February 2012

QIECC

Expressions of interest are currently being sought from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders for membership of the Queensland Indigenous Education Consultative Committee (QIECC). Candidates should have strong connections to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community networks and organisations as well as experience in providing advice to government or industry and relevant expertise.

The QIECC is an independent advisory body to the Queensland and Australian governments on issues relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. Taking community views into account, it focuses on strategies for improving the education outcomes of Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from the early years of schooling through to post school training and higher education. More information about the QIECC can be found on the Queensland Indigenous Education Consultative Committee website.

Applications close on the 12 March 2012.  Further information, including a description of the requirements for applicants, an expression of interest form and details about the application process can be found at http://education.qld.gov.au/qiecc/. 

QTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educators Conference

The QTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educators Conference will be held on 24-25 September (Monday –Tuesday of the first week of the September school holidays) in Cairns. The Conference is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the QTU (but places may be limited). The Conference is free and the QTU provides travel, accommodation and meal allowances. Mark your diaries now and keep an eye out for further information and the call for nominations. 

Close the Gap Day

National Close the Gap Day for 2012 will be on Tuesday 22 March. The day draws attention to the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples still die on average 10-17 years younger than other Australians and seeks to ensure that Australian governments keep their commitments to ‘close the gap’. In 2011 more than 7,000 teachers, 85,000 students and 371 schools demonstrated their support for this initiative through a variety of ceremonies and activities.

To find out more about this year’s event or to register your school’s Close the Gap Day plans, visit www.oxfam.org.au/nctgd.  

Identification as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander member

The QTU depends on members to self-identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. To do so is entirely voluntary but it does allow the QTU to better serve the needs of these members and it allows them to participate in union activities such as the QTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network, the biennial QTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educators Conference and Gandu Jarjum, which is now a fully Indigenous committee of the union.

If you are receiving this newsletter then you have identified as an Indigenous member, but the QTU is aware that there are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members who have not yet identified as such to the Union. With the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educators Conference coming later this year, now is a good time for them to do so.

Please help by encouraging your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues to identify with the Union. Members can contact QTU Research Officer, John McCollow on research@qtu.asn.au. All responses will be treated confidentially.

Dr John McCollow
Research Officer