Starting any career can be overwhelming, especially when navigating workplace support. Teaching is no exception, especially with endless acronyms, policies and procedures to learn. Conditions secured by the SSTUWA, such as DOTT, graduate entitlements and class size limits, help maintain teaching quality, manage workload and support wellbeing. But what can you do if you believe these conditions aren’t upheld?

Your first point of contact should be your workplace branch. Each year, members elect a union representative, deputy representative and women’s contact officer, all of whom receive specialised training. If you’re unsure who holds these roles, log into the member hub at sstuwa.org.au, ask colleagues, check the union noticeboard or contact Member Assist on 9210 6060 or memberassist@sstuwa.org.au

If your school doesn’t have a union rep, contact Member Assist directly. This confidential service provides factual advice with no obligation to act. Member Assist operates from 10am–4:30pm on Mondays and 8:30am–4:30pm from Tuesday to Friday. You can also submit queries online here.

For issues that impact everyone at your branch, or even more broadly, consider speaking with your colleagues at a branch meeting. You may decide to write a branch motion together. Writing motions is the avenue a branch takes to have their say in how the union operates, and to influence decision making. Motions can be used to ask the union to investigate a district or system-wide issue, submit items for negotiating at the next Agreement, voice support of an initiative, ask for assistance or simply highlight a branch issue. SSTUWA committee members can also raise relevant issues at termly meetings.