Independent Education Union of Australia

Let Schools Get On With The Job - 25 June 2009
One has to ask what the Federal Opposition has against schools and their communities given their most recent attempts to stop the flow of dollars, asks IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

Faith Schools are Great Schools - 19 June 2009
IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt condemns the attack on 'etho-religious' schools by the AEU.

Dont Risk 2nd Rate Safety - 12 June 2009
Workplace Safety Laws are under threat. A national agreement to undercut workplace safety standards is close to approval. Unions would be stopped from taking court action against workplace safety breaches

One Law For All - 11 June 2009
Ark Tribe is a SA construction worker facing 6 months jail - charged with not attending an interview with the ABCC. These laws must be changed.

Countdown to Copenhagen - 5 June 2009
At the Copenhagen Conference in December, world leaders will decide how nations intend to fulfil commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and how they will work together on the climate change agenda.

Hands Up for Education - 20 May 2009
On Wednesday 20th May the new website for the EI campaign on the economic crisis was launched. The theme for the campaign is "Hands Up for Education". The website has been designed to provide a resource for member organisations to use in their national campaigns for increased expenditure on education during the economic crisis and campaigns against cuts in national education budgets. The site will provide information on the latest developments and arguments in favour of investment in education.

Fiji Teacher Unionist Sacked after 'democracy comments' - 15 May 2009
Fijian Teachers' Association President, Mr. Tevita Koroi was dismissed last week from his position as principal of Nasinu Secondary School. Mr. Koroi was suspended from his school in December 2008, after his comments at the launch of Movement for Democracy in Fiji (MD Fiji).

IEUA Welcomes Paid Parental Leave - 14 May 2009
The IEUA has welcomed the Federal Government's announcement that it will introduce an 18-week paid parental leave scheme in January 2011

School Reporting - 13 May 2009
The recent publication of 'league table' results in the Hobart Mercury newspaper highlights the concerns that the IEUA has had about comparative school reporting. Such 'league tables' do not improve the quality of education in schools but run the real risk of marginalising students and their school communities.

IEUA National Seminar Welcomes Deputy Prime Minister - 2 April 2009
The IEUA's national seminar welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Gillard's comments on working cooperatively with stakeholders and resourcing education to provide opportunities to enhance quality teaching writesIEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

IEUA Indigenous Education - 2 April 2009
The IEUA believes that critical attention is required in relation to a wide range of Indigenous Education issues. The IEUA policy endorsed in principle by Annual Council supports the development of different structures and models that take into account the needs of Indigenous students and their particular communities and that are appropriate to the context

Quality Teaching Framework - 2 April 2009
Following endorsement by Annual Council, the IEUA Quality Teaching Frameowrk has been launched. The framework is based on the central principle that the development and support of high quality teaching is the responsibility not only of teachers individually and as a profession, but of schools, systems and governments.

Pay Equity - the 40 year struggle continues - 10 March 2009
IEUA calls for greater industrial and workplace protections to ensure that women at work are able to achieve pay equity.

Award Modernisation - 6 March 2009
The IEUA made a comprehensive submission to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in relation to the Educational Services Industry stage of the award modernisation process.

National Goals Action Plan - 6 March 2009
The IEUA supports, in principle, the MCEETYA Action Plan 2009-2012 for the Educational Goals for Young Australians. The IEUA believes that the Action Plan provides an appropriate framework for the building of a comprehensive program of action to deliver the Goals.

Senate Blocks School Building Fund - 12 February 2009
A once in a generation opportunity to act decisively, to support Australian jobs and to substantially improve school infrastructure has been frustrated by the Senate writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Childcare Inquiry - 2 February 2009
"There is a strong need for Government at all levels to take on more responsibility in guaranteeing high quality of early childhood education and care for all Australian children" writes the IEUA in its submission to the Senate Childcare Inquiry..

Pyne Urged to Support Bill Immediately - 4 December 2008
IEUA Federal President Dick Shearman urges members to email federal Opposition Education spokesperson Mr Christopher Pyne MP to immediately support the Schools Assistance Bill.

144,000 Jobs at Risk - 1 December 2008
The Senate must immediately pass the Schools Assistance Bill without further delay or put at risk over 144,000 jobs in the non-government school sector, writes Chris Watt, Federal Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia.

IEUA Challenge to COAG Ministers - 27 November 2008
Ministers at this weekend's COAG meeting need to seize the opportunity and commit adequate resources, a supportive and collegial environment and professional compensation for teachers to continue to develop quality teaching in Australian schools writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Still A Long Way to Go - 25 November 2008
"While the Rudd Labor Government's new industrial laws stops the rot of WorkChoices and begins to turn the tide there is still a significant volume of 'workers rights' yet to be returned. This legislation is but a small step in the right direction" says IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Australian parents warned by New York parents - 25 November 2008
Despite chancellor Klein's positive spin-doctoring the fact is that New York school parents don't think his model is all that flash, writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

Klein's NY model not right for Australia - 24 November 2008
While the New York model of ranking schools might sound attractive to some, first-hand experiences of front-line educators reveal a flawed system in which students with greatest need attract least support, writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

Children Can't Afford Another ABC - 18 November 2008
The Federal Government should provide free early childhood education and greater subsidies to enable not-for-profit centres to fill the gaps left by ABC Learning, says Chris Watt, Federal Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia, the early childhood education union.

Schools Assistance Bill - 17 November 2008
The Federal Government's Schools Assistance Bill requires urgent passage, says IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt, to ensure certainty for workers employed in non-government schools.