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Member Snapshot
It is difficult being away from friends and family; living on a remote island is pretty much as isolated as you can get! But I think teachers should try to commit to remote schools for at least a year. I have found it takes at least six months to really understand the cultural differences and start educating in a way which is more relevant and specific to student needs. It’s also important to consider the students. Having multiple teachers over a short period of time creates a lack of continuity and may severely impact upon their education. Do you find union membership rewarding? Union membership is a given for teachers in my opinion. Since becoming the staff representative at my school, I have learnt so much more about the value of membership. I was a bit sceptical at first about the benefits of taking on a more active role in my chapter, but becoming staff representative has given me a much broader understanding of how our union works for all members. Taking on extra responsibility in your chapter is not as scary as it sounds. Have your workplace conditions improved as a result of union involvement?
Joshua MacKenzie, Tiwi College I was never the kind of person who wanted to be a teacher all their life and I actually agonised over the decision to study education at university. However, working at a remote school has taught me so much about myself and, in turn, teaching. I love it! Everyday is a challenge and I am continually learning new things. Do you enjoy living and working on the Tiwi Islands?
Our union has been integral in helping to start negotiations with Tiwi College employer, the Tiwi Education Board. We are now in the process of negotiating the college’s first ever collective agreement. Our union has played a significant part in getting us to this stage and current, and future, staff will receive many benefits as a result. There has also been improvement to the general running of the school. Since the initial involvement of our union, management at the college has been much clearer in communicating with staff.
JOIN OUR UNION TODAY
The end of this year will be my second year at Tiwi College. I love working in the area and having the opportunity to become part of the Australian Indigenous community who retain ownership of the land.
Help build collective strength and enhance the working rights and conditions of all education professionals working in the Northern Territory.
The Tiwi are an amazing people who are welcoming and accepting of people from outside their own culture.
To join IEUA-QNT, visit our website at www.qieu.asn.au
What are some key issues teachers face currently? There are many issues stemming from government policy. There is often a real gap between government opinion on education issues and the experience of teachers on the ground. Class size is a good example. Working in a remote school I have seen how class size directly impacts on the quality of learning within the classroom. I believe smaller classes allow teachers to provide a better learning experience. Do remote schools face particular issues? Funding is a real concern for our school as we are largely self-sufficient. For example, the college maintains a fleet of vehicles that is used to pick up and drop off students. Staff retention is an on-going issue as living remotely takes sacrifice, and it’s hard for teachers to make that sacrifice for long periods of time.
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or call our Darwin office on FREECALL 1800 351 996 ISSN: 1834-5190 The Northern Voice was prepared by Elise Cuthbertson Editor: Mr Terry Burke, Branch Secretary IEUA-QNT PO BOX 418, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 PH: 1800 351 996 FX: (07) 3839 7021 Email: enquiries@qieu.asn.au Website: www.qieu.asn.au ABN: 74 662 601 045