Spotlight on Reps

Brittany Traish

Aspect Macarthur School, Cobbitty

Brittany Traish is a co-rep at Aspect Macarthur School in Cobbitty, where she supports students from Years 3 to 6.

“I’ve always loved working with children, and I’ve always also had a special interest in working with kids with special needs and disabilities,” said Brittany, who’s been a teacher aide for about nine years.

“A lot of the students we work with could get left behind, so it’s important to work with them and help them learn.”

Brittany said she enjoys working in the classroom and watching her students grow brings her joy. “I just love being able to help people and make a difference,” she said.

While Brittany loves her work, she says it can also be stressful at times. “It can be mentally and physically draining, including dealing with difficult behaviours,” she said.

Yet teacher aides at Aspect schools are paid less than their counterparts in NSW government schools and Catholic systemic schools.

“Our job can be really difficult, so it seems only fair that we’re paid at the same level they are,” Brittany said. The IEU is currently campaigning to improve pay and conditions for teacher aides in Aspect schyools.

A union member for several years, Brittany became the rep after attending a union meeting at her school when the current rep, a teacher, asked for a teacher aide to become a union rep.

“I thought, you know, these issues are something I believe in, and I want to help,” Brittany said.

Since then she’s supported her colleagues in various matters. “People sometimes don’t feel confident enough to speak up for themselves, so it’s good to be a voice for those people as well.

Outside of work, Brittany is a keen skateboarder and a martial artist.

“I skate with my mum, who’s almost 60,” Brittany said. “We started skating together roughly three years ago.” The pair share videos on Instagram (@2girlssk8) where they have more than 11,000 followers.

And just last year, Brittany took out a world championship in the World Koshiki Karate Tournament. “My dad’s an instructor, so I’ve grown up in it,” she said.

Kristine Bygott
Aspect Central Coast School, Terrigal

Kristine Bygott is a teacher aide at Aspect Central Coast School’s Senior College, which caters for 36 students on the autism spectrum.

The Senior College offers the HSC as well as community access and work experience programs for students who, for example, can take a barista course then apply their skills in the school’s coffee van.

Students also have the opportunity to gain experience working in a florist and cat hotel.

“I take a group on a Tuesday to a cafe, and students either work in the kitchen, clean the tables or make milkshakes,” Kristine said.

Kristine said it was wonderful to see students using their skills to gain employment after school.

“We have a really high morale among staff,” she said. “But the unfair pay situation for teacher aides is contentious.”

Aspect teacher aides are paid substantially less than their counterparts in NSW government and Catholic systemic schools.

The union has raised concerns with the employer about low pay for teacher aides and the failure to pay them for working additional hours or performing higher duties.

Kristine said rep training for Aspect staff had given her “a big sense of camaraderie”.

Kristine is the only Aspect teacher aide rep on the Central Coast, so “to be around like-minded people is really beneficial”.

An IEU member since 2013, Kristine joined the union because of the protection it offers. She put up her hand to be a rep after witnessing the union successfully resolve a colleague’s workplace issue.

“The most challenging part of being a rep is just trying to get more members on board,” she said.

Outside of work, Kristine has recently become an empty nester. She has
also welcomed a new addition to her family – a border collie puppy called Ellie.

“I love her more than my children and my husband,” Kristine joked. “We love taking the puppy away on holidays to go fishing.”

Natalie Cosh
Aspect Port Macquarie Campus

Natalie Cosh is the rep at Aspect Port Macquarie Campus, which provides autism-specific education programs. There are about 70 students and 35 staff at the school.

Natalie was a teacher’s aide in Aspect primary school for 16 years and is now supporting secondary school students at the Aspect high school site.

Natalie’s career in autism education began almost by chance when she was doing some casual work in schools. Encouraged by a colleague, she joined Aspect and quickly discovered she’d found her calling.

“I’ve just had a passion for it, I have a lot of interest in kids with autism,” Natalie said.

“It starts with recognising that every person experiences the world differently. I just love it, I love being there, I love seeing results.”

While Natalie has worked with many students, one in particular stands out. She first worked with this student when he was in kindergarten; now he’s in Year 12.

While the student was once non-verbal, he has gradually developed language and communication skills. This year, Natalie is working with him in the school’s agriculture program and supporting him for work experience at the Port Macquarie Willing & Able Charity Shop.

“I was with him in his first class, and I’m with him in his last class, and that’s been amazing,” she said.

Natalie stepped up into the rep’s role last year. “I hope that I can make a difference,” she said.

Her commitment to her school and its students is strong. “The school has been like a second home to me,” she said.

But staff have been disappointed by pay outcomes and a lack of recognition for the work they do, particularly for teacher aides.

“We want to be on par with other schools,” she said. “We just want to feel valued. We are on the ground every day making a difference to our students’ lives. We are the ones making them successful. We just want fair pay.”

Outside work, Natalie, who comes from Cardiff in Wales, is close to finishing a Diploma in Counselling, an interest that grew from working with students who have experienced trauma and complex needs. She has completed trauma-informed courses and a Certificate IV in Mental Health along with lived experiences.

“I’d love the opportunity to do some counselling with teenagers,”
she said.

Natalie is also considering volunteering with Lifeline, which also requires extensive training. “Just helping to save someone,” she said. “You’ve got to hope you’ve made a difference.”