Metropolitan North

Organiser: Mel de Waard
Administration Officer: Sharon Hansen
Office Hours: 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
Address: 21 Graham St, Milton Q 4064 (map)
Postal address: PO Box 1750, Milton BC 4064
Address all enquiries to QTAD: 1300 117 823
Phone: (07) 3512 9000
Mobile: 0419 865 887
Fax: (07) 3512 9050
Email: organisers@qtu.asn.au

Branches ; CHERMSIDE ; DECEPTION BAY ; GEEBUNG ; NARANGBA VALLEY ; NORTH EAST BRISBANE ; PINE RIVERS NORTH ; PINE RIVERS SOUTH ; REDCLIFFE

Term 1 Newsletter

Hello and welcome back! I hope you have had a safe and restful holiday and are refreshed for what we hope will be a wonderful 2023.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all teachers and school leaders, especially to those who are joining us in the fabulous Metropolitan North region of the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) and pay my respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, work and play.

If I haven’t met you as yet, my name is Mel de Waard and I am the QTU Organiser for Metropolitan North. I look after all the state schools from Craigslea and Wavell to Burpengary and Deception Bay, including the Redcliffe Peninsula. I am excited to be working alongside you and look forward to meeting with you face to face soon, whether during a school visit, branch meeting or QTU training event.

The QTU will communicate with you via your preferred email address. Please check that you are receiving this communication and that, if necessary, update your contact information via MyQTU. The QTU also keeps members informed via Facebook, Instagram, through the Queensland Teachers’ Journal, branch meetings, school visits and our website (www.qtu.asn.au)

We start this year under a new certified agreement, which outlines your updated working conditions and salaries from your employer. If you are eligible for backpay, it should be available in your next pay cycle. Please view your payslips carefully, as mistakes can easily happen and the QTU regularly receives requests for assistance from members who have spotted discrepancies and are having difficulty getting them rectified by the department.

If you know of someone who is not yet a member of the QTU and would like to help them access our vast range of member information and services, show them how easy it is. Just click the link below and work through the information: 

Do what teachers and school leaders do…join the QTU!

If you need to get in touch, the best way to do so is via the Queensland Teachers Assist Desk, also known as QTAD. Our call centre staff can quickly respond to a wide variety of queries. You can call them on 1300 11 78 23 or contact them via email at qtad@qtu.asn.au

Have a great Term 1, stay safe, and I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Mel de Waard
Metropolitan North Organiser

Term 1 Branch meeting dates

Branch	Date	Location	Time
Keppel	Tues 7 Feb	Yeppoon	4.30pm
Calliungal	Wed 8 Feb	Gracemere	4.30pm
Thozet	Tues 14 Feb	Frenchville	4pm
Fitzroy	Wed 15 Feb	Allenstown	4pm
Callide/Dawson Vys	Thurs 16 Feb	Biloela	4pm
Port Curtis	Tues 21 Feb	Gladstone	4.30pm
Curtis Coast	Wed 22 Feb	Tannum Sands	4pm
Peak Downs	Tues 28 Feb	Moranbah	4.30pm
Blackwater	Mon 6 Mar	Blackwater	4.30pm
Central Western	Tues 7 Mar	Longreach	4.30pm
Central Highlands	Wed 8 Mar	Emerald	4.45pm
North Burnett	Wed 15 Mar	Gayndah	4pm

Meetings

Branch Meetings Council and Conference dates

Professional Development

QuEST [Queensland Education Support and Training] is the  professional development arm of the QTU.

QuEST’s goal is to deliver high quality professional development to teachers and school leaders across Queensland. Our new Professional Development Officer, Rebecca Hack, is working closely with QTU officers, members and external providers to identify a suite of professional development programs that meets the needs of our members right across this diverse state.

QuEST offers a range of programs, including face-to-face and live online programs. Programs will be open to all members. As a not-for-profit initiative, QuEST aims to keep professional development affordable and operates on a cost recovery basis.  

These programs are recognised as legitimate professional development by the Department of Education and Queensland College of Teachers. As such, it is appropriate to apply for release and funding through your normal school professional development processes.

Industrial education and training programs

The Queensland Teachers' Education Centre (QTEC) is responsible for the coordination, planning and delivery of the Union's member education and training program.

The Union offers a range of training and professional development opportunities for all members of the Union in Brisbane and regional areas. Topics such as LCCs, knowing your working conditions and effective negotiations are included in a program of afternoon seminars which are advertised through workplace union reps and on this website.

QTEC also provides training to administrators, area council delegates, women activists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members, TAFE and new educator members.

QTEC coordinates a professional development program for all members on behaviour management and other current educational issues in metropolitan and country areas. These sessions are held after school locally as well as full day courses. Paid leave to attend full day professional development courses is available, with the approval of the principal, in accordance with EQ’s professional development policy.

The Union's commitment to new teachers is a priority and is a strong focus of the training program throughout the year. These conferences and courses provide opportunities for new teachers to contribute to Union priorities and directions.

Click here to see the current program

Request school visit by the Organiser