Western Teacher - Volume 48.2 - February 2019

Volume 48.2 February 2019

The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

National van tour for Fair Funding Now! pg 6

sstuwa.org.au

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Features

Volume 48.2 February 2019

In this edition Correspondence: The Editor, PO Box 212 West Perth WA 6872 editor@sstuwa.org.au Ph: 9210 6000

Ph: 9210 6060 memberassist@sstuwa.org.au Print post publication 100004470 | $4.95 ABN: 544 780 946 35 Authorised by Mary Franklyn, General Secretary, The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.) 2019.

Cover: Fair Funding Now! vans will be visiting schools across the nation to highlight the public school funding crisis. Read more on page 6.

To access the digital copy of Western Teacher, type the link below into your browser: www.sstuwa.org.au/westernteacher

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/sstuwa

National van tour for fair funding...............6 Bargaining framework: GA 2019 Schools...7 The latest on GROH.....................................8 Safety reps and committees are vital for your workplace....................................10 Level 3 Classroom Teacher update..........11

2019 Publishing Dates Deadline Distributed

Member Assist:

In this edition

TAFE permanency conversations.............12 Retiring teacher wins full recognition of service...................................................14

19 November

18 January

Working women change the rules............16

29 January

22 February

5 March

29 March

Regulars

29 April

24 May

4 June

28 June

1 July

26 July

12 August

6 September

9 September

4 October

Member Benefits......................................30

4 October

29 November

Classifieds.................................................32

Dates are subject to change

From the President.....................................5 From the General Secretary.......................9 National education and union news.........24 Seen around the SSTUWA........................26 Education and Training.............................28

Noticeboard...............................................34

Advertisements in Western Teacher are the responsibility of advertisers. While Western Teacher makes reasonable efforts to ensure that no misleading claims are made by advertisers, responsibility is not accepted by The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.) for statements made or the failure of any product or service to give satisfaction. Inclusion of a product or service should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

Western Teacher is the official publication of The State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. (Inc.)

How can we help you?

Have an industrial, legal or workers’ compensation issue?

The team in Member Assist is ready to answer your question, assist with your issue, or refer you to a specialist.

You can also visit the members tab at sstuwa.org.au to access the full series of Know Your Rights information sheets detailing your rights and entitlements and offering union advice. You’ll also find the Little Red eBook here.

During the school year, Member Assist is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, except public holidays. During school holidays, Member Assist is open from 10am to 2pm.

Member Assist

9210 6060 | 1800 106 683 memberassist@sstuwa.org.au

SSTUWA Member Assist Prompt, professional advice

Western Teacher February 2019

3

On the agenda for 2019

From the President

By Pat Byrne President

As members look ahead to another school year, the SSTUWA is also casting its gaze onto the critical issues that face you, our members, and public education as a whole, with funding, lower TAFE fees and a focus on play-based learning for the early school years at the top of our list.

A new bilateral funding agreement signed by the state government late last year will leave WA schools billions of dollars worse off over the next decade if state funding is reduced, and the union continues to urge Premier Mark McGowan to commit unreservedly to maintaining WA state school funding at or above its current level.

The conditions of the new agreement commit the federal government to increase its funding contribution to WA public schools from 15.6 per cent to 20 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), but allows the state government to cut its funding from 88 per cent to 75 per cent of the SRS over the next six years.

If that happens, WA schools will only be funded to 95 per cent of the SRS, which means they will get less money than the actual cost of educating children in WA. Up until now, because of the nature of WA’s large size and small population, WA public schools have been funded to 105 per cent or more of the SRS to ensure quality teaching and children’s learning were properly resourced.

WA schools are funded to 105 per cent once the 20 per cent contribution from the Commonwealth is included.

The government needs to confirm its intention to do so. If the plan is to use this new deal as a way to cut its contribution, the state government should be honest and identify where cuts would be made.

The government says WA schools are the best funded in Australia but that is because it costs more to resource schools here compared to schools in New South Wales and Victoria.

If WA public schools are not funded at 105 per cent, individual school budgets will not keep up with costs and children’s learning will suffer.

TAFE fees should be lower Investment in TAFE is both a social and economic benefit to the WA community.

As a former Education Minister, the Premier would understand how worthwhile an investment in vocational education is to provide our economy with the skills and training it needs.

One of the most worthwhile things the state government could do would be to lower TAFE fees.

Under the Barnett Government, some TAFE courses saw increases of up to 600 per cent, which discouraged young Western Australians enrolling in TAFE.

Based on the information the WA government has provided, our analysis identifies a gap of billions of dollars in funding over the next six years, which is deeply concerning for the future of WA public schools.

Enrolments have fallen by approximately 25 per cent as a result.

WA schools need the state government to fund them at 85 per cent of SRS, ensuring

Credit to the state government and Education Minister Sue Ellery for freezing

This means fewer people getting the skills and qualifications our economy needs.

It is undermining economic growth and costing local jobs.

TAFE fees, but they are still too high.

They need to come down, particularly in the areas where we are experiencing skills shortages and where business has become reliant on overseas workers.

Cutting fees will help people and help the state.

Strengthening play in the early years The SSTUWA has welcomed signs from the Department of Education of a return to a focus on play based learning in the early years of schooling.

There have been signs in recent years that child-initiated and self-directed playbased learning have been disappearing from Kindergarten, Pre-primary and Year 1 and 2 classrooms as a result of an increasing tendency towards more formalised learning at earlier stages.

Teachers are under increasing pressure to impose developmentally inappropriate activities for very young children in the mistaken belief that they should be adopting the same or similar teaching strategies across K-6 classrooms.

This fails to understand or appreciate the importance of a well-designed play based curriculum to children’s healthy development and learning.

A state-wide play strategy needs to be clearly articulated under the leadership of the department to ensure that principals, educators and parents share an understanding of early childhood pedagogy and an appreciation of its importance for the wellbeing of young children.

The SSTUWA calls on Minister Ellery to ensure that her department is appropriately supported to properly implement such a strategy.

Western Teacher February 2019

5

Issues

National van tour for fair funding A pair of Fair Funding Now vans are visiting hundreds of WA teachers, parents, principals and concerned community members as the SSTUWA ramps up the campaign to get a fairer funding deal for WA public schools in the lead up to the federal election.

Travelling throughout Perth, the Mid West, the South West and through the Goldfields on their way to Canberra, the vans will carry the message to our federal politicians that we want a better deal for our public school students.

The two vans are part of a fleet of 10 on the road nationwide and form part of the next stage of the Australian Education Union’s Fair Funding Now! campaign.

The tour was launched on the first day of Term 1 for WA schools. Other vans will visit electorates in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, in the lead up to the federal election.

Campaign teams in each van will engage with parents in local communities to deliver a strong message about the clear choice for electing a government that puts their local public schools and students first. The SSTUWA has also spoken to members of parliament who have pledged their support for Fair Funding Now! Track the vans as they visit schools here: fairfundingnow.org.au/backtoschool New figures have revealed that the

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Western Teacher February 2019

Morrison Government’s school funding legislation will actually leave 99 per cent of public schools below the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2023.

In fact, less than half of all public schools will even reach 95 per cent of the SRS by this date. By contrast, nearly 99 per cent of private schools in Australia will be funded at, or in excess of, the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2023.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said the impact of these public school funding cuts was much worse than first thought when the Turnbull/Morrison Government’s school funding legislation was passed in 2017.

“The Morrison Government coerced states into signing its bilateral school funding agreements by threatening to withhold funding for 2019,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“Now these agreements leave no prospect for public schools to be funded at 100 per cent of the SRS at any point in the foreseeable future under the Morrison Government. This is a deliberate attack on public schools.

“The Morrison Government’s school funding legislation means that virtually every public school in Australia will not have enough funding to meet the needs of its students for the next five years and beyond.”

Ms Haythorpe said Prime Minister Scott Morrison must use the 2 April federal

NOW!

budget to reverse his savage public school funding cuts and restore fairness to public school funding.

Ms Haythorpe said the AEU’s Fair Funding Now! campaign would carry this message to parents in local communities across Australia.

“Public school funding is a key consideration for parents and their voting intentions,” she said.

“More than eight in 10 respondents to a recent AEU poll said that education will be important in deciding who they will vote for at the upcoming federal election.

“Our fleet of Fair Funding Now! vans will reach out to local communities and drive home the importance of fairly funding public schools to make this election the ‘education election’.”

Ms Haythorpe said the next federal government must put public schools first and prioritise public education funding as a matter of urgency.

“Labor’s federal election commitment to invest $14.1 billion in our public schools will repair much of the damage wreaked by the Turnbull/Morrison Government to public school funding,” she said.

“Bill Shorten’s $3.3 billion commitment for public school funding in the first three years is a very welcome game-changer for public schools.”

General Agreement 2019 Schools: Bargaining framework

February 2019 | No. 1

Bargaining framework General Agreement 2019 Schools

The bargaining framework endorsed by the November 2018 State Council for this claim is as follows:

Salary At the time of writing, the government wages policy – which has been in place since May 2017 – remains in place with only a minor amendment preventing a right of return (to a previous position) for persons taking up positions in the Senior Executive Service. Public sector unions have met with Minister Bill Johnston and indicated our expectation that the next round of bargaining will deliver improved wage outcomes. Note: The November 2018 State Council voted to reject the state government’s salary wage fixing policy.

The work of teaching and leading Executive endorsed the conduct of a survey into the work of teachers and school leaders. This survey was carried out between weeks 2-6 of Term 4 2018. The purpose of the survey was to look at the changing nature of teachers’ and leaders’ work and, in particular, the utility of this work. The aim of the survey was to provide specific data to influence the department in relation to managing workload in the near to mid future, as well as for bargaining purposes in the 2019 round.

System support It is obvious that the public education system in WA is under extreme stress. The removal of system support since 2008 has been enormous. We have seen a loss of central and regional support in the areas of curriculum, induction programs, finance, legal, family liaison, professional learning, student behaviour, etc.

At the same time almost all of these responsibilities have been delegated to schools with little training/ support provided for principals and other staff. Schools have been encouraged to act as individual entities rather than be reminded that we are all part of a system. This undermines a fundamental premise of public education – the public, as opposed to individual, good.

We need to rebuild our system as a system.

Attraction and retention This is strongly linked to re-establishing system links. The abolition of the transfer system is leading to regional shortages and staffing instability. It is possible to retain the principle of local staff selection and combine it with a central staffing function in a way which allows the centre to maintain the capacity to place staff as needed.

