10,05,22 | Professional issues
Our union will host the first School Library Forum on Thursday, 28 July to bring together IEU colleagues working as Teacher-Librarians as well as Library Assistants to create a plan for the future of our school libraries. The forum will be opportunity for School...
10,05,22 | Professional issues
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has developed a new draft model for self-assurance in the Vocational Education Training (VET) sector and are now seeking feedback from the sector. Our union encourages all VET members to become involved in the process to...
10,05,22 | Professional issues, Teachers
With NAPLAN testing being held this week across the country, it is a good time to review the upcoming changes set to be implemented following the 2020 NAPLAN Review and the longstanding advocacy of our union to all levels of government. What are the changes from 2023?...
10,05,22 | Professional issues
Our union has advocated for a focus on protecting school communities from online abuse as part of our joint submission with the Queensland Teachers’ Union to the Department of Education’s Review of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006. We have also called for...
10,05,22 | Beginning Educators (BEnet), Professional issues
Attaining full teacher registration is a significant milestone for any teacher, recognising both establishment within the profession as well as years of dedicated training. In Queensland, teachers are eligible to apply for full teacher registration after completing...
21,03,22 | Professional issues, Teachers
Union advocacy has secured a payment increase for practicum supervision and continued negotiations for stronger protections of working conditions. Our union, along with the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) is continuing negotiations with the Australian Higher Education...
21,03,22 | Professional issues, Teachers
Emergence of alternative models of pre-service teacher experience, including paid internships, has potential to put high-quality education practice and delivery at risk. Our union is particularly concerned about emergent trends in Initial Teacher Education (ITE)...
21,03,22 | Professional issues, Teachers
The new national curriculum still has not been confirmed in full, despite the Federal Government aiming for implementation in 2023. The latest version of the curriculum was meant to be endorsed at the last Education Ministers Meeting held in February. This was so that...
21,03,22 | Beginning Educators (BEnet), Professional issues, Teachers
The final report into Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is one characterised by a fundamental failure to understand the profession or recognise that ITE depends upon access to schools and supervising teachers, according to IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke. Mr Burke...
21,03,22 | Professional issues, Workers' rights
The ongoing impact of COVID-19 has worsened the risks of long-term damage to principals’ health and wellbeing, according to the latest Australia Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing survey. This is the 11th year of the annual survey, tracking the health...
23,02,22 | Professional issues, Teachers
The determination of Queensland Catholic school employers to control the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) applications without seeking the support of our union has led to a woeful take up of the roles across the state. IEU Branch Secretary Terry...
14,02,22 | Professional issues, Teachers
The determination of Queensland Catholic school employers to control the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) applications without seeking the support of our union has led to a woeful take up of the roles across the state. IEU Branch Secretary Terry...
07,12,21 | Professional issues
A recent Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) ruling on underpayment of ‘voluntary’ co-curricular work at St Peters Lutheran College means all non-government schools making such payments are now on notice. The FWO recently entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with St Peters...
02,12,21 | Professional issues, Workers' rights
Alarming new research confirms what our union has long campaigned against; the substantial difficulties teachers on contracts face due to their insecure employment status, as Emily Campbell writes. A recent survey of 18,000 members of the NSW Teachers’ Federation...
25,11,21 | Equity, Professional issues
On 25 November 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison introduced the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021. This is the third attempt by the Federal government to amend religious discrimination legislation. Do not be misled by the name of this Parliamentary Bill nor the...
18,11,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Protecting supervising teachers from workload increases related to new models of preservice teacher practicum as well as ensuring payments meet benchmark standards are the priority matters for our union and the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) as practicum payment...
18,11,21 | Member action, Professional issues
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Paul Giles reflects on the recent survey undertaken by our union regarding the implementation of Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) across Queensland and Northern Territory schools during 2021. The results of our union’s...
18,11,21 | Professional issues, Workers' rights
Information overload was a buzz phrase before the internet, before messaging, the 24/7 news cycle, social media, analytics, keyboard tracking, UX design, LinkedIn,and PowerPoint. But it’s a reality here and now for teachers, writes Will Brodie. Coined in 1964 and...
17,11,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Global research reveals up to 30% of teachers will experience a voice problem at some stage of their career, creating the need to educate teachers on how to protect and preserve their voices, as journalist Emily Campbell writes. Compared to the general population,...
17,11,21 | Equity, Professional issues, Workers' rights
IEU submission calls for affordable access to childcare; measures to counter the sustained prevalence of discrimination and gendered violence in communities and workplaces; and addressing women’s particular vulnerability to social and economic hardship. IEU-QNT Branch...
17,11,21 | Member action, Professional issues
The Northern Territory (NT) government has unveiled the new Education Engagement Strategy 2022-2031, which aims to improve educational outcomes for young Territorians over the next 10 years. Earlier this year, our union engaged in the consultation process and provided...
14,10,21 | Professional issues
As the national focus turns to psychological wellbeing for Mental Health Week (9-17 October), workers in the education industry continue to face high rates of psychological strain. Research has shown teachers are more likely to experience anxiety, depression or high...
14,10,21 | Member action, Professional issues
Over a third of IEU Chapters completed our union’s NCCD Workload survey within the first 24 hours of its launch earlier this week, indicating members’ desire to act on unreasonable workload demands. IEU Chapters have until Friday, October 22 to complete their survey,...
