North Queensland

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

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Term 1 Newsletter

Hello NQ QTU members

Welcome to a new 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 commencing my school visits. On a school visit my intention is to meet with Union Reps and admin teams. So please communicate with your Union Reps prior to my visit any school related issues that you may have. If members would like to meet with me individually during a visit, please make contact with Jodi to organise a suitable meeting time.

If Union Reps or principals are keen for me to visit early in the year, please let me know and I will organise a visit ASAP.

Just a reminder, my contact details are:

• Townsville Office – 47226400
• Mobile – 0447 764 560
• Email – townsville@qtu.asn.au

Please feel free to contact me to discuss any issues that you may have.

EB10

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, 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.

Here are some of the things members can expect to see in 2023 due to the EB negotiations: EB10 webpage.

​​​​​What’s Happening This Term

Listed below are relevant dates for the term. As well as branch meetings, the QTU will be offering online training on occupational violence and an opportunity to participate in online Level 1 Union Rep training. I have also been invited to attend the beginning teacher conferences that will be taking place throughout the region. I encourage members to participate in any of the training that is being offered, and to attend a branch meeting.

For most branch meetings, members will have the opportunity to link via Teams. Just check the email notifying you of your next branch meeting as the flyer will have the link.

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 every one 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!

February        

7	Occupational Violence Session
8	Lower Burdekin branch meeting
9	Townsville, Ross, Thuringowa branch meeting
15	Whitsunday branch meeting
16	Mackay/Mackay North branch meeting
22	North Kennedy branch meeting
23	Hinchinbrook branch meeting
24	Townsville Beginning teachers conference
27	Mount Isa Beginning teachers conference
28	Leichhardt branch meeting

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March

3	Townsville Beginning teachers conference
3	Union Reps Conference - Brisbane
4	State Council
6	Mount Isa Beginning teachers conference
8	Level 1 Union Rep Training
10	Bowen Beginning teachers conference
17-18	Gandu Jarjum
22	Level 1 Union Rep Training
25	Nth Qld Area CouncilNth Qld Area Council

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher shortage

As I am sure all EQ staff are aware, the teacher shortage has placed significant stress on schools, particularly through 2022. At the end of 2022, a motion was moved at the NQ Area Council that;

The NQ Organiser write to all schools in the NQ region informing them of the QTU Teacher Shortage campaign, as endorsed by State Council in November 2021, and offer encouragement and support for self-selected schools to commence an industrial campaign to address the issue of teacher shortages within their school.

We have had quite a few schools campaign through the QTU with regional office re concerns about the teacher shortage and the negative impact that it has on their school community. To date, this communication with regions has resulted in some positive outcomes for schools. If your school is already struggling to fill teaching positions at the start of the school year, please let me know and we can discuss potential strategies.

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.

Last week, I sent specific information re LCCs to principals and Union Reps. Please make contact if you need assistance with the LCC within your school.

Term 1 examples

Term 2 examples

Consultation re: the initiation of the annual performance review in the school (evaluation/ review after 12 months) Consideration of converting workplace reforms to permanent reforms Initiation/ implementation/ evaluation of workplace reform Conversion of staff allocation to TRS Consultation re: school reporting processes, including timing of parent-teacher interviews and mid-semester reports Consultation re: system of collegial engagement in classrooms OHS

Implementation of APR Initiation/ implementation/ evaluation of workplace reform Review bus and playground duty roster Review purpose, frequency and duration of staff meetings. OHS

Q. My school doesn’t have any Union Reps so we don’t know how to choose who is on the LCC. What can we do?

A. The LCC is the committee within the school which is specified in the State Award – Teachers to deal with the industrial rights of QTU members. If there are issues within a school which affect the working conditions of members, then the LCC is the forum for discussion and decision. You will often see it referred to in most QTU communication.

If a school does not have any QTU Representatives, then a ballot should be held of all QTU members to nominate and vote for a Representative. Ideally, there would be two. The role of these representatives is to represent the members and not just themselves when making decisions that impact on all staff.

New Union Reps

Welcome to our new Union Reps in North Qld. It has been great to welcome many new Union Reps this year. Please keep an eye out for Union Rep training information. Dates: 8 & 15 March.

Recruitment

Thank you to the Union Reps for taking the time to talk to any new and beginning teachers about being in the QTU.

Dues reminder To remain a financial member of the Union, membership dues must be paid by 31 March 2023.  Last year, we introduced fortnightly direct debit to help members remain financial and have confidence in their ability to access the support they need. Members who wish to change to direct debit can make this request through myQTU or by calling our Membership Support team. If you are new to teaching, or you have been meaning to do what teachers and school leaders do and join the QTU, you can do so by scanning the attached QR code. The QTU has been the professional, legal and industrial voice of Queensland’s teachers and school leaders in state schools and TAFE for more than 130 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the best for the term

Chris Munro

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