No. 9-23, 23 August 2023 | Open PDF 

TO: QTU MEMBERS

Special provision for primary principals with student enrolments over 1,100

The QTU has successfully negotiated a pay increase for primary principals in large, complex primary schools.

This is in accordance with the special purpose principal classification provisions in the 2022 Teachers Certified Agreement.

The provisions are included in Clause 5.9.5 of the Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022. The Chief Executive may engage a principal at a different classification level for a special purpose, as determined by the Chief Executive.

As an interim measure pending the outcomes of the review of state school resourcing arrangements:

(i) primary school principals with student enrolments greater than 1,100, may, in exceptional circumstances, be engaged for an appointment to a higher level (i.e. Level 8 or Level 9).

The Director General of Education has approved an increase in pay for principals in 15 primary schools.

The increased pay level will be paid until such time that the comprehensive state school resourcing review has been completed and will be backdated until 1 January 2023.

• Primary schools with more than 1,100 enrolments – increase to Level 8 principal classification
• Primary schools with more than 1,300 enrolments – increase to Level 9 principal classification

​​​​​​Advice regarding the pay date of these new salaries will be provided to eligible principals in due course.

Artificial intelligence

The pace of change in the field of AI is rapid and the QTU is continuing to work to ensure that the professional and industrial rights of our members are safeguarded in this fast-changing digital age.

In the absence of AI guidelines in education, the QTU and the Independent Education Union - Queensland and Northern Territory Branch (IEU-QNT) collaborated and developed a Queensland framework to guide professional decision making in relation to AI and other digital technologies, as well as an AI ‘Discussion Points’ document. (https://www.qtu.asn.au/ai-education-discussion-points) (https://www.qtu.asn.au/joint-ieu-qntqtu-ai-position-paper)

The National AI Taskforce, set up by the Education Ministers Meeting (EMM), is reviewing the impact of AI in schools and has recently developed guidelines for its use. They are currently seeking feedback on this document. The QTU, in conjunction with the IEU-QNT, has provided some initial feedback. The taskforce anticipates that the guidelines will be ready for use in 2024.

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority established the Al Working Group (AIWG) to explore the opportunities, impacts, and risks associated with Al. However, the AIWG is focused primarily on matters relating to curriculum, assessment and academic integrity, rather than a broader lens of the impact of AI on education. This group includes members from the Department of Education, non-state schooling sectors and principal associations, as well as QTU representation. This group is also helping to inform Queensland's contribution to national work on Al, which is being undertaken by the National AI Taskforce.

The QTU is currently creating a “DigiTalk” webpage, and articles are appearing in a dedicated column in every Journal. 

Queensland virtual academy status update

The department’s Equity and Excellence strategy has five main pillars, one of which is Digital Innovation - in Teaching and Learning. Through this pillar, the department aims to embed future-focused learning practices that connect students and teachers across Queensland.

Actions within this pillar:

• enhance the capability and confidence of teachers in digital teaching and learning
• improve connectivity through bandwidth upgrades
• connect all students to digital learning opportunities through access to devices and technology
• establish a virtual academy to enhance access across the state to teaching expertise
• streamline access to data insights and evidence to inform system, regional and school planning and responses.

In response to the department’s proposed implementation of a Queensland virtual academy (QVA), the QTU convened the Virtual Learning Working Party, made up of experienced teachers and school leaders who are either undertaking QVA related pilots or are using virtual learning services in their current workplace. 

This working party is in the process of developing a position statement on the implementation of a QVA for Executive to consider ahead of November State Council.

To date the QTU has:

• provided written submissions to the department outlining the industrial and professional implications of implementing a QVA
• set up formalised and regular meetings to discuss digital learning review outcomes
• advocated for an overarching digital strategy to replace individual departmental digital roadmaps
• advocated for a meeting between the DoE, QTU and QCAA to discuss a consistent approach to definitions related to digital delivery and learning
• advocated for an extended timeline for QVA implementation to ensure that industrial and professional concerns raised in QTU stakeholder feedback are addressed.

