Editorial

In our sector we often ask: How can we build education systems and schools which nurture excellence, fairness, and compassion? How do we create great cultures?

To achieve healthy cultures requires both big picture thinking about national policies and local action which enacts meaningful changes in workplaces.

Matt Cameron, the subject of our In Focus profile (read here), does both. He’s an ex-teacher who is now CEO of the National Rugby League’s champion club, where he’s built a connection to community while using serving teachers to mentor players.

This edition of IE does something similar – taking both a broad look at major issues and focusing on specific topics which affect education staff. Think of it as using both the telescope and the microscope.

Telescope: (read here) we examine how history informs schools and unions. We also report how students are taking a renewed interest in history following the epoch-shaking pandemic (read here).

Our pieces on teacher representation on education authorities (read here), AI in education (read here), education reforms (read here) and what makes an effective school leader (read here) examine issues which will shape the future of education.

There is no bigger issue than our relationships with First Nations Australians. On (read here), we report on the development of the IEUA NSW/ACT Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Microscope: Our articles on learning difficulties and language disorders (read here), academic support for girls (read here) and teaching podcasts (read here) offer informative essentials on classroom practice.

In A Day in the Life (read here) we meet Narelle Ryall, a teachers aide in an Aspect Autism school.

We trust this mixture of big ideas and practical information is as stimulating to read as it was to compile, and that your school’s culture is informed by the macro and the micro.

David Brear Secretary

IEUA Victoria and Tasmania Branch