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Graduate Teachers - Know Your Rights!

Do you know your rights and entitlements as a graduate teacher? Take our quiz to find out.
How many mandatory graduate modules are available for completion in your first 30 months of teaching?
Correct - there are four mandatory graduate modules.
Not quite - there are four mandatory graduate modules.
If you arrange with your school to complete a graduate module during the holidays or online, you should be paid two days of PTOIL to compensate you for your time.
Not quite - compensation for out-of-hours graduate modules should be paid to you as PTOIL.
You've got it - compensation for out-of-hours graduate modules should be paid to you as PTOIL.
Only graduates at regional schools are paid a travel contingency allowance to cover costs associated with attending modules.
Not quite - All graduate teachers who have signed a six-month or longer contract are provided with a travel contingency allowance directly to their school. This starts at $115.91 for those at metro schools, while regional schools receive an amount based on isolation and the distance from Perth.
You've got it - All graduate teachers who have signed a six-month or longer contract are provided with a travel contingency allowance directly to their school. This starts at $115.91 for those at metro schools, while regional schools receive an amount based on isolation and the distance from Perth.
In addition to time off to complete modules in person, how many Graduate Release Days should you be provided in your first year of teaching? (May be spread out as a weekly allocation of extra DOTT time.)
Not quite! You're allocated eight days of additional release time, which might be provided as entire days, or timetabled as roughly one hour per week.
Correct - You're allocated eight days of additional release time, which might be provided as entire days, or timetabled as roughly one hour per week.
Secondary graduate teachers are entitled to a one-off curriculum materials allowance of $78
Not quite - As of the 2021 General Agreement, all contracted graduate teachers are entitled to a $150 curriculum materials allowance - not pro-rata.
Correct - As of the 2021 General Agreement, all contracted graduate teachers are entitled to a $150 curriculum materials allowance - not pro-rata.
Graduate teachers on a fixed-term or permanent contract receive a start-up allowance at the start of their first and second years of teaching, pro-rata. The allowance is:
Not quite! Contracted graduates are entitled to $1600 pro-rata
Correct - Contracted graduates are entitled to $1600 pro-rata.
Just like experienced teachers, graduate teachers must do internal relief whenever required.
Not always! The 2021 General Agreement (Clause 25.4) states that the use of graduate teachers for internal relief should be by agreement with the graduate teacher. You should be proactive about having this conversation with your relief coordinator and/or school leadership team!
Correct! The 2021 General Agreement (Clause 25.4) states that the use of graduate teachers for internal relief should be by agreement with the graduate teacher. You should be proactive about having this conversation with your relief coordinator and/or school leadership team!
You are required to respond to emails and other electronic communications on the weekend.
Not quite - You are not required to write or respond to electronic communication from school staff, parents or community members during the school holidays. This also applies when you are out on sick leave, approved leave and on public holidays. The exception is in the case of an emergency, or where there are staffing or health related issues where failure to communicate could lead to employees being disadvantaged.
Correct - You are not required to write or respond to electronic communication from school staff, parents or community members during the school holidays. This also applies when you are out on sick leave, approved leave and on public holidays. The exception is in the case of an emergency, or where there are staffing or health related issues where failure to communicate could lead to employees being disadvantaged.
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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.

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

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