Over the next four weeks, our For Every Child vehicles will be visiting schools and communities to raise awareness about the importance of full funding for state schools.
Along the way, we’ll be collecting tens of thousands of postcards calling on the Prime Minister to fully fund state schools now, which we’ll deliver to our final destination – Parliament House, Canberra.
(www.foreverychild.au/postcard)
The future funding of every state school in Australia is being decided by politicians in the next 12 months. So, it’s more important than ever that we show governments that full funding of our state schools is supported by the wider community.
You can also use the interactive map here (www.foreverychild.au/national_road_trip) to follow the cars on their journey, view our road trip photo gallery, or RSVP to events in your area.
Health, safety and wellbeing
Student, parent and community behaviours are often the source of the greatest hazards for QTU members. Consequently, over the past two years the QTU has been working with members and lobbying the government and Department of Education (DoE) to address escalating behaviours.
It is important that the federal and state governments heed our call for greater investment in public education. In particular, we call on the Queensland Government to partner with us to enforce its zero tolerance policy for occupational violence in our schools.
QTU actions have included: making submissions to the review of Education General Provisions Act, the State Budget and the vaping enquiry; consulting members on the issues they face and the responses needed from DoE, including support for student disciplinary absences (SDAs); issuing directives when necessary to ensure staff and student safety; and rejecting discipline audits. More information can be found here. (www.qtu.asn.au/application/files/3716/9276/4126/Behaviour_Management_Timeline.pdf)
“Away for the day” – mobile phone ban consultation update
Consultation with the Department of Education continues regarding guidelines and resources for the mobile phone ban commencing in Term 1, 2024.
Guidelines and resources are on track to be released next week. This includes a Student Code of Conduct addendum, posters, guidelines, FAQs, templates, information on storage solutions and relevant supplier details.
Members are advised to look out for these resources in DoE communications.
The QTU also continues to advocate for full funding to be provided for storage solutions (lockers, pouches etc). A procurement process to ensure price gouging does not see schools absorb exorbitant costs is being discussed, but has not been finalised.
Research on student retention strategies in regional, rural, and remote areas
The Indigenous Professional Services Management Consultant has requested the support of the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) in engaging teachers and school leaders to participate in its research study “Best Practice Methods for Retaining Students in Rural, Regional and Remote Areas to Year 12”.
The objective of this research project, which has research funding provided by the department, is to contribute to improving education outcomes for secondary students by identifying what is happening “on the ground”, and the researchers are particularly interested in what educators feel are the strongest approaches for engaging and retaining First Nations students throughout their secondary education.
The findings of this research will be provided to the department, which will use them to inform future policy recommendations regarding education initiatives in non-metropolitan areas that contribute to meeting Closing the Gap’s Target 5 by 2031, and increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (age 20-24) attaining year 12 or equivalent qualification to 96 per cent.
Method of survey for teachers and school leaders
a one-on-one phone interview click here to book a phone interview (calendly.com/ipsresearch_team/ips-rrr-interview-with-school-principals?month=2023-09
a group interview (via online or phone, as you prefer) click here to book a group discussion (calendly.com/ipsresearch_team/ips-retention-to-year-12-group-interview-principals-staff?month=2023-09)
a short survey (no more than 7 minutes) click here to take the survey. (linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fipsmc.qualtrics.com%2fjfe%2fform%2fSV_aWxAA0HYoG1w6ma&c=E,1,UuQ-Y5JDsMEIAHx6pZcBVX_Kg3rzKqWpylSsii5-NDn82YDAAHSlorcgGZrBrdiYE83jm4nTk7WSojemy7CiR5riSuvV2krxyE0BAIOpXY1QY1OtDPfaNITp&typo=1)
Union office closure
The QTU offices will be closed from 12:00pm on Thursday 2 November to support a whole-of-staff wellbeing initiative. The Union office will re-open on 8.30am on Friday 3 November. Urgent enquiries should be sent through the member portal or a message left on the QTU message bank.
QTU Presidential Election
Voting in the QTU Presidential elections is now open. The election is conducted by the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) as a postal ballot. If you were a financial member on 21 June, your ballot papers should have been sent to the postal address you provided to the QTU.
If you are yet to receive your ballot, you can contact the ECQ on 1300 881 665 or email them at industrial@ecq.gov.au advising them of your name, address and membership number and request a ballot paper.
The ballot closes at midday on Thursday 16 November. All members are encouraged to vote.
Information about the candidates in the election can be found in the Special Presidential Election edition and Volumes 7 and 8 (yet to be published) of The Queensland Teachers’ Journal.
Kate Ruttiman
General Secretary
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064
