No. 11-23, 6 October 2023 | Open Website | Open PDF 

TO: QTU MEMBERS

Welcome to the final term of the school year. We hope you have returned to work feeling refreshed and revitalised after the spring school holidays. It is important to take the time to reconnect with friends and family and look after your wellbeing. The QTU has not stopped working for members during the holiday period, ensuring that member matters are taken up with the department in a prompt and timely manner. 

Consultation regarding the new SEQ region and Equity & Excellence

In the last week of last term, QTU senior officers met with the Director-General of Education and senior departmental personnel about a range of issues, including the uncertainty and frustration felt by teachers and school leaders over the lack of detail on the new region, and change management relating to Equity & Excellence.

The department has committed to consulting with employees throughout Term 4. It is vital that school leaders take the opportunity to provide full and frank feedback to their supervisors on the impact of the department’s proposed changes.

The QTU has called for clarity and consistency of roles and responsibilities between regions, to allow for a systemwide approach. QTU members who work in regional offices are reminded that they are entitled to have a functioning local consultative committee at their workplace.

Bulk conversion of temporary teachers 

The department, which has an obligation under the Public Sector Act 2022 to maximise permanent employment, advised the QTU that it is refining its processes for the second tranche of bulk conversions, following the graduate tranche that occurred in Term 3. The QTU has worked with the department on refining the tranche 2 process, in line with member feedback.

All eligible temporary teachers – those with more than 12 months service – will receive an offer of permanency. If there is an available vacancy at their existing school, they will be offered an initial permanent placement there.

Eligible temporary teachers who cannot be accommodated at their existing school will be offered permanency at a different initial school location. The department indicates this will be within 50 minutes of home or in a district relief teacher/local relief teacher role, unless the teacher indicates a willingness to relocate further.

This means that member concerns over the ability of schools to accommodate guaranteed and requested transfers to preferred locations and teachers being able to return to their substantive positions from leave can be addressed.

It will prevent schools being over-allocated as a result of the bulk conversions and enable eligible teachers to be placed at schools that are currently understaffed.

School leaders can offer permanency to teachers with less than 12 months service via the usual recruitment processes.

The department advises that school leaders can expect to be receive more information about this process on 12 October. Eligible teachers can expect to hear from the department on 26 October. A temporary teacher newsletter with further details will be sent early next week.

Workload implications of the new teacher-aide certified agreement

As the QTU is not a party to the teacher-aide certified agreement, the department did not take into account the potential workload impact on school leaders when negotiating its replacement. This has led to ongoing disputes with the department as we seek clarity and resolve a variety of issues arising out of the negotiations. On Friday 29 September, the QTU and department met urgently to discuss the ongoing issues with the teacher-aide agreement. The main outcome of the meeting was the development of an unpacking guide to assist school leaders in navigating the replacement agreement.

The QTU is also aware of an email to principals from the United Workers Union (UWU) noting that school-based actions are required during Term 4, including the review of teacher-aide hours, identification of all available hours, group consultation, and a requirement to advise teacher-aides of their ongoing paid hours and additional hours, to be submitted by Friday 27 October. Should you have any queries in relation to this email, please forward them to services@qtu.asn.au

The department has asked the QTU to provide your emails directly to the ADG people branch, so the issues can be personally addressed on a case-by-case basis until the unpacking guide has been developed.

Metro AVT disbandment

The QTU has been contacted by members working as AVTs in Metro South and North who are concerned about their future and the future provision of specialised AVT services to students in need, in particular in behaviour support and inclusion. The QTU met with department officials from both regions earlier this week to express our concern over the lack of consultation with the QTU, which is required under Part 2 of the Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022.

The AVT service is a school buy-in service, to which only some schools contributed to. The department advised members via video announcement that the current model will be disbanded by the end of the year, to make way for a more equitable model. The QTU has highlighted a lack of clear communications and consultation with staff impacted, and the department has undertaken to provide more detailed information. It is paramount that the AVTs who have been providing this valuable service are fully supported by the department in transitioning into the new service or to other employment. The QTU has requested a copy of the draft guiding principles and the transition plan so it can ensure there are no unintended consequences from this process.

The QTU has asked the department to send written correspondence to every affected employee, explaining the impact of the transition on their employment status and outlining their options for the future. A consultation process is planned in Metro North, and the QTU encourages school leaders who attend to be frank and fearless in their feedback to the department, to ensure that their school’s needs are met.

Any AVT members who need advice and support throughout this process can contact the QTU via email at services@qtu.asn.au

Survey invitation for Grade 9 science and social science teachers

A new UNESCO research project is exploring the integration of environment, climate change, and sustainability content in secondary education.

Grade 9 teachers, specifically those teaching science and social science subjects, are invited to share their perspectives and experiences through a special online survey.

Please click here to participate. (https://albany.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5B9zLpbPpFYa1g)

Teachers based in Australia, Chile, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Sweden are qualified to participate.

This study is part of a larger project that explores the inclusion of “green” content in the sciences and social sciences subjects in 85 countries, with the aim of identifying best practices in the curriculum of 13 countries.

The findings will be shared in a new UNESCO report and presented at the 28th Conference of Parties (https://sdg.iisd.org/events/2023-un-climate-change-conference-unfccc-cop-28/) in December. Learn more about the project by reading this blog post by Prof. Benavot. (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-education-sustainable-development-climate-change-schools-benavot) 

Thank you in advance for contributing to this important research.

Responses to the 20-25 minute survey are confidential. The survey closes at 3pm AEDT on Sunday, 15 October.

Middle leaders needed for standards trial

The department is partnering with the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to develop and trial professional standards for middle leaders.

The recent National Validation Survey received a strong response from around the nation. Teachers, aspiring middle leaders, current middle leaders, principals and system leaders, and those who work with middle leaders have given their support to the draft standards. The valuable feedback received has informed an update to the draft standards, and it is now time to trial the updated draft standards in Queensland.

The trial will run during Term 4, from 9 October to 30 November. Middle leaders, aspiring middle leaders, and anyone who works with middle leaders or would use the standards are invited to express interest to be involved in the Queensland trial, by emailing ED.SIG@qed.qld.gov.au

Expressions of interest will result in an invitation to attend a trial pre-brief. This online meeting will introduce trial participants to the updated draft standards and explain the trial process and the role of participants.

Data gathered during the trial will inform further refinements to the draft standards, and also give valuable insights into resources that may support the use of the standards when they are finalised.

Middle leaders play a key role in our schools. Take this opportunity to make a difference by trialling and giving feedback on the draft professional standards.

Support for employees in the lead up to the Voice Referendum

The referendum is fast approaching. Thanks to those QTU members who wore their Voice, Treaty, Truth T-shirts on Monday 2 October.

The state government has produced some guidance for public sector employees who may be impacted in the lead up to The Voice Referendum. 

Voice to Parliament: guidance for public sector employees | For government | Queensland Government (www.forgov.qld.gov.au/news-events-and-consultation/news/voice-to-parliament-guidance-for-public-sector-employees) 

It is appropriate for schools to display the poster in staffrooms as it has been produced and authorised by the state government.

Additionally, Union campaign material placed on the QTU noticeboard will still comply with the PSC advice.

Kate Ruttiman

General Secretary

 Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064