Members’ relentless advocacy wins more time to fight for their school
6 November 2020
Section: News
Members at Norfolk Island Central School see a 12 month extension to the provision of education by the NSW Department of Education as an opportunity to continue the fight to maintain continuity of public education on the isle.
Federation joins 90 community groups to oppose One Nation bill
6 November 2020
Section: News
The New South Wales Teachers Federation has joined with a large number of community groups to oppose legislation on ‘religious freedoms’ put before State Parliament by One Nation.
Collectives’ sigh of relief but US is anything but united
5 November 2020
Section: News
Pandemic, recession, reconciling racism: US teacher unions look to Joe Biden to repair a hurting nation
Too many announcements, no results
4 November 2020
Section: News
The 2020 federal Budget confirms again that the Morrison Government has no credibility with vocational education and TAFE policies.
Teachers and principals deserve more respect
3 November 2020
Section: News
Federation has condemned the NSW Government’s choice to cap pay increases for public sector workers at 1.5 per cent, calling the decision a reflection of its scant regard for the value of the work of teachers and principals.
The teaching profession: the light that illuminates
3 November 2020
Section: News
Teachers and journalists are among the favourite targets of zealots and bigots of all stripes because they “foment” tolerance, understanding, freedom and truth. Teachers also encourage the “dangerous” practices of critical thinking, questioning, and free discussion.
Testimony goes to trust and time
2 November 2020
Section: News
“There’s too much paper, there’s too many dot points,” Federation Life Member and former high school principal Judy King told the work value inquiry on 29 October.
Covid got you feeling exhausted? Here’s why
Members are repeatedly reporting to Federation that they are exhausted, struggling in many cases to get their ‘mojo’ back in 2020 – bushfires, drought, floods and a global pandemic.
AEU Federal Women’s Conference
2 November 2020
Section: News
AEU Federal Women’s Conference, held in October, was also held online.
Lack of school counsellors put students at high risk
1 November 2020
Section: News
Research by Federation has underlined the urgent need for more school counsellors in NSW with 98 per cent of teachers and 99 per cent of principals stating that the number of students with mental health issues has increased in the past three years.
All students deserve access to a qualified teacher-librarian
31 October 2020
Section: News
“I once felt like a valued and important specialist. Now I feel invisible, ignored, excluded and undervalued,” a Federation member and teacher-librarian said when responding to the school libraries survey conducted by the union earlier this year.
Federation to oppose school closures in Murwillumbah
30 October 2020
Section: News
Members in Murwillumbah are shocked, angry and disappointed at the NSW Government’s surprise announcement to close three out of the four public schools to make way for an amalgamated facility.
Praise for the profession should be paired with palpable recognition
30 October 2020
Section: News
Federation joins with the community on World Teachers’ Day — celebrated in Australia today — to voice appreciation for teachers’ dedication to their students.
Union walks the rights road with LGBTIQ members
29 October 2020
Section: News
“All people must have equal rights,” declared Federation’s 1978 Sexual Discrimination policy.
‘Too much to ask’: Department’s support shortcomings highlighted to inquiry
29 October 2020
Section: News
It’s impossible to be an expert in a diverse range of learning needs, so we need someone who can guide and advise us, to help us understand, high school teacher Eli Pietens told the Gallop inquiry on 28 October.
Profession’s increasingly complex work deserves extra time allocation
28 October 2020
Section: News
Overloading teachers with “administrivia” was a disaffecting aspect of the present workplace and not core to the occupation, the Gallop inquiry into valuing the teaching profession has been told.
Crucial collaboration pushed to weekends
28 October 2020
Section: News
There’s a lot of activity on Teacher Google Classrooms on the weekends and after work hours, because there’s just no time in the school day to collaborate with colleagues on data, the first teacher witness before the work value inquiry said.
Improved public school provision for Aboriginal students needed to break cycle of disadvantage
28 October 2020
Section: News
Doubling the number of permanent teachers and halving face-to-face teaching time in difficult to staff schools and communities will help close achievement student gaps and improve the prospects of attracting teachers to work, the Gallop Inquiry has been told.
Funding needed to address inequality
28 October 2020
Section: News
A new study has provided further evidence of the deep inequality entrenched across Australia’s education system.
Hopes staffing research will advance campaign for more permanent teachers
27 October 2020
Section: News
Federation has commissioned an independent research project into the staffing of the NSW public school system, as a means to achieve improved staffing arrangements for the benefit of teaching and learning.
High levels of responsibility and accountability not matched with support
Schools have buckets of money instead of teachers to meet needs under the Local Schools, Local Decisions model, Federation Senior Vice President Amber Flohm told the work value inquiry on 26 October.