Organiser: Mel de Waard
Administration Officer: Karen Alldridge
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 2 Newsletter
Hello Met North QTU members,
I hope Term 2 has started well for you!
It was wonderful to work with so many members across Met North during Term 1. Branch meetings, school visits, training days and of course the Union Reps Conference were great opportunities to connect with fellow members and to be active in the democratic structures of our Union. Remember, you are the Union!
QTU Journal
The recent QTU Journal provides valuable information and insight for members. Of interest might be the State Council report from 4 March, as well as an editorial by Kate Ruttiman on the value of being a QTU member and a subsequent article covering time theft. This article includes a QR code to link members to workload reduction resources.
If you have not already, take a few minutes to read the Journal here: Queensland Teachers' Journal Mar 2023 :: QTU
Branch meetings
This term, I would love to see members attend their local branch meeting. Branch meetings are the forum in which members can discuss matters, raise an issue, put forward an idea, or meet other members in their area. Please see below for a summary of what’s on in Met North this term.
What’s on
|
Branch meetings |
Date/time |
Venue |
|
Chermside/Geebung |
4 May 3.45pm |
Aspley Hornets Football Club |
|
Deception Bay/Narangba Valley |
17 May 3.45pm |
Deception Bay SHS & Teams |
|
North East Brisbane |
8 May 3.45pm |
Bracken Ridge Tavern |
|
Pine Rivers North/Pine Rivers South |
18 May 3.45pm |
Club Pine Rivers |
|
Redcliffe |
10 May 3.30pm |
Dolphins Leagues Club & Teams |
|
State Council |
Date |
Venue |
|
State Council |
13 May |
The Hilton Brisbane |
|
Biennial Conference |
Date |
Venue |
|
Biennial Conference |
26 - 28 June |
City Hall Brisbane |
Labour Day - Brisbane
Labour Day is a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the collective achievements of workers and the wider union movement. I encourage all of you to join in the march in Brisbane and the subsequent event at the RNA showgrounds for food, drinks and free family entertainment/rides. Labour Day is an opportunity to stand together and acknowledge the work of those before us, and the wins achieved that we now reap the benefit of, and to unite on those challenges still before us. Click here to access the flyer for this event. I look forward to seeing you there!
Membership growth
Growing our Union is vital to our continued collective work. It is the strength of our 48,000+ member Union that makes the QTU the most democratic and powerful voice of the profession. Thank you to our wonderful Union Reps and members who are having conversations with potential members about joining our Union. Remember that the QTU should be part of the induction program at each workplace, and Reps should be able to speak to new educators in particular about joining the Union. QTU Join Online here or via the QR code below.
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Membership dues and fortnightly direct debit option
Don’t forget to renew your QTU membership. Members looking to spread their annual dues over the year can now pay via fortnightly direct debit. If you would like to move to a fortnightly direct debit, log into the myQTU portal here and go to My Payments. Continued membership of the QTU provides you with industrial, professional and legal support and advocacy.
Occupational violence
Ensuring our members are safe at work is a key priority of the QTU. The QTU strongly recommends that members in schools establish safe systems of work whereby all incidents of occupational violence are recorded in MyHR WHS. The Union will support QTU members in schools who want to take action to ensure that their workplace is safe. The QTU position has been clear: a student’s individual right to an education does not erode the responsibility of the department to provide teachers, school leaders, and all those who work in schools with a safe and healthy working environment.
Accessing information and advice
Remember that advice is available to QTU members by calling QTAD on 1300 117 823 or emailing qtad@qtu.asn.au
Best wishes for the term,
Mel de Waard
QTU Organiser – Metropolitan North
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Meetings
Branch Meetings Council and Conference datesProfessional Development
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 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.