Australian Curriculum implementation update
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 1, 16 February, page no. 13
In order to assist members with familiarisation and implementation of version 9 of the Australian Curriculum (ACV9), the QTU has been successful in securing an additional year before implementation is required in 2025. While some schools have already commenced the roll-out of some curriculum areas, many schools have welcomed the additional time to continue the work needed to adjust programs and develop resourcing.
The QTU has long advocated for support, resourcing and professional development (PD) to enable teachers and school leaders to manage this significant change in ways that minimise the workload impacts. This is particularly important for small schools in multi-age settings, which have to adjust ACV9 across year levels and curriculum areas within each classroom, with fewer staff to develop the resources needed.
To that end, the QTU has been supportive of the range of resources in place to manage the transition. However, while resources and PD have been developed by both the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and the Department of Education (DoE), QTU members have been calling for additional Teacher Relief Scheme (TRS) money to be provided to schools to enable the release of teachers during school hours to plan and prepare, and to develop programs and resources. Schools that can release teachers for this work are using scant school resources that are needed for other programs, with many schools unable to fund this from their budgets. As such, much of the work undertaken by teachers and school leaders is being done outside of work hours and the “cost” of the transition, and the burden of the workload associated, is being borne by QTU members.
In meetings with DoE throughout 2023, the QTU has been advocating for additional TRS to manage the transition, similar to what was provided when the senior school curriculum changed a few years ago. In addition, we have been calling for additional resources to be developed and provided to assist small schools/multi-age settings with the burden of adjusting multiple year levels across multiple curriculum areas, with limited staff available to do this work. To reiterate the need for this, we wrote to the Director-General in November, who responded in early December: “At this stage, the department has no plan for additional funding to be provided to schools for the Teacher Relief Scheme to be used for ACV9 transition.”
A list of support currently provided was then cited, without any mention of support specific to small school settings. The QTU is of the view that at the heart of this response is DoE’s long-standing approach to workload issues for teachers. That is, that teachers and school leaders are expected to do more and more on less and less. This has been the pattern that has seen QTU members constantly asked to implement new initiatives and fill the “gaps” in resourcing and support that should be centrally provided.
The QTU will continue to push for TRS release and specific support and resourcing for small schools. DoE has agreed to a meeting in early February with some members who work in small schools to hear about the types of resourcing that needs to be developed to assist with their challenges.
We would urge all members to write to their local state members and to the new minister for Education, Di Farmer, advising of the need for TRS release. We will keep you updated as this matter is progressed.