25 February 2025 

Term 1 Women’s e-News

Key topics:

• What is WTGEC?
• Let’s close the gender super gap
• International Women’s Day 2026
• Know Your Working Conditions – Parental Leave information sessions.
   

What is WTGEC?

When you’ve been in education and the Union for even a short while, you get to understand that there are a lot of acronyms. One of these is WTGEC.

QTU Policy A provides for several committees that enable members to engage in the democratic structures of the Union. The Women Teachers and Girls’ Education Committee (WTGEC) is one such committee.

WTGEC quick facts:

• WTGEC has a chair, plus 15 additional members from schools and TAFE.
• Each three-year term of WTGEC is determined by way of nominations through the QTU Journal, with election by State Council.
• Quarterly meetings are held both online and face-to-face (once annually).
• Areas of responsibility (see QTU Policy L) include “all matters relating to the rights of women teachers and girls, including discrimination on the basis of sex, age, relationship, ethnicity or parental status.”
• The committee sets key objectives annually.
   

First on the 2026 WTGEC list of key objectives is the need to “raise awareness and educate members about key women’s issues, particularly safety and respect, superannuation, working conditions, flexible work, and leave entitlements.”

Let’s close the gender super gap

For a number of years, WTGEC has had a keen eye on superannuation, with QTU Policy L providing support for community campaigns to make superannuation fairer for working women.

The QTU is working with our superannuation fund – QSuper, part of Australian Retirement Trust (ART), because they are “on a mission to help close the gender super gap.” The QTU asked ART to explain what the gender super gap means and how our members can get involved. 

First things, first, says ART: Let’s talk about it.

“Right now, women in Australia retire with around 25 per cent less super than men. It's not just because of the gender pay gap. Lower super balances add up for women due to a lifetime of inequities.

“ART believes in fairer super for everyone. We want to partner with QTU members and across our communities to close the gender super gap for good.

“At ART, more than half of our 2.4 million members are women. By age 60, our women are retiring with an average of 23 per cent less super than men.

“This gap has real consequences for women members in retirement. And we believe it’s time to work together to change that.

“We know that the gender super gap is the result of a lifetime of inequalities for women. Lower pay, unpaid care, insecure work, and time out of the workforce without super all stack up across women’s working lives. That’s why it’s important to talk about at every stage of our careers.

“We want to raise the voices of Queensland teachers as part of this important campaign to close the gender super gap.” 

Why your voice matters

We know that amplifying the diverse voices and experiences of members is key to driving meaningful change.

Share your story

ART are inviting you to share your personal stories and experiences with superannuation. By shining a light on real challenges and successes, you can help demonstrate the impact across different industries and backgrounds. Your stories will inform ART's advocacy, shape policy recommendations, and inspire others.

Next steps

Contact ART:  Email Marina.Mitchell@art.com.au to let her and the team know you'd like to participate in sharing your superannuation story.

Arrange an interview: After you register, the ART team will reach out to set up an in-person interview at a time that works for you. The interview will be recorded and will last between 15 and 30 minutes.

Prepare: Think about your experiences with superannuation - challenges, successes, and any ideas for improvement. The ART team will provide guidance ahead of your interview to help you feel comfortable and prepared.

After your interview, the ART team will keep you updated on campaign progress and opportunities for further involvement.

International Women’s Day 2026

QTU Policy L supports annual participation in International Women’s Day (IWD). In 2026, the QTU will acknowledge and celebrate Sunday 8 March as IWD, in line with the United Nations List of International Days and Weeks.

In keeping with QTU Policy L, your Union is active in its pursuit of equality through practices that promote the inclusion of all genders. So, if you are holding a QTU/IWD event, one that welcomes anyone who supports the work of achieving gender equality, please consider telling us about it.

If you choose to share content with the QTU, please ensure it’s okay with those mentioned or photographed, as any photos/details may find their way to QTU social media on IWD 2026.

Know Your Working Conditions – Parental Leave information sessions

Online information sessions via Teams have been scheduled across 2026, hosted by subject matter expert Gillian Crotty (Assistant Secretary – Women’s Officer, Social Welfare). A QTU Organiser will also support each session.

Dates: 24 March 4pm, 16 June 4pm, 8 September 4pm, 1 December 4pm

Invitations will be sent to members in the lead up to each session.

​​​​​​​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