SUPPLEMENT TO THE AEU NEWS bull MAY 2010

A E U h e a d o f f i c e 112 Tr e n e r r y C r e s c e n t A b b o t s f o r d 3 0 6 7 Te l 0 3 9 417 2 8 2 2 Fa x 13 0 0 6 5 8 0 7 8 We b w w w a e u v i c a s n a u

PRIMARY SECTORNEWSLETTER

Diary of a dispute2009

bull FederalMinisterof EducationannouncesMySchoolwebsite

bull AEUwarnsaboutdestructiveleaguetablesandseeksdiscussions

bull MinisterrejectsAEUconcernsrefusestomeet

2010bull January20AEUfederalconferenceresolu-

tionwarnsof strongactionif Ministerwillnotdiscussconcernsof professionMinisterrefusestomeet

bull January28MySchoollaunchedleaguetablesappearinpress

bull March29FederalpresidentAngeloGavrielatosputsproposaltoMinistertoaddressconcernsaboutmisuseof dataleaguetablesandMySchoolMinisterrefusestomeet

bull April12Federalexecutiveimposesmorato-riumonNAPLANtestspendingresolutionof theprofessionrsquosldquoethicalandmoralrdquoconcernsMinisterrefusestomeet

bull April14FairWorkOmbudsman(FWO)issuesnoticetoAEUtoproducedocumentsaboutmoratoriumunderthreatof massivefines

bull April28Infaceof nationwidemoratorium

MinisteragreestomeetfederalexecutivebutsaysldquoIamnotheretonegotiaterdquoandrejectsAEUproposalforworkingpartywithACARA

bull April30AEUfilesinfederalcourttostopFWOnoticetoproduce

bull StateemployersseekandobtaincommissionordersagainstAEUbranchesandassociatedbodiestheydefyorders

bull May3FWOservesAEUwithfederalcourtapplicationtoinjunctNAPLANmoratorium

bull MinistertalkswithACTUpresidentSharanBurrowinfaceof severeNAPLANdisruptioninallstatesandterritories

bull May4VictorianGovernmentgetsFairWorkAuthorityordersagainstAEUVicBranchanditsmembersnottoengageinmoratoriumAEUrejectsorderFederalcourthearsFWOapplicationtoinjunctAEU

bull May6AEUfederalexecutivemeetsandacceptsofferfromMinistertosetupACARAworkingpartywithAEUrepresentationMoratoriumliftedFederalcourtadjournsFWOapplicationforthreeweeksFWOsaysitwillmonitorbehaviourof AEUandmembersreNAPLAN

bull May12ndash14NAPLANgoesahead mdashBrianHendersonbranchsecretary

Mary Bluett branch president

AEUmembersaretobecongratulatedforyourstrongprofessionalandethicalstanceon

protectingschoolsstudentsandyourcommunitiesYoushouldcelebratethatitwasyourresolvethatforcedDeputyPrimeMinisterJuliaGillardtocometothetable

Itisasourceof extremefrustrationthatthisdisputewascompletelyavoidableif Gillardhadagreedtoaworkingpartylastyear

WhensheannouncedearlylastyearherintentiontosetupawebsitetheAEUcalledfortheprofessiontohaveinputintoitsdesignanddevelopmentSherefused

Sheclaimedexclusivecontrolinsistingshewouldensureldquotransparencyrdquoldquoshinealightrdquoonunderperformanceandholdschoolsldquoaccount-ablerdquo

AvisittoanyVictoriangovernmentschoolwebsitewouldhaveshownGillardthattranspar-encyandaccountabilityarenotherinventionTheyarewellestablishedhere

GiventheDPMrsquosrefusaltoengagetheprofes-sionAEUfederalconferenceinJanuaryputheronnoticethatunlesssheheededourgenuineconcernsNAPLAN2010wouldnotproceedConferencesetApril12asadeadlineSherefusedtomeet

OnApril12theAEUimposeditsmoratoriumtoforcetheMinistertonegotiateGillardmaintainedherpositionThesitewashersitwouldnotbechangedandshewouldnotdiscusstheissues