Safety in schools Teachers and leaders need assurance of a safe working environment. Policies, procedures and resources must be directed towards achieving this.

Decisions of State Council, November 2018 • That the proposed framework, as outlined, for EBA negotiations be endorsed.

• That, following member input during Semester 1 of 2019, a draft Log of Claims be presented to June 2019 State Council prior to a membership vote.

• That for the purposes of negotiating the GA 2019, the SSTUWA rejects the current state wages policy.

What we’re doing in Term 1: • Education, consultation and feedback for members via branch meetings and District Councils. Your school’s district organiser and area State Council delegate can assist with these meetings.

• A meeting package will be provided to all branch delegates to assist in managing the meetings.

• It is recommended that you first attend your area District Council meeting and then manage branch education, consultation and feedback.

• The EBA 2019 working party will centrally manage branch feedback to ensure a draft Log of Claims is collated for June State Council.

Timeline for 2019 Terms 1 & 2 – Log of Claims consultation • Draft Log of Claims finalised • Consultation with members via District Councils and branch meetings • Education re: GA processes for District Council delegates and union reps

Term 2 – Log of Claims finalised • State Council endorses Log of Claims • Advise and share with members • Member/branch vote on Log of Claims via branch and cluster meetings

August-September – Negotiations commence Terms 3 & 4 – Member/rep/delegate education • Cluster district and branch meetings • Communications – GA news • Actions as required to progress GA 2019 claim

Consideration of offer/s • Decision making re: offer, options and actions

GA GA 2019

SCHOOLS

The General Agreement 2017 nominally expires on 5 December 2019, meaning negotiations are due to commence, for a replacement Agreement, in the early part of Semester 2 2019.

2019

Western Teacher February 2019

7

Industrial

The latest on GROH

By Paul Bridge Senior Vice President

The SSTUWA’s campaign to improve the Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) scheme and the quality of housing structures themselves continues in 2019.

The state government recognises the importance of the GROH scheme in attracting and retaining teachers and school leaders to regional schools and has committed to a revamp in policies where needed.

Currently there are 5,074 GROH dwellings in the scheme, with 53 per cent owned by the scheme and 47 per cent leased from the private market. Most GROH dwellings are in the Pilbara, followed by the Kimberley, Goldfields, Midwest and Wheatbelt regions.

The Department of Education (DoE) is the highest user at 39 per cent.

Year

Number of Dwellings

Operating Cost Per Property

2014

2,059

$32,703

2015

2,060

$30,771

2016

2,080

$27,912

2017

2,020

$25,363

2018

1,993

$25,170

The current GROH dwellings allocated to DoE by year range has dropped from 2,080 dwellings in 2016, to 1,993 dwellings in 2018.

The GROH evaluation observed that: • The GROH program demonstrates strong alignment with government affordable housing, regional workforce attraction and retention, and regional development strategic objectives.

• Client agencies regard the GROH program as a critical and valued regional workforce attraction and retention strategy.

• The GROH program has largely been effective in assisting client agencies to attract and retain employees in regional locations and achieve the overall GROH objective of providing adequate and suitable housing for government employees.

• GROH stock has not kept pace with changing community expectations of housing standards and amenity – 39 per cent of GROH stock is over 27 years old.

The review recommended for: 1. Improvements, both strategically across government and at a more operational program level.

2. Updates and consolidation of the GROH program operational policies and supporting documents to produce a single source of guidance for stakeholders.

The SSTUWA is seeking further clarification on why this has happened. A possible reason could include the lower real estate prices in specific country locations, encouraging DoE employees to take on home ownership in these locations.

Currently out of 53 GROH policies, 48 have been reviewed and 20 have been revised, 20 have been withdrawn and eight amalgamated.

The ongoing reduction in operating cost per property has provided savings to GROH of $24.5 million over the last four years because of dropping rental prices.

In turn this has provided savings to the state government. None of these savings have been reinvested back into GROH.

The SSTUWA has previously put in a submission with recommendations to revamp the current TRSF.

Last month GROH representatives presented to SSTUWA senior officers and external organisers on the outcome of a GROH review by Kalico Consulting in 2016 to determine if GROH was still appropriate, effective and efficient as a model, and if there are any future improvements that could be made.

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Western Teacher February 2019

Tenant Rent Setting Framework (TRSF) policy review – update

The government’s internal TRSF review proposed the following discounts being applied according to the amenity of the dwelling, including the following consideration of the property’s age.

The DoE has advised GROH through the Department of Communities (Housing) of the following rental information for the 2018-19 financial year: • Rents have decreased for 75 per cent of regional employees.

• Rents have remained the same for 20 per cent of regional employees.

• Rents have increased by up to $30 per week for five per cent of regional employees.

The union will be requesting further information on rental increases and decreases for DoE employees over the last four-year period.

Stay tuned for more updates on the union’s GROH campaign and further information on how members can support the fight for a better GROH scheme to support public schools to attract and retain members in country locations.

Tenant Rent Setting Framework The TRSF sets the basis for calculating the maximum rent that client agencies are able to recoup from their employees who occupy a GROH dwelling.

Different discounts are currently applied based on the housing amenity (age and design) and location.

An initial discount is applied to properties categorised as medium or low amenity.

There is no discount for high amenity properties.

Amenity of dwelling

Built

Discount

High

After 1987

0%

Medium

1975-1986

20%

Standard (Low)

Before 1975

40%

Further discounts also are applied, taking into account factors such as:

Category

High

Int.

Med.

Low

• Distance from Perth.

Discount

0%

10%

20%

40%

• Distance from the coast.

Option 1 (property age)

0-10 yrs

31+ yrs

• Distance from a major regional centre.

11-20 21-30 yrs yrs

• Amenity level of the locality.

From the General Secretary

Safety is our priority

By Mary Franklyn General Secretary

It was significant that on the day children returned to schools, the Minister for Education was on the radio declaring new programs had been introduced in the state’s public schools to tackle violence and create safer environments for students and staff.

The introduction of these programs is a result of the increase over 2017-18 of serious violent incidents in schools, an increased number of school leaders and teachers under investigation for matters often related to student discipline, and a growing sense of no support or protection for staff dealing with increasing day-to-day stressors and violence in school communities. SSTUWA members took the decision to campaign for safe workplaces for all last year. The Minister’s announcement of a 10 point plan signified the first proactive step in acknowledging the problems and addressing them.

We acknowledge the work of those members and schools who have stood up and spoken out. The activism prompted the union to declare safety as a priority.

Extensive discussion with the Minister for Education made it clear this was a shared concern and that we could work together to develop processes to make workplaces safer for educators and students alike.

This is an ongoing process. We make no apology for putting safety at the top of the priority list.

The union is aware of the concerns of some members that we must not just abandon students who behave unacceptably – it is important to ensure there are options available for troubled students. We will continue to work with the Minister and the department to get the balance right and to ensure the required funding is forthcoming to back up the pledges and promises we have seen.

This campaign does suggest that we can work with the government to deliver top class results for our members.

General Agreement 2019 Earlier in Western Teacher (page 7) you will have seen the detailed plans for the development of our Log of Claims for the 2019 General Agreement negotiations.

It might seem like we have only just gone through this process, but a quirk of timing means we are already entering another negotiation process.

It was disappointing to see WA Treasurer Ben Wyatt recently declaring he will not change the state government’s approach to public service salary increases – continuing to limit them to $1,000 a year.

This is unacceptable, not only to the SSTUWA but to the broader union movement. As outlined in January Western Teacher there are significant economic benefits to all in giving people proper salary increases.

Public servants – be they teachers, nurses, police or the vital support staff in education, health, law enforcement – have been targeted by governments of every stripe as easy targets to carry the budget deficit can.

While the people who made the decisions that left our state in a perilous financial state sail into the sunset with comfortable superannuation settlements, the ordinary government worker has seen departments decimated and salaries fundamentally frozen even as their daily living costs go through the roof. Enough is enough.

The SSTUWA will be working with other unions to ensure the government gets the clear message that making public servants carry the burden of budget repair is not acceptable.

To be successful in our campaign we will need the support of every member.

We need you to be part of the process in setting the Log of Claims and we need you to be ready to take whatever action is necessary if the state government fails to realise that public servants have done their bit.

In the 2017 General Agreement, it was with great reluctance that the $1,000 a year cap was accepted. We balanced this with some important gains in other areas for our members but enough is enough.

We need proper pay rises and this will be a core platform of our negotiations.

Congratulations, Sally I want to formally acknowledge SSTUWA staff member Sally Butterworth, who retired last month after 34 years of service to our union.

Many of you will have come into contact with Sally over the years as our senior accounts officer. Her commitment, diligence and professionalism in this role was exceptional and always ensured the union’s finances were as they should be – accounted for. Thank you Sally and best wishes.

Western Teacher February 2019

9

Occupational safety and health

Safety reps and committees are vital for your workplace

By Joy Barrett OSH organiser

Safety representatives and committees can be an effective mechanism for providing participation and improved consultation between the site manager and the staff on matters of occupational safety and health (OSH).

• They can bring employees’ OSH concerns to the attention of worksite leadership and help resolve any disputes at an early stage before they become more complex, protracted or someone becomes injured.

Safety representatives represent their fellow workers and carry out specific functions related to safety and health matters in the workplace including identifying hazards, incident and hazard reporting and investigation.

• They can help school leaders and managers to meet their duty of care and ensure compliance with the OSH legislation.

One of the keys to good OSH leadership is getting your staff involved and taking ownership of what happens within the workplace.

OSH management is more likely to succeed if it encourages active involvement of staff and sets up a dialogue between employees and managers.

This is best done through safety representatives and committees.

Safety representatives can be very beneficial in helping to create a safer workplace and a source of advice and assistance to the principal or line manager and their colleagues, as: • They can increase participation and constructive discussion about safety and health.

• They encourage employees to use safe work practices.

• They can help establish a positive safety culture in the workplace which will improve productivity and reduce injuries, ill-health, conflict and lost time through absenteeism.

The legislation requires that safety representatives be elected every two years. There are also rules regarding the formation of an OSH committee which need to be observed.

It is important that employees are not coerced into being a representative or committee member “or dobbed in for it” as many of the reps report to us at their introductory training.

Staff need to consider whether the person they nominate and elect (if election is required) has the required skills to represent them; unless the person has an interest in safety and health and is prepared to speak up on behalf of those they represent, the role will be ineffective.

• Safety representatives receive excellent training (at no cost to the school) to provide the skills and knowledge to help keep the workplace safe.

