Introducing Myself

I see the primary roles of the union as:

• the invigoration of the membership to unite, protect, and enhance working conditions,
• speaking authoritatively on professional issues which are the essence of teaching in all sectors
• continuing to fight for social justice and equity in the wider Australian political context.
  

This all means that the union must remain united, and continue to get its strength from the active participation of its more experienced through to its most recent members. I am excited by the prospect of finding new ways to campaign, and harnessing the talents and experiences of our more seasoned campaigners.

I also believe it is essential that the NSWTF continues to ensure that women are properly represented at all levels of the union.

I am grateful for the support I have received throughout my time as an officer, and now seek support to continue meeting the challenges of this union's work in a new capacity. I welcome the opportunity to put before you my experience in representation and negotiation.

For many years, the Public Education Campaign, with which I am closely involved, has been an example of a campaign where my capacity as an activist-researcher and public communicator have enabled me to take a leadership role. This has included addressing members and the wider community via Sky Channel, developing and delivering trade union training components as well as negotiating with DET and Government and making media comment.

Currently, working on the Students@Work campaign, which began with the release at Annual Conference of the report “You’re Gold…If You’re 15 Years Old”, I am helping to lead new ways of communicating and involving members and the wider community, in an issue deeply affecting the students we teach.

Some of