OnApril28inthefaceof anationwidemora-toriumandwiththedisputegatheringmomentumGillardfinallydecidedtotalktotheAEUexecutiveHerfirstwordsatthatmeetingwereldquoIamnotheretonegotiaterdquoSheproceededtogivealesson(viaPowerPoint)onhowwonderfulMySchoolwas

AsvariousstatecommissionsstartedtoissueordersonAEUbranchesitbecameclearthattheresolveof theprofessionwasnotweakening

Thebranchesdeclaredinthefaceof theordersandthreatsbytheemployersthatthe

moratoriumwouldstayinplaceuntilaprocesstoreviewthewebsitewasestablished

TherealisationthatNAPLANwouldnotbeimplementedacrossthenationfinallyresultedindiscussionbetweentheAEUandtheDPM

TheoutcomewasanofferbyGillardtosetupaworkingpartymdashwithAEUrepresentationmdashtoreviewandimproveMySchoolTheoperationsof thisworkingpartywillbebasedonasetof princi-plesincludingoppositiontotheestablishmentof

leaguetablesWehavemovedfromasituationwhereGillard

refusedtoacknowledgetherewereissuesrejectedaprocesstodealwiththoseissueswouldnotnegotiateandrejectedtheconceptof aworkingpartytoonewhereaworkingpartyhasbeenestab-lishedwithAEUrepresentation

ThatworkingpartymuststartitsworkquicklyasithasalottodobeforethewebsiteisupdatedinOctober

A LESSON in hubrisThe My School dispute could have been avoided if Julia Gillard had listened to the profession in the first place

2 Primarynewsletter|May2010

Alan Cooper Geoff Allen amp Staff

Level 3432 St Kilda Road Melbourne 3004

Visit us at wwwretireviccomau

Retirement Victoria is the AEUrsquos preferred provider of financial and retirement planning services to members

Retirement Victoria Pty Ltd is an authorised representative of Millennium3 Financial Services Pty Ltd AFSL 244252

AEU PREFERRED PROVIDERS

APPOINTMENTS (03) 9820 8088

Alan Cooper Geoff Allen amp Staff

Level 3432 St Kilda Road Melbourne 3004

Visit us at wwwretireviccomau

AEU PREFERRED PROVIDERS

APPOINTMENTS (03) 9820 8088Retirement Victoria is the AEUrsquos preferred provider of financial and retirement planning services to members

Retirement Victoria Pty Ltd is an authorised representative of Millennium3 Financial Services Pty Lts AFSL 244252

SEMINARS FOR TERM 2RV will hold the following seminars at the AEU Building (112 Trenerry Cres Abbotsford) on the following dates Retirement Seminar Saturday 29 May 2010 at 10am Aged Care Seminar Thursday 1 July 2010 at 10am Bookings Call Rhonda Webley on (03) 9418 4844Our seminars continue to emphasise the need for comprehensive strategies that take all relevant issues into account including personal objectives State Super benefits broader superannuation issues taxation and social security matters Find out how to ensure your retirement will be the best you have ever experienced

Carolyn Clancy vice president primary

WHILEteachershavebeenfocusedonthenationalagendaandmorerecentlyonNAPLAN

theVictorianParliamenthasbeenbusydebatingandamendingtheEducationandTrainingReformAct

Thefirstof threeBillsplannedinresponseto2008rsquosVITReviewhasnowbeenpassedbyparlia-ment

IhavepreviouslywrittenaboutthesechangesandtheAEUrsquosconcernsmdashthemainamendmentsinvolvereducingthesizeof thecouncilexpandingitsremittoinquireintoabroaderrangeof mattersintroducinghealthassessmentsandmedicalpanelsallowingtheVITtoinstigateprocedureswithoutcomplaintsandthevoluntarysuspensionorcancel-lationof registration

TheAEUacknowledgesomepositivesintheamendedbillelectedpositionshavebeenmain-tainedandthepaymentof feesmovedfromlateDecembertotheendof September