In order for the safety representatives and committees to be effective they must be provided with adequate support and resources. They need time to carry out their functions and there has to be a commitment to the role by the leadership.

• They can identify hazards in the workplace that might otherwise go unnoticed – until an accident happens.

The position of safety representative is voluntary and undertaken alongside normal duties.

• They are elected by employees and therefore employees will feel more comfortable to approach them with their OSH concerns.

There are no examinations needed to qualify as a safety representative but the representative needs to demonstrate the required competencies during the

10

Western Teacher February 2019

compulsory five-day introductory course.

A rep must have undertaken the five-day accredited training in order to be qualified to serve Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs). Once elected, a safety rep can commence carrying out all the other functions prescribed by the Act while awaiting further training.

Safety representatives are not civilly liable for anything that is done or omitted to be done in their role. However, they can be disqualified under certain circumstances.

It is an offence for an employer to cause disadvantage to a safety representative if the reason is substantially because of their position, or they are performing their legislated functions.

The safety representative is not answerable to the principal or manager for the way in which they carry out their function as long as they comply with the code of conduct and other related policy requirements.

Safety representatives must be consulted on all matters that might impact on the safety and health of staff and given an opportunity to provide input.

It is essential that site managers acknowledge the important role they play in improving safety in the workplace and respect the valuable work that they do in a voluntary capacity.

The safety representative’s role is a leadership role. If resourced and supported, your workplace will reap the benefits.

See Getting Organised for 2019 in January’s Western Teacher for further details of the election process, or go to the department’s Employee Support Bureau website or the Worksafe website for more details on the role and functions of safety reps and safety committees.

Level 3 Classroom Teacher update

Industrial

By Natalie Blewitt Acting Vice President

Another school year is underway and many Level 3 Classroom Teachers (L3CT) will be undertaking their leadership role, some for the first time.

It is important to remember that this role is to be “negotiated at the school level with the principal or line manager and is to be consistent with the Level 3 Classroom Teacher Information and Guidelines” (Schools General Agreement 2017).

Last year saw confusion and misinformation surrounding the funding for L3CTs. According to a Department of Education Ed-e-Mail published on 13 March 2018: “the election commitment to provide additional time for half the L3CTs to have 0.1 FTE” commenced.

This funding was allocated to two separate targeted initiatives: • L3CT additional teacher time.

• Schools with low proportion of L3CTs. Funding under these two targeted initiatives was fully allocated to schools when the 2018 operational budgets were released.

“Although funding is ongoing, the allocation will be recalculated centrally based on staff profiles at schools each year,” the 13 March email bulletin read.

“Level 3 Classroom Teacher funding is to provide time for one (or more) of a school’s Level 3 Classroom Teachers to mentor, teach and share their knowledge about classroom teaching practice with other teachers at their school.”

For those schools who opted to take part in the mental health initiative, those schools were also allocated an additional 0.1 FTE. However, the department, having only received 180 applications from schools with L3CTs extended this offer to all schools.

In doing so, it completely broke from the 0.1 FTE as being L3CT time. It became simply an additional $11,000 added into the school budget.

While this additional funding goes some way to reinstating the 0.1 FTE that was removed due to the Barnett Government’s funding cuts during 2013-2014, it still falls short of the SSTUWA’s position that restoration of the time component to all L3CTs for the purposes for which it was originally intended is imperative.

If you are intending to apply for L3CT status during 2019, don’t forget to follow the L3CT guidelines. This information can be located at: bit.ly/2Is2Opc The SSTUWA Education and Training Centre also offers training for stage one and stage two. Visit sstuwa.org.au/training Additional information, support and guidance can be sought through the Level 3 Classroom Teachers Association: l3cta.org.au

Welcome Natalie Blewitt Natalie Blewitt has assumed the role of acting SSTUWA vice president in 2019. Here she takes a moment to introduce herself and shares her thoughts on being involved in the union and public education.

I have been a teacher with the Department of Education for 20 years, working at metropolitan primary schools. I have served in various other roles such as acting deputy principal, ICT leadership and learning enrichment coordinator.

Achieving my Level 3 Classroom Teacher status in 2009, I have mentored student teachers and graduates, providing support across a variety of learning areas. I enjoyed my recent role in this area as sustainability coordinator, helping my school community to reduce, reuse and recycle.

I believe that public schools offer a good quality education for every child, irrespective of their background, circumstance or location. I am proud to have been educated in the public system and I offer students who I teach the best opportunities for learning that I received in my local public primary and high school.

Since beginning my teaching career, I have been an active member, holding various positions at a school level, ranging from union rep, deputy rep, District and State Council delegate.

More formally, since 2010 I have been in various roles with the SSTUWA including being an Executive member, New Educator Committee member and professional learning trainer for the union’s Education and Training Centre, as well as being involved in reporting for the twice-yearly State Council Conference.

I joined the SSTUWA because being part of the collective ensures that you are never alone and our voices are heard. You can achieve greatness when you walk in solidarity. I have and always will fight for what is right, for being part of the solution not part of the problem.

In my mind, the key education and industrial issues that face us currently are: • The reduction of funding for public schools: Schools are withdrawing programs that can no longer be funded.

• The increased workload that all teachers are facing across the system.

• The reduction of play based learning in the early years.

• Safety in schools: Every student and teacher deserves to learn and work in a safe environment.

• The state of disrepair of GROH housing.

• NAPLAN. • The high attrition rate of beginning teachers within their first five years.

• The mental health of students and teachers across the system.

• The decimation of TAFE. • The National Schools Reform Agreement.

I am honoured to be acting vice president this year and look forward to the challenge of advocating for our members and public education.

Western Teacher February 2019

11

Industrial

TAFE permanency conversions The SSTUWA has been working with its TAFE members to assist long term fixed contracts and casual lecturers to gain permanency.

As of late last year, stage one had secured over 200 permanencies for lecturers with four or more years of service.

Stage two was set to get underway and would review the business case for over 100 lecturers.

TAFE colleges have been working with the union to review hundreds of long term casual lecturers, as well as lecturers currently permanent but at a fraction lower than the fraction they have been working for many years.

These massive wins were achieved in the 2017 TAFE General Agreement, which was registered in the WA Industrial Relations Commission last year.

As reported previously in Western Teacher, other clauses negotiated in the 2017 TAFE General Agreement enable the SSTUWA to scrutinise the use of fixed-term and casual employment in the sector to assist members to gain greater job security.

Employers now have to prepare a business case to justify the use of a fixed term contract for reasons of fluctuating demand, while casual employees who are expected to be employed for more than six weeks will be offered a fixed term contract.

Securing these conditions have gone a long way to ending years of uncertainty for many SSTUWA TAFE members, with concerns about job insecurity affecting decisions on major life or financial commitments.

Members have also had to deal with the stress of repeated job selection processes when having to apply for positions they have held for years, with figures showing up to half of TAFE lecturers in 2017 not having permanent status.

This represented 54 per cent of female lecturers and 41 per cent of male lecturers.

Should members have queries about TAFE permanency conversions or other general TAFE matters, contact our TAFE organiser or Member Assist on 1800 106 683 or email memberassist@sstuwa.org.au

Profit put ahead of TAFE students A proposal from big business groups for the federal government to take over responsibility for Australia’s vocational education and training sector is merely a bid by private training providers to line their own pockets at the expense of TAFE students.

Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal President Correna Haythorpe said that TAFE had been under attack for over a decade from a privatisation agenda, which has slashed its funding while giving taxpayer dollars to poorly-regulated private providers.

She said that a Commonwealth takeover of vocational education would see even more funding diverted to private providers and more pressure being exerted on the TAFE system.

“The privatisation of vocational education in Australia over the past decade has been

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Western Teacher February 2019

an abject failure,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“A wholesale federal takeover of the vocation education sector, along with ACPET’s (Australian Council for Private Education and Training) push for 100 per cent contestable funding, would only make things worse.

“The Liberal-National government has cut over $3 billion from TAFE, apprenticeships and vocational education. Meanwhile governments have lavished education funding on private providers who have repeatedly left students in debt or without the qualifications they paid for.”

The AEU calls on the federal government to: 1. Guarantee a minimum of 70 per cent government funding to the public TAFE system. No public funding should go to private for-profit providers, consistent with other education sectors.

2. Restore funding and rebuild the TAFE system, to restore confidence in the quality of the courses, qualifications and the institution.

3. Abandon the failed student loans experiment, and cancel the debts of all students caught up in private forprofit provider scams.

4. Re-invest in the TAFE teaching workforce and develop a futurefocused TAFE workforce development strategy in collaboration with the profession and unions.

5. Develop a capital investment strategy in consultation with state governments to address the deplorable state of TAFE facilities around the country.

6. Support a comprehensive independent inquiry into TAFE.

Industrial

School staff benefit too

By Natalie Swinbourn External organiser

A sizable cohort of union members who have been on casual and fixed term contracts are the big winners from efforts by the SSTUWA to have their employment converted to permanent positions.

Over 400 teachers, school leaders and school psychologists have been converted to permanency to date since Public Sector Commissioner Sharyn O’Neil issued Commissioner’s Instruction 23 (CI23) on 10 August last year, directing all public sector departments to review the contracts of fixed term and casual employees.

This followed many months of SSTUWA advocacy, and the union has been working with the Department of Education (DoE) since August 2018 to ensure the process has been implemented effectively, with the highest number possible of fixed term teachers and school psychologists being offered permanent contracts.

The Public Sector Commissioner’s initial instruction, together with the joint commitment of the SSTUWA and the DoE to review over 10,000 fixed term and casual employees was a positive step towards ensuring Clause 7 – Permanency and Tenure of the Schools General Agreement 2017 is upheld.

The experience alerted many fixed term and casual teachers to the importance of joining their union. We ensured clarity and support for members, especially for those we helped appeal unsuccessful decisions.

Although not all appeals were upheld, we had a large number of successful appeals.

One such member, Kym, from Dawson Park Primary School, said: “I have been fortunate with obtaining my permanency with the Department of Education through the conversion to permanency process.

With very specific guidance, support, information and communication from the SSTUWA, I was able to obtain all relevant information pertaining to my conversion process with a successful outcome.”

eligible for permanency under the CI23 were identified as being eligible via the Country (CTP) and Metropolitan (MTP) Teaching Programs, an ongoing process already in place under the General Agreement. CTP and MTP have schools where teachers are eligible for permanency after two years of continuous service.

