NSW Govt figures expose Federal funding failure
25 October 2017
Section: News
Today’s schools funding announcement by the NSW government confirms the $138 million dollar cut caused by the Turnbull government abandoning the Gonski funding model, said Federation President, Maurie Mulheron.
Federation joins call for rigorous review of Leading Learning 4 All resource
18 October 2017
Section: News
Prominent disability advocates, academics and organisations have penned an open letter to federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham regarding significant concerns about the Leading Learning 4 All (LL4All) resource, funded by the Commonwealth government and launched early this year.
Protect Kids from Robots and Canberra Bureaucrats
12 October 2017
Section: News
The Federal agency in charge of NAPLAN is rushing through with plans to have robots mark next year’s NAPLAN tests despite their justifications being discredited by world-leading research. Parents, teachers and principals have not been consulted about these radical plans and students have not been prepared for such a dramatic shift. NAPLAN has been a high-stakes and controversial test and this latest development will further bewilder youngsters who are subject to such testing.
International Day of the Girl Child
11 October 2017
Section: News
Wednesday 11 October is the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child
Vouchers won’t fix the TAFE system
11 October 2017
Section: News
Jennifer Westacott and the Business Council of Australia’s proposals for Education and Skills released at the National Press Club today are another disappointing suggestion that fails to recognise the very real issues facing vocational education in this country.
National Close the Gap Day
16 September 2017
Section: News
March 16 marks National Close the Gap Day, held to share information and take action in support of achieving Indigenous health equality by 2030. Last month, The Closing the Gap: Prime Minister’s Report 2017, gave a progress report about Closing the Gap targets on Indigenous health, employment and education.
OECD report
13 September 2017
Section: News
The latest OECD Education at a Glance 2017 report shows the Turnbull Government is spending less than the OECD average on public education, posing serious challenges for the low-growth trajectory of the Government’s schools funding plan, the Australian Education Union said. “With the report showing Australian Government spending at 3.9 per cent of GDP being less than the OECD average, there is no doubt that our schools are under-resourced,” Federal President of the AEU Correna Haythorpe said.
Federation calls for schools funding submission time-frame to be extended
12 September 2017
Section: News
NSW Teachers Federation has called on state and territory education ministers to roundly reject the four-week timeframe for submissions to the Gonski 2.0 review panel announced today by Education Minister Simon Birmingham. State and territory ministers will be gathering for the Australian Education Council meeting in Adelaide this Friday.
Schools need full, systemic support from the Department and the NSW Government
11 September 2017
Section: News
The news announced today of a NSW Government plan to put up $50 million to fund so-called Business Managers in schools is an acknowledgement that the policy called ‘Local Schools, Local Decisions’ has resulted in the loss of hundreds of administrative and support positions and created an unnecessary burden on schools, Federation President Maurie Mulheron said earlier today.
Equal Pay Day 2017 – 4 September, 2017
4 September 2017
Section: News
This year, Equal Pay Day is Monday, 4 September. Equal Pay Day is calculated to mark the additional time from the end of the financial year that women must work to earn the same as men.
Protest against trade deal that’s bad for people and the planet — 28 August
28 August 2017
Section: News
Federation officers will join concerned citizens for a rally opposing plans by the Turnbull government to sign a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, on Monday 28 August. Earlier this year, the United States withdrew from TPP negotiations. Now, the 11 other countries involved in the talks, including Australia, are attempting to reach a deal without the US.
Van Badham reminds teachers why it’s so wonderful to be a teacher and a unionist
28 August 2017
Section: News
A teacher’s ability to inspire students and community members was the subject of a presentation by writer, feminist, activist and self-proclaimed troublemaker Van Badham at Federation’s Women’s Conference said on Saturday.
Conference to address issues and campaigns that relate the women as educators
26 August 2017
Section: News
Women members of Federation are gathering in the union’s auditorium in Surry Hills this morning for a day of presentations and workshops aimed at supporting them in their classrooms, workplaces and communities. Conference participants will have the opportunity to attend two workshop sessions. Topics include:
AEU calls for end to NAPLAN online
22 August 2017
Section: News
The Australian Education Union has called on state and territory governments to abandon the rollout of NAPLAN online as the new system would place many students and schools across the country at severe disadvantage. Federal President of the AEU Correna Haythorpe has requested urgent discussions with the respective Departments after concerns raised by teachers and principals about unequal access to computer technology for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Turnbull Government must stop pouring taxpayer funds into expensive, failing Teach For Australia program
21 August 2017
Section: News
The federal government should stop wasting taxpayer money funding the Teach for Australia Program, the Australian Education Union urged today. A new report released today reveals that over half its participants have left the profession within three years of becoming qualified teachers.
Campaign to replace NAPLAN announced
16 August 2017
Section: News
Federation is campaigning to replace the NAPLAN approach to assessment and testing.
Teachers advised not to sign NAPLAN confidentiality agreements
13 August 2017
Section: News
It has been reported to the Federation that members are being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement in relation to the administration of NAPLAN Online and being told they cannot retain a copy.
Federation condemns Turnbull Government’s failure on Marriage Equality
11 August 2017
Section: News
The NSW Teachers Federation condemns Prime Minister Turnbull and his government for their approach to marriage equality. Attending the AEU Federal Executive meeting this week, NSW Teachers Federation President Maurie Mulheron discussed his concerns about the waste of money and resources, as well as the toxic debate that would ensue, as a result of the postal vote.
TAFE’s future to be re-imagined at national conference in Sydney
10 August 2017
Section: News
Re-imagining TAFE for the future will be the focus of a national conference in Sydney hosted by the Australian Education Union and the John Cain Foundation. The “Future of Public TAFE Institutions – new social policy” will aim to begin formulating the sector’s mission, and consider what TAFE will look like in the future, as anchor institutions in their communities to help people realise their aspirations.
Wear It Purple Day
9 August 2017
Section: News
Schools and workplaces can paint the town purple to celebrate diversity on Wear It Purple Day, 25 August. Last year, schools recognised the occasion in some creative ways, including rainbow fun runs, guest speakers, purple/rainbow mufti days and mural painting. Federation also marked Wear It Purple Day by organising a morning tea with a purple and rainbow bake-off that resulted in some fantastic creations.
TAFE Managers secure new Enterprise Agreement
2 August 2017
Section: News
TAFE managers have secured a 2.5 per cent salary increase each year for two years while preserving all working conditions, in a ballot for a new Enterprise agreement. Eighty-six per cent of TAFE Managers who took part in the ballot (61 per cent) voted YES.