IEU(SA) – Reps of the year…
The IEU Rep’s role is vital to the IEU’s work protecting members’ rights and entitlements and, as such, the role comes with certain rights and responsibilities.
Jenny and Jon have been very active Reps for the IEU and have participated as part of the 2020 Catholic EA Bargaining Team to ensure members in schools are well-represented. The IEU will present Jenny and Jon with their Award early 2021.
We asked Jenny and Jon to write a ‘bio’ so that our members understand their experience and journey.
Rep Bio – Jenny Johnson, Sacred Heart College – Champagnat Campus
My name is Jenny Johnson and I am a secondary- trained specialist teacher with thirty years’ experience working across primary and secondary settings in both the Catholic and Public school sectors. I am currently employed at Sacred Heart College, Champagnat Campus, and am studying my Master in Education (Gifted Education) through Flinders University. I am a Union Representative, an active member of my school’s Consultative Committee and am a staff Contact Officer.
I have been a member of the IEUSA since being employed within the Catholic sector, am presently a participant in both the IEU Women and Leadership Program and IEUSA Equity Committee.
I am the proud mother of two beautiful children and enjoy spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, art galleries, and museums, and travelling if the opportunity arises.
Being on the Catholic Bargaining Team is an honour and of great importance to me, as I understand the significance of the role and ensuring our members receive a fair and equitable agreement that is reflective of teaching and life today. I am excited to participate in this process as it progresses, as our approach is both contemporary, collaborative and pro-active.
I also understand the implications of ‘time’ in our profession and the effect it has on the students that we teach, the curriculum that we deliver, the ever increasing expectations of our jobs, the interactions and collaboration with colleagues and the impact on the family that we go home to. It is vital that a balance is achieved to benefit our students and ensure that they are receiving the best holistic education that we can deliver.
Rep Bio – Jon Shriver – St Columba College
I’ve been working as an ESO at St Columba College in Andrews Farm since 2001.
I was originally hired for the role of Purchasing Officer but that position grew until I am now in charge of the College database systems (Synergetic and SEQTA), Middle & Senior School Relief Teacher Scheduling, and several other miscellaneous duties (purchasing included).
The nature of my role demands that I be well-organised in using my time, and, at the same time, being extremely conscious of the impositions I place on teaching staff and their not-in-class time in allocating them relief lessons and duties.
Having been an IEU Branch Rep has made me keenly aware of the issues surrounding non-contact time and its close relationship to the quality of learning we can expect to see in class.
While providing Professional Learning in the area of time management and the development of healthy work habits is helpful, daily reality makes many more demands on educators that require more than a band-aid solution.
This is why I am putting my hand up to be part of the Enterprise Bargaining Team and the process that, hopefully, will result in an improved teaching load for educators in the Catholic Schools’ workplace.
If you would like to know more about being an IEU Rep for your school, visit our Reps page here
