Year adviser provisions outlined

BRENDA SEYMOUR explains award changes affecting year advisers.

As part of its decision regarding the Teachers award, the Industrial Relations Commission made changes to the award provisions regarding year advisers. Under the former year adviser provisions, only schools with more than 700 enrolments were entitled to paid year advisers. The IRC decision removed the enrolment requirement. All high schools and central schools with a secondary department are now entitled to paid year advisers. The new provisions were effective from July 2, 2004.

The Department of Education and Training and the NSW Teachers Federation have held discussions on the implementation of the IRC's decision and have reached agreement on the number of year adviser allowances to be allocated to schools with secondary enrolments of up to 700. Schools will be entitled to one year adviser allowance for every 120 enrolments (or part thereof), up to a maximum of six year adviser allowances per school.

Multi campus colleges and stand alone senior colleges have special year adviser arrangements in place. Changes to these arrangements as a result of the new provisions are being negotiated arising out of the IRC decision and the increased provision.

Federation is meeting with the Department to come to an agreement on a joint memorandum to principals on the implementation.

There will be retrospective payment of allowances to July 2, 2004.

For 2005 the Federation's view is that in accordance with the award, one year adviser allowance is paid to one teacher. The only exception would be where one full time position is shared by permanent part time and/or temporary school teachers.

Brenda Seymour is the Assistant General Secretary (Research and Industrial).

For further information

November 2004 contents