Working conditions for teachers delivering SDK programs

The QTU is aware that an email was recently sent to all schools delivering state delivered kindy (SDK) programs. In the email the department advised that schools need to “consult with their regional offices” to “plan early in 2024” on how to maximise the delivery of 600 hours of SDK programs across the school year.

The QTU is aware that matters such as the number of weeks in the school year, public holidays and local show holidays will all impact upon SDK delivery. However, schools cannot deliver SDK in a way that compromises the industrial working conditions under which the teachers and education leaders are employed.

There are different modes of delivery for kindy programs, including: 

• kindy programs that are integrated with other P-3 classes
• separate kindy programs where the teacher is employed to manage both kindy and other roles, such as non-contact time (NCT) delivery
• schools that run stand-alone programs, with teachers employed full-time to run two kindy programs a day.

The industrial conditions of the teachers employed in these roles, and the other teachers who work in these schools, remain the same in terms of hours of rostered duty time, class sizes, NCT, meal breaks etc. As such, it will generally not be possible to “maximise SDK hours” by increasing the hours of delivery in a week, increasing class sizes, or extending school days. It would not be appropriate to expect teachers to undertake additional hours, forfeit NCT, or have larger sized classes because there had been a student free day or a public holiday during the week, or because the school term is one week shorter.

Please email services@qtu.asn.au if you have any questions regarding this matter.

Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing 

Don’t forget to have your say on the Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing by providing your feedback to the CROSR team via the anonymous survey. The survey will be open until the end of the 2023 school year.

Send your feedback to schoolresourcingreview@qtu.asn.au

Wear it Purple Day is Friday 25 August

The QTU is proud to join with the many schools and workplaces across our state that will be marking Wear It Purple Day. We know that visibility matters, and support for LGBTIQ+ students in our schools and TAFEs makes a real difference to school engagement, belonging and health.

Wear It Purple Day strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering, and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. To find out more about WIP and to access resources, see https://www.wearitpurple.org

For ideas on how to mark Wear It Purple Day at your workplace, visit https://www.wearitpurple.org/blog/7-ways-your-workplace-can-celebrate-wear-it-purple-day

If you are a QTU State Council delegate or proxy, make sure you wear purple for August State Council!

For additional LGBTQ+ resources and information, access the QTU’s LGBTQ+ network page here: https://www.qtu.asn.au/lgbtqplus

Australian Teachers Workforce Survey

The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is running its annual workforce survey.

QTU State Council has a standing motion which discourages members from participating in AITSL activities as it has no teacher voice on its board or committees.

The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) will also be sending an invitation to registered teachers asking them to take part in the 2023 Australian Teacher Workforce Survey. This survey is a joint initiative of state, territory, and Commonwealth governments to build a national picture of the teacher workforce.

Please note that member participation in this survey is voluntary, not compulsory.

The QCT invitation will be sent on Wednesday 23 August, providing a unique link as well as additional information about the survey and the QCT’s privacy policy.

If you have any questions about the Australian Teacher Workforce Survey or the planned communication with teachers, please contact the Queensland College of Teachers.

COLA correction

The table below is a updated version of the one that appeared in the original communication emailed on 22 August.

Members have contacted the QTU in relation to the taxation of the COLA payment. The department deducts tax on a fortnightly basis, so all amounts paid in the fortnight are totalled and the appropriate tax is applied in accordance with the ATO requirements as additional and bonus payments.  The calculation is provided here – the department applies method B.

https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/schedule-5---tax-table-for-back-payments,-commissions,-bonuses-and-similar-payments/

This method averages the additional payment over the number of pay periods in a financial year and applies it to the average total earnings to date. It is not added to the current fortnightly salary and taxed up the scale.

Further information is available on the department’s service catalogue online (SCO) via a Knowledge Base Article: Teachers Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) payment or by searching “COLA” on SCO.(qldqed.service-now.com/sco?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KBA0035333)

Kate Ruttiman

General Secretary

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