anight taxpayer-funded travel allowance to stay in a Canberra house owned by his wife, when he used the words ‘double dipping’ and ‘rort’. n

Fear or favour?

AEU Women’s Officer Tish Champion suggests a change to the merit selection process.

FEAR: Did you know? FAVOUR:

In Sweden, parents receive 480 days paid parental leave, including 390 at around 80% of their salary. 60 days of this leave is reserved for each parent and the remaining 360 is shared at the couples discretion.

In Montenegro, parents can receive 52 weeks of government funded paid parental leave at 100% of their salary.

Cuba offers 18 weeks government paid parental leave at 100% of a person’s salary followed by 39 weeks at 60% of their salary.

Women in Iran are paid a government funded paid parental leave scheme of 6 months at full salary replacement.

The only developed country who still does not have legislated or mandated paid parental leave of any form is the USA. Ah, for once we are not following the USA’s lead. n 20

anticipation of the possibility that something unpleasant will occur.

excessive kindness or unfair partiality; preferential treatment.

Any time there is a situation where a line manager can have a direct impact on a person’s ongoing employment there is going to be a level of ‘fear’ or ‘favour’ in the workplace.

Think of it like this. I want to keep my job. My line manager is the person who will chair the panel that will decide if I keep my job. Further to that, as my line manager, he/she will most likely be asked to provide a referee comment.

Therefore, during my tenure I will resist going against my line manager, bucking the system or speaking out. If I question decisions, disagree or resist pressure, I may not be successful in winning my position back. I often perform my duties and make decisions from a level of fear!

“If I question decisions, disagree or resist pressure I may not be successful in winning my position back.”

As a result, when I reapply for the job I have successfully carried out for three years I am confident that I have enhanced my chances of retaining my position by doing everything my line manager has asked of me and more, including things I didn’t agree with or want to do. This is the favour factor! I scratch your back so you’ll scratch mine.

Luckily for me, I have now been reappointed to the position. I am extremely grateful and feel that I owe my line manager something because if it weren’t for him/her I may not have been successful. Yep, the favour factor continues!

RUNNING HEAD

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Oh, and by the way, my good friend has also won a job at my site, perhaps because of my relationship with my line manager. Now I really do feel a sense of favour. No way am I going to buck the system. And so it goes on.

Changes to Mandatory Notification – to keep children safer?

This culture of fear or favour exists in many organisations and is not unique.

There are many fantastic line managers who would no doubt disagree with me. I am not saying that this culture of fear or favour is justified and that there are line managers who take advantage of it.

What I am saying is that whether it is real or perceived, as a culture, it clearly exists within many organisations including DECD. Many SSOs, teachers, and leaders have told me that at some point in their career they have functioned from a level of fear and/or favour. Leaders in particular feel this all too keenly with one leader telling me: “You want to talk about precarious employment. No one is as precariously employed as a principal. If I want to win my job back, my line manager is 100% going to chair my panel and make referee comment on me.

Talk about working in fear or favour!”

DECD does have mechanisms in place to manage real or perceived nepotism or patronage, particularly in terms of merit selection and line management.

There is, however, one very simple thing they could do to reduce this culture of fear or favour – remove the line management representation on panel processes. The chair of every panel should be independent of the position and have no direct line management of the incumbent. This is by no means the only solution but it is at least a start. If the line manager is not going to chair their panel, the employee is going to have more freedom to express themselves and speak up when needed throughout their tenure. n

Check out these DECD newsletters on conflicts of interest and managing conflicts of interest.

• www.decd.sa.gov.au/hrstaff/ files/links/newsletter_7_ conflictsofin.pdf • www.decd.sa.gov.au/hrstaff/ files/links/newsletter_7b_ managingconf.pdf

AEU Vice President Jan Murphy writes ...

Members may have heard the media reports about possible changes to mandatory notification regulations due to the ‘unmanageable’ number of reports being received. AEU Executive is concerned and has written to Premier Weatherill stating that in our view, any changes being considered must not put members at legal risk, nor place any child or student at risk of any form of abuse or neglect without reporting, investigation, support and any necessary intervention being provided.

If the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) and agencies responsible for responding to notifications are unable to respond to the high number of reports being received, more adequate resourcing must be provided. We cannot let any changes that may place members or our children and students at risk go unchallenged.

It’s a sad fact that far too many of us have had the experience of contacting CARL, which in itself can be very distressing, only then to wait extensive lengths of time to speak with someone.

To reduce the number of mandated notifiers or make them responsible for judging levels of risk to a child’s safety, in order to reduce the number of reports to a more manageable level, is a simplistic and very dangerous idea.

Please also consider our teacher colleagues working in detention centres.

They are supporting arguably the most vulnerable and disempowered young people on Earth – children in detention.

Of course, the question at the very heart of the argument is why are there children in detention?

I cannot imagine the horror of such places, nor witnessing first hand the widely reported detrimental and often

“…sign a petition, get to a rally. Support those who support teachers, health workers and others who are standing up bravely and defying this shocking policy.” tragic effects that detention is having on children and young people. But as the current Federal Coalition Government has deemed that they will be incarcerated, teachers, heath workers and others work to provide education and support for children and their families in detention have been placed in an untenable situation.

Imagine witnessing or learning of horrendous abuses and knowing that to report what you have seen places you at risk of imprisonment. That’s what the Border Protection Act means.

If your experience as an educator and your compassion for young people is telling you that this is not OK, get involved. Find the facts, and your voice.

Sign a petition, get to a rally. Support those who support teachers, health workers and others who are standing up bravely and defying this shocking policy. They are our colleagues and they are supporting our children. n 21

NOTICEBOARD

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NOMINATIONS FOR AEU COMMITTEES

Australian Education Union | SA Branch Nominations are called to fill vacancies on the following AEU Committees: STANDING COMMITTEES COUNTRY CONDITIONS The Committee monitors country working conditions and makes recommendations to Branch Executive on appropriate policy and action.

