The latest edition of Education Quarterly 16 is now live online!
This edition has a strong focus on language, learning, and the diversity of books we can use in the classroom. This edition calls on us to open our minds to the range of experiences in and out of our classrooms and how we can better reflect this in our students’ learning and our teaching practices.
Here’s what’s inside our final edition for 2026:
The cover takes inspiration from ‘Music teaches students how to learn’ (pages 28–29), our feature on the power of music education to inspire students to greater academic and creative heights.
Page 5 features the President Writes column, where Federation President Henry Rajendra highlights the importance for our campaign to win two additional hours of release time per week for all teachers.
Pages 6 and 7 are our regular News pages. This edition includes updates on our recent wins around workers compensation, entitlements for teaching principals in small schools and the huge backpay win for our TAFE members, plus the need for equitable access to inclusive education.
In our regular Members Always feature on pages 8 and 9 we profile a Federation member and champion the work they’re doing in the classroom and the community. In this edition, we speak to longtime Moree Secondary College teacher John O’Connor about life in the country and the fight for more support in regional, rural and remote schools.
On pages 10 and 11 we look at how Federation supports teachers in the early stages of their careers. Participants in our courses and conferences dedicated to beginning teachers and new activists share their stories and what they’ve learned.
We hear from award-winning author Winnie Dunn on the importance of representation in fiction and the classroom, and how teachers can empower students to tell their own stories, on pages 12 and 13.
Pages 14 and 15 are dedicated to Federation’s longstanding opposition to war, injustice and genocide. We look at our union’s proud history opposing Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
On pages 16 and 17 we recap November’s Rethinking Ability: Special Education conference, featuring the inspiring words of our keynote speaker, visual artist and disability advocate Daniel McDonald.
Our centrefold features a pullout poster commemorating the long-fought journey to equitable special education — it will look great hanging in your staffroom! Our online version features a QR code for you to download and print your own.
Learn how the simple art of keeping time can keep your meetings on track — short, and effective, from Federation timekeepers, on pages 20 and 21.
Pages 22 to 27 are dedicated to our regular columns from Federation officers. Professional Support Officer Maureen Davis-Catterall talks nominated transfers, Acting TAFE Lead Organiser Kelly Marks celebrates National TAFE Day and Multicultural Officer/Organiser Mandy Wells marks 50 years of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Membership and Training Officer Katinka Kastner lays out a guide to the Beginning Teacher Support Entitlement and Women’s Officer Leeanda Smith gives advice on parental leave. Work Health and Safety (WHS) Officer Damian Purins explores the WHS issue resolution process in schools and City Organiser Anthony Brereton answers questions about casual daily rates. In Yarning in Progress, Yutiliko Malang Lakeside Teachers Association President Kara Osborne introduces us to a young leader of the future.
In our regular feature dedicated to Federation’s Centre for Professional Learning (CPL) on pages 28 and 29, researcher Dr Anita Collins gives insights into the extraordinary potential of music education.
Pages 30 and 31 feature What’s Hot in the Federation Library, with works on neurodiversity and inclusive learning and a special focus on Palestinian book authors (in-depth book reviews can be found here).
Pages 32 and 33 are our Say Cheese! section, where we showcase recent photos of members and events.
Turn to page 34 to find information on upcoming Centre for professional Learning and Trade Union Training events.
Inside the back cover, learn more about how CPL courses, conferences, publications and podcasts can further your professional learning.
We hope you enjoy this edition as much as we do. You can find the digital version here.
If you do not receive a printed copy, you may need to update your details here.