Union Reps Conference 2025: Grow, educate, engage, activate!
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 2, 11 April 2025, page no 14.
On 28 February, more than 380 workplace Union Reps convened in Brisbane for the annual QTU Union Reps Conference.
Each year we ensure that there is representation from across the state, and this conference was no different, with Reps joining us from all along the coast, up to Thursday Island and inland as far as Mt Isa and Longreach. The Union Reps Conference continues to be a yearly highlight on the QTU calendar and the vibe of the event is always one of community and comradery.
In the morning, QTU General Secretary Kate Ruttiman set the stage for the day with an unpacking of the QTU Priorities and federal election insights. Kate also acknowledged activists in the room for their service as union reps over many years. Of special mention, Jenni Holmes from Far North Queensland and Don Mengel from Wide Bay were recognised for 30 years and 35 years of inspirational service to our Union respectively.
QTU President Cresta Richardson and special guest, journalist Jesse Grayson, presented “Being the voice of the Union in your workplace and beyond”. A key strategy was the framework “MBE: Message before example”. This communication strategy is particularly impactful in the public sphere and media.
Teachers and school leaders need to be at the forefront of the stories that are told in education and in restoring respect for our profession.
Other significant elements of the program were sessions on occupational violence and aggression and our enterprise bargaining campaign. A panel including Queensland Nurses and Midwifery Union Assistant Secretary Grant Burton, and the QTU’s very own Paige Bousen (Workplace Health and Safety Organiser) and Jodie McFadden (Gold Coast Organiser) highlighted the parallels between the workplace issues faced by teachers and our comrades in the health sector. The other major parallel drawn was how union campaigns, high membership, and the resolve of members in the workplace to tackle issues of occupational violence are vital to success. Jodie illustrated this with a tale of two workplaces − amazing outcomes were achieved when members resolved to work together to hold the employer to account in prioritising employee safety. Solidarity is key.
The day was rounded out with information around the QTU’s social media strategies and how Reps can effectively engage in social media forums to enhance and promote Union information, positions, activities, and wins. This was presented by Susannah Kits and Jack Cartwright-Glavas of the QTU Communications team.
At the close of the conference, we heard inspirational and insightful reflections from the floor as Reps shared their direct “takeaways”, with examples of how they plan to “Grow, educate, engage, activate” in their workplaces, in relation to the QTU priorities and the topics covered in the conference program.
The conference was recorded, and the videos of each session are available on the Union Reps section of the website. These recordings are great for those that attended to refer to and reflect on. This resource also provides an important opportunity for those who were not in attendance to engage with the program and topics.
If you are a Rep interested in receiving an invitation and getting along to the 2026 conference, ensure that you are active in your branch, participate in QTEC training sessions in-person or online, and have a conversation with your Organiser during the year.
Speakers and presenters
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What Union Reps are saying about the conference
- “This conference is a highlight and makes me really love being part of the Union.”
- “My biggest takeaway from the conference is ‘Passion + Perseverance + Action.’’’
- “It’s going to be a big year, and we need to ‘grow, educate, engage, and activate’ members across the Union.”
- “It was amazing. It gets better every year!”