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When the SSTUWA commissioned a review and the panel released its report into the state of public education in WA, Facing the Facts, we knew that things had to change in the sector to ensure its success in the long-term.

On 23 January advice was sent out to all school members via eNews regarding Directives to SSTUWA members from the Executive Committee in relation to the 2023 EBA negotiations.

Principals and school leaders are overwhelmingly reporting they are burnt out from workload, and more than half said in the SSTUWA State of our Schools Survey that they had concerns about their personal health and wellbeing.

This issue of Western Teacher contains a summary document of the SSTUWA’s Review into Public Education.

The Rural and Remote Education Advisory Council (RREAC) was established in 1997 and fulfils an important role, reporting directly to the Minister for Education. It is responsible for providing strategic advice on education and training issues and development in rural and remote areas of Western Australia.

Members are at the centre of everything we do and providing an avenue for your voices to be heard is a key role for your senior officers.

Last month, early childhood education (ECE) teachers were invited to participate in the SSTUWA’s first ECE Forum for 2023.

Each year, elected women delegates from around the country attend the AEU Federal Women’s Conference. This is a fantastic opportunity for women members to hear from a range of guest speakers, become more aware of professional and industrial matters...

Whether you are a principal, deputy, head of learning area, senior teacher or Level 3 Classroom Teacher, you are in a unique position to offer insight into the challenges public educators face on a daily and long-term basis.

International Women’s Day will be celebrated on 8 March. This year’s global theme is #EmbraceEquity. “Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.” A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA - and it’s crucial to understand the difference between equity and equality.

As the new school year dawns upon us I am delighted to take up the position of your new SSTUWA senior vice president. I am excited and looking forward to representing all of our members, and advocating for public education, working alongside the senior officer group which comprises of SSTUWA President Matt Jarman, General Secretary Mary Franklyn and Vice President Sharmila Nagar.

New data from the Australian Education Union has highlighted the Morrison Government’s failure to take responsibility for TAFE.

During the 2021 EBA the SSTUWA won the claim to review part of the Country Teaching Program, an incentives package • to assist with the attraction and retention of teachers, school leaders and school psychologists to country schools. This work is about to progress and has now received unexpected stimulation following the recent announcement from Education Minister Sue Ellery to staff some country schools with a one year only additional incentive; in fact, just 48 schools.

Prior to the pandemic it could be said a school’s teacher relief availability depended on a variety of local seasonal factors, which would be invariably worked through. The pandemic has unfortunately now caused an unwanted equity. Everyone is struggling, and in many cases, just labelling teacher relief availability as a “struggle” would be entirely inadequate.

The 2013 National Education Reform Agreement (NERA) between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments (and through memorandums of understanding with private schools) planned a $16 billion increase in school funding over six years, 80 per cent of which was to go to public schools.

By Matt Jarman Senior Vice President

This article is to provide more detail to SSTUWA school leaders in relation to the Agreement in Principle (AIP) and to address misinformation that is currently circulating.

The SSTUWA is pleased that members will now be able to access COVID-19 leave immediately if needed, with the requirement to first exhaust other forms of leave now being lifted.

The SSTUWA is committed to working with the state government to ensure educators and students are safe when the WA borders open on 5 February.

Over the course of the past few years staff meeting time has been altered by workload demands.