2024
2023
No. 9-24, 31 May 2024 | Open PDF
TO: QTU MEMBERS
Valuing Our Profession
This week, the QTU attended the Ministerial Workforce Roundtable convened as a result of the QTU campaign action.
Workforce supply issues are prevalent across the nation and around the world. This is particularly impacting on our teacher workforce. This meeting was an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to discuss the issues and chart a plan for future attraction, recruitment, and retention of teachers.
Key considerations of the roundtable included the following:
- What is being done to successfully address teacher workforce issues nationally and internationally?
- How can this be improved, expanded or implemented in a Queensland context?
- How can stakeholders contribute to growing our own workforce strategies?
- What actions could be taken to address housing issues in rural and regional areas?
- What contribution can stakeholders make to address teacher workforce challenges?
From these discussions, a workforce action group is being created to ensure tangible outcomes are provided to members immediately and are not caught up in bureaucratic processes.
We continue to hold the employer to account via our ongoing email campaign. Members are asked to email their workload intensification stories to the QTU using the email proforma below. Your details will be de-identified and then forwarded to the Director-General for a response.
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Copy and paste the text below and add in contextual information Email to: comms@qtu.asn.au Email subject line: Valuing Our Profession – Email Campaign Email message: The misalignment of departmental expectations and current teacher and school leader experiences needs to stop. Currently, workload expectations diminish teachers’ and school leaders’ professional autonomy and severely restrict school leaders’ ability to maintain safe and orderly schools, and consequently, safe learning and teaching conditions. At my workplace (provide explicit examples): We call on the Director-General to create systematic solutions that address the unintended workload caused by the ad-hoc approach to the teacher shortage and remove the expectation that Queensland Teachers’ Union members will participate in activities outside of school hours, as well as in other activities that are not essential to student learning and the provision of safe workplaces. If we are to attract new teachers to the profession and retain the great teachers already in the system, QTU members need to feel as if they are truly valued by their employer. Yours sincerely, a concerned state school (leader/ teacher). |
Information sessions for QTU members
The QTU is offering online sessions for the new version of the Know Your Working Conditions and How to Run a Dispute modules.
Both training sessions have been prepared in the context of the Valuing Our Profession campaign and the actions that members can continue to take to assert their rights and professional autonomy.
Find out more here:
- Know your working conditions: myQTU
This session is suited to all members, especially classroom teachers and school leaders.
- How to run a dispute: myQTU
This session is suited best to Workplace Union Reps and school leaders
Queensland Skills Strategy
The Queensland Government has announced a new Queensland Skills Strategy, following strong representations to the Queensland Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy Reference Group by the QTU. Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum’s announcement commits to placing TAFE at the heart of the state’s training sector, a new TAFE-led Career Ready VET in Schools program, ensuring regional access to quality training, and working with communities to address equity barriers. The Minister has ensured Queenslanders have access to independent support through the Queensland Training Ombudsman.
Change of QTU Springwood office location
On Friday, the QTU Springwood office tenancy at Hotel Gloria officially ended. QTU Organisers Maika Bailey (Logan Redlands) and Ben Vercoe (Metropolitan South) will continue to work flexibly at the Milton office until the new office is ready, as will administration officers Meryline and Mel. Maika and Ben can be contacted by email at springwood@qtu.asn.au or by calling (07) 3512 9000.
2023 financial statements now availableAudited annual financial statements for the Queensland Teachers’ Union of Employees and the Australian Education Union, Queensland Branch are now available for the year ending 31 December 2023. The statements can be found on the QTU website at https://www.qtu.asn.au/financials. You will need your QTU password. |
Kate Ruttiman
General Secretary
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064