Professional and industrial seminars for newbies

by Jason Gerke

Seventy newly appointed permanent and temporary teachers from the metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands areas recently met in Bundanoon for the first weekend Beginning Teacher Conference for the year.

The conference was officially opened by Federation General Secretary Barry Johnson, who welcomed the congregation to both the conference and the Federation.

Over the two days, participants took part in a variety of professional and industrial seminars presented by Federation Officers who spoke on issues such as working entitlements and current Federation campaigns. Federation Senior Vice President Bob Lipscombe informed the conference of the February Council decision regarding the supporting of beginning teachers (see story this page). Not surprisingly, this report was met with great support and appreciation as the strain on the newly appointed teachers became a popular topic of discussion over the course of the weekend.

Officers also ran specific sessions on classroom management, pedagogy and offered new teachers insight into how Federation functions on all of its operational levels.

New Educators Network program members Hayley Kerin (Tregear PS), Cameron Malcher (Muirfield HS) and Andrew Downes (Mt Pritchard PS) assisted the running of the conference by chairing formal conference sessions, introducing guest speakers and entertaining participants during Saturday night's trivia session.

Representatives from the Department of Education and Training's professional learning and staffing units presented valuable advice and information. Similarly, NSW Institute of Teachers Chief Executive Tom Alegounarias was present to answer questions and clarify the requirements of the Institute.

Principals Carrol Spittles (Thomas Reddall HS) and Robyn Versluis (Bundanoon PS) offered their support and knowledge to the conference as active Federation members and experienced public school principals.

Inviting new members to take advantage of their services were representatives from Teachers Credit Union, Teachers Federation Health, Members Equity and First State Super. Charity Stewart House also gave a presentation.

About 85 per cent of course participants became financial members of the Federation in the preceding weeks. A large number of these new members chose to join via direct debit from their financial institution. This represents a major difference from previous conferences where participants chose to join the Federation overwhelmingly via salary deduction.

This method of membership has come as a direct result of the Howard Government's new industrial relations legislation where the inclusion of clauses protecting the payroll deduction of union fees in awards and agreements is prohibited. New members were asked to join the Federation via direct debit or cash payments to safeguard their working rights and ensure the collective strength and solidarity of the union in the future.

Whilst members are still employed under a NSW award, in the event of a change of government in 2007 there is no guarantee that a Coalition state government will not cede its industrial relations powers to the Federal Government and/or eradicate the collection of membership fees from source.

The newly appointed group of teachers enjoyed the weekend and went away from the conference enthused about their new profession and eager to become involved in their local associations.

Jason Gerke is working as a Project Officer during term 1.

©2000-2002 NSWTF Online is a resource for teachers
provided by the NSW Teachers Federation.
[Authorisation of election comment] [Privacy]

http://www.nswtf.org.au/journal_extras/profind.html
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2006