We now find ourselves preparing for a new school year, new challenges, new classes and hopefully a successful and stress free time.
Unfortunately we start the year where we left off last year, with no new developments in our negotiations regarding our agreement.
Meeting with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) continue so let’s hope that some positive outcomes will emerge and we can get on with our work without further disruption.
As with every year we have several teachers and their families who have headed overseas as part of our successful teacher exchange program.
They will spend the next 12 months living and teaching in schools, becoming part of the local community and culture, traveling and generally experiencing the opportunity of a lifetime.
At the end of the year they will return to Australia full of praise, stories to share and the promise to return at a later date to do it all again. I wish them all the very best for a successful, safe and enriching year and look forward to their return. I would also like to welcome back all the teachers and families who have just returned from their year abroad and hope that they can settle back into their schools and share their experiences, photos and memories.
I am sure that they will bring some exciting new teaching ideas to their students and colleagues.
I encourage chapters to hold meetings to organise chapter reps and committees for the coming year.
It will be a busy year and an active rep is a very important person to keep members informed and engaged with the IEU.
Branch meetings are also planned for February and attendance at these meetings is a valuable way to keep informed and to air any issues that you may be experiencing in your workplace.
I thank all reps working in their schools. This is often not a pleasant job, but can also be a rewarding one, so get involved and put your hand up if your school does not yet have a rep.
I wish you all a good year, be active, use our website to keep up to date and don’t be afraid to contact your IEU organiser if you need advice on any issues related to your employment.
A special welcome to all of our support staff members who work so hard in our schools whether in the office, in the classroom, as science assistants, kitchen assistants and library assistants.
Your work is appreciated by all and your membership is valued. I encourage you to become involved. You are part of the chapter so attend meetings and voice your concerns and opinions.
I look forward to working alongside you again throughout 2015.