We intervened on behalf of a member who was eliminated from the CI23 conversion

process to win permanent status though the above entitlement. The assistance from the union office was paramount to the win due to the complexities of the individual case.

This member commented: “I’d like to say a huge thank you for getting on to this matter with extremely limited time. I’ve just been made permanent. Thank you – it certainly has paid off to be a union member.”

Moving forward Moving forward, it is important for our fixed term contract members to note that the DoE has committed to the following actions to improve clarity and transparency with fixed-term contracts.

Included in Ed-e-mail – number 59 (2018) the industrial advice from Damien Stewart states: D15/0535395 – FIXED TERM EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE REASON FOR APPOINTMENT Principals have been reminded that it is an industrial requirement that vacant and ongoing positions are filled on a permanent basis.

The Premier’s Circular 2018/02 confirmed the Government’s commitment to permanent employment as the preferred form of engagement for public sector employees.

Where permanent employment is not appropriate, the use of fixed term and casual employment arrangements should be made in accordance with legislation and relevant industrial instruments.

All fixed term contracts must state the reason for the fixed term contract. Below are the agreed options; a. For a defined and limited tenure of work (this is where there may be a limited source of money and it is only available for a short period of time) b. A vacancy due to a leave of absence (this is when you are backfilling for another employee, an few examples are someone on parental leave or another form of leave or acting in a promotional position) Should you currently be on a fixed term contract we encourage you to check four key items: 1. Is the reason for your contract one of those listed above?

2. If it is one of the above reasons, you can ask the nature of your contract (eg Who holds your position substantively?)

3. If you are employed for the full year, is the end date of your contract the last day of the school holiday break in 2020?

CI23 also alerted members and the SSTUWA to other areas where fixed-term teachers can access the union office for additional support.

4. Are you at a CTP or MTP school listed in the Schools General Agreement 2017 Clause 32 and Schedule C?

Some fixed term teachers who were not

Encourage your fixed term colleagues to join us – we are stronger together!

If you have any concerns or queries about your contracts please contact us at Member Assist on 9210 6060.

Western Teacher February 2019

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Professional

Retiring teacher wins full recognition of service When a large envelope arrived on Robyn Travers doorstep she did not have a hint of what its contents were.

Inside was a certificate and medallion, followed by a letter from the Department of Education (DoE) with a statement of service for the retired teacher and longtime union member.

The statement of service accurately recorded her working career, yet the certificate did not, only recognising the past 23 years of service.

“I have a total of 34 years and nine months with DoE. More if you include the night school work at Canning College and the relief work I did early in my career,” Robyn said.

“In fact my teaching career started in 1978 when I was employed by Mercedes College from May to December. Unlike many of my contemporaries I had no inside contacts so struggled to get an appointment despite an excellent

academic record and school practicum results.”

Assuming there were no penalties for taking a break in service, Robyn contacted the DoE and stood her ground, requesting that a correction be made recognising her actual length of service.

She insisted a written statement be given by the DoE as to why her first 11 years and 9 months of service would not be formally recognised.

“Initially the department did not want to give me a correct certificate of service on my retirement last August,” Robyn said.

Robyn then approached the Minister’s office directly to see if this could be rectified.

Finally, in a letter from Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery, Robyn’s request for a revised certificate to reflect her full 35 years of service to public education was officially corrected.

“The whole process took several weeks and a lot of persistence on my part,” Robyn said.

“What I find hard to believe is that I’m the first person to have a break of service, yet still accumulate more than 20 years with a government department.

“Perhaps others didn’t see it as important. I saw it as a matter of principle. Indeed I doubt it is official policy, but rather a convention adopted way back when interruptions to a teaching career for female staff were common and treated differently.

“All years of service should be recognised.

Prior to my enquiries a retiring teacher only got a medallion and certificate if they had completed 20 consecutive years of service.”

Members can seek assistance from Member Assist if they believe they may be in a similar position to Robyn.

Download the SSTUWA app Access Know Your Rights and more in the palm of your hand.

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Western Teacher February 2019

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Issues

Working women change the rules

By Colleen Mack Women and equity officer

International Women’s Day (IWD), held on Friday 8 March, is the day across the world where we celebrate women, in all diversities of race, ethnicity, faith, gender or sexual identity and disability.

This year, the IWD focus for Australian unions is Working Women Change the Rules. This follows on from last year’s focus for IWD, We Won’t Wait.

On this day we join with people across the world to celebrate achievements and call for action to drive a more genderbalanced world – in women’s rights to work, vote, be educated, hold public office – and to end violence and discrimination against women.

We particularly celebrate working women in paid and unpaid labour who power Australia and strive to change workplace rules and structures that let women down. Please join us at a joint unions International Women’s Day rally on 8 March from 5.15pm at Supreme Court Gardens to celebrate and let your call for change to be heard. Visit bit.ly/2BBBnTV for more information.

When we celebrate our advances we acknowledge those who have come before us, who stand with us now and those who will come after.

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Western Teacher February 2019

Issues We celebrate advances, provisions and actions that have improved gender equity in Australia including: • Funding for women’s refuges which came in through the Whitlam Government (1975).

• Rape in marriage being first outlawed in South Australia (1976) – and criminalised in all Australian states by 1994.

• First Reclaim the Night march held in Perth (1978) to protest against sexual violence. It continues annually.

• Domestic violence protections that over one million Australian workers can now access because of domestic violence clauses in their workplace agreement or award conditions (2016).

• Ten days of paid family and domestic violence leave in the SSTUWA schools and TAFE General Agreements (2017).

• Women making up 58.7 per cent of graduates from undergraduate degree programs in Australia – which is slightly above the OECD average.

• Australian men and women who overwhelmingly believe (90 per cent) that men should be as involved in parenting as women.

We acknowledge the work of current and former union leaders, delegates in schools and TAFE, and the SSTUWA women’s contact officers who play an important role in working with our union to change the rules by raising and resolving issues relevant to women and gender inequality.

This IWD focuses on family and domestic violence including: physical, financial, sexual, emotional, verbal, social, spiritual and image based abuse.

Those most at risk are women who are young or pregnant, women with disabilities, those in financial hardship and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Those in the LGBTIQ+ community and those who experienced abuse or witnessed domestic violence as children are also at high risk of violence.

According to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) February 2018 report, nationally: • One in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner, compared to one in 16 – or 500,000 men.

• Three quarters of domestic violence victims reported the perpetrator as male, while 25 per cent reported the perpetrator as female.

• For female victims of sexual violence, 96 per cent reported the perpetrator as male, while for male victims 49 per cent were female perpetrators and 44 per cent were male perpetrators.

• On average, one woman a week and one man a month is killed by a current or former partner (in the years 2012-14).

• In 2016–17, about 72,000 women, 34,000 children and 9,000 men seeking homelessness services reported that family and domestic violence caused or contributed to them being homeless.

One Billion Rising campaign One Billion Rising (bit.ly/2BpdrWp) is the biggest international mass action to end violence against women (including cisgender, transgender and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence) in human history.

The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action as a response to the staggering statistic that a third of women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime.

This year as a continuation of action around International Women’s Day the SSTUWA, UnionsWA and other unions will be supporting this event.

Details of the event will be available online at sstuwa.org.au and via the SSTUWA eNews.

The Australian Government Department of Social Services estimated that violence against women and their children cost the Australian economy $22 billion in 2015-16.

What will you and your school or TAFE college do to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, and how will you contribute to making a difference?

Some ideas include hosting a morning or afternoon tea in your workplace, or with other schools and colleges in your area, and collecting items or funds for a chosen charity, such as Essentials for Women or Sisters Inside, or a women’s refuge near you.

There are also a range of resources available for schools. Visit the International Women’s Day website for more.

We would love to hear how you celebrate IWD this year. Send in photos, quotes and information to SSTUWA Women and Equity Officer Colleen Mack: cmack@sstuwa.org.au If this article has inspired you to become a union delegate or a women’s contact officer, remember to nominate at your first union meeting. Training for women’s contact officers is on 14-15 March and 29-30 July this year.

For more information visit: International Women’s Day: bit.ly/2iZP6fl Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: bit.ly/2AZVz1r Australian Government Department of Social Services: bit.ly/2RaY06u Essentials for Women: bit.ly/2CXjjUm Sisters Inside: bit.ly/2sU3LvL

Family and domestic violence support In an emergency, call 000. You can also seek Police assistance and report domestic or family violence on 131 444.

If you or someone you know is dealing with issues of domestic violence or sexual assault contact: 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732 1800respect.org.au

Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 000 599 bit.ly/2Hrop0m

Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 007 339 bit.ly/2MwwDmJ

Sexual Assault Resource Centre: 1800 199 888 bit.ly/2S5E6hN

For additional support you can also contact SSTUWA Member Assist or the women and equity officer on 9210 6000.

Western Teacher February 2019

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The Rydges Esplanade Hotel Fremantle 12-13-14th June

Richard Gerver Living, Learning, Laughing a story of human potential and school transformation

Dr Michael Carr- Gregg Smart Phones in Schools?

Addressing Bullying in PRIVATE?

RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS The best PD experience I have had in 26 years of education Melissa Trigg, Primary Teacher, 2018

ENGAGEMENT Georgie Harmen CEO beyondblue Towards a Mentally Healthy Generation

Rebecca Cody Nadine Bartholomeusz-Raymond Principal, Geelong Grammar School Creating a Positive School in 2019 beyondblue

Dr Rick Stevenson International Film Director, Writer & Producer Founder, The School of Life Project The Power of Our Own Stories

Dr Hayley Watson Reframing Bullying: Flipping Power Imbalances

John Hendry OAM Creating a Culture of Kindness

Stephen MacDonald A Pathway to Whole School Organizational Change KAYA

BULLYING RESOLUTION, RE Well-being Institute

CONTEXTUAL WELLBEING

Joining In, Fitting In or Belonging – Dr Helen Street

The Reverent Richard Pengelley, Positive Schools Host

Tom Brunzell - Safe Relationships with Disengaged Kids - BSEM

LOVE TO LEARN

Elida Brereton NCAB Addressing Social Exclusion

Eddie Woo - Australian Local Hero 2018 A Love of Learning

Susan McLean When to Step In? Addressing Bullying in PUBLIC?

