Independent Education Union of Australia

Time for a Genuine Big Step - 20 June 2008
Early Childhood Teachers must be paid the same rates of pay, and should be entitled to the same working conditions, as primary school teachers, writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave - 30 May 2008
The IEUA strongly supports the establishment of a national system of paid support for the primary care giver funded by government and employers. While recognising the ILO standard for a minimum of 14 weeks, the IEUA believes that a longer period of leave is more appropriate in providing time for the care of the mother's wellbeing and care and support for the development of the child and thus supports six months (26 weeks) of paid leave.

Quality Education For All - 29 May 2008
The IEUA welcomes the commitment by the Federal Education Minister to a conversation about education in Australia to ensure that all students, irrespecitve of where the live or which school system they attend, have access to quality education and quality teaching.

Building Industry Watchdog Denies Human Rights - 23 May 2008
Another 18 months of the Building Industry Watchdog will only provide for further potential of denial of human rights. Building workers don't need a review, they need rights like all other Australians, writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

Indigenous Education - Funding Comments Nonsense - 23 May 2008
It is patently untrue to say that Aboriginal students in government schools have their funding capped at 70 per cent less than those in non-government schools, writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Budget Targets Indigenous Education - 15 May 2008
"Increased resources and support are a long overdue national priority in indigenous education and the 2008 budget announcements are a welcome sign that the government is prepared to back up its Apology statement" said IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Funding for Early Childhood Teachers - 14 May 2008
"We know that good quality early child care and education sets the right foundation for children's further development," said Chris Watt, Federal Secretary Independent Education Union of Australia, the union representing early childhood teachers in the non-government sector.

School Funding Welcomed in Budget - 14 May 2008
The IEUA welcomes the certainty arising from the Federal Government's commitment to non-government school funding in the federal budget.

National Tests Reporting - 13 May 2008
The primary purpose of national testing should be to inform teaching-learning and provide advice to parents, not the creation of 'league tables' writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

National Testing Ban - 21 April 2008
The IEUA is calling on all teachers to impose a nationwide ban on the completion of the declaration of 'close relations' states Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Teacher Education Accreditation - 16 April 2008
While the establishment of an Australian Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education is worthy of consideration and reflects the need to further progress work already underway, Teaching Australia is not the appropriate body to represent teachers and principals on the Interim Council writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

Student Reporting - 16 April 2008
"The IEUA rejects ranking of students and schools according to test scores and in particular opposes the establishment of 'league tables' in any manifestation" writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Charter for Teachers - 31 March 2008
After consultation and consideration by its membership several years ago, the IEUA produced and distributed a Charter for Teachers that remains potent and relevant today

Teaching is not a Last Ditch Option - 28 March 2008
IEUA Federal Secretary writes that many school leavers with some of the highest tertiary entry scores continue to choose teaching as a career and he is fearful that the Opposition's latest comments are simply a political exercise at the expense of the profession.

White flight - from where? to where? - 26 March 2008
"There are monocultural public schools in largely 'white' areas and multicultural private schools. It is primarily about demographics not the public/private divide" writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Respect the Profession - 26 March 2008
IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt writes that "the future of the school funding debate and more broadly the structure and role of schools in our communities should be noted by considered opinions and not punctuated by the divisive debates of the past and should certainly not demean the profession"

A Breath of Fresh Air - 17 March 2008
The IEUA has long supported the need to reform the current federal government school funding arrangements. "Deputy Prime Minister Gillard's recent comments are a breath of fresh air" said Chris Watt IEUA Federal Secretary.

An Opportunity Not To Be Missed - 11 March 2008
The 2008 Federal Budget is a genuine opportunity to recast the funding of education programs based on inclusion, targeting need, educational research and reports writes IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

International Women's Day - More Yet to be Done - 6 March 2008
One hundred years ago 15,000 women marched in the streets of New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights.

A Bouquet for School Teachers and Support Staff - 28 February 2008
The ABS figures on school enrolments in 2007 indicate a continuing trend of increased enrolments in the non-government school sector

An Education Revolution? - 13 February 2008
While the Federal Government has "named" its education agenda an "Education Revolution" a fundamental question might be: "is it?". IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt explores the issue in an article at Online Opinion.

Stolen Generations Apology - 11 February 2008
The Federal Government's Apology to the Stolen Generations is an important and necessary step in the Reconciliation process in this country says IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

School Funding - Certainty, Transparency, Accountability - 6 February 2008
The recent report by Andrew Dowling from ACER argues that the arrangements for the funding of schools in Australia require urgent reform. The IEUA has long supported the need to reform the current federal government SES funding model says Chris Watt

Where are the Teachers? - 4 February 2008
Where are the experts from the chalkface on the National Curriculum Board? asks IEUA Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Accomplished Teachers - 22 January 2008
"Accomplished teachers in Australia deserve both recognition and reward for the outstanding quality of their work" said Independent Education Union Federal Secretary Chris Watt

Get Serious: Resource Indigenous Education - 18 January 2008
"Noel Pearson's plan to recruit both experienced teachers and graduates to work in disadvantaged Indigenous communities is worthy of support and should be made a national priority" says Independent Education Union Federal Secretary Chris Watt.