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,…
Focus on student needs to lift success at school not NAPLAN results
2 August 2017
Section: News
Attention needs to be focused on ensuring all schools are receiving the funding they need to deliver for students’ outcomes, not today’s NAPLAN results, Australian Education Federal President Correna Haythorpe said in a media release today. “Lifting student outcomes does not mean simply lifting NAPLAN results,” she said. “NAPLAN is just one test, a snapshot, and on its own provides a narrow and incomplete picture of a student’s education and does not take into account the high quality, broad curriculum and learning experience that schools provide.
Teacher permanency in the spotlight with member app update
2 August 2017
Section: News
With the most recent update to Federation’s ‘Card Plus’ membership app, Fed Reps and principals can use the app to check their school’s staffing entitlement. The ability for NSW public education teachers to be employed on a permanent basis —regulated by the Staffing Agreement — was won thanks to the sustained campaigning of Federation members.
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.
Teachers’ incredible work recognised at Education Week launch
31 July 2017
Section: News
The achievements of public education and local schools were put in the spotlight at the launch of Education Week earlier today. The high quality of teaching and learning being undertaken across the NSW public education system was showcased in the keynote address, given by two students and a teacher.
VOTE YES NOW in the TAFE Ballot
28 July 2017
Section: News
Federation urges members to vote YES in the TAFE Commission of NSW TAFE Managers Enterprise Agreement 2017 ballot. The ballot opened at 12.01am on Friday 28th July and will close 11.59pm on Monday 31st July. The outcome of this ballot will determine TAFE Managers’ working conditions for the next two years. Members do not have to be at TAFE to vote; members can vote on the internet or by telephone.
Stay strong, AEU presidents tell education ministers
25 July 2017
Section: News
Federation President Maurie Mulheron has joined with other teacher union leaders to call on state education ministers to stand strong in voicing their concerns about the plan
Cultural diversity in schools, anti-racism and EAL/D pedagogy explored during CPL multicultural conference
21 July 2017
Section: News
Confronting ethnic stereotypes and the challenges of teaching in a multicultural society were key concerns put to educators at a Centre for Professional Learning conference in Sydney today.
New Gonski Review panel hamstrung by narrow Government brief
17 July 2017
Section: News
We will not close the gap in education achievement by cutting funding to schools and then conducting another review that looks at only one part of the issues, Australian Education Union President Correna Haythorpe says. The Turnbull Government’s decision to restrict the panel leading the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools to only examining strategies to improve educational outcomes demonstrates it is not interested in levelling the playing field and properly funding public schools, Ms Haythorpe says in a media release.
Teachers now able to apply for more pay
6 July 2017
Section: News
After a long wait, teachers can once again submit applications to have prior eligible service recognised for salary purposes. For some teachers, this process will need to be completed by November this year so they can qualify for a review. Have you ever:
Will Pearson Australia follow through on offer of transparency?
5 July 2017
Section: News
The recent research report and media interest in the commercialisation of public schooling have prompted a response from Pearson Australia Managing Director, David Barnett, in which he agrees to the possibility of laying bare all of Pearson’s contracts with Australian federal, state and territory government authorities, which would reveal, among other things, the amount of taxpayers’ money that Pearson receives.
Unions call on super funds and government to take action on affordable housing
4 July 2017
Section: News
The Sydney housing market is in crisis for essential workers such as teachers and the issue is now being addressed by unions, political parties and even superannuation funds, Federation General Secretary John Dixon told Federation annual conference today (Tuesday 4 July).
Inquiry to investigate consequences of devolutionary policies on public education
4 July 2017
Section: News
Federation will fund an independent inquiry into devolutionary policies, President Maurie Mulheron announced on the third day of Annual Conference.
How business is taking over our schools
4 July 2017
Section: News
Education technology companies are benefitting financially from developing standards and data infrastructure in schools, according to the Commercialisation in Public Schooling study, launched on day three of Federation Annual Conference. Teachers and school leaders are concerned about this increasing ‘creep’ of commercialism into public schooling, a university survey conducted as part of CIPS shows.
Federation to build Stop TAFE Cuts campaign
3 July 2017
Section: News
Federation resolved at Annual Conference to build the national Stop TAFE Cuts campaign and to build cross-party political support to commit to a 70 per cent funding guarantee for TAFE. “We will resource it well and make this the national issue that we have made Gonski,” Federation President Maurie Mulheron told delegates today (Monday).
Strong basis exists for increased special education funding
3 July 2017
Section: News
Solid ground exists on which to conduct future campaigning for special education funding after the dumping of the Gonski needs-based schools funding model by the Turnbull government, Federation Annual Conference delegates heard today (Monday).
Teachers want reduced face-to-face teaching to support quality teaching and learning
3 July 2017
Section: News
Teachers’ professional judgement would be the focus of a new campaign, in response to issues of work overload, Senior Vice President Joan Lemaire told Annual Conference.