Howeveranumberof theamendmentsraisedeepconcernsinparticulartheabilityof theVITtoinvestigatebroadermattersandtheproceduresthatneedtobedevelopedtoconsidermatterswithoutcomplaint

WeareseekinginputintodevelopingadequateproceduresandguidelineswiththeVITTheamend-mentswillrequiretheAEUtomonitorcarefullytheimpactof thechanges

InadditiontothispackageafurtheramendmentbillisnowsittinginparliamentSomeof itsmeasuresinclude

bull Enlargingthefunctionsof theVITtoincludedevelopingstandardsforhigherlevelsof

professionalpracticebyteachersbull Streamliningthequalificationrequirementsfor

non-practisingteacherswhowishtoreturntofullregistration

bull Theintroductionof continuouspolicerecordchecksinlinewiththeWorkingWithChildrenassessment

bull Theinclusionof adverseoutcomesof discipli-naryactionontheinstitutersquospublicregister

WhiletheGovernmenthasbeenarguinginparliamentfortheneedtostreamlineVITfunctionssothattheinstituteismoreeffectiveandefficientitisatthesametimeexpandingtheinstitutersquosrolesandresponsibilities

OnemayaskwhoisgoingtopayfortheresourcesthatwillbeneededtofulfiltheseexpandedfunctionsItclearlyshouldnotbetheprofession

Alternative settings reviewErin Aulich deputy vice president secondary

THEEducationDepartmenthassaidthatengage-mentineducationforallchildrenandyoung

peopleof compulsoryschoolageisapriorityandthatVictoriawillprovideasociallyinclusiveeducationsystem

NowithasissuedPathwaystoRe-engagementThroughFlexibleLearningOptionsaworkingdocumentthathascomeoutof the2009reviewof alternativeeducation

Itdiscussestheneedtodeveloparobustpolicyframeworktoguidetheprovisionof educationtothosestudentsatriskof disengagingoralreadydisengagedfromeducation

Thepaperencouragesdiscussionand

feedbackthroughprincipalsalternativesettingsstaff andlocalstakeholdersThesesubmissionswillbecollatedbytheregionsandsubmittedtothedepartmentbyMay31TheAEUwillmakeasubmissionMembersarewelcometocontributeideastoJustinMullalyattheunion

Thecontinuumof optionscomprisesfourtiersbull Differentiatedprovisionof educationbull Targetedinitiativesbull Flexiblelearningoptionswithinschool

settingsandbull Flexiblelearningoptionsinseparateor

off-sitesettingsThepolicylooksatthreemainstudentoutcomes

studentlearningstudentengagementandwellbeingandstudentpathwaysandtransitions

Itsinitialfocusisonthegovernmentschoolsectorinordertoimproveflexiblelearningoptionstakingintoaccount

bull Linksbetweenprovisionof flexiblelearningoptionsandkeyelementsof schoolandnetworkstrategicplanning

bull Goodpracticeprinciplesbull Fivekeyfocusareas(skilledworkforce

accountabilitylocalsolutionspartnershipsandappropriatetargetingof resources)

bull Aconsistentfundingapproachandbull Timelinesandprocessesforreviewand

evaluationGreaterdetailcanbefoundintheconsultation

paperattinyccmh439(PDF)

New powers planned for VITAs one raft of amendments to the VIT passes into law another is introduced mdash but teachers must not be asked to foot the bill for a streamlined souped-up institute

wwwaeuvicasnau 3

THEsecondroundof theexitstrategyisnowunderwayTheperiodforexpressionsof interest

endedonApril27andallapplicationshavenowbeenassessedagainsttheeligibilitycriteria

Over200teachersexpressedinterestandof these192wereratedaseligible

TheEducationDepartmenthasinformedtheAEUthatapproximately60offerswillbemadeinthecomingweeks(midtolateMay)AnyonewhoacceptsanofferbyJune7willberequiredtoleavetheteachingservicebeforeJune25mdashthelastdayof term

