Organiser: Chris Munro
Administration officer: Jodi Fraser
Office hours: 8.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Thursday
Address: Unit 5 - 48 Thuringowa Drive, Thuringowa
Postal: PO Box 370, Thuringowa QLD 4817
Phone: (07) 4722 6400
Mobile: 0447 764 560
Email: townsville@qtu.asn.au
Branches: HINCHINBROOK ; LEICHHARDT; LOWER BURDEKIN ; MACKAY ; MACKAY NORTH ; NORTH KENNEDY ; ROSS ; THURINGOWA ; TOWNSVILLE ; WHITSUNDAY
Term 4 Newsletter
Hello NQ QTU Members,
Welcome to the last term of another long year. I hope everyone had a very well-deserved break, and this term is as smooth as it can possibly be for you and your school. This term I will be travelling mainly to schools that I have not visited yet this year. However, if Union Reps or Principals are keen for me to visit, please let me know.
Just a reminder, my contact details are;
- Townsville Office – 47226400
- Mobile – 0447 764 560
- Email – townsville@qtu.asn.au
Member Queries
Just a reminder that if you require assistance with an enquiry the best way to communicate with the QTU is via phone or via email. I still at times receive text messages from members. As most members are aware I spend a lot of time on the road and text messages will not be responded to.
If you make contact with the office via email or phone Jodi will be able to send the query to QTAD or if I am required to assist the member Jodi will organise a time to communicate via phone.
What’s Happening This Term
Listed below are relevant dates for the term. As well as Branch Meetings the QTU will be offering Navigating the Industrial Landscape for Leaders as well as a School Leaders forum in Mackay. I encourage members to participate in any of the training that is being offered as well as attend a Branch Meeting.
For all Branch Meetings members will have the opportunity to link via Teams. Just check your emails notifying you of your next branch meeting as the Flyer will have the link to attend via Teams.
Please join us during the term at our meetings. Attending a branch meeting allows members to participate in the democratic structures of our union. Our union is each and everyone of you. I encourage you to note the date of your branch meeting below. Our Branch meeting attendance is growing which is very encouraging so please come along to your next meeting!
October 11 – Navigating the Industrial Landscape for Leaders
October 11 – School Leader Forum with Paige Bousen, Cresta Richardson & Cindy Frier
October 12 – Mackay/Mackay North Branch Meeting
October 18 – Whitsunday Branch Meeting
October 21 – NQ Area Council
October 26 – Leichhardt Branch Meeting
November 3 – State Accommodation Committee Training/Meeting
November 4 – State Council
November 8 – Lower Burdekin Branch Meeting
November 9 – Townsville/Ross/Thuringowa Branch Meeting
November 22 – North Kennedy Branch Meeting
November 23 – Hinchinbrook Branch Meeting
Teacher Transfers
Required transfers were released on Friday 8 September, while guaranteed transfers were to be advised by 14 September. The QTU has informed the Department of Education of the importance State Council places on maximising guaranteed transfers, especially those from rural, remote, and regional areas.
More information about the teacher transfer and appeal processes can be found at:
Transfer appeals: https://www.qtu.asn.au/transfer-appeals
Eligibility Review Committee - Attraction and Retention
August Council resolved that self-selected schools would take industrial action in term 4 should this matter fail to sufficiently progress towards a resolution. After making the department aware of this motion at State Council the Eligibility Review Committees will be meeting early Term 4.
The “Eligibility Review Committee” will include the following:
- Director, Teacher Talent & Mobility;
- Manager, Teacher Talent & Mobility;
- RHRBP (Director) appropriate to school location;
- QTU organiser, appropriate to school location; and
- the relevant QTU case officer/s.
QTU Presidential elections
The Electoral Commission Queensland has advised that, following the close of nominations last week, elections will be conducted for the positions of QTU President, QTU Vice-President and QTU Honorary Vice-President. Ballots will open on Friday 6 October and close at midday on Thursday 16 November.
It has been some time since we have had a Presidential election so please take the time to vote.
Local Consultative Committee
The LCC is a combined union and management committee responsible for effective “change management” within the school. When a school gets this process right it means that feedback and consultation become the norm within a school. To assist with this process the QTU Consultation guide outlines some examples of agenda items. See Below.
Please make contact if you need assistance with the LCC within your school.
Term 4 Possible Agenda Items
-
- Establish/review bus & playground duty roster for following year
- Review length and timing of meal breaks for following year
- Conversion of staff to TRS
- Timing and use of flexible student free days for following year
- Review planning processes in school
- Initiation/implementation/evaluation of workplace reform
- OHS
- I4S Proposals
- Establish/review agreed processes re: staff meetings
New Union Reps
Welcome to our New Union Reps in North Qld. It has been great to welcome many new union reps this year.
Recruitment
Thank you to the Union Reps for taking the time to talk to any new and beginning teachers about being in the QTU. https://www.qtu.asn.au/join
Growing our union is vital to the work that we continue to do together. When new staff join your workplace, or if there are existing staff who are not yet members of our union, it is important to have conversations about the union and the benefits of belonging. Often, potential members join following a conversation with a trusted colleague about union values and our union.
Union Reps will have noticed in the Union Rep Update sent last term that a recruitment campaign was launched at QTU State Council in August.
I value the work as reps in workplaces across North Qld and I know that you have had recruitment conversations to grow our union. The goal was to have anyone who was not currently at member of the QTU join during the remainder of term 3 to take advantage of the special offer. Thank you to all Union Reps for this work and welcome to the 20 new members throughout North Old.
Don’t forget you can always invite potential members to join by:
- includes the join online (https://www.qtu.asn.au/join)
- using this recruitment resource (https://www.qtu.asn.au/establishing-qtu-culture-poster) to assist in your conversations or visit the recruitment webpage https://www.qtu.asn.au/recruitment
Mobile phone bans
Ongoing consultation sessions continue to be held between the department and QTU, as well as P&Cs Qld and relevant principal associations.
Online principal consultation sessions, as well as a dedicated mailbox for school leaders, have also been created. Guidelines and FAQs are being developed and will be available for feedback in the coming weeks.
The QTU has also sought assurances that there will be continued communications from the department around this issue, to ensure schools are thoroughly prepared when the ban is introduced from the start of school in 2024.
This commitment from the department includes providing information for school newsletters and other school and community-based information sharing activities.
Townsville Teachers’ Golf Day
On the first Monday of the recent holidays Townsville hosted the inaugural State School Teachers’ Golf Day which was proudly supported by the QTU. Thanks to Chris Lane from Northern Beaches SHS for all his organisation for this great day. Lock the date in your calendar for next year.
Below is a photo of the participants of the QTU Teachers’ Golf Day.
All the best for term
Chris Munro
North Queensland Organiser
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.