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Volume 51.8 November 2022

From the President 

Layers of turmoil offer challenges

We are at the end of yet another year which brought far more turmoil than we could have ever expected. We thought that we’d seen the worst of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and that we were pretty well prepared - vaccinations mostly done – for the beginning of the year. That bubble burst in Week 1 of Term 1. The turmoil hasn’t been confined to COVID-19 or to Australia. We look around and see democracy in a fragile state in many parts of the world. This week’s mid-term US elections saw several candidates saying openly, even before polling day that they would refuse to accept a result which didn’t go their way; statements based not on legitimate concerns about a faulty voting system but on a simple refusal to respect the outcome of a democratic process.

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From the Senior Vice President 

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Further needed to boost country teaching
During the 2021 EBA the SSTUWA won the claim to review part of the Country Teaching Program, an incentives package • to assist with the attraction and retention of teachers, school leaders and school psychologists to country schools. This work is about to progress and has now received unexpected stimulation following the recent announcement from Education Minister Sue Ellery to staff some country schools with a one year only additional incentive; in fact, just 48 schools.

Features

New educators: Guide to Term 4
Term 4 is one of the busiest of the school year. There are so many to-do list items that need to be checked off. It is easy to get lost in the frenetic pace of the term, so planning your time is very important.
The unheard impact: technology and the teaching profession
Education International (EI) recently hosted a consultation event to provide feedback into the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report on technology and education.
Indigenous ways of teaching could be beneficial for all children
The authors are cultural men who have undertaken learning on and through Country with Elders in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. This piece is the product of their own experience and understanding and is not intended to represent the views of all Indigenous people.
We need to define what equity means for schools
The Productivity Commission has released a major report on how to improve Australia’s school and university sectors. “Education is ripe for disruption,” deputy chair Alex Robson said. The commission suggests longer school days, online classes taught by qualified teachers and streaming students into ability groups to improve Australia’s educational performance.
Inequitable school funding creates inequitable outcomes
The Australian Education Union (AEU) is calling for a renewed focus on increasing public school funding, following the release of the interim report of the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Schools Reform Agreement (NSRA).
Review says Australian schools fall short on quality and equity
The Productivity Commission has just released a review of school standards in Australia. It finds we “persistently fall short” when it comes to providing a high quality and equitable education for all students.
Becoming a Level 3 Classroom Teacher
Early in the 1990s, the SSTUWA and Department of Education (DoE) began discussions around how to create a meaningful pathway for teachers who wished to remain in the classroom and not move into school leadership positions. At the time, no other state or territory had a process or position established to recognise exemplary classroom teachers in this way.
Alkimos College: WHS, HSRs and SSTUWA
In a desire to bolster Alkimos College’s work health and safety (WHS) systems, the college recently held an election to appoint health and safety representatives (HSRs) for all staff throughout the school.
Panel gets review process underway
Delegates to November State Council Conference were introduced to the panel members of the SSTUWA review into public education and had an opportunity to engage with them via a consultation workshop on opening day.
When well-being, workload and work-life balance is the focus
Close to 80 early childhood educators (ECE) attended this year’s SSTUWA ECE Conference, aptly titled Well-being, Workload and Work-Life Balance.
State Council rounds out big year
November State Council Conference has capped off a year of intense union activity which has included the launch of an independent review into public education in WA, the registering of two General Agreements and the start of the process for a next Log of Claims.
Further needed to boost country teaching
During the 2021 EBA the SSTUWA won the claim to review part of the Country Teaching Program, an incentives package • to assist with the attraction and retention of teachers, school leaders and school psychologists to country schools. This work is about to progress and has now received unexpected stimulation following the recent announcement from Education Minister Sue Ellery to staff some country schools with a one year only additional incentive; in fact, just 48 schools.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We wish to pay respect to their Elders - past, present and future - and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia. We stand in solidarity.

Artist credit: Tyrown Waigana. Learn more.

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Authorised by Mary Franklyn, General Secretary, The State School Teachers' Union of W.A.

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