Term 1, 2024 | 8 March 2024 | Open PDF
In this issue we unpack:
- some of your working conditions, including:
- some of the work we are doing with teachers like you:
- some of the ways we can help:
Probation
If you are a new and permanent employee of the Department of Education, you are likely to be in your probation period. If you are a temporary teacher, you’re probably not undergoing probation. The probationary process is usually undertaken over an eight-month period, although this timeframe can be varied. Probation involves formal induction and supervision, with a view to satisfying your employer that you are suitable for continuing employment as a teacher. Prospective employees are provided with a written statement outlining the terms of their employment, including the period of probation. Regional offices manage this communication for DoE and distribute the necessary probationary documents with the offer of employment. The statement regarding probation must be signed by the prospective employee and returned to the regional office within 14 days or the offer of employment lapses.
If you are starting employment with DoE after successfully completing a period of teaching in another sector/state, are returning to DoE after resignation, or are restarting after prior temporary employment with DoE, you can apply to have the period of probation shortened. This should be done through the relevant regional office within the same 14-day time frame as applies to returning the statement on probation.
If you have concerns about aspects of the probation/induction/mentoring processes in your school, you should discuss your concerns with your immediate supervisor (e.g. head of department, deputy principal or principal). In most cases this should resolve the matter.
If your concerns are not allayed, then discuss the matter with your school’s QTU Workplace Representative, who should be able to advise you. Alternatively, contact the Queensland Teachers’ Assist Desk (QTAD) on 1300 117 823 or your QTU Organiser.
Temp to perm conversion
The Department of Education State School Teachers Certified Agreement 2022 contains some of the provisions that support offers of permanent employment to temporary teachers on a contract. The temp to perm provisions mirror the current Queensland Government Employment Security Policy. Clause 4.12.2 commits the department to restricting “… temporary or casual employment to bona fide short-term engagement (12 months or less) …”
The QTU acknowledges that some temporary teachers do not wish to become permanent, however for many temporary teachers employment security is a significant goal. Temporary teachers who believe they are eligible for the conversion process should obtain a current copy of their statement of service through the school business services manager or through payroll prior to contacting the QTU for assistance. Further information about this process is available in the QTU information brochure Temporary to Permanent Conversion and our guide to Unpacking Temporary to Permanency Conversion. QTU members can request these publications from QTAD.
Right-to-disconnect
The Australian Government’s recent changes to workplace laws will not impact on QTU members in schools. Firstly, we are covered by Queensland laws and secondly, QTU members already have the right-to-disconnect. We know that workload pressures include an unreasonable amount of digital communication, and that’s why the QTU insisted on the right-to-disconnect in our 2022 certified agreement. It is a right – much like the right to eat healthy food, even though we sometimes make the choice to dive into that large slice of pepperoni pizza.
Our 2022 certified agreement includes the following clauses:
9.5.3 The department is committed to minimising digital communication with employees to ensure an appropriate work/life balance is met, whilst accommodating operational needs.
9.5.4 Employees are encouraged to disconnect from digital technologies and communications when accessing rest time, weekends and leave/vacation periods, except in exceptional circumstances.
New Educators Network
Every year, our QTU Organisers nominate new educators from their region to participate in our New Educator Network. If you are in your first five years of teaching, talk to your Organiser about how you can participate in QTU campaigns at a school, branch, regional or state level, become a union representative, nominate for positions in your branch and area council, run for a seat at State Council or Conference, or share your ideas.
Our NEN members are invited to participate in training with a focus on advocacy and campaigning with and for our QTU members. Our NEN program has been running for more than 10 years and is highly successful, with many of our alumni representing the QTU on state and federal bodies and achieving career advancement as union officials or school leaders.
QuEST
The QTU’s Queensland Education Support and Training (QuEST) delivers high quality professional development to teachers and school leaders across Queensland. Our Professional Development Officer Rebecca Hack works closely with QTU members, officers, and external providers to identify professional development programs that will meet the needs of our members right across this diverse state. Check out the QuEST website and its range of programs in face-to-face, on-demand, and live online modes of delivery. QuEST’s programs are open to all QTU members, and as a not-for-profit initiative, we keep our professional development affordable.
Young Workers Conference
We know that not all new educators will be interested in the Young Workers Hub, which supports young workers under the age of 25. But in April, the Queensland Council of Unions, the peak body of trade unions in this state, is hosting the 2024 Young Workers Conference. This event brings together union members from diverse fields and workplaces across the union movement to build solidarity, increase capacity, and take action. This year, Brisbane will host the QCU’s Young Workers Conference. If you would like to register, email services@qtu.asn.au
To find out more, visit the conference website:
Member access to our Queensland Teacher Assist Desk
QTU members can access our Queensland Teacher Assist Desk or QTAD. Our QTAD staff are on hand to provide simple advice over the phone or via email on a range of matters, such as non-contact time, pay levels and increments, leave entitlements (e.g. parental leave), WorkCover, and much more. QTAD also has a suite of brochures and guides to help you work through workplace issues, and we can also connect you with your QTU Organiser or other officers of the Union.
Free account with Cool.org for first year teachers
Approaching your first solo teaching stint in the classroom can be incredibly daunting, it’s often hard to know where to start. It’s easy to feel like you’re not quite ready. If this is you, you’re not alone.
The QTU and our federal body, the Australian Education Union (AEU), are proud to offer you a free annual subscription to Cool.org’s entire catalogue of teaching resources, including its premium Cool+ resources (normally valued at $144).
Your Cool+ subscription will give you:
- unlimited access to 100s of professional learning courses that tackle the tough stuff, from student behaviour to managing your own workload and stress management
- 1,000s of downloadable and editable curriculum-aligned lesson plans, factsheets, and presentations
- guaranteed new Cool+ resources released each month.
To claim your free subscription, click here and follow the sign-up process on the Cool.org website. It’s completely free, with no obligations or strings attached.
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064