DET fails to support temporary teachers

By Bob Lipscombe

Temporary beginning teachers need extra release time too.

Arising from the ongoing campaign by Federation to secure a range of improvements for beginning teachers in the first three years of teaching, the Department of Education and Training has recently issued its Support for Beginning Teachers Policy and related procedures. They provide for one hour's additional release time to support permanent beginning teachers in their first year in the six non-metropolitan regions in 2008. In 2009 it will be extended to the metropolitan regions (Sydney, North Sydney, South Western Sydney and Western Sydney).

Although it is a significant first step for permanent beginning teachers, it does not adequately address many of the needs of beginning teachers, and particularly lets down the many teachers who begin their careers as temporary teachers. Under the policy no temporary teacher will be able to access the extra support.

Federation is concerned that the implementation of the initiative to support beginning teachers first announced at Federation's State Council on March 10, 2007 by then Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt is being done in a way that neither reflects the State Government's commitment nor complies with the terms of the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2006.

At the time of the announcement, the Minister did not seek to exempt temporary teachers from its application when she stated: "We will fund schools the equivalent of one hour's relief a week for each beginning teacher in the first year of their new career. It will be phased in rural areas in 2008 and then for all new teachers in 2009..." The media release issued on the same day stated: "Our plan, to be phased in from 2008, will give schools the equivalent of one hour per week relief time for each beginning teacher."

The media release also said: "The additional time can be used to support new teachers [to] participate in professional development, prepare lessons, receive advice and guidance from more experienced teachers, provide extra one-on-one time with students or talk to parents." All of these are, of course, also expectations of beginning temporary teachers, many of whom will be appointed to vacancies lasting the entire year.

Clause 22.1 of the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2006 makes it clear that temporary teachers are entitled to pro rata salary and conditions of permanent teachers, with the exception of those relating to the deferred salary scheme and salary packaging.

Given that the 2008 school year has already begun, Federation is pursuing the provision of release time to temporary teachers as a matter of urgency. Should no agreement be reached, Federation will pursue this matter in the Industrial Relations Commission.

In addition to this, Federation will continue its campaign to secure a range of further improvements for beginning teachers in their first three years of teaching, including a total of an additional two hours release time for all teachers in their first year followed by an additional one hour in the second and third years.

Important Federation advice for beginning teachers and their supervisors regarding the implementation of the Support for Beginning Teachers policy was included in the Federation mailout to all schools at the beginning of term. It is also available for downloading from the Federation's website.

Bob Lipscombe is Deputy President.

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February 2008 contents