BELONGING

Moving Positive Education into the School Context Dan Haesler GGS Institute of Cut Through Coaching Teaching Well Means Working Well Positive Education

Amazing and Motivating Meryl Ward High School Teacher, 2018

Carly Nowell

Sally Gissing Creating a Mentally Healthy Learning Community with Be You beyondblue ‘Be You’ team Natalie Fanariotis

EDUCTION, REFORM

Leonie Abbott Supporting Disengaged Kids Building Better Connections

Luke McKenna Positive Leadership of Positive Schools

QLD

22-23-24 MAY Brisbane Convention Centre

VIC

29-30-31 MAY

Charlie Scudamore Context Matters

NSW

5-6-7 MAY/JUNE

WA

12-13-14 JUNE

Professional

Inaugural Reconciliation in Action Award The SSTUWA wishes to extend congratulations to the 2018 recipient of the inaugural Reconciliation in Action Award, David Smith (pictured right with SSTUWA women and equity officer Colleen Mack).

The award celebrates the work of our members who are making positive contributions towards reconciliation.

It’s given in recognition of an SSTUWA member who has shown exemplary practice in education with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, who is committed to working towards the elimination of racism in public education, and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have the right to receive a high quality public education.

David, the Follow the Dream coordinator at Gilmore College, has developed and implemented a range of highly innovative, exemplary programs to improve the educational outcomes and employment prospects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

His strong links with the Clontarf Foundation, the Wirrapunda Foundation and the local Aboriginal community has led to many successes for his students.

For the past nine years David has supported aspirant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the Follow the Dream program at Gilmore College, outreach programs at four other high schools and numerous extracurricular activities.

David believes that one of the most effective means of eliminating racism is to focus and celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

He has nominated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Gilmore College to the City of Kwinana’s Leadership, Youth, Respect in Kwinana (LyriK) Awards, with these nominations winning annually in the categories of achievement, inspiration, leadership, mateship and respect.

Additionally, a number of students have been nominated to attend the Indigenous Australian Engineering School, with some of these students now studying engineering at university.

David is also a talented song writer, musician and poet. He has written and performed songs such as “Sorry” and “So Far From Home” at the City of Kwinana’s NAIDOC Week opening ceremony. Both of these songs have featured on Noongar Radio 100.9FM. Nominations for 2019 Reconciliation in Action Award will be called for through our eNews later in the year and nomination forms will be available in the Aboriginal and TSI section of the My Groups tab at sstuwa.org.au Applications are due by 4pm Friday 30 August.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee provides input on professional matters and industrial rights, and assists in considering strategic direction. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and those working in and with a strong commitment to Aboriginal education, to nominate and participate in the committee.

Nominations for committees close on 28 February. Application forms are in the January issue of Western Teacher and on the SSTUWA website.

Please inform others who may be interested in nominating for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee.

The dates planned for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee meetings this year are: • Thursday 14 March at 4pm

David has assisted Gilmore College in working towards a whole school approach to eliminating racism in the school community.

The recipient for the 2019 Reconciliation in Action Award will be announced on 15 November at the SSTUWA State Council and will be nominated for the national AEU Arthur Hamilton Award.

He has sought and won funding for projects that promote reconciliation in the local school and community.

For more information contact Colleen Mack, women and equity officer: cmack@sstuwa.org.au | 9210 6000.

For more information contact Colleen Mack, women and equity officer: cmack@sstuwa.org.au | 9210 6000

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Western Teacher February 2019

• Thursday 23 May at 4pm • Thursday 15 August at 4pm • Thursday 31 October at 4pm

Issues

Close the Gap Day raises awareness

By Colleen Mack Women and Equity Officer

National Close the Gap Day is on Thursday 21 March. It is the annual awareness day which highlights the need to close the health and life expectancy gap between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

The Closing the Gap Prime Minister’s Report 2018 from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet states: “Over the longer term, Indigenous mortality rates have declined significantly by 14 per cent since 1998. However, there has been no improvement since the 2006 baseline and the target is not on track to be met.”

A ten-year review: the Closing the Gap Strategy and Recommendations for Reset by the Close the Gap campaign Steering Committee for Indigenous Health Equality, reported that while some programs and actions have been successful, the gap in health outcomes has actually increased. It recommends codesigning a new reset strategy with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leading, designing and implementing this.

Poverty, education and employment levels all have a longlasting impact on the health of a community. The Close the Gap campaign recognises this and emphasises that closing the gap in early childhood development, schooling, housing and employment is the key to also closing the health gap.

While the educational outcomes of Aboriginal people have improved over recent years, the challenge remains to close the gap between the performance of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. Positive relationships and genuine partnerships

between communities and schools are crucial for maximising the attendance, engagement and achievement of Aboriginal students.

We acknowledge the many school leaders, teachers and lecturers who are contributing to Closing the Gap through their work to increase the achievement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in our public schools and TAFE colleges. We particularly acknowledge the entrants for our 2018 Reconciliation in Action Award and the recipient of the award David Smith, Follow the Dream coordinator at Gilmore College (story on opposite page).

Look out for a call to applicants for this award later in the year. For those interested in nominating for the 2019 SSTUWA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee, see the nomination forms in the January edition of Western Teacher and on the SSTUWA website.

Resources and ideas to hold an event or activity at your school on Close the Gap Day 2019 can be found at oxfam.org.au/close-the-gap-student-kit

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Western Teacher February 2019

21

Issues

Celebrating one another in harmony Harmony Day and Week is an annual event when Australians come together to celebrate the nation’s vibrant multicultural heritage.

Harmony Day falls on 21 March, and since 2003, WA has incorporated the day into Harmony Week, an extended celebration of multiculturalism that runs 15-21 March.

Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, while Harmony Week gives more time for Western Australians to consider the benefits of multiculturalism, including job creation, cultural richness and diversity.

According to 2016 Census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), almost half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or had at least one parent who was, and 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia.

Some other interesting ABS stats are: • Australians identify with over 300 ancestries.

• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia.

• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/ Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.

“Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Australia a great place to live,” according to the federal government’s Harmony Day website.

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Western Teacher February 2019

“An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity.

All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.”

Harmony Day in Australia also coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, with 21 March being the date of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, in which South African police fired into a crowd demonstration against apartheid.

Orange is the colour of Harmony Day and Week. The colour is a traditional symbol of social communication and meaningful conversations and also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.

People can wear orange on Harmony Day to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia.

In 20 years more than 70,000 Harmony Day events have been held in childcare centres, schools, community groups,

churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia.

Australians are encouraged to organise their own local events or celebrations to mark the day in their schools, workplaces and other community groups such as sporting teams.

Schools can integrate Harmony Day lessons into their curriculum by accessing resource material at bit.ly/2RIOkFG and bit.ly/2Hpj0XJ For a list of events, more information and additional resources on Harmony Day and Harmony Week visit harmony.gov.au and bit.ly/2sDJmeb

HARMONY WEEK 2019

CELEBRATE WA’S DIVERSITY Western Australians share a diverse heritage that originates from every part of the world and builds upon our rich Indigenous culture.

Harmony Week is a time to celebrate our unique community and reflect on the many social, cultural and economic benefits that diversity brings to every Western Australian.

Take time out this Harmony Week to join in celebrations with your friends, your family, your workplace, and our remarkable multicultural community!

Visit www.omi.wa.gov.au to find out what’s happening in your area.

#WAHarmony

National education and union news

National education and union news Private school funding continues to grow under Morrison Government A Productivity Commission report into childcare, education and training has shown that per-student growth in government funding for private schools last year was 10 times greater than that for public schools.

The Report on Government Services (RoGS) showed that per student growth from the previous year in funding private schools in 2016/17 was 3.7 per cent, compared with only 0.36 per cent for public schools.

funding for public schools was only increased by 10.8 per cent in the same period.

Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe said the gap in funding growth between public and private schools is rapidly accelerating under the Morrison Government.

She said the government must use April’s federal budget to reverse its $14 billion in funding cuts to public schools.

According to the report, non-government school funding per student has grown 2.7 times faster than public school funding per student in the last decade.

“In terms of funding per student, RoGS shows that per-student growth in government funding for private schools last year was 10 times greater than that for public schools,” Ms Haythorpe said.

In the 10 years to 2016-17, government funding for non-government schools rose by 28.7 per cent. Meanwhile, government

“It also showed government funding for public schools has grown by only 10.8 per cent over the last 10 years, whereas

government funding for private schools has grown by 28.7 per cent.

“The report shows that the Morrison Government’s 2017 school funding legislation entrenches inequality, preferences private schools over public schools and denies public schools the resources needed to provide a high quality education for their students.”

Ms Haythorpe said education unions would campaign hard on the Morrison Government’s inequality for public schools in the lead up to the next election.

“We need a government that puts public schools first, and we welcome the commitment from Labor to restore the $14 billion that the Morrison Government has cut from public schools,” she said.

To read more visit: bit.ly/2DS660r

Pay packets outpaced by living costs Working people’s pay packets aren’t covering increases in key living costs, and retailers are copping the consequences.

more debt, they have less in savings and most families are stretched paying their bills.

That’s the lesson to be taken from new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which show a 0.4 per cent contraction in retail sales figures for December 2018.

We need to change the rules so working people can negotiate fair pay rises that stay ahead of living costs on an even playing field with big business.

Five years of near-record low wage growth means that working people aren’t spending money in their communities and small and medium business owners are worse off as a result.

After five years of the Abbott/Turnbull/ Morrison Government people are carrying 24

Western Teacher February 2019

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said working people were not get getting the fair pay rises needed to stay ahead of key living costs like electricity, housing, gas and fuel.

“People are eating into their savings to cover their basic living costs,” she said.

“As a result, people don’t have the money

left over to spend on anything extra. If we had fair pay rises that money would have been spent in local shops, department stores and shopping centres.

“One thing is for sure – if we do not improve working people’s rights Australians will not get the pay rises we need.”

National education and union news

Ask kids how they want to learn: study Teachers should be asking five-year-olds how they want to be taught at school, according to new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU).

The study gathered feedback from preprimary students about how they learn in an effort to improve teaching practice in early childhood education.

Lead researcher Amelia Ruscoe from ECU’s School of Education said too often teachers, policymakers and parents make decisions about what was best for children without considering children’s views.

“Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they don’t have something important to contribute to the decision-making process,” she said.

welcome news to their parents.

All but one child had a positive experience of learning and saw school as important.

They explained that to learn, they needed to try hard, ask questions, pay attention to details and said they wanted to learn about things that were “new” and “real life”.

The children in this study also reported they valued learning with those they feel close to – mostly their friends and family.

“This emphasises the need for positive partnerships between home and school,” Ms Ruscoe said.

Ms Ruscoe said what children valued most about teachers was that they set a tone in the classroom that felt safe.

