The 35th State Council was held over the weekend of the 19/20 November 2011. To the delight and achievement of all, the council was able to manage the business of the whole agenda.

Two key note speakers attended. Mr Trevor Cobbold, founder of the Save Our Schools (www.saveourschools.org.au) website spoke on the current situation with regard to federal schools funding. Mr Ben Wyatt, shadow spokesperson for education, attended on Sunday to address council and answer questions.

His frustration with government's failure to reveal its intended direction with regard to the placement of years seven's was palpable. Indeed Hansard reveals he has pursued the minister on this matter on a number of occasions.

The union continued its work on rule changes, progressing us towards the position of having one election for our two unions.

Given that nearly 700 votes in the recent AEU elections were declared invalid and that we have potentially two unions with two different leaderships, it is essential we move forward on this matter.

Council also endorsed the establishment of new SSTUWA districts.

This will mean we will no longer be subject to departmental district changes and will allow for some anomalies currently present to be rectified. Further details will come out on this matter next year.

Country issues of housing, job security, transfer and allowances were debated with passion.

Grave concern is mounting as to the increasing difficulty of returning from country placements.

Delegates have clearly indicated if they were advising new graduates they would say ... don't go country unless you intend staying as you will be trapped here.

Delegates also have considerable concern at the failure of government to provide for allowance increases in this round of negotiations.

The situation of access to and supply of school psychologists was raised on a number of times, including by Ben Wyatt. 

Delegates received an update on the schools and TAFE negotiations.

Again, in both instances delegates expressed their anger at the unnecessary delays brought on by the government/departments attempts to wind back on current conditions and failure to respond to the genuine demands put forward in the schools and TAFE Logs of Claim.

While we appear to have been negotiating forever, it needs to be noted that for both schools and TAFE, we are much more advanced in the negotiations and with a likelihood of reaching agreement much earlier than has been the case in other negotiations.

A comprehensive school leaders' report was tabled and spoken to by executive member Edd Black.

It was reported, the School Leaders' Council parameters for operation have now been established, many successful outcomes have been achieved for individual administrator members supported by the union, work is progressing on the interrogation of the ERG process and moves towards taking reports off line are underway. The PPR is also under examination.

State Council endorsed a further resolution to have the union prepared to deal with matters arising for IPS principals when presenting their business plans.

State Council has directed executive to continue its work in ensuring that schools, teachers and school leaders are appropriately supported to implement the Australian Curriculum.

Many reports such as the OSH Report, ATSIE Report, TAFE Report, Recruitment Report and the Administrative Report provided detail in the agenda paper as to some of the matters carried by the Senior Officers, Executive and staff during 2011.

These reports were supplemented by oral reports and extended in responding to questions from the delegates.

A series of workshops provided an opportunity for all delegates to contribute.

A primary and secondary workshop on ICT/Digital technologies will provide supplementary information for the 2012/13 State Budget Submission.

The TAFE and Administrators workshops have assisted the relevant organisers in progressing their support for these segments of our membership.

The Issues Campaigns in the Workplace workshop will provide material for development of guidelines for the union and its members on campaigning.

Delegates attending the Federal Schools Funding workshop were armed with information and will be back in their workplaces advocating on this important matter.

In closing the State Council, the President acknowledged the work of Executive and all staff in supporting the membership.

Thanks was extended in particular to the delegates, union reps in our schools and colleges and all members who have contributed to the various 2011 campaigns.