Support for newly arrived EAL/D students and their teachers
18 November 2022
Section: Columns
Newly arrived students will often require initial intensive English language support, and ongoing English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) support but this can’t be the only focus of schools upon their enrolment.
Clarification of duties given to casual teachers
15 November 2022
Section: Columns
With the teacher shortage hitting crisis point in NSW, casual teachers are in high demand more than ever.
All the way to the ballot box
11 November 2022
Section: Columns
Members were out in force on 12 October as part of a Day of Action protesting the Perrottet Government’s imposition…
Health and wellbeing are important in the workplace
10 November 2022
Section: Columns
Federation has a long history of activism in the work health and safety space, to the point where today we have an increasing number of schools with elected Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and active Work Health and Safety committees.
We aren’t giving up and we aren’t going away
15 September 2022
Section: Columns
As part of our campaign, Fed Reps in recent weeks have been sending emails to their local MPs about the teacher shortages and the debilitating impacts they are having in schools.
New hope for public VET system Australia wide
22 August 2022
Section: Columns
There was a renewed feeling of optimism at the National TAFE Council Annual General Meeting in Melbourne this year as delegates reflected on changes to TAFE funding policy under a newly elected Federal Government.
EAL/D students deserve better from government
19 August 2022
Section: Columns
If the Department of Education is committed to its Multicultural Education Policy, it must act to fill outstanding English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) teacher vacancies, create additional permanent positions to address the rising numbers of EAL/D and refugee students
Maternity leave in schools
18 August 2022
Section: Columns
People often use the term maternity leave†to refer to a range of rights and entitlements related to pregnancy. However, those entitlements can vary depending on the nature of employment.
Teaching Aboriginal languages
17 August 2022
Section: Columns
Aboriginal languages can be taught in schools under the policy direction of the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and its Partnership Agreement 2020–2030 with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG)
Reform funding on need
16 August 2022
Section: Columns
The proportion of students with higher needs in NSW public schools has grown significantly. In 2002, one in 25 students had a disability; now one in five students in metropolitan schools and more than one in three in remote schools are receiving an adjustment to their support due to disability.
Our commitment to job security
15 August 2022
Section: Columns
Ahead of the state election, Federation will seek commitments from all major political parties to increase permanent teacher employment, as part of its ongoing campaign to stop the excessive use of temporary engagements.
Tips about bookings
12 August 2022
Section: Columns
In the volatile context of the current teacher shortage, casual teachers are in high demand. But they are also more likely to experience changes in their bookings as schools struggle to manage daily absences and changes to whole school organisation.
You’re called to a meeting: FAQs
11 August 2022
Section: Columns
What are my rights when I am called to a meeting?
Facta Non Verba
9 August 2022
Section: Columns
Indulge me for a moment as I meander down memory lane. My life-long commitment to social justice and the transformative power of public education was forged in the classrooms of Punchbowl Boys High School where a bunch of inspiring teachers taught me many decades ago.
When you fail teachers, you fail children
22 June 2022
Section: Columns
We are in serious danger of burning out a generation of teachers, lost through overwork and disenchantment with the way their focus is constantly taken from their students to a mind-numbing amount of administration and compliance work. They also see a government in denial, unwilling to stand up for the profession or address the root causes of the shortages: the uncompetitive salaries and crippling workloads that are turning people away from teaching.
Governments yet to take action
26 May 2022
Section: Columns
The recommendations from a landmark report on Australia’s First Nations women and girls from 2020 have yet to be realised.
Federation rejects racism
24 May 2022
Section: Columns
Federation urges all members to actively work towards the elimination of racism in every classroom, playground, staff room and school community.
Edu-business pockets $60m TAFE windfall
20 May 2022
Section: Columns
Over the past five years, TAFE NSW has spent a staggering $60,456,959 on outsourcing to two consult-ancy companies alone, a Budget Estimates hearing has revealed.
National Disability Insurance Scheme in schools: put simply
19 May 2022
Section: Columns
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delays.
What you need to know about Beginning Teacher Support Funding
17 May 2022
Section: Columns
While schools may not receive Beginning Teacher Support Funding until later in the year, this does not mean additional release from face-to-face (RFF) and mentoring shouldn’t be provided from the beginning of the school year to eligible teachers.
Government plan to end crisis hasn’t hired one new teacher
12 May 2022
Section: Columns
A recent poll of Federation members makes clear the impact a lack of casual teachers is having on the crisis facing NSW public schools.