QTU Reps
The Union Rep is the first point of contact with the QTU. They are serving teachers elected by their colleagues to represent the Union in the workplace. They provide advice and support, organise local campaigns, arrange workplace meetings and recruit new members. There are also Lead Union Reps, who are trained to assist QTU Organisers, and Principal Union Reps, who provide a school leader perspective on education and industrial issues.
Branches and Area Councils
QTU members in every school in a given area belong to the local branch. This branch, in turn, has representation at a regional level on an Area Council, which is represented on Council and Conference and can bring issues forward for debate.
Council and Conference
State Council (meeting four times a year) and Conference (once every two years - the next being in 2021) are the supreme decision making bodies of the Union. Each branch and Area Council throughout the state is represented, as are TAFE members.
The Trustees
The four QTU Trustees are members appointed by State Council to manage the Union’s capital investments.
Jenni Holmes
Ms Holmes is an experienced senior teacher at Tully State High School. Jenni was first elected as a Trustee in 2019.
Jenni Holmes
Ms Holmes is an experienced senior teacher at Tully State High School. Jenni was first elected as a Trustee in 2019.
Don Mengel
Mr Mengel is a Head of Department at Kingaroy State High School. Don was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Don Mengel
Mr Mengel is a Head of Department at Kingaroy State High School. Don was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Anne Rathmell
Ms Rathmell is a Head of the Bunya Campus of Dalby State High School. Anne was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Anne Rathmell
Ms Rathmell is a Head of the Bunya Campus of Dalby State High School. Anne was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Penny Taylor
Ms Taylor teaches at Jimboomba State School and is a member of the Agenda, Appointments, Gandu Jarjum and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She was elected to Executive in 2012 and first elected as a Trustee in 2019.
Penny Taylor
Ms Taylor teaches at Jimboomba State School and is a member of the Agenda, Appointments, Gandu Jarjum and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She was elected to Executive in 2012 and first elected as a Trustee in 2019.
The Executive
The QTU Executive consists of the Senior Officers, along with 14 serving teachers, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative and a member from the TAFE Division, all elected by State Council. It manages Union affairs between State Council meetings. Its members chair and occupy positions on many Union committees and outside bodies.
Gill Armit
Ms Armit, who teaches at Bounty Boulevard State School, was elected to Executive in 2018. She also chairs the QTU’s Women Teachers and Girls Education Committee.
Gill Armit
Ms Armit, who teaches at Bounty Boulevard State School, was elected to Executive in 2018. She also chairs the QTU’s Women Teachers and Girls Education Committee.
Andrew Beattie
Mr Beattie is principal at Whites Hill State College and was elected to Executive in 2008. He is the chair of the Education Leaders Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. He is the QTU representative at the AEU National Principals Committee.
Andrew Beattie
Mr Beattie is principal at Whites Hill State College and was elected to Executive in 2008. He is the chair of the Education Leaders Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. He is the QTU representative at the AEU National Principals Committee.
Natalie Clarke
Ms Clarke teaches at Manly State School and is on the Agenda, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She joined Executive in March 2017.
Natalie Clarke
Ms Clarke teaches at Manly State School and is on the Agenda, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She joined Executive in March 2017.
Peter Darben
Dr Darben is a science teacher at Cavendish Road State High School. Formerly the coordinator of SPARQ-ed, a DET / UQ scientific research educational outreach facility, he joined the Executive in 2005.
Peter Darben
Dr Darben is a science teacher at Cavendish Road State High School. Formerly the coordinator of SPARQ-ed, a DET / UQ scientific research educational outreach facility, he joined the Executive in 2005.
Shane Hancock
Mr Hancock is deputy principal of Leichhardt State School. Elected to Executive in 2019, he also represents Ipswich Central Branch on State Council.
Shane Hancock
Mr Hancock is deputy principal of Leichhardt State School. Elected to Executive in 2019, he also represents Ipswich Central Branch on State Council.
Beck Humphreys
Ms Humphreys, who teaches at Barcaldine Prep-12 State School, was elected to Executive in 2019. She also sits on the Union’s Working Conditions and Agenda Committees.
Beck Humphreys
Ms Humphreys, who teaches at Barcaldine Prep-12 State School, was elected to Executive in 2019. She also sits on the Union’s Working Conditions and Agenda Committees.
Cassie Munro
Ms Munro is an experienced senior teacher at Ferny Hills State School and was first elected to Executive in November 2019. Cassie is a Lead Union Rep and President of the Ferny Grove Branch.
Cassie Munro
Ms Munro is an experienced senior teacher at Ferny Hills State School and was first elected to Executive in November 2019. Cassie is a Lead Union Rep and President of the Ferny Grove Branch.
Kerry O'Connor
Ms O’Connor is a teacher at Browns Plains State High School and is on the Professional Issues Committee. She was appointed to Executive in 2017.
Kerry O'Connor
Ms O’Connor is a teacher at Browns Plains State High School and is on the Professional Issues Committee. She was appointed to Executive in 2017.
Leah Olsson
Ms Olsson teaches at Cairns West State School. She was elected to Executive in May 2014, and also serves on the QTU’s Women Teachers and Girls Education and Working Conditions Committees.
Leah Olsson
Ms Olsson teaches at Cairns West State School. She was elected to Executive in May 2014, and also serves on the QTU’s Women Teachers and Girls Education and Working Conditions Committees.
Nikki Roos
Ms Roos was elected to Executive in May 2014. A teacher at Brighton State School, she also serves on the QTU’s Awards, Appointments, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees.