14,09,21 | Professional issues, Workers' rights
Over the past ten years, school leaders have faced an increasing rate of bullying, physical violence, threats of violence, slander, sexual and verbal harassment. The Australian Principal Occupation Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey (2020) revealed that 2020 was a...
07,09,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Our federal office has raised the voices of our 75,000 members across the country in the federal government’s review into quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE). Our formal submission highlighted the fact quality initial teacher education cannot be supported in a...
06,09,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Our union has been engaged in consultation with The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) regarding proposed new policy and guidelines for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) certification renewal in Queensland. Although overall we are supportive of the...
03,09,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Representation of our union on the Norther Territory Teacher Registration Board (TRB) is crucial to ensuring the voices of members are heard regarding the professional concerns they face. IEU-QNT Branch Executive and teacher Louise Lenzo, who represents our union on...
06,08,21 | Member benefits, Professional issues
Today our union celebrates National Primary Principals’ Day, thanking members for the contribution they make as school leaders each and every day. IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the past 18 months, in particular, has been a challenging time for school...
20,07,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
2021 is a milestone year for education in Queensland, as the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) celebrates 50 years since the establishment of the Board of Teacher Education and the beginning of the development of a teacher registration framework in Queensland....
22,06,21 | Professional issues
Ensuring the input of First Nations members in the Northern Territory (NT) government’s newly announced Education Engagement Strategy will be a priority for our union. The new strategy aims to improve student engagement and educational outcomes for young...
22,06,21 | Professional issues
A new study has revealed the impact menstrual disorders and period pain is having on the education of young women, as journalist Jessica Willis writes. Menstrual disorders are highly prevalent in adolescents and young women. Period pain affects about 75 percent of...
22,06,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
As many IEU members will know, our union has been involved in consultations arranged by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) on the new National Workforce Strategy, set to be endorsed and published by the end of 2021. Journalist...
22,06,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
There’s a need for more books featuring strength-based representations of people with a disability, journalist Emily Campbell writes. Children’s books are powerful tools which allow developing young minds to make sense of their own and others’ experiences and...
22,06,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
Journalist Emily Campbell explores a recent study by Monash University researchers into Parental Mental Illness and discusses strategies found to assist when working with children who have mentally ill parents. Parental Mental Illness (PMI) and the repercussions for...
22,06,21 | Professional issues
Our union continues to make a difference to the professional lives of members through our direct advocacy to Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace. At a recent meeting with the Minister on Thursday, 10 June 2021 representatives from our union outlined member...
22,06,21 | Professional issues
Our union alongside the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) continues to raise significant concerns to the Queensland Education Minister and the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) regarding ACARA’s Prep-Year 10 Australian Curriculum Review. The QCAA is...
27,05,21 | Member action, Professional issues, Teachers
IEU members in Queensland have the opportunity to ensure their voice is heard on the state’s professional regulatory body with Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Board election now underway.
11,05,21 | Professional issues
A new review into initial teacher education (ITE) launched by Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge, the first step in the government’s ten-year plan to “put Australia back on top for student academic performance” is at its heart an attack on the teaching profession....
10,05,21 | Professional issues
An infographic may seem a ubiquitous way to easily tell a story in today’s world, but the reason behind why that story is being told still requires careful attention and, in some cases, questioning, as IEU-QNT Research Officer and officer assisting the Education...
10,05,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
Building trusted communication and collaboration between teachers, staff and families is essential in early childhood education – in fact, it is part of the National Quality Framework (NQF) due to its significant impact on children’s emotional and physical...
10,05,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Paul Giles writes about the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), how the early problems associated with the program remain and how various review recommendations will not address issues identified by IEU members....
10,05,21 | COVID-19, Professional issues
Having quickly adapted to unprecedented working conditions in 2020, the experiences and voice of teachers must form an integral part of understanding the professional and industrial implications of working in a postCOVID-19 world. Over the last 12 months, we have seen...
09,03,21 | Beginning Educators (BEnet), Professional issues
Rates of insecure work – where workers don’t have permanent jobs – are quite high in Australia. Only 60% of workers are in full or part-time permanent employment. This means many workers are employed on contracts or in casual employment arrangements. In schools, many...
01,03,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Our union has rejected the federal government’s proposed changes to the mutual recognition arrangements for teacher registration, in a joint submission with the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU). Our union does not support the Automatic Mutual Recognition of...
01,03,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Our union is currently in negotiations with non-government education employers and universities regarding the agreements governing internship placements in non-government schools. IEU Research Officer Adele Schmidt said the main points under contention are new...
01,03,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Sustained advocacy from our union has led to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) conducting a review into the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) processes. Late last year, our union and the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) wrote to the...
01,03,21 | Professional issues, Teachers
Queensland’s representatives on ACARA’s Prep-Year 10 Australian Curriculum Review have raised significant concerns to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), based on revised drafts of the curriculum. The key concerns are: An insufficient...
01,03,21 | Equity, Professional issues
Instruction in First Languages offers a unique opportunity to preserve and reinvigorate Australia’s First Languages, many of which are highly endangered, and our union has formally committed to a course of work designed to support First Language programs in...
01,03,21 | COVID-19, Professional issues
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 has led to an increasing reliance on online platforms for both teaching and professional development. While a return to face-to-face teaching has now occurred, it is likely that increased use of digital platforms will continue into...
30,11,20 | Equity, Professional issues, Teachers
Teachers and school officers who specialise in supporting inclusive education for students with additional learning needs have key roles across all sectors of the Australian education system. IE journalist Jessica Willis talks to two IEU members and learning support...