Two male positions for 2 years ending December 2017 One female position for 2 years ending December 2017

FINANCE The Committee is chaired by the Treasurer and prepares the AEU budget and reviews expenditure on a quarterly basis.

One female and one male position for 1 year ending December 2016 One male and two female positions for 2 years ending December 2017

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE The Committee monitors OHS&W issues and advises on matters relating to the working environment and health of members and students.

Two male positions for 2 years ending December 2017 One female position for 2 years ending December 2017 One male position for 1 year ending December 2016

CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES Consultative Committees provide advice to Branch Executive on matters affecting their membership sector. All positions are for a one-year term of office ending

December 2016.

Contract and TRT – 9 positions. Employable, Contract and TRT members.

Special Education – 9 positions. Teachers and School Services Officers involved in Special Education.

Status of Women – 9 positions. Women members from all membership sectors and classifications.

Leaders Consultative Committee – 9 positions. School leader members in

MODBURY SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL 50th BIRTHDAY & GALA EVENING Former teachers, students and families are invited to attend this celebration.

THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER The day will commence at 12.00pm with open classrooms and will continue throughout the afternoon and evening with fun activities, official 2015 capsule burial and speeches concluding with a student concert.

For further details:

T: (08) 22

8264 3527

all sectors of schooling.

Aboriginal Education – 9 positions. Indigenous members from all membership sectors and classifications.

School Services Officers – 9 positions. School Services Officers in DECD. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) – 9 positions. All membership sectors and classifications.

Early Childhood – up to 15 positions, a majority of whom shall be Children’s Services Act employees. Members working in Early Childhood Education.

CLOSING DATE: Nominations for these Committee vacancies must reach the: Returning Officer, 163 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063, no later than 12.00 noon on Wednesday, 4 November 2015.

A nomination form is available at: http://www.aeusa.asn.au/nomination.pdf?lid=68 and from the AEU. Nominations may be accompanied by a supporting statement of not more than 200 words.

ELECTION PROCEDURE: Ballots for contested positions will be conducted at Branch Council on Saturday, 7 November 2015.

Peter Norman Returning Officer

NOTICE BOARD

Member’s Market In order to cater for extra editorial space, the AEU Members

members. T: 0419 868 143 E: foumakis@hotmail.com W: www.victorharborgetaways. com.au

Market now has a reduced space allocation in the Journal.

VICTOR HARBOR HOLIDAY HSE:

Advertisements will be printed at the discretion of the Editor and will not run in more than three issues in succession.

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STREAKY BAY HOLIDAY HSE:

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5-min. walk to the jetty. Relax for wkend or longer. T: 0407654464 E: arthur1966.dellas@gmail.com

5-min walk to beach, in town, close to shops. Sleeps 13. Fish & boat facilities. New bath & kit; BBQ entertaining area and private spa suite avail. Starting rate $140 p/ night. T: (08) 8626 1539 E: ascaines@hotmail.com

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2 fully self-contained homes.

Sleeps up to 8. One with private beach/lake! 10% discount to AEU

SECOND VALLEY HOLIDAY HSE:

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Expert advice and professional experience with: • Mortgages, • Private Contract Transfers, • Strata Plan and Plan of Division Lodgments, • Caveats, Discharges of Mortgages, • 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.

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KINGSTON NEAR ROBE: 2-storey on 22 kms of stunning beach stretching down to wineries.

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OUTBACK TAGALONG TOURS Guided tours in your 4 wheel drive, with your gear loaded on the ‘Big Red Truck’. Hassle Free Outback Touring. Book now for our Spring Tour – Innaminka Races, Coward Springs, Warren Gorge.

T: David Connell – (02) 8885 4620 or Lyn Rowe – 0403 594 406 W: www.brtoutback.com.au

To give away: Folders hard/soft covered...upper to middle primary ...many topics covered... from retired teacher. Donation to the Smith Family. Interested?

T: 0418 834 174 (Jane)

SEAGRASS VILLAS AT NORMANVILLE: situated on Jetty Rd, two new 1 BR spacious villas for holiday rental. Luxury accomm. a short stroll to cafes, shops, pub and to the Normanville Beach. Spa in court yard garden for the perfect getaway, come and treat yourself. Villa 1 is dog friendly – allowed inside. 5% discount for AEU members.

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Advertise in Members’ Market for FREE! Rent, sell, buy or offer goods and services. Send ads to:

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AN INVITATION TO RETIRED OR RETIRING TEACHERS & SSOs Have you retired or are about to retire? Are you seeking opportunities to maintain or increase your level of fitness and want to learn more about your city and surrounding hills and bushland? Are you seeking companionship with other retired teachers and their partners as well as other walkers from a range of backgrounds (not just teaching!)?

Walks are organised at several levels. Rovers walk from 14–18 kms, Walkers from 8–10 kms, Ramblers from 6–7 kms and Amblers up to 5 kms. The R.T.A. Walking Group is a sub-group of the Retired Teachers Association and is affiliated with The Walking Federation of SA. We walk in conservation parks, national parks and forestry reserves within the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula, suburban beaches and along the six creeks of the Adelaide Plains, the River Torrens Linear Park and other suburban trails. It’s a great way to get to know your city and surroundings! A camp is also organised each year in country areas within South Australia or Victoria.

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T: 0400 303 300 (Ian) E: ir211057@internode.on.net

TEACHING RESOURCES:

Fax: (08)

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Level 3, 400 King William Street, Adelaide, SA 5000

If you are interested in finding out more about our walking group, you are invited to contact: our Secretary, Roger Tagg email: rogertag@tpg.com.au 23

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