Asinthefirstroundearlythisyearongoingstaff leavingtheprofessionwillbereplacedbyeligiblefixedtermemployeeseitherfromwithintheschoolorfromotherschools(throughanadvertised

expressionof interestprocess)Whenthesecondroundof thisprogramwas

announcedthedepartmentflaggedthatitmightconsidergivingschoolstheopportunitytofundthepackageoutof theirownbudgetsoncetheinitial60department-fundedoffershadbeenallocated

TheAEUhasexpresseditsstrongestoppositionmdashwedonotbelievethisisanappropriateuseof scarceschoolresourceswhichshouldbeusedforschoolprograms

Atthisstagethedepartmenthasnotnotifieduswhetheritwillpursuethiscourseof action

MemberswhoaremadeanoffershouldseekappropriatefinancialadvicebeforeacceptingitorringtheAEUforassistance

mdashMeredithPeacedeputybranchpresident

EXIT STRATEGY Applications flood in

OUTRAGE at Iranian teacherrsquos execution

THEAEUhaslearnedthatIranianteacherunionistFarzadKarmangar35wasoneof fivepeople

executedinsecretonMay9Sincehissentencingin2008theAEUhadsent

actionemailstomemberswheneverwereceivedreportshisexecutionwasimminentandinterna-tionaleffortswereabletopreventhisexecutionThistimetherewasnowarning

FarzadKamangaramemberof theTeachersrsquoUnionof Kurdistanwasaccusedof ldquoendangeringnationalsecurityrdquoandldquoenmityagainstGodrdquoandsentencedtodeathinashamtrialthatlastedlessthanfiveminutes

EducationInternationalgeneralsecretaryFredvanLeeuwensaidldquoWearealldeeplyshockedandsaddenedtohearthatFarzadhasbeenexecuted

ldquoHiscasewasparticularlytroublinghellipbecauseof theopaqueandsecretivemannerinwhichhistrialwasconductedthelackof basicrightshehadaccesstowhilstinprisonandthefactthatneitherhisfamilynorlegalrepresentativeswereinformedof hisexecutionrdquo

MemberscansendamessagetotheIranianauthoritiesprotestingabouthisexecutionandsupportingotherteacherunionistsstillinjailviatheLabourStartwebsitemdashgototinyccdhtmw

Going LIVE The Ultranet is here mdash but as the system rolls out across the state consultation will be the key to making sure it doesnrsquot increase workload and that staff get the training and support they need

Justin Mullaly vice president secondary

WITHthefirststageof theUltranetnowlaunchedschoolsacrossthestateatlasthave

accesstotheproductTherolloutisbeingstagedacrosseachnetwork

andthefirstreportsfrommembersarethatitisanimpressivepackagethatlooksthegoodswhenitcomestoanonlinelearningenvironment

Schoolsyettogetaccessarebeingencouragedtogetreadybyadvisingstaff of theUltranetrsquoscapa-bilitieslookingathowitcansupporttheprioritiessetoutintheirannualimplementationplanreviewtheirICTinfrastructureensurethatCASES21dataisasaccurateaspossibleandconsiderhowUltranettrainingandsupportaretobeincludedinstaff meetingsandprofessionallearningtime

Thedepartmentalsosuggeststhatstudentsandparentswillneedsupporttobuildtheirunder-standingof andconfidenceintheproduct

ThedepartmentrsquosUltranetwebsitehasplentyof informationandiscertainlyworthexploringmdashgototinycctb1ydYouwillneedyouredumaillogintogainaccess

Wecontinuetoholddiscussionswiththe

departmentoverarangeof issuesconnectedwiththeUltranetincludingpotentialworkloadincreasesteacher-student-parentcommunicationsresourcesthepaceof implementationatschoollevelcyber-securityandsafetyandtechnicalsupport

Onthesubjectof parentsthedepartmenthasmadeclearthattheirroleistomonitortheirchildrsquoslearningTeacherswillbeabletoinitiatedialoguewithparentsbutasdeputysecretaryof thedepartmentDarrellFrasersaidinoneof hisregularnewslettersldquoparentswillnotbeablecontactteachersdirectlythroughtheUltranetinterfacerdquo

