Stewart House gives children the opportunity of enjoying the life of a child, often for the first time. Children from Kindergarten to Year 10 are eligible. There is NO cost to children's parents. Children are given medical, dental and optometric assessments and if necessary treatment and/or referral to an appropriate specialist. In order to pay for the costs of the children's food, their bedding, the excursions we take them on, their supervisors' salaries and various operating costs, we must now raise $2.7 million each year. Supervisors must be employed to care for the children in their dormitories overnight and to supervise them at meal times and on excursions and weekend activities.

However, the flawed and unfair funding system of the Howard is still in place. This system puts private schools first and extends privilege rather than opportunity. We need to move away from a system that favours private schools and delivers billions to them each year regardless of educational need or resources.

The Federal Government has announced a review of schools funding. To be conducted in 2010 and 2011 the review will inform schools funding from 2013. It will be a most significant moment in the politics of education in Australia.

Many mature-age teachers are discouraged from continuing to teach due to their superannuation fund arrangements. This is particularly so for members of the older superannuation schemes such as the State Superannuation Scheme (SSS), the "old scheme". Any teachers in SSS maximise their entitlements at the point of their nominated retirement date either at age 60, or at age 55 for those women who nominated 55 as their date of retirement.

Teachers in SSS who work beyond their nominated retirement date continue to pay superannuation contributions however, other than the flow-on benefits from salary increases, they don't receive any additional benefits for continuing in employment beyond their nominated retirement date.

In 2005 the Commonwealth Government changed the laws governing superannuation in order to allow superannuation fund members to gain access to their superannuation benefits without having to retire. These changes, called "Transition to Retirement", have now been possible for nearly four years. Both the Western Australian and the South Australian Governments have introduced "Transition to Retirement" arrangements for their employees.

The New South Wales Government has continually delayed in acting on repeated requests from the Teachers Federation for the introduction of "Transition to Retirement" arrangements for teachers and other New South Wales public sector employees.

The Federation asks that you assist in this campaign, either by sending the pro forma e-mail or by writing in similar terms to the Premier, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Education and Training and your local Member of Parliament.

The Sam Lewis Peace and Environment Awards are concerned with human rights and international cooperation as well asthe peaceful use of science, culture and religion and the mass media.

NOTE: CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL 19 SEPTEMBER

The awards aim to promote knowledge and understanding of how different cultures deal with conflict and recovery.

Federation recognises that preservation of the natural environment and global warming is the most significant challenge confronting our planet today. Teachers have a responsibility to do all that they can to ensure that students learn about how to work towards making Australiaand the rest of our planet environmentally sustainable.

There will be one prize of $1000 awarded for each of the three divisions:

• primary (years K-6)
• junior secondary (years 7-10)
• senior secondary/post school education (years 11-12/TAFE)

NSW public school teachers continue to reject any attempt by federal and state governments to impose educationally unsound student reports.

In January 2008 all schools were provided with a leaflet with further advice on student reports.

The leaflet advises that Federation's ban remains in place and upholds the right to professional decision making.

There is a set of questions and answers which may help school staffs to make decisions about what their school should do as well as a table listing Federation's advice on each of the Department of Education and Training's requirements.

See news story below for link

The conference, which was organised by the Alliance, was an extraordinary success. More than 500 people attended and listened to speakers of international renown talking of the critical importance of a properly resourced public education system to a healthy democracy.

As the speakers' papers become available, they will be posted on the Cornerstones website.

The communique identifies five key priorities. In summary, these are free, public preschool education; additional targeted resources for smaller classes and specialist programs in years 7 and 8; greater support for children with identified needs; preparing and supporting future generations of teachers and existing teachers and maintenance and capital works programs conducive to effective teaching and learning in the 21st century.

A new website has been launched to help students balance the competing demands of full time study and part time work.

The Students@Work website has sections aimed at students, teachers, parents and employers, because they all have an important role to play in helping students achieve the right balance.

There are many interactive tools for use, particularly by students. A CV Maker is provided that will take students through a step-by-step process to producing a professional image. A web-based calendaring tool called the "Time Tamer" can be used by students to plan their time.

Students who need extra help in planning their work/study load can invite parents and teachers to view their calendars.

NSW Attorney General, Robert Debus MP, and NSW Solicitor General, Michael Sexton SC, addressed the conference.

The success of the Federations Pro Rata Case resulted in significant benefits flowing to Part Time Casuals teaching at least 10 hours per week, and the creation of many TAFE Temporary Teacher positions since July 2005.

In negotiations around the the TAFE Temporary - Conditions of Employment Policy the Department agreed that " Where it is proposed to extend a TAFE Temporary Teacher position beyond two years from the date of its creation, Institutes should consider whether there is a need to create a permanent TAFE Teacher position (instead of extending the TAFE Temporary Teacher position)." The Department also agreed that programs of 19 hours or more for 12 weeks or more should not be disaggregated.

The Federation wrote to the Minister for Education & Training, Carmel Tebbutt on 30 June 2006 around the conversion to permanency of TAFE Temporary Teachers and other educational staff such Education Officers. The Federation has asked the Minister to support the development of an instrument such as a change to the Act, Regulations or an industrial agreement which would allow such educational employees to seek conversion to permanency after two years consistent with section 31 of the Public Sector Employment & Management Act.

This would mean that temporary educational employees would have the same right to seek conversion to permanency as other Public Sector Employees including TAFE administrative and support staff.

In a response dated 28 August 2006, Minister Tebbutt expressed sympathy with the Federations proposal, but has referred the matter to the Department to investigate the implications.

Members are encouraged to send the attached letter on conversion to permanency to Minister Tebbutt, Premier Iemma and local State Member of Parliament.

The Federation will be holding a campaign course TAFE Permaneny Campaign on 29th September 2006. Members interested in particpating or being involved in the campaign should contact Linda Simon TAFE Teachers Association Secretary on 92172310.