20 February 2025 

Term 1 Women’s e-News

International Women's Day 2025

Awakening women’s super: live webinar

Whether you’re planning for your own retirement or looking to support the women in your life, celebrate this International Women’s Day with a live webinar that aims to help build a fairer future for all.

Hosted by Australian Retirement Trust, the webinar will include simple steps to awaken your super. Topics will include:

• How much super women might need to have a comfortable retirement
• Practical strategies to get your super on track and close the super gap
• The importance of reviewing your investments and knowing your risk profile
• The support available to account holders to help maximise your super
   

When:
Thursday 6 March 2025
12:00pm–1:00pm AEST
Yes, those are teaching hours. You are encouraged to register to get the recording.

You can register for the live event or the recording by clicking on ‘Book now’.

Hot topics - Parental Leave and Reproductive Health Leave

There are two QTU information brochures to point to in your workplaces, branches and area councils throughout 2025.

• The Parental leave and entitlements brochure has been updated to include new terminology that aligns with the updated Paid Parental Leave Directive 08/24. The directive’s terminology has changed to align with the conditions or references within the Industrial Relations Act 2016 and the Public Sector Act 2022.
   

Why is this important to QTU members? Because paid parental leave is an entitlement that the QTU frequently advises members on, meaning this updated information is worth highlighting to members..

• The Reproductive Health Leave (RHL) brochure should be revisited by members so that they understand the details of this new leave entitlement which came into effect in October 2024. Members are reminded that the introduction of this entitlement is thanks to the work of Unions, particularly QTU members who told their stories relating to reproductive health issues in the fight for change. RHL is already changing lives, so let’s make sure QTU members know about it.
   

QTU Women’s Contacts

Finally, a reminder of the role of the QTU Women’s Contact and where this elected position sits in policy.

QTU Policy A: Structures procedures and services

8.1 Women’s Contact
Each Branch, TAFE Branch and Area Council shall be entitled to elect a Women’s Contact for that branch, in accordance with the process of election of Branch or Area Council officers.

The election period of the Women’s Contact role at Area Council will be for three (3) years, aligning with the three year term of the Area Council.

Women’s Contacts will:

• ensure that information of importance to women members is disseminated
• act as a resource person for matters of importance to women members
• assist the Branch or Area Council Executive in the development and organisation of discussions, workshops and guest speaker visits on matters of interest to women members
• report to the Branch or Area Council
   

Members may be interested to know that the QTU Women’s Contacts catch up online quarterly, often with members of the QTU Women’s Teachers and Girls Education Committee (WTGEC). Our catch up is an opportunity for connection between members across the state.

Thank you to all the QTU Women’s Contacts who have taken on the role for 2025, some for the first time, and to WTGEC who support their involvement in the QTU’s democratic structures. If you know of a branch with a Women’s Contact vacancy, please consider nominating if you are eligible or encourage someone who is a member of the branch to do so. Your support means our connected network keeps growing.

Kind regards

​​​​Gillian Crotty
QTU Assistant Secretary - Women’s Coordinator, Social Welfare Issues

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