New Educators Network 2023
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 4, 9 June 2023, page no.19
The QTU has a long-standing tradition of supporting and investing in new educators. The QTU New Educators Network (NEN) program first began in 2012; since then more than 140 new educators have participated and benefited.
It was a privilege to meet the faces behind the QTU leadership, and I loved being able to network with Union Representatives who were also beginning their teaching careers. QTU Organiser Membership Growth Lynn Cowie-McAlister spoke about the importance of growing our Union, having strength in numbers, and belonging to an organisation that makes you feel seen, heard, and felt. Lynn’s session has inspired me to make the Union’s presence more visible at my own school.
It was also impressive to hear about past campaigns and wins from General Secretary Kate Ruttiman. Kate discussed previous EB achievements, such as, salaries, NCT, class sizes, and new classifications. I am grateful to all of the previous Union advocates. These wins directly impact classroom teachers and make our lives easier. I think a lot of beginning teachers would be pleasantly surprised with how much the Union has achieved.
During our full day training for NEN23, we were fortunate enough to have a session with QTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer Emerson Zerafa-Payne, where we learned more about the Voice campaign, Unions for Yes, and the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Throughout the session, our knowledge of why it is so important for the unions to get involved in this campaign developed. The campaign will ensure that our country recognises and acknowledges that the land we call home, was and always will be First Nations land. Enshrining a Voice in the constitution will give First Nations people a voice in issues that affect them and their communities.
During the workshop with Emerson, we worked on developing a stump speech which allowed us to clearly articulate a message for conversations with colleagues, family, and the broader community around the importance of a “Yes” vote in the referendum. Thanks to Emerson, we are now armed with the knowledge and skills to challenge the statements made by the “No” campaign.
We spent time learning and listening about the importance of leading and campaigning. Campaigning is an essential part of union life, as it involves advocating for issues and policies that impact on our students and colleagues.
But campaigning also provides an opportunity for new educators to learn about leadership. By getting involved in campaigns, we can develop skills in communication, organisation, and collaboration. We can learn how to build and motivate teams, how to identify and address challenges, and how to make a real difference in our schools and communities.
With Kate Ruttiman leading our training, we learned how to develop our skills in leadership. A key takeaway was that strong leadership is beneficial, not just for our own personal and professional growth, but also for the benefit of our students. As we become better leaders, we are better equipped to inspire and support our students, to help them achieve their full potential and become leaders themselves.