Teachers who recognise that Federation members working together have progressed women’s rights organised activities across the month of March to mark International Women’s Day, which falls on the 8th.
100 per cent union density
These events included a morning tea at Stanmore Public School, where members also celebrated all teachers at the school being Federation members.
Federation Representative Bridget Poon and Women’s Contact Danielle Aucott have worked hard to recruit their teacher colleagues and encourage engagement in Federation.
Many members have been attending the local Inner City Teachers Association meetings. Check the date of your next meeting here.
When schools have 100 per cent Federation membership density, members have strength on the ground to ensure a healthy workplace culture. Not a member? Read about the benefits of membership and join today.
Federation wins
A few suburbs away, members at Concord High School held a lunch for International Women’s Day.
When teachers reached for the food they couldn’t have missed a bunch of table signs that promoted union wins — reasons why teachers should join Federation.
The signs reminded teachers that because of Federation campaigning:
- teachers have the right to disconnect
- the number of permanent positions has increased
- teachers have additional entitlements to special fertility leave
- first year teachers get extra hours of release per week
and more!
Why not use the idea for an event at your school? Alice shared her artwork for the signs with her member colleagues in her local Inner West Teachers Association, to use at their events.
Every year Teachers Associations pass motions to sponsor International Women’s Day lunches.
At the moment, Sinead O’Hara is a Federation Project Officer but last year she ran an event at her school, organising a sushi lunch.
“It brings all of the staff together and it’s an opportunity for recruitment,” Sinead said.
“The events clearly give some visibility to Federation because membership across the Association has increased.
“It’s a soft promotion for Federation, framed through celebrating women’s achievements in a female dominated industry.”
Cake consumption up in the Illawarra
Across workplaces in the Illawarra, Federation members celebrated with cake — the order fulfilled by a local bakery filling more than one bench in their kitchen.
A women’s place is in the union
More than 70 per cent of our members are women.
Federation offers a range of training and professional opportunities tailored specifically for our women members, including:
- Women’s Conference, to be held on 1 August 2026
- Women in leadership course, Association Women’s Contacts course and the two-week Council Program — all part of the Anna Stewart Program
- Women and Leadership: Examining Leadership Skills, Capacity and Context — A Centre for Professional Learning course on 29 April 2026