ParentswillnothaveaccesstoteachersrsquoemailaddressesteacherswillneedtoexplicitlyinviteparentfeedbackordiscussionExamplesof parent-teachercontactinclude

bull Whenaparentbecomesamemberof aspecificcommunitywithintheschool(egschoolcouncilparentsandfriendsgrouporsportsclub)theUltranetwillenablethatcommunitytoshareinformationandholddiscussions

bull Whenateacherinvitesaparenttocommentonaspecificpieceof workbytheirchild

ItisalsobeenmadeclearthatschoolswilldeterminethepaceatwhichtheUltranetisimplementedateachschoolThePre-deploymentChecklistandAdvicedocumentencouragesprincipalsldquototailorUltranetimplementationtobeconsistentwiththe[schoolrsquos]goalsandpriorities

anddeterminethisusingtheirusualschool-basedconsultationprocessesrdquo

Of courseanyconsultationmusthavethedirectinputof theAEUsub-branchattheschool

SchoolsthataremostsuccessfulinintroducingtheUltranetwillbetheonesthattaketheirtimeandconsidertheinitiativeinthecontextof theoverallworkloadof staff

AstheUltranetbecomesavailabletoyourschoolitisessentialthatgenuineconsultationoccursthroughtheschoolrsquosconsultativecommitteeandotherforumssuchasstaff meetings

Consultativecommitteesshouldbeadvisingtheprincipalonarangeof mattersincluding

bull HowtheschoolwillusetheAugust9pupil-freeday

bull PlansfortheschoolrsquosUltranetprofessionallearningprogramincludingusingthetwohoursof scheduledmeetingtimeperweekprovidedforintheSchoolsAgreementforstaff tolearnaboutandgainconfidenceinusingthepackage

bull RelievingUltranetleadusersof somescheduleddutiestosupportcolleaguesinusingtheprogram

bull Reviewingtheschoolrsquosacceptableusepolicyforinternet(andnowUltranet)use

bull ImplementingtheUltranetatapacewhichrecognisescapacityof teacherstouseICTintheclassroomandtheirexistingworkload

4 Primarynewsletter|May2010

savings that soar

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Conditions apply Bonus interest of an additional 125 pa above the standard Online Saver Account interest rate is earned when no withdrawals are made and at least $200 is deposited in the calendar month Victoria Teachers Credit Union reserves the right to cease offering this product at any time The Online Saver - Bonus Rate Account will convert to the standard Online Saver Account (S99) on 31 December 2010 Existing Online Saver (S99) holders are not eligible to open the Online Saver - Bonus Rate (S89) Interest rate correct as at 17 May 2010 Check website for current rates This information does not take into account your objectives financial situation or needs Therefore you should firstly consider the appropriateness of this information and refer to the Terms and Conditions before acquiring a product These documents are available at our branches or by contacting us on 1300 654 822

Send your savings soaring with 125 pa in bonus interestWith our Online Saver - Bonus Rate Account you can earn up to

615 panNo account keeping fees nFunds available at call

Call 1300 654 822 or visit wwwvicteachcomau

The Federal Governmentrsquos overhaul of schools funding will be the best chance in a generation to get a fair deal for public education But the campaign will require every member to play their part

Funding review begins

Meredith Peace deputy branch president

THEAEUlauncheditsfederalschoolsfundingcampaignmdashPublicEducationforourFuturemdash

attheNationalPublicEducationForuminCanberrainlateMarchOurfocusnowmovesfederallyfromNAPLANtoacampaignthatwillbeincrediblyimportantforthefutureof publiceducationinthiscountry

ThiscampaignisaboutbringingallteachersandparentstogethertomakeadifferenceWeneedstrongwellresourcedpublicschoolstoensurethateveryfamilyhasaccesstoaneducationof thehighestqualityintheircommunityandtomakesureallchildrengettheeducationtheydeservetoachievetheirfullpotential

Investinginpublicschoolsisthekeytoastrongereconomyamoreskilledworkforceandaprosperousandsociallycohesivesociety