Nikki Roos
Ms Roos was elected to Executive in May 2014. A teacher at Brighton State School, she also serves on the QTU’s Awards, Appointments, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees.
Nick Shirley
Mr Shirley is principal at Mareeba State School and was elected to Executive in 2019, having previously served on Executive from 2014-2017.
Nick Shirley
Mr Shirley is principal at Mareeba State School and was elected to Executive in 2019, having previously served on Executive from 2014-2017.
Penny Taylor
Ms Taylor teaches at Jimboomba State School and is a member of the Agenda, Appointments, Gandu Jarjum and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She was elected to Executive in 2012 and since 2017 has been the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative.
Penny Taylor
Ms Taylor teaches at Jimboomba State School and is a member of the Agenda, Appointments, Gandu Jarjum and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She was elected to Executive in 2012 and since 2017 has been the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative.
Andrew Thompson
Principal of Redland District Special School Chair : Special Education Committee Member : Education Leaders Committee Elected to QTU Executive in 2012.
Andrew Thompson
Principal of Redland District Special School Chair : Special Education Committee Member : Education Leaders Committee Elected to QTU Executive in 2012.
Scott Tibaldi
Mr Tibaldi teaches at TAFE Queensland Skills Tech - Bracken Ridge Campus, and is also a member of the QTU TAFE Executive. He was elected to Executive in May 2014 as the TAFE Division representative.
Scott Tibaldi
Mr Tibaldi teaches at TAFE Queensland Skills Tech - Bracken Ridge Campus, and is also a member of the QTU TAFE Executive. He was elected to Executive in May 2014 as the TAFE Division representative.
Senior Officers
The QTU's Senior Officers all have a teaching background. The President, Vice-President and Honorary Vice-President are elected by the members. They preside at meetings of Executive, Council and Conference and are responsible for the implementation of their decisions. They also handle media and community relations. The General Secretary and two Deputy General Secretaries are elected by State Council and have primary responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Union.
Kevin Bates
Mr Bates became QTU President in 2012. Previously Regional Organiser in South Queensland (1994-2000 and 2007-2011) and Industrial Advocate (2000-2006), he is a secondary social science teacher who taught in Biloela, Redcliffe, Kedron and Dunwich.
Kevin Bates
Mr Bates became QTU President in 2012. Previously Regional Organiser in South Queensland (1994-2000 and 2007-2011) and Industrial Advocate (2000-2006), he is a secondary social science teacher who taught in Biloela, Redcliffe, Kedron and Dunwich.
Cresta Richardson
Ms Richardson, who became QTU Vice-President in 2019, has been a primary classroom teacher, acting deputy principal and head of curriculum. As well as being a member of QTU Executive (2014-2019), she was also a QTU Trustee (2017-2019). Ms Richardson is currently the chair of the Union’s Professional Issues Committee.
Cresta Richardson
Ms Richardson, who became QTU Vice-President in 2019, has been a primary classroom teacher, acting deputy principal and head of curriculum. As well as being a member of QTU Executive (2014-2019), she was also a QTU Trustee (2017-2019). Ms Richardson is currently the chair of the Union’s Professional Issues Committee.
Jenny Swadling
Ms Swadling is principal of Charleville School Of Distance Education. She was elected to Executive in 2014 and was a QTU Trustee from 2009 until 2015. She took on the role of Honorary Vice-President in 2015.
Jenny Swadling
Ms Swadling is principal of Charleville School Of Distance Education. She was elected to Executive in 2014 and was a QTU Trustee from 2009 until 2015. She took on the role of Honorary Vice-President in 2015.
Graham Moloney
Mr Moloney has been in his role (acting and substantively) since 2011. Previously Deputy General Secretary since 1992, he has also been the Union’s Industrial Advocate. He is a secondary maths and social science teacher who taught in Gladstone and Caboolture.
Graham Moloney
Mr Moloney has been in his role (acting and substantively) since 2011. Previously Deputy General Secretary since 1992, he has also been the Union’s Industrial Advocate. He is a secondary maths and social science teacher who taught in Gladstone and Caboolture.
Kate Ruttiman
Ms Ruttiman was elected in 2010. Her Union career began in 1997 when she was appointed Sunshine Coast Organiser, and she became one of the Union’s Industrial Advocates in 2001. She was formerly an economics and English teacher in Middlemount, Kenmore and Lowood.
Kate Ruttiman
Ms Ruttiman was elected in 2010. Her Union career began in 1997 when she was appointed Sunshine Coast Organiser, and she became one of the Union’s Industrial Advocates in 2001. She was formerly an economics and English teacher in Middlemount, Kenmore and Lowood.
Brendan Crotty
Originally a manual arts teacher, Mr Crotty was elected Deputy General Secretary in 2016. He was previously a QTU Organiser for almost 15 years, first for South Queensland and then for Brisbane South. He has taught in Tambo, Charleville and Park Ridge.
Brendan Crotty
Originally a manual arts teacher, Mr Crotty was elected Deputy General Secretary in 2016. He was previously a QTU Organiser for almost 15 years, first for South Queensland and then for Brisbane South. He has taught in Tambo, Charleville and Park Ridge.
The Secretariat
These Brisbane-based officers, again all from a teaching background, provide advice on specific areas of expertise and respond to general enquiries from members. They provide advice to Senior Officers, Executive, Council and Conference, as well as representing the Union in negotiations.
Organisers
There are 13 Regional Organisers and a Membership Growth Organiser to serve members across the state. All former teachers themselves, they attend branch meetings where possible, liaise with district offices and take up members' concerns with departmental representatives and administrators.