The QTU is everywhere
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 4, 20 June 2025, page no 20.
On 22 May, Public Education Day, I found myself in one of the most remote parts of Queensland: the Torres Strait. As the sun rose over the Coral Sea and the scent of salt hung in the air, acting FNQ organiser Deb McPherson and I boarded a small charter plane from Horn Island.
Below me, the scattered islands of the Torres Strait painted a picture of beauty and isolation. By the time we’d stepped off the plane and made our way to some of Queensland’s northernmost schools, Public Education Day had taken on a deeper meaning.
We visited Tagai College campuses on Kubin (pictured above) and Badu Island. It soon became very clear to us that teaching isn’t just a profession — it’s a commitment to country, culture, and connection. Students bring with them proud Torres Strait Islander identities and deep-rooted knowledge systems that enrich every learning environment.
But teaching in the Torres Strait is not without its challenges, including professional isolation, staffing shortages, weather-dependent travel, and, at times, limited access to resources.
Staffing remote schools requires more than just finding educators — it requires a system that supports their wellbeing, values cultural competence, and ensures equity in resourcing. From intermittent internet connections to the high cost of freight, remoteness touches every aspect of daily school life.
This is where the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) plays an essential role. In these corners of the state, the QTU is more than a professional organisation — it is a lifeline.
On Public Education Day, it was clear: the QTU is everywhere. It stands with teachers and school leaders whether they’re in the heart of Brisbane or Boigu. In the Torres Strait, that presence matters. It means teachers and school leaders aren’t isolated — they are part of a statewide movement that recognises their contribution to Queensland’s future.
As we landed back on Horn Island, it was time to travel on the ferry to Thursday Island to meet with members of the Torres Strait Branch.
Whether it’s advocating for fair incentives for remote teachers, securing housing entitlements, addressing occupational health and safety concerns, or campaigning for equitable access to curriculum resources, the QTU ensures its presence is felt.
That week, the commitment to unionism was also on full display. We joined teachers and school leaders, health workers, local council employees, union members, and community leaders on Thursday Island for the Labour Day march. Under bright skies with members chanting and flags waving, we marched through the island’s main street in solidarity. It was a powerful reminder that union values of fairness and respect are not limited to big cities. They live and breathe in remote island communities too.
Teaching in the Torres Strait is not easy, but it is essential, and for those who are teaching or have taught there, it is really something special. It connects remote communities to the rest of the world, preserves culture through curriculum, and gives young people the tools to shape their futures. And behind it all, the QTU is there — from the city to the sea, and everywhere in between.
#proudtobepublic