Schools fundingCurrentlytheFederalGovernmentsharesrespon-sibilitywithstateandterritorygovernmentsforfundingschoolswithmoneyprovidedbothforongoingoperationsof schoolsandforthecapitalworksthatschoolsneed

AccordingtoOECDreportsAustralialagsbadlybehindotherdevelopedcountriesmdashourgovernmentwouldneedtoincreasefundingbyaround$6billionayeartobringittotheaverageof thedevelopednationsOverthepast13yearsthebiggestproblemhasbeenthelackof fundingprovidedbytheFederalGovernment

Inadditionovertwo-thirdsof childrenattendgovernmentschoolsyetreceiveonlyonethirdof theFederalGovernmentrsquosrecurrentspendingThisequatesto$1051perpublicschoolstudentcomparedto$4515perprivateschoolstudent(sourceProductivityCommissionReport)

ClearlytheFederalGovernmentrsquosfundingsystemisfundamentallyflawedandneedstobeoverhauledtodeliverabetterdealforpublicschools

The reviewTheFederalMinisterforEducationJuliaGillardannouncedon15Aprilthatthefirstreviewof schoolfundingarrangementssince1973wouldstartthisyearandconcludein2011

TheGovernmentiscurrentlyconsultingonitstermsof referenceandtheAEUwillbeinvolvedinthisprocessThediscussionpapercanbedown-loadedattinycce2adx(PDF)

ThepaperstatesldquoThereviewrsquosrecommen-dationsshouldbedirectedtowardsachievingafundingsystemfortheperiodbeyond2012whichistransparentfairfinanciallysustainableandeffectiveinpromotingexcellenteducationaloutcomesforallAustralianstudentsrdquo

Thereviewwillexaminebull HowallAustraliarsquosschoolsarecurrently

fundedbull Improvementstothedistributionof resources

towheretheyareneededmosttoraiseachievementandnarrowthegapscausedbydisadvantageandotherfactors

bull Whatinvestmentsinschoolingworkwellandwhatcanbeimproved

Thepaperalsooutlinesotherissuestoconsiderincluding

bull Thecostof educatingastudenttoworldclasseducationalstandards

bull Waystoincreasethesimplicitytransparencyandeffectivenessof funding

bull Whetherabasicentitlementforeverystudentisrequired

bull Thebestwaytomeetthecostsof specificfactorssuchasindigeneitylocationdisabilityandsocio-economicdisadvantage

bull Cost-effectivefundingbull Lessonstobelearnedfromfundingarrange-

mentsoverseasandinAustraliaespeciallythoseinhigh-performingsystems

bull Compositionof fundingincludingteachingcapitalandothercosts

bull Indexationbull Theplaceof voluntaryandprivatecontribu-

tionsandfeesbull Appropriatepublicaccountabilityforschools

receivingpublicfundsThedrafttermsof referenceareopenforpubliccommentuntiltheendof MayandafinalversionisexpectedtobeannouncedbyJune2010

Public education mdash for our futureTheAEUcampaignisacommunity-basedcampaignwithanumberof broadaims

bull Todeliverafundingmodelbasedonneednotentitlement

bull Toenhancepartnershipswithparentgroupsotherkeystakeholdersandlocalstateandnationalpoliticiansforlong-termsupportof governmentschools

bull TogeneratesubmissionstothereviewfromallgovernmentschoolsinAustralia

InVictoriawewillalsobefocusingonanumberof targetedfederalseatswhichincludeDeakinLatrobeMcEwenCorangamite(allmarginal)andLalor(theEducationMinisterrsquosseat)

Asthiswillverymuchbeacommunitygrass-rootscampaigntherewillbeavarietyof activitiesthatmemberswillbeaskedtobeinvolvedinsuchasletterboxingcommunitymeetingslobbyinglocalMPsanduseof freeandpaidmedia

AllAEUmembersshouldregisterattheForourFuturecampaignwebsitemdashwwwforourfutureorgauforregularupdatesandactivitiesyoucanbeinvolvedin