Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave is Now Law

After a decade of unions campaigning for 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave, the new Labor Federal Government has passed legislation to enshrine the right of access for all workers. While successive Coalition Governments refused to support this paid leave, IEU together with …

Catholic EA Pre-vote Q&A Zoom Sessions for members

Decade-old warnings of teacher shortages are now a reality.

Teachers in Australia have had enough. Teacher unions representing members in New South Wales government and non-government schools have taken joint strike action on 30 June. IEU NSW/ACT Secretary Mark Northam said: “Staff shortages and sinking salaries mean teachers and support staff are really struggling. …

What is ‘gender blind’ parental leave and why should you care?

For the first time, the (new) Catholic Enterprise Agreement (EA) recognises the right for any primary carer—no matter their gender—to take paid and unpaid parental leave. Tim Oosterbaan, IEU(SA) Deputy Secretary, takes a look at which school/sector has this provision and explains why it’s important. …

Social media and dismissal. Watch what you say and do online.

What you say and do on social media may affect your employment. Whether you believe social media is a private or public sphere may not change the actions that can be taken against you if your posts breach school policies or the law. An article …

A Profusion of Vaccination Policies

With the rescinding of the vaccination mandate in South Australian schools on 31 March, it was no longer unlawful to work in a school whilst unvaccinated. The health message however contained mixed signals, in that, on one hand mandates had outlived their usefulness but on …

Voice Care: a teacher’s voice is a tool of their trade

A teacher’s voice sets the tone and environment for the entire classroom in terms of engagement, behavior, and rapport with students. Teachers are more than twice as likely as non-teachers to have voice problems and about three times more likely to see a doctor about …

Reading builds resilience among at-risk kids

As society moves towards the endemic stage of COVID, parents and schools return to a lifestyle that resembles more closely the pre-COVID era: less infections and transmittal, face-to-face learning, sports, play and activities. The effect of COVID on children and their academic, emotional and physical …

Workplace sexual harassment is a health and safety risk

In March 2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission (Australia’s national human rights institution) published its Respect@Work Report, making 55 recommendations to the Commonwealth Government (as well as states and territories, employers and industry groups) to prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace. The focus …

IEU(SA) Branch Executive Election – Nominations now open

Nominations are called for: – Branch Secretary (1) – Deputy Secretary (1) – Ordinary Members (11) – Branch Delegates to Federal Council (3) Read the Election Notice in full – click here Nominations, which must be in writing and comply with the registered rules of …