Non School Based Teaching Service Members

What are NSBTS positions?

When teachers work in regional and state office consultancy positions of the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) these positions are known as non school based teaching service (NSBTS) positions.

What is OCAA?

Teachers working in non school based teaching service positions remain members of the NSW Teachers Federation. However, their Federation association is called the Officers, Consultants and Advisers Association (OCAA). OCAA is a state-wide association which aims to provide a particular voice in the Federation for the interests of non school based teaching service members. NSBTS members may belong to their local area association instead of OCAA if they so choose.

Which Federation members are in OCAA?

The membership of OCAA is open to all teaching service employees in DET Regional and State Offices (sometimes referred to as Division 3 of the teaching service) and teachers seconded to such bodies as the Office of the Board of Studies and the Zoos (Taronga, Western Plains). Members are allocated to OCAA when they notify the Federation?s membership section (telephone 1300 654 363) of their change of workplace to a non school based location. Note that the employer (eg DET) does not notify the Federation of any change of location ? it is each member?s responsibility to do so.

Is OCAA part of the Federation?

Yes. OCAA has about 900 members, all of whom are members of the Federation who have simply been allocated to OCAA as their association. Like all associations, OCAA is representated on the Federation?s decision making bodies including Council and Annual Conference. OCAA currently has four representatives on Federation Council and four further delegates to Annual Conference.

Do I need to pay extra to belong to OCAA?

No. You only need to be a financial member of the Federation. OCAA mailouts are sent four times a year but only to financial members. Unfinancial members are encouraged to update their membership, in order to have access to the support of the union and the democratic processes of the Association. Membership forms can be requested via the Federation website www.nswtf.org.au or by telephoning 1300 654 363 or 02 9217 2100.

I have seen emails to OCAA members so how do I get on the email list?

Just email ocaa@nswtf.org.au and ask to be added to the OCAA email list. The list is managed directly by the organiser, David Ferguson. (You also need to email ocaa@nswtf.org.au to be removed from the list).

OCAA Contacts

• Federation organiser
  David Ferguson is the Federation organiser for OCAA. Non school based members can contact David with any enquiries on: telephone 02 9217 2100 fax 02 9217 2470 and email ocaa@nswtf.org.au (Please telephone for urgent matters).

Association office holders

At the OCAA Annual General Meeting in February 2007 the following Federation members holding non school based positions were elected to the honorary association positions:

• President - Kerry Johnson
• Secretary - Wendy Byrne
• Treasurer - Graham Leake

Council members

The members elected by a ballot of all OCAA members to represent OCAA on the Federation Council for 2007-8 are:

• Anne Gates (from New England region)
• Gaelle O'Neil (from Riverina region)
• Liz Brown (from Sydney state office)
• Kerry Johnson (from Sydney state office)

The OCAA Restricted Committee is elected by Federation Council and meets in Sydney once each term to examine issues for OCAA members and provide advice to the Federation. The OCAA councillors, plus John Fisher from Riverina region, were elected to the OCAA restricted committee for 2007-2008.

Useful links for OCAA members

OCAA Meeting dates

OCAA newsletter

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Last Modified: 20 Feb 2008