10 October 2024 

Term 4 Women’s e-News

Reproductive health leave

The Reproductive Health Leave (RHL) Directive 07/24 became effective on 30 September.

This is a nation-leading initiative seeking to reduce the stigma associated with seeking support to manage impacts of reproductive health issues on workforce participation. It is a significant step forward for all QTU members.

The Queensland union movement is proud of its work on securing this new entitlement for public sector workers. We encourage members to learn more by reading the materials and to access the leave if they need to.

Quick facts:

• Directive 07/24 provides 10 days paid RHL each year (pro-rata for part-time employees).
• RHL is a non-cumulative entitlement, i.e. it is limited to a total of 10 working days per year.

• The QTU’s information brochure on RHL is now available here.
• Directive 07/24 and supporting materials, including FAQs, are now available here
   

We thank our members for their engagement in Queensland unions’ “It’s For Every Body” campaign, which sought recognition that reproductive health issues have a significant impact on workers of all genders in all workplaces, every single day. That recognition resulted in the paid leave entitlement now available to all Queensland public sector workers. The campaign continues more broadly, with the Australian Council of Trade Unions calling for paid reproductive health leave to be introduced as a right for all workers across Australia.

Rosemary Richards Scholarship

Applications for the 2025 Rosemary Richards Scholarship, coordinated by the Australian Education Union (AEU), open on Monday 7 October. QTU women members have until 4 November to apply. Please contact services@qtu.asn.au for an application guide and form.

Quick facts:

• The QTU is a branch of the AEU. Each branch and associated body of the AEU is encouraged to award the scholarship.
• The QTU will award the scholarship to a woman from our rank-and-file membership, e.g. a Union Rep, Women’s Contact, committee member or similar. This woman will have demonstrated leadership practices in the QTU.
• The QTU participant will work alongside one of the elected leaders of the QTU. They will collaborate on a targeted project starting early in 2025.
• A structured mentoring and coaching resource will be provided by the AEU Federal Office.
   

Who was Rosemary Richards?  She was a committed feminist and teacher unionist who believed in the potential power of a federated union, and that women working collectively together is the best hope of winning change in education workplaces and in education unions. The Rosemary Richards Scholarship honours her legacy by reflecting her values and commitment to gender equity and the Australian Education Union.

Attention all position-holders! It’s nearly time to re-nominate!

Members often ask about terms of office for positions like Branch Women's Contact and Area Council Women's Contact. They also like to know how and when to nominate.

Quick facts:

BRANCH POSITIONS

• Branch officer positions (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Women’s Contact, First Nations Contact) are held for one year only and then re-advertised in readiness for the following year.
• If you want a branch officer position in 2025, such as the Branch Women's Contact position you may currently hold, please nominate using the form in the last Journal of this year (Journal 8).
   

AREA COUNCIL POSITIONS

• The three-year term of all current area councils will end on 31 March 2025. This means all area council positions, i.e. Branch Delegate to Area Council, will become vacant. These positions will be advertised in Journal 8 this year.
• You can only hold an area council officer position, i.e. President, Vice-President, Secretary, Women's Contact, First Nations Contact, if you also hold the position of Branch Delegate to Area Council.
• Area Council President, Vice-President, Secretary and Branch Delegate to Area Council positions are decided through ECQ elections. You will need to nominate by using the relevant ECQ nomination form in Journal 8.
• Women’s Contact and First Nations Contact of an Area Council positions are decided through QTU elections. You will need to nominate by using the QTU nomination form in Journal 8.

​​​​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