These included:
Jenni Payne (Sydney Archdiocese Eastern Region) on Long Service Leave pending retirement
Doug Garnett moving from the Armidale Diocese to the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese
Peter Webster moving from the Canberra-Goulburn Archiocese to the Parramatta Diocese
Peter Murphy ‘travelling north’ from the Lismore Diocese to Queensland, and
Pauline Walkom on secondment from her school in Dubbo to a role with Bathurst CEO’s Dubbo office.
Special appreciation is extended to Sidonie Coffey, Peter Galvin, Des Fox and Jude Ryan for their leadership roles in Principals’ Branch and to Lou Single and Louise O’Sullivan for their representation of principals at IEU Council.
Regional principals’ gatherings are valuable occasions for the IEU to listen to the issues and concerns of principals in these areas. The IEU has appreciated the opportunity to participate in principals’ gatherings in Forbes on 27 October, in Mulwala in the Wagga Wagga Diocese on 29 October and with Broken Bay principals on 30 October. Further Term 4 meetings included ACT primary principals on 20 November, Armidale Diocese principals on 21 November and in Wollongong coming up on 11 December.
At the 1 November Branch meeting, IEU Professional Development Officer Amy Cotton provided an update on the NSW Teacher Accreditation legislation and the implications for principals and teachers. The IEU will provide further details as they become available from BOSTES. Amy also emphasised the IEU’s support for the maintenance of accreditations via PIPs and also the Union’s engagement with the Teacher Learning Network.
In the Catholic systemic sector, the Union acknowledges the challenges faced by principals during the current enterprise agreement (EA) dispute and thanks them for their great support for their colleagues. With regard to progressing an EA for principals, the IEU met with CCER on 24 October and 11 November. While significant aspects of the principals’ EA (such as leave provisions) probably can’t be concluded until the teacher and support staff agreement is finalised, the 24 October meeting was useful in raising Catholic employer awareness of current and emerging issues facing principals, including the needs of principals in rural and regional areas.
In the independent schools sector, there was an overall strong ‘yes’ vote for the multi-enterprise agreement and the IEU will follow up with those schools which voted ‘no’ to seek to progress the best possible outcome. Negotiations have been continuing for EAs in the Christian and Adventist sectors. An IEU teleconference for independent school principals was held on 16 October.
The IEU encourages principal member to engage with the Union via regional events in metropolitan and rural areas, via Principals’ Branch and IEU Council.
The 2015 Principals’ Branch AGM is scheduled for 14 February, with other proposed dates being 2 May, 1 August and 7 November. These will be confirmed at the AGM.