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Prior to the pandemic it could be said a school’s teacher relief availability depended on a variety of local seasonal factors, which would be invariably worked through. The pandemic has unfortunately now caused an unwanted equity. Everyone is struggling, and in many cases, just labelling teacher relief availability as a “struggle” would be entirely inadequate.

Teachers know best on what is happening in schools right now. Consider this quote, which comes from one of over 400 school leaders and union reps who completed our survey Managing Teacher Relief in WA Public Schools: “Teacher burnout is very real, resulting from the continuous system-wide demands that assume we are working under normal conditions.'' With rolling waves of staff members having to isolate the reality of the situation is that we are exhausted just managing to keep the core teaching and learning operating. Add to that NAPLAN, the running of events, reporting to parents, performance management, SEN reporting, NCCR reporting etc. and you have a perfect storm for mental and emotional burn-out.

Almost a decade of inaction on the gender pay gap under the previous government has resulted in women continuing to earn less than men in every age bracket, according to latest data released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

Australian companies are banking record profits rather than using them to shield consumers from cost increases is the leading driver of inflation, according to new research released by The Australia Institute.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) is urging the federal government to ensure school funding is a key consideration of the review of the National Schools Reform Agreement (NSRA).

To the untrained eye, the small community garden on Coast and Straits Salish territory (in Canada) – on what passers-by commonly know as the University of Victoria campus – might look unruly. Bursting with dandelions, lamb’s ear and grasses, it’s difficult to tell where the garden starts and where it ends.

The Schools General Agreement has just been registered, and as we go to print, we remain in negotiation over the TAFE General Agreement

Membership with the SSTUWA ensures you are never on your own. Members can access information, advice, and support through a variety of sources and teams.

Remember when former Morrison Government minister Stuart Robert lashed out at “dud” teachers? In March, the then acting education minister said the “bottom 10 per cent” of teachers “can’t read and write” and blamed them for declining academic results.

IGLYO, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) Youth and Student Organisation, is the lead youth development and leadership organisation working with LGBTQI young activists, counting more than 100 member organisations in over 40 countries in the Council of Europe region.

Membership with the SSTUWA means that you are never on your own. We have our members covered but it is important to know your coverage level.

As the 2021 recipient of Lynette Virgona Memorial Scholarship, I was able to undertake the invaluable Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) training.

We know Australian teachers experience a high level of work-related mental stress. This is illustrated in the early-career teacher attrition rate, numerous studies like the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development’s Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2018, or simply by eavesdropping most staffroom conversations on a Wednesday at lunchtime.

The 2013 National Education Reform Agreement (NERA) between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments (and through memorandums of understanding with private schools) planned a $16 billion increase in school funding over six years, 80 per cent of which was to go to public schools.

As an affiliate of UnionsWA, the SSTUWA has long known that strength lies in unity; the multiplier that applies when unions work together towards common goals.

The Fair Work Commission has decided to increase wages for a quarter of Australian workers - 5.2 per cent for those on the minimum wage and 4.6 per cent or $40 per week for those reliant on award wages, whichever is higher.

The ACTU welcomes the appointment of Tony Burke as minister for employment and workplace relations and looks forward to working with him to improve the lives of working people.

The Australian Education Union has welcomed Jason Clare as the new federal education minister, Brendan O’Connor to the skills and training portfolio and Anne Aly as early childhood education minister

You are never on your own when you are a member of a union. Many of our members have joined and remain with us to be part of the collective. Working in solidarity for the benefit of all members, we know we are stronger together.