Welcome to Giau and Amanda

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 2, 2 April 2026, page no 6.

A pair of new faces has joined the team of hard-working officers supporting QTU members – Giau Nguyen and Amanda Jones.

Giau Nguyen (pictured)  is acting as Industrial Advocate while Thalia Edmonds focusses on the EB arbitration case.
Having reaped the benefits from a public education as the son of Vietnamese refugees, Giau has given back through a career in Queensland state schools. Giau started teaching in the Wide Bay and has worked in Central Queensland, the Ipswich region, and Logan. He has also been a pedagogical coach, master teacher, and a head of department - teaching and learning.

Giau has been a Union Representative for almost all of his teaching career. Nominated to be part of the New Educators Network in 2013, Giau has continued his commitment to the QTU and its democratic processes, holding positions of Branch Secretary, Vice-President and President, and has represented a number of areas on Area Council, State Council and State Conference. He is also a member of the Working Conditions Committee and has acted as QTU Industrial and Research Officer. 

With Jodie McFadden acting as WHS Organiser, Amanda Jones (pictured) is acting as Gold Coast Organiser.
Amanda is a longstanding activist within the QTU and became a Workplace Representative in 2015. Many members will know her, not only through her QTU involvement, but also through her work, having spent most of her teaching career in South East Region schools.

Amanda’s Union journey has grown from workplace representation and organising into branch leadership and statewide advocacy. She has served multiple terms as Beenleigh Branch President and represents the branch on State Council. She has participated in the New Educator Network and the Anna Stewart Memorial Project, contributed to key Queensland College of Teachers and QTU committees — including Workplace Health and Safety and Professional Issues — and has represented members as a Biennial State Conference Delegate and AEU Federal Conference Delegate. 

Amanda has always advocated for safer workplaces, and was honoured to receive the 2023 Biennial Conference Campaign Action Award on behalf of QTU members at Yarrabilba State School for their work, health, safety, and occupational violence campaign.