2018 News

The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) opposes discrimination based on a person’s sexuality.  The IEUA believes that current exemptions should be removed and that practices in faith-based schools, and indeed in any endeavour conducted for the public by faith-based organisations, should reflect community standards and expectations.  The IEUA does not accept that the faith-based school communities in Australia are so fragile that they require exemptions from discrimination laws.  The IEUA notes that several jurisdictions do not have these exemptions, for either staff or students, and in these States, faith-based schools have flourished and enrolments continue to grow.  Not having the [...]

  Whilst the recalibration of non-government schools against what appears on paper to be a more robust and sensible measure of need, the 'deal' highlights what remains wrong and unresolved in school funding. The deal only settles the question of non-government funding going forward relative to their current position, their capacity and transitioning to the new measure. What the deal fails to address are the following: Immediate funding of the full 'cost' of education (know as the Student Resourcing Standard or SRS) for every government school student, as committed to by this Federal Government prior to the 2013 election Consequent immediate [...]

Despite the effusive welcoming by employer organisations, the school funding announcement made by the federal government (Thursday 20 September) still fails to deliver. The model does not deliver the promise that this government made when it sought election in 2013.  It has not upheld the principles, commitments or necessary measures that were established, and committed to by the federal government, arising from the Gonski panel funding review. Most schools, government and non-government are not and will not get the monies promised in 2018 and 2019.  The commitment to the student resources standard will not be met. The announcement locks in unreasonable [...]

Friday 31 August 2018 is Equal Pay Day. This date illustrates the 62 additional days from the end of the previous financial year that women must work to earn the same amount as men earn in twelve months. Equal Pay Day is an important reminder of the continuing barriers women face in accessing the same opportunities and benefits as men in Australian workplaces National Gender Pay Gap.  No Room For Complacency The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has calculated the national gender pay gap as 14.6% for full-time employees; a difference of $244.80 per week. While this figure has declined from [...]

    The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) is disappointed that the Federal Education Minister has again chosen to overlook teachers and their unions by again failing to put expert educators from the teacher unions on the Board of AITSL.   It is unequivocally clear that the agenda of AITSL could only be enhanced by engaging with, dialoguing with and being respectful to the teacher unions who represent over a quarter of a million teachers across the country.   The Board has education and registration authority bureaucrats, representatives of employer and principal associations, a teacher education representative and an education [...]

IEUA Speaks on Gonski: Growth Through Achievement Report The recently released Gonski:Through Growth to Achievement report reflects the aspirations of every member of the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) to ensure the development of well-rounded, academically capable, resilient and society-ready students. Yet, the fulfillment of the Report’s recommendations can only be founded on the adequate resourcing of the education sector combined with genuine and real collaboration of governments and employers with the teachers, school support staff and their unions. The voice of the profession must guide every step of any reform to ensure every Australian student is provided the quality [...]

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8 MARCH 2018 #PRESSFORPROGRESS International Women’s Day is a day to challenge all Australian women and men to consider the legacy that will be passed onto future generations of women. This year, the United Nations is asking the global community to #PressForProgress and be tenacious in accelerating gender equality and empowerment. […]

The Independent Education Union of Australia believes that the structured and resourced induction of those new to the teaching profession is integral to the quality assurance processes in any school and system.A more structured approach to a beginning teacher's experience can be achieved by a better combination of time release and effective mentoring. In "best practice" models, induction roles and responsibilities are clearly outlined and formally linked to professional development and collaborative skill review. IEU Policy on Induction for Early Career Teachers

The Independent Education Union of Australia believes that the structured and resourced induction of those new to the teaching profession is integral to the quality assurance processes in any school and system. A more structured approach to a beginning teacher’s experience can be achieved by a better combination of time release and effective mentoring.  In “best practice” models, induction roles and responsibilities are clearly outlined and formally linked to professional development and collaborative skill review.    IEU Policy on Induction for Early Career Teachers