“Children are first-hand witnesses to the practices of teachers. They are in the best position to provide feedback. It makes sense to listen.

“Several of the children talked about how they need the teacher to be there because only the teacher could keep other children settled so they could get a go,” she said.

“By listening to children you are acknowledging that they have some agency and respectfully giving them some input into what happens to them at school.”

“While we might think the children want free reign, it was the quality of the teacher’s interactions that really mattered to the children.

Ms Ruscoe asked children about their experiences of learning at school with findings that would probably come as

“What they do want is a fair go and they rely on teachers to give them that.”

Ms Ruscoe said unless children had a

sense of ownership over what is being learned, learning was going to be compromised.

“Anyone who’s worked with five-year-olds knows when a child decides they’re not going to engage in learning, there’s little you can do to make them,” she said.

“Teachers are often drawn into using reward charts and discipline measures to implement programs, rather than the learning itself being the reward.

“What I discovered was that children are very excited to learn but aren’t necessarily seeing the value in things that we [adults] value.”

Ms Ruscoe said many children didn’t see the point of reading and writing unless they could use it in their play somehow.

“They talked about needing these skills for a future ‘grown up’ life, rather than needing them for being a child right now,” she said.

“There appears to be a disconnect between the views of children and teachers that we need to work at bridging.”

The research was published in the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood and is available at: bit.ly/2Bgk22z

New research shreds Coalition’s jobs record New research released by the Centre for Future Work has shredded the Morrison Government’s claims about its job creation record.

Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison Government fell to a 30-year low, with an average of only 20 hours per week of work available to the 14 million-odd people in the labour force.

She said the report showed that in the past five years, many new jobs have been insecure, as once-permanent roles are casualised.

The report, What’s a Million Anyway, has found that job creation under the Abbott/ Turnbull/Morrison Government has been weak – the worst job-creation record of any government in the last 60 years that did not have to navigate a recession or a major financial crisis.

Insecure work has also risen during this period, with typical jobs created under the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison Government being ones in which working people have fewer rights, reduced available hours and inadequate job security.

“It also shows that nearly half of all new jobs have been part-time, and we know that a lot of people working part-time need more hours,” Ms McManus said.

The research further revealed that nearly half the jobs created under the Abbott/ Turnbull/Morrison Government were parttime, at a time when many people working part-time desperately need more hours to stay ahead of the rising cost of living.

The number of hours worked under the

This has all occurred at a time when wage growth is at near-record lows, with working people struggling to win fair pay rises that stay ahead of the cost of living.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said fair pay and secure jobs were needed for workers to plan and live decent lives.

“For Scott Morrison to stand up and boast about a historically poor record, at a time when working people need more secure work, is disgraceful.

“We also know that wage growth has been at near-record lows under this government, whose only solution is the failed fairy tale of trickle-down economics.”

Western Teacher February 2019

25

Seen around

Seen around the SSTUWA Members enjoyed some time back in the union building over their school holiday period as they attended an Education and Training Centre restorative practice workshop.

The one-day workshop gave members the opportunity to reflect on their own practice, understand the essentials of building a restorative approach to behaviour management and the importance of relationship building and the links to learning.

Teachers were encouraged to use restorative approaches in the school community to effectively manage conflict and tensions by focusing upon harm and strengthening relationships.

As members embark on yet another year back in the classroom, the course was a timely reminder of how to de-escalate incidences of violence in schools.

ETC workshop: Daria Rudakova.

ETC workshop: James McMahon.

ETC workshop: Tom Brownlie and Rebecca Collins.

26

Western Teacher    February 2019

ETC workshop: Nicola Hearman.

ETC workshop: James Embley.

ETC workshop: Yana Lewis and Lisa Metcalf.

Financial & Lifestyle Planning Financial solutions for teachers & families

Helping you & your family take control of your finances • • • •

Certainty for the future Maximise your family time & budget Pay off your mortgage faster & get ahead Super – How much is enough?

Education and Training Centre

Education & Training Centre Join the SSTUWA online learning community in 2019 Whether you are working in a regional area, finding it difficult to attend face-to-face professional learning events, or just prefer the comfort of your own learning space, then these online events are for you. Join any event and benefit from interacting with other educators across Australia.

The SSTUWA is proud to continue to partner with the Teacher Learning Network (TLN) in Melbourne to offer a range of online learning opportunities for members. This year we are offering a range of new topics for educators in different stages of their careers. New graduates, early career teachers, experienced teachers and new or aspiring leaders will find something of interest. A range of exciting online formats will be available.

These will include:

Live Online Events These are short, sharp professional sessions and consist of either a one-hour or a 90-minute live delivery of content at a specified time. There is opportunity to interact with other participants from across Australia and to engage with the presenter via text online.

Ask the Expert Q&A Sessions This new format is a question and answer session on behaviour management issues. You will be invited to submit your own questions in advance, as well as during the live session scheduled at a specified time. During this time you will engage and interact with the presenter and get answers from the expert, as well as interact with other participants.

Online Conferences Two online conferences will be on offer in 2019. Both will be in six-hour online conference format and offered during the April and July holidays. Online conferences are designed to give you the opportunity to collaborate and explore complex topics. You will have the opportunity to be part of a keynote presentation and will also be able to choose two 60-minute workshops from a selection of four. The conference will begin at 8am WST and go through until 2pm WST.

100 Top Tips in 10 Hours for Early Career Teachers A series of 10 one-hour events will be offered over the year that will each present the top 10 tips around a specific topic.

These include, but are not limited to: positive relationships with parents, saving time on assessment and differentiation.

Great practical and contemporary ideas will be shared by outstanding presenters and will help you get started with some vital pieces on your teaching role in the classroom.

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Western Teacher    February 2019

Education and Training Centre

A sample of online events offered in 2019 Suitable for Early Career Teachers (first five years of teaching)

Relationships in the Classroom: Understanding Your Own Triggers Jane Langley, 90 mins Literacy in the Secondary Classroom – Improving Writing Laura Zinghini, 60 mins

Suitable For Experienced Teachers Understand the Real Principles of Restorative Practice David Vinegrad, 90 mins Influence a Whole School Culture with a Restorative Practice Approach David Vinegrad, 90 mins

Literacy in the Secondary Classroom – Improving Reading Laura Zinghini, 60 mins

Mentoring Colleagues to Achieve Better Literacy Outcomes in the Primary Classroom Lara Schendzierlorz, 90 mins

Intervening with Disruptive Behaviours Ask the Expert Q&A: Daniel Cohen, 60 mins

Mentoring Colleagues to Implement Explicit Teaching in the Secondary Classroom

Responding to Angry Students

Using Feedback in the Classroom – Feedback for Students

Ask the Expert Q&A: Daniel Cohen, 60 mins

Coby Beatson, 90 mins

The Top 100 Tips in 10 Hours

Mentoring Pre-Service Teachers

Ten one-hour sessions providing the top 10 tips on a range of important topics for early career teachers – various presenters

Belinda Webb, 90 mins

Lori Pereira, 90 mins

Behaviour Management Online Conference: Keynote and two workshops – various presenters, 6 hours

Suitable For All Teachers

Suitable For New And Aspiring Leaders

Working with EAL Students

Introduction to Leadership

Antoinette Masiero, 60 mins

Abbey Boyer, 90 mins

Working with ASD Students – Teaching Task Skills

Leadership Skills for New Curriculum Leaders and Subject Coordinators

Mary Steuten, 90 mins

TBA, 90mins

Working with Students with Dyslexia – Responding Effectively in Communicating as a Leader – Challenging Conversations with the Classroom Colleagues TBA, 60 mins

Jane Langley, 90 mins

Working with Students who have Experienced Trauma Brendan Bailey, 60 mins

Communicating as a Leader – Difficult Conversations with Parents

Working with Students with Additional Needs

Building a Professional Learning Community

Online Conference: Keynote and two workshops – various presenters, 6 hours

Lara Schendzierlorz, 90 mins

Jane Langley, 90 mins

You can participate in sessions no matter where you are if you have access to a computer and the internet. Please visit sstuwa.org.au/training for further details including dates and times.

Western Teacher February 2019

29

Member benefits

Member benefits Accountants and Financial Advisers Aston Accountants

10% discount on personal income tax returns for members.

sstuwa.org.au/aston

Industry Fund Services

Specialist financial products for union members.

sstuwa.org.au/ifs

LIFE Financial Planners

$1,200 off your statement of advice fee plus a free financial health check for members.

sstuwa.org.au/lifefinancial

Teacher Tax

$99 tax returns for members.

sstuwa.org.au/teachertax

TIPS Financial Services

$1,100 discount on your TIPS Transition to Retirement strategy or Retirement plan.

Exclusive to members.

sstuwa.org.au/tipsfs

Banking ME Bank

Special offers throughout the year for members. A bank built by, and for, union members.

sstuwa.org.au/mebank

Mortgages, Money and Me

Complimentary advice, property reports, finance tools and more for SSTUWA members.

sstuwa.org.au/mmme

OFX Money Transfers

When it matters, OFX it. Save with the experts in international money transfers.

sstuwa.org.au/ofx

Teachers Mutual Bank

Banking exclusively for the education community.

AutoBahn

Mechanical and electrical services.

Members receive $20 off any service or 5% off any repair.

sstuwa.org.au/autobahn

Bayswater Mazda

Exclusive offer including $500 fuel card, 4 years free service and more.

sstuwa.org.au/bayswatermazda

Bob Jane T-Marts

National fleet pricing on a range of products and services.

sstuwa.org.au/bobjane

easifleet

Bose headphones or Bluetooth speaker, or a year’s worth of Magic Hand car washes with any easifleet procured novated lease.

sstuwa.org.au/easifleet

Fleet Network

Package your next car and save on tax.

Bonus Samsung 8” tablet or Dash Cam with vehicle delivery.

sstuwa.org.au/fleetnetwork

Hertz

5-10% discount on vehicle hire in Australia, NZ, USA and Canada.

sstuwa.org.au/hertz

Motor Market by Union Shopper

HP

Save up to 15% off selected items.

sstuwa.org.au/hp

Lenovo

Save up to 15% off selected items.

sstuwa.org.au/lenovo

Longroad Website Development

Discounted website development and hosting.

sstuwa.org.au/longroad

PLE Computers

Save on your IT with access to the PLE Computers academic portal.

sstuwa.org.au/ple

Educational Resources Abacus Educational Supplies

10% discount, in store and online.

sstuwa.org.au/abacus

Beyond Monet

The Artful Science of Instructional Leadership.

