AEU Federal Conference
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 2, 28 March 2024, page 26.
This year’s AEU Federal Conference (23-25 February) included a range of speakers and guest panels covering the broad range of issues affecting educators.
The overarching conference statement recognised the need for gender equity and the impact of the teacher shortage. Additionally in 2024, the AEU Federal Conference called on delegates to unite, mobilise, organise, and continue the fight for full funding of our state schools.
Here are some of the other highlights.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare
Minister Clare’s address included the following.
- He is prepared to work with state and territory ministers to resolve the teacher shortage, with teacher pay a major part of the fix.
- Teachers are leaving the profession because of workload and burn-out – admin support is vital to support teachers, and the Workload Reduction Fund is looking to employ more admin in schools.
- The next National School Reform Agreement (NRSA) can provide more teachers with more support, although he did not go into detail.
- Commonwealth scholarships worth $40,000 each will require teachers to work in a state school for up to four years, and the government has been overwhelmed with applications.
- He called for improvements to ITE programs so that more than 70 per cent of teachers actually finish their degrees. Providing paid practicum experiences will go some way towards that, with an announcement due soon.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt
Adam Bandt MP noted his understanding of the difficulties in schools, especially in recent years, and acknowledged the great work done in TAFE and the difficulties the whole public education system faces with limited funding and resourcing.
He discussed how difficult it is to change the public education system when the majority of Members of Parliament have no experience of it, noting that two thirds of current ministers went to private schools.
Adam noted that the Greens have a policy for fully funded state schools. He explained the importance of redirecting the overfunding of private schools back to state schools.
Thomas Mayo
Thomas Mayo, whose new book “Always Was, Always Will Be” is published in June, read from the chapter “Truth and Lies” and emphasised that “Hope is contagious”. Acknowledging the AEU’s support for the Yes campaign, he highlighted the 6 million Australians who voted Yes. Mayo urged the continued need to embrace diversity, stating that delegates share the concept that we should “appreciate the full vista of who we are!” Mayo’s personal anecdotes shared with Conference delegates underscore the need for continued work if we are to be a united nation that walks together in harmony.
Arthur Hamilton Award
This award is presented annually to an educator or group of educators who demonstrate a commitment to the provision of high-quality education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The 2024 award was presented to Eidsvold State School, a small school in Central Queensland that set out to change its culture via a dedicated language revival program. The Wakka Wakka language revival program, which was an eight-year journey championed by QTU activist Preston Parter, was focused on teaching spoken language and included emphasis on pride in First Nations identity and culture.
Through QTU advocacy, Language and Culture Teacher Corey Appo (pictured above centre with acting principal Ange Graham and AEU Federal President Coreena Haythorpe) has now become the first PTT Language and Culture teacher in Queensland, in recognition of the phenomenal work he does delivering this program.
Life Membership
AEU Life Membership was conferred on two stalwart QTU activists:
- Penny Spalding (QTU Women’s Officer 2012 – 2022, QTU Gold Coast Organiser 2007-2012, and QTU member from 1996).
- Rachel Bos (QTU First Nations Officer 2021-2023, and QTU member from 2009).
Congratulations Penny and Rachel!
A range of panels and guest speakers
The members of the National School Reform Agreement Review Panel offered their own individual reflections on the challenges and opportunities that come with the review.
The Member Stories panel shared a range of stories representing different facets of the AEU, kindergarten, beginning teachers and TAFE.
The international panel highlighted both insights and issues facing dedicated and passionate activists from across Asia, the Pacific and Europe.