As part of the IEU’s commitment to protecting and advancing workplace equity and inclusion, regional women’s gatherings are important opportunities for members to discuss issues and concerns and have access to quality professional input.
Following successful regional gatherings earlier this year at Bathurst, Nowra, Newcastle and Gosford, recent IEU women’s forums have been held at:
• Ballina on 5 August with guest speakers Dr Angela Coco, social researcher from Southern Cross University and author of Catholics, Conflicts and Choices and Susi Muddiman, Director of the Tweed River Art Gallery
• Port Macquarie on 7 August with guest speaker Associate Professor Pep Serow, University of New England and Director of the Nauru Teacher Education Project, and
• Armidale on 21 August with guest speakers Associate Professor Amanda Kennedy from the University of New England and local Armidale building designer and artist Kylie Mitchell.
These have been well attended events with a diversity of principal, teacher and support staff members present from Catholic and independent schools. IEU regional women’s forums are registered professional development for the maintenance Proficient teacher accreditation in NSW.
Key issues identified by participants at the recent forums have included access to flexible work arrangements after maternity leave and for elder care, and concerns about expanding workload expectations in areas such as SALT and the maintenance of RE accreditation in the Catholic sector.
Participants have welcomed the provision in the new Catholic systemic enterprise agreement (EA) that employer required PD is to be conducted in ‘designated school time’.
Members also expressed their strong concern about the Abbott Government’s move to restrict access to the Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Scheme. Many IEU members could lose the full PPL amount of $11, 824 if the proposed legislation is endorsed by the Senate. The IEU is therefore strongly supporting the ACTU’s campaign to protect access to PPL for women whose employers also provide some paid maternity leave, noting that this was the original intention of the 2010 Paid Parental Leave Act.
The next scheduled IEU regional women’s forum is on 21 October at Nepean Rowing Club at Penrith with guest speaker Susan Templeman, a Blue Mountains area community activist.
Preliminary planning is also underway for next year’s IEU Women’s Conference which will be held on 19 August 2016.