AEU Federal Conference 2025
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 2, 11 April 2025, page no 20.
The theme of this year’s Australian Education Union Federal Conference was Go Public! Fund Education, a call to action to mobilise quality public education for all and ensure teachers are central to decision-making.
Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education
The Minister reflected on the recent funding agreements with all states and territories (except Queensland, which signed up subsequently). Among other recent achievements, Jason noted the nationwide pay rises for educators and additional agreements improving workload conditions.
Adam Bandt MP, Federal Greens leader
Adam predicted that the federal election would result in a minority government, which would enable the Greens to get things done, ie fully fund state schools and abolish school fees and charges, to be funded through increased taxes on large multinational companies. Adam stated that we need to become a country that has pride in its education system and those who work within it.
Mugwena Maluleke, Education International President
The newly elected EI President highlighted the global education crisis. In conflict zones, 220 million children remain displaced, with no access to formal education. The climate crisis is also disrupting education, as the destruction of infrastructure leads to lost learning days for students and teachers. Meanwhile, the global teacher shortage remains critical.
Life Membership
Dr Jim Stanford, founding Director of the Australian Centre for Future Work, was conferred honorary AEU Life Membership.
The Hon Linda Burney MP
Retiring MP Linda Burney, who started as a teacher before transitioning into union work, reflected on her extensive and impactful career. She emphasised that education plays a critical role in advancing the rights of First Nations Peoples, improving opportunities, and fostering a more just society.
Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary
Sally stated that the union movement is facing some internal challenges, particularly with the discovery last year of violence and organised crime. This is a confronting issue, and the union movement must take a strong stance. There is no tolerance for violence or corruption, and the collective good should always be the guiding principle. Last year, nationwide, union membership grew by 12.5 per cent, driven by young people who are increasingly eager to join and organise within their union.
Dr Michele Bruniges, Paul Ramsey Foundation Fellowship
Dr Bruniges explained that we do not deliver a fair and equitable education to all students. Nationally, state schools support 94 per cent of students in socio-educational disadvantage, with 20 per cent of them found in Queensland state schools. She advocated for a broader national discussion on how we resource our schools into the future. Any changes that are made must include teachers at every step.
Dr Alison Barnes, NTEU National President
The recent win around public school funding has provided impetus for the ongoing campaign for better funding for the higher education sector, in particular universities. NTEU members face challenges at work every day. National wage theft is at more than $400 million across our universities, and two thirds of NTEU members are precariously employed.
Neselinda Meta, Council of Pacific Education General Secretary
Neselinda, based in Suva, Fiji, brought greetings from the staff and students of the 15 Islands in the South Pacific. While early childhood education has been enhanced in the region, there are signs of declining education performance.
Angelo Gavrielatos, Education International Campaign Director
Former AEU Federal President Angelo hosted a panel on the global teacher shortage with Tsetegmaa Gendengamts (FMESU – Mongolia), Dr Unifah Rosyidi (PGRI – Indonesia) and Kamala Kanta Tripathy (AIPTF – India). The 2022 Transforming Education Summit panel gave 59 recommendations on pay, working conditions and a range of other issues for teachers. It is urgent that these are implemented if we are to turn the global teacher shortage around.
Meredith Peace, AEU Deputy Federal President
Meredith presented an overview of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan (NTWAP). It involves 32 strategies, with 18 identified as completed and 14 on track for completion. Full implementation of the plan will require additional investment, focusing on long-term solutions for the teaching profession.
Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training
The Minister told the conference that the attraction and retention of high-quality teaching staff has been identified as a priority, and a work force development plan is underway.
International Report and Panel
AEU Deputy Federal Secretary Nicole Calnan reported on the AEU’s constitutional mandate related to assisting and working side by side in solidarity with educators worldwide, specifically the work of the International Trust Fund and APHEDA. Conference then heard from Princess Moss of the National Education Association (USA), Edward Harlow, Junior Vice-President of the National Education Union (UK), and Chris Abercrombie, the President of the Post-Primary Teachers Association (NZ).
For the full report head to https://www.qtu.asn.au/aeu-conf-2025