Term 4 - December 2022
1. RAR/SWD staffing
Members have been providing the department with feedback on the indicative RAR/SWD staffing for 2023. The QTU encourages members to provide feedback to the department and the QTU about the transition staffing model. It should be noted that there is an additional $80 million to support the transition and to ensure that no special school or SEP has a decrease in staffing in 2023 or 2024.
RAR/SWD staffing must be allocated to the education of SWDs – Although most members would believe this to be the department’s current policy position, it is not, and has not been reflected in any policy or guideline or information document. In 2023, when schools receive their confirmation of RAR/SWD staffing, it will include a departmental fact sheet that states that RAR/SWD staffing must be allocated to the education of SWDs. HOSES in schools that are not using the FTE for the education of SWDs should bring the fact sheet to the attention of their principal.
The QTU is currently engaging with the department on how it will ensure compliance with this policy position.
EAP-verifications reviews – Although there will be a limited number of EAP verifications in the future, the QTU has requested that there should very few reviews. In fact, given the enrolment policy, we asked why there should be any for special school students.
The department will not agree to ceasing reviews, and has said they may be needed in cases such as the one outlined below (the wording is directly from a DoE email):
We will still need to undertake EAP verification in the category of ID as we do give parents the option of enrolling at their local state school. This usually involves a transition plan being developed with the parent, the special school and the student’s future school. We have had several situations like this over the years.
The QTU believes reviews should be rare, and we encourage members to ask the department to explain why a review is needed in any case that does not meet the above description.
NCCD workload – During Terms 2 and 3, the QTU engaged with the department on a regular basis to try to remedy some clear misperceptions about NCCD, e.g. that all SWDs had to be the subject of 10 weeks of intensive evidence gathering in 2022, even if they had been in the school prior to 2022.
The QTU encourages members to ensure they are not creating new evidence processes or related tasks in the belief it is required by the department. If you are asked to implement a new NCCD evidence gathering process, you may wish to ask for a copy of the departmental document that mandates the task. More evidence does not necessarily mean more resources.
The QTU has reviewed the proposed NCCD training resource for 2023 and hopes there will be greater consistency of messaging next year. Again, we encourage members to contact the QTU if they are unsure of NCCD evidence requirements.
2. 2023 QTU Roselynne Anderson Scholarship
Late in 2021, the QTU’s Special Education Committee recommended to the QTU Executive the establishment of a QTU Roselynne Anderson Scholarship. 2023 will be the second year of the scholarship.
Each year, three eligible QTU members will be awarded a scholarship up to the value of $1,500 to assist with expenses associated with undertaking professional development or training or further tertiary education relevant to special education, school leadership or women in education.
Eligible members will complete the scholarship application form (link to website Roselynne_Anderson_QTU_Scholarship_2023_with_fillable_form.pdf) which will be considered by a sub-committee of the QTU’s Special Education Committee. The QTU Executive will approve the scholarships for the recommended applicants.
Scholarship eligibility criteria
- Applicants must be financial QTU members
- Applicants must be undertaking or preparing to undertake professional development or training or further tertiary education relevant to special education, school leadership or women in education
- Applicants must complete an application form which will outline how the scholarship funds will be used.
- Applicants will commit to providing the QTU with a brief report at the conclusion of the scholarship period outlining how the scholarship has contributed to their professional development or to their school’s education programme.
For further information about the scholarship, please email services@qtu.asn.au.