Small Schools Committee member Mick Collins (right) presents invitations to DET representatives.

Conference for small schoolies

By Owen Hasler

A Small Schools Conference will be held in Sydney on Saturday June 17.

The Small Schools Committee has spent a good deal of time over the past two committee meetings ensuring that the program is an interesting and varied one with a range of professional development and industrial/welfare activities relevant to small 'schoolies'.

Associations will have one nominated delegate funded by the Federation but other members may attend and be funded by the local association (where appropriately endorsed by an Association meeting).

Ten indigenous members working in small schools will also be funded upon application.

Funded delegates will be provided with travel and accommodation as well as a meal allowance.

Other small schoolies are also encouraged to attend of their own volition where this is practical.

Department of Education and Training Staffing General Manager Trish Kelly and Assistant Director in charge of casual relief programs John Durrington will be keynote speakers. They will address questions relating to staffing including the staffing formula.

Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt, Opposition education spokesperson Brad Hazzard, and independent MP Richard Torbay have been invited to address the conference and answer questions relating to education policy pertaining to small schools, leading to the 2007 state election. This will be an opportunity to attempt to get a commitment relating to their policies on school closures and the staffing formula.

Two one-hour seminar sessions are planned where those attending will choose the presentations they wish to hear. These include small schools finance, Centre for Learning Innovation programs (two options), principals and staff welfare, REACH (Respect Ethic and Cultural Heritage) and technology in the classroom.

These sessions will be presented in the morning and repeated in the afternoon.

Another seminar session will involve the likely implications of the Federal Government's industrial relations changes as they pertain to small schools. This session will be conducted by Federation General Secretary Barry Johnson.

Further information, including application forms relating to this conference will be available via the ASEC and TEFED bulletins, the Small Schools Newsletter, as well as Federation's website.

Application forms should be forwarded to Owen Hasler, NSW Teachers Federation, Tamworth Regional Office, PO Box 906, Tamworth NSW 2340.

Teachers working in small schools, whether rural or urban based, are encouraged to attend this conference.

Owen Hasler is a Country Organiser and the Officer attached to the Small Schools Committee.

For further information

March 2006 contents