By Barrie Bennett and Carol Rolheiser.

sstuwa.org.au/beyondmonet

Classroom Management

A Thinking and Caring Approach. By Barrie Bennett and Peter Smilanich.

sstuwa.org.au/classroommgmt

You choose the car, then we find you the lowest price.

Cooperative Learning

Thrifty Car and Truck Rental

sstuwa.org.au/cooperativelearning

sstuwa.org.au/thrifty

Possibilities for Assessment and Instruction. By Barrie Bennett.

sstuwa.org.au/motormarket

10% discount on vehicle hire in Australia.

tyresales.com.au

Where Heart Meets Mind. By Barrie Bennett, Carol Rolheiser and Laurie Stevahn.

Graphic Intelligence

10% discount on tyres.

sstuwa.org.au/graphicintelligence

Western Motor Vehicle Consultants

5-10% discount, in store and online.

sstuwa.org.au/tyresales We’ll find a car you’ll love. Save time and money when sourcing your next vehicle.

sstuwa.org.au/westernmotors

Computers Altronics

Teacher Superstore

sstuwa.org.au/teachersuperstore

Entertainment Adventure World

Save up to $14.50 on Adventure World tickets with Westclub.

sstuwa.org.au/adventureworld

sstuwa.org.au/tmbank

Build it yourself electronics centre. VIP trade discount in store and online.

Cars

Apple on Campus

Discounts on physical tickets (greater savings) and instant digital tickets.

sstuwa.org.au/apple

Rockface

Allwest Fleet

Vehicle salary packaging – save time, money and tax. Receive a $300 gift card with your new car.

sstuwa.org.au/allwestfleet

30

Massive discounts on products and services for SSTUWA members

Western Teacher February 2019

sstuwa.org.au/altronics For details visit:

Dell

Save up to 15% off selected items.

sstuwa.org.au/dell

Movie tickets

sstuwa.org.au/movietickets

Indoor rock climbing in Northbridge. $14 all day climbing pass with harness hire.

sstuwa.org.au/rockface

Member benefits *Terms & conditions apply.

Please visit our website for full details.

For more information visit sstuwa.org.au/benefits and the benefits tab of the SSTUWA App Food and Wine Campbells

Complimentary day pass to access wholesale prices on groceries and other goods.

sstuwa.org.au/campbells

Cellar d’Or

Best value winery tour in the Margaret River Region. 10% discount for members.

sstuwa.org.au/cellardor

Cracka Wines

7.5% off online wine orders.

sstuwa.org.au/cracka

Taste Bud Tours

Swan Valley “Speed Grazing” – 20% discount. Good Food, Wine & Cider (am) or Good Food, Wine & Beer (pm).

sstuwa.org.au/tastebudtours

Health and Wellbeing St John

First aid saves lives. St John offers members discounted first aid courses and kits.

sstuwa.org.au/stjohn

WA Opticians

20% discount on spectacle frames and lenses. Perth and East Perth.

sstuwa.org.au/waopticians

Housing Houspect

Buy, build and invest with confidence. $50 discount on building inspections.

sstuwa.org.au/houspect

Johns Building Supplies

Trade prices on paint and painters’ hardware. Builders prices on all other hardware lines.

sstuwa.org.au/jbs

SkylightsWA

Specialising in skylights and roof ventilation for all buildings, servicing all regions of WA. 7% discount off selected products with SkylightsWA.

sstuwa.org.au/skylightswa

Insurance and Legal ISinsured

Insurance for union members. Home, contents, car, landlords.

sstuwa.org.au/isinsured

SSTUWA Legal Services

Access to quality legal services for both work-related and personal matters.

sstuwa.org.au/legal

Teachers Health Fund

Join the thousands of teachers who have already made the switch.

sstuwa.org.au/teachershealth

Teachers Health – Travel

10% discount on travel insurance.

sstuwa.org.au/travelinsurance

STA Travel Insurance

$20 discount for members.

sstuwa.org.au/statravelinsurance

Shopping

Travel and Accommodation Accor Hotels

Great savings for teachers at Accor Hotels in the Asia Pacific region.

sstuwa.org.au/accorhotels

Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels welcomes SSTUWA members with exclusive rates at locations in Australia and NZ.

sstuwa.org.au/choicehotels

Comfort Hotel Perth City

Rooms from $145 per night including Light Start Breakfast for two. Located near the WACA in East Perth.

Abacus Educational Supplies

sstuwa.org.au/comfortperth

sstuwa.org.au/abacus

Save 10% on over 3,000 experiences across Oz + NZ.

10% discount, in store and online.

Electrical buying

Let Union Shopper find the best deal on your electrical purchases.

sstuwa.org.au/electricalbuying

isubscribe

Up to an extra 10% off any print and digital magazine subscription; over 4,000 titles.

sstuwa.org.au/isubscribe

Jackson’s Drawing Supplies

10% discount in Jackson’s 12 shops and online.

sstuwa.org.au/jacksons

Petals Flowers & Gifts

20% off flowers and gifts. World-wide delivery available.

sstuwa.org.au/petals

Retravision

Experience Oz

sstuwa.org.au/experienceoz

Inn the Tuarts Guest Lodge

Forest retreat, 4-star, with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and BBQ. Adults (12 years+) only. Five minutes to Busselton.

Studios and rooms. 22.5% off rack rate or best available rate.

sstuwa.org.au/innthetuarts

International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC)

Discounts on flights, restaurants, movies, shopping, groceries and more. $5 off ITIC for members.

sstuwa.org.au/itic

Jarrah Grove Forest Retreat

Cost plus 5% on all products. Osborne Park location only; in store or via phone.

Nation-wide delivery available.

Luxurious, self-contained accommodation in Margaret River.

Discounted rates for members.

sstuwa.org.au/retravision

sstuwa.org.au/jarrahgrove

Teacher Superstore

Mandurah Houseboats

sstuwa.org.au/teachersuperstore

sstuwa.org.au/houseboats

5-10% discount, in store and online.

The Good Guys Commercial

Online access to live discounted pricing on The Good Guys’ full range.

sstuwa.org.au/thegoodguys

Vet Products Direct

10% discount on pet products, plus advice from professionals.

sstuwa.org.au/vetpro

10% discount on houseboat holidays.

Rottnest ferry tickets

Save up to $18 on Rottnest ferry tickets with WestClub.

sstuwa.org.au/rottnest

STA Travel

Exclusive discounts for members.

sstuwa.org.au/statravel

Western Teacher

February 2019

31

Classifieds

Classifieds Block for sale: Albany

Three acres zoned for caravan park, camp sites, park homes. Cleared and ready to go. On tourist route, 150m from water. EOI to purchase.

9841 4749

Block for sale: Kalbarri

Large 770sqm block, ready to build on, two streets from the beach. 22m frontage with north facing winter aspect. Walking distance to all facilities. Be quick as seller will negotiate. All offers considered.

0402 349 203

For sale: Albany

Family home on 3 acres. Double storey brick and iron. 4x2x8. Study, lounge, family, entry, sun room, dining, veranda and patio. BIRs and storage. Two sheds.

Bore reticulation, orchard, veggies, poultry, garden, bush and wildlife. Close to shop, school, town, beaches, yachts and national park.

Dave: 0438 579 689

For sale: Cooloongup

3x2 plus large utility room, fully powered workshop set amongst a quiet street and bushland. Large patio area and backyard for entertaining and family time. Offers from $350,000.

EOI: 0401 847 317

For sale: Preston Beach

Fully renovated 2x1 villa in maintained complex on Panorama Drive. Open plan living with vaulted ceilings, carport, huge undercover paved patio facing sand dunes and beach, split system air-con, modern appliances. Fully furnished including white goods, outdoor setting and BBQ. 0411 839 556

Albany (Little Grove)

Silent Grove Cottage. Self-contained two bedroom (queen/two singles) on two hectares of bushland. Undercover parking. Close to yacht club, walking/ bike trails, national park and beaches.

Teachers’ rate: $150 per night. Stay seven, get one free. www.silentgrove.iinet.net.au 9844 4950 | merron@iinet.net

Albany

“Wywurry Holidays” in 2x1 fully furnished cottage. Min 2 nights, max 6 weeks.

Sleeps 4, more with camp beds. Pet friendly. 20 min walk to Middleton Beach. $100/night for 4 people; $10/night per extra person. $550/week. $2,000/month.

Linen fee optional $50 per visit/week.

Sara: 0499 057 647 saralindsay41@gmail.com

Augusta

3x1 spacious holiday rental. One double, one queen, five singles. 200m from the river and town. Magnificent river views. One large living area, three sided veranda and BBQ. Provide own linen and towels. $150 per night plus $50 cleaning fee. gregrowl@iinet.net.au

Cowaramup (Margaret River Region) Private B&B within newly built home.

Parkland setting. Private queen bedroom, bathroom and breakfast room. Private entry and dedicated parking. 10 mins to Margaret River, Gracetown, central to wineries/breweries and beaches. $120 per night per couple including breakfast.

Lee: 0412 902 932

Denmark

The Rise is a modern, comfortable, 3x2 fully equipped house close to town with elevated views. Located close to Scotsdale and Mt Shadforth drives and their many tourist attractions. Stay for 7 nights and pay for 6 nights.

Bookings.denmark.com.au (property The Rise) (08) 9848 2055, 9am to 5pm

Dunsborough (Quindalup)

Large 4x2 holiday home on Geographe Bay Rd. Swimming beach 30m away. Free use of private boat mooring. Room to park boats with boat ramp a minute away. Slow combustion wood heater and reversecycle air-con. Available all year except for leavers’ vacation. No pets.

0419 943 203 | 9448 5527 a_r_moore@bigpond.com

Dwellingup

Après Huit and Dwell Cottage provide luxury self-contained accommodation set in beautifully landscaped gardens. Can be rented separately or together. Après Huit: 2x2, main house. Dwell Cottage: 1x1, furnished in a French theme.

Robert: 0419 954 079 dwellcottage.com.au

Falcon

Shady two bedroom beach cottage 300 metres from surf beach and protected Falcon Bay. Located on a grassy, peppermint gum 1012 sq metre block.

Sleeps eight. Well-equipped including BBQ. Close to Miami Village and all amenities, great for crabbing and fishing.

Less than one hour from Perth’s CBD along Forrest Hwy. $150 per night for Western Teacher readers.

0415 035 390 | richard.wright@iinet.net.au

Floreat

Studio B&B. New, stylish single room.

Fridge, kitchenette, TV, aircon in lovely peaceful Floreat house and garden. Linen, tea/coffee, continental/cooked breakfast

ingredients supplied. Suit mature person wishing to enjoy quiet accommodation.

Close to city, buses, shops, hospitals and beaches. $85 per night, min two nights.

Weekly and monthly rates available.

SMS: 0422 333 057

France (South)

3x2 house located in quaint village adjacent to Canal du Midi - noted for having 300 days of sunshine per year and hence lots of vineyards. Spain is 1hr drive; Barcelona is 2hr drive. $650 per week.

0407 368 511 | craigrebecca@bigpond.com

Fremantle

Short term accommodation in central Fremantle. Recently refurbished with all conveniences for modern living.

Townhouse has three queen-sized bedrooms plus provision for two singles.

Enjoy time in the rear garden, complete with BBQ. Secure parking for two cars, access controlled by electric gates.

9430 4458 | 0407 083 174 info@westerley.com.au

Kallaroo

Serenity Escape is a 2x1 apartment with full kitchen, offering comfort and convenience. 20 min walk to beach, 5 min drive to train station, walking distance to Whitfords Brewing Co, cinema and shops.

Toiletries, slippers and coffee machine provided. Min 2 nights. Sleeps 4, or 5 with mattress. No pets. $125/night for 3 people; $10/night per extra person.

Molly: 0428 166 559 mollysletters@gmail.com

Mt Lawley/Dianella

Newly built 1x1 self-contained extension, furnished, with laundry, dining, lounge, kitchen and one undercover parking bay.

Aircon, TV, fridge, washing machine and microwave included. Quiet residential area close to city, buses, Galleria Morley, Mt Lawley cafe strip and Northbridge. 10 min walk to Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre; golf course across the road. $80 per night, min two nights. $50 per night for weekly and monthly rentals.

0439 964 239 | cymbie.burgoyne@gmail.com

Northam

Renovated, self-contained 30s-style three bedroom house with beautiful river views.

Short walk across the bridges to town.

Sleeps six-eight.

Kevin: 0414 446 431

Prevelly

One bedroom private spa apartment in quiet Prevelly cul-de-sac. Two minute walk from beach. Suits couples. $165 per night for Western Teacher readers.

Lucy: lcartell@iinet.net.au

Email 50 words or fewer to editor@sstuwa.org.au with your phone and union membership numbers. Free for members.

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Western Teacher February 2019

Classifieds

Classifieds Scarborough

Stay on Brighton. Comfortable 3x2 unit is a home away from home with everything you need. Sleeps six adults. Caters for children. Conveniently located near shops and café; 10 minute walk to beach. Western Teacher special: stay six nights and the seventh night is free.

Lisa: 0408 914 090 lisamaree77@hotmail.com

Trigg

Self contained accommodation. Kitchen, laundry, bedroom plus foldout couch. Free WiFi and Netflix. Find us on Facebook.

Kerry: 0409 884 330 | FB: @justriggin 67justriggin@gmail.com

Yallingup

Marriage celebrant

Marriage celebrant with 12 years of experience, working in the Peel, South West and Perth areas. Specialising in creating personalised ceremonies for couples at their chosen wedding location.

I’d love to help you plan your special day!

Meridith: 0400 312 535 meri.lake4@gmail.com

Marriage celebrant

Heart Centered Ceremonies for couples wanting a personalised wedding. Lee will help you design your dream wedding – a memorable occasion. Mention this ad to receive a discount.

Lee: 0404 655 567 leehalligancelebrant.com.au

Rammed earth cottage, 2x1, nestled amongst bushland. Well located, short walk to Studio Gallery Bistro, two-minute drive to Caves House. Beaches, galleries, wineries and restaurants close by. Sleeps six. No dogs. stayz.com.au (property 136151) Kirsty: 0419 927 660

Marriage celebrant

Victoria (Jan Juc Beach)

Learn to social dance

Planning a holiday to Victoria? Stay on the beautiful Surf Coast, in between Torquay and the famous Bells Beach. Sleeps eight comfortably. Walking distance to the beach, golf club, shops and river mouth.

Everything you need is already there. Large entertaining areas. Discount for Western Teacher readers.

0403 803 064

Tranquillity Counselling, Psychotherapy and Career Development

I provide holistic, confidential practical counselling to help you deal with an array of issues, some being: general relationship, mental health, anger issues/management; anxiety; depression; self-harm; grief and trauma; addiction; abuse; palliative care.

Milica Robinson, MCnsig&Psychthpy, GradCertCareerDev, BEd. 0422 358 187

Experienced professional celebrant available, all areas. Formal or informal, large or small weddings. A Beautiful Ceremony will help you design an unforgettable and uniquely personal ceremony.

Mary: 0418 906 391 maryburke40@hotmail.com Learn jive, waltz, rumba, samba, tango and other dances for social events (ball, wedding, cruise, etc). A fun and easy course with quality instruction. Join with or without a partner. Melville (LeisureFit) Recreation Centre. Mondays 7.30-9pm. $118/8 weeks. Beginners’ course held every term. Term 2 starts 6 May. Stan: 9330 6737 stan@stansdancing.com

First aid training for students

St John Ambulance WA offers free first aid training to all school aged students, ranging from Triple 000 Hero for kindergarten students to Road Trauma First Aid for secondary school students.

Courses are curriculum mapped.

9334 1259 | youth@stjohnambulance.com.au

Women’s club makes a difference VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education

of Women) has over 16,000 members Australia-wide. VIEW is a valued part of The Smith Family supporting its work, helping financially disadvantaged Australian students to get the most out of their education. Connect with a local club: view.org.au

MAWA

The Mathematical Association of Western Australia offers professional learning opportunities, conferences and consultancy services to teachers and schools and networks. MAWA members receive 10 per cent discount on MAWA shop resources. For more information: mawainc.org.au 9345 0388 | eo@mawainc.org.au

Calling all retired teachers!

Are you a retired teacher with a spirit of adventure and time to spare? Would you like to assist families in remote areas of WA? You may like to join REVISE WA as a tutor. For more info, visit www.revisewa.com.au

Wanted: Teacher resources

Wanted: Your unwanted teacher resources and materials. Declutter and make some extra cash at the same time. If you have unused and unwanted resources cluttering up your classroom or home, call Kris.

Kris: 0401 263 070

Belly Rubs Boarding Kennels

Personalised approach to boarding your canine companion. $25 per dog – mention you’re a teacher to receive a 10 per cent discount. Located in Southern River.

Elisa: 0417 620 766 | bellyrubsboarding.com

Free: Electronic whiteboards

Three electronic whiteboards available for school(s)/group(s). Can go together or separately. Pickup West Perth.

Shaun: 9210 6000

Western Teacher February 2019

33

Noticeboard

Email to editor@sstuwa.org.au

State Council Conference

Retired Teachers’ Association We began choir on 11 February. Upcoming meeting dates are:

We practise from 10 to 11.30am, followed by morning tea to which we all contribute.

10am for a 10.30am start.

The speaker is yet to be confirmed.

25 February 11 March 25 March

Literature will begin on 8 April at noon and run for one hour. We welcome new members.

Quarterly meetings will be held on 27 March, 26 June, 25 September and 27 November. More details to come.

8 April 29 April

Choir will meet fortnightly thereafter.

The annual general meeting will be held on 27 March at

Members/branches wishing to submit motions for June State Council must do so by 5pm Friday 12 April 2019.

Items for November State Council must be received by 5pm Friday 27 September 2019.

Ann Strauss: 9387 2906

Level 3 Classroom Teachers’ Association

Membership cards For environmental reasons we are introducing a digital membership card to reduce our dependence on plastic.

Check your email inbox for your new e-membership card. All members were sent a digital membership card that can be added to your phone wallet, kept within your saved emails folder or printed out.

2019 meeting dates: Saturdays, 10.30am-noon at the State Library Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

23 February

18 May

27 July

19 October

16 March

8 June

10 August

23 November

14 September

Mon 9 December Celebration event

Venue subject to change. Visit www.l3cta.org.au for venue information and to confirm attendance, or email contact@l3cta.org.au

Agreement with Tehan Legal on criminal law matters The SSTUWA has entered into an agreement with Tehan Legal to provide services to members concerning criminal law matters.

Members will receive a free 30 minute initial consultation either by telephone or face-to-face conference. If members decide to engage Tehan Legal, a discounted hourly rate will apply for SSTUWA members.

Tehan Legal will also provide a 24/7 hotline for very

SSTUWA committee meeting dates:

Early Childhood Educators’ Committee Time: 4.15pm 20 March 18 June

21 August 6 November

New Educator Committee Time: 4.30pm 26 March 18 June

34

27 August 19 Nov

Western Teacher February 2019

TAFE Committee

urgent matters (i.e. arrests, search warrants and police interviews).

To arrange a consultation, please contact Member Assist on (08) 9210 6060, 1800 106 683 or email memberassist@sstuwa.org.au For urgent assistance outside of business hours (arrests, search warrants or police interviews only), members can contact Tehan Legal directly on 0411 276 966.

Venue: SSTUWA office | Contact: (08) 9210 6000 or contact@sstuwa.org.au Teleconference facilities are available

International Committee

LGBTIQ Committee

Dates to be confirmed

Dates to be confirmed

Dates to be confirmed

Women’s Committee

Psych Services Committee

ATSIE Committee

Dates to be confirmed

Dates to be confirmed

14 March 23 May

Time: 5pm

Time: 4.15pm

Time: 4.30pm

Time: 4.45pm

Time: 4pm

Time: 4pm

15 August 31 October

Education is what makes us tick

While you’re helping to shape the future leaders of tomorrow, we’re here to help you make the most of your financial health and wellbeing.

To find out about Teachers Mutual Bank and how we support the education sector visit tmbank.com.au/join or call 13 12 21.

Membership is open to citizens or permanent residents of Australia who are current or retired employees of the Australian education sector or family members of members of the Bank. Teachers Mutual Bank Limited ABN 30 087 650 459 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238981 | 00884-MAR-1218-210x297-EducationMakes-WT

Transition to Retirement Specialists

Financial solutions and advice to help you transition

TTR and Tax benefits will continue into 2019 & beyond!

Please see tipsfs.com.au

Are You Retiring or Reducing Hours in 2019?

What you will need to consider …

• • • •

Can I afford to drop a day?

How much will be enough to retire on?

How can I maximize my income & reduce tax?

When is it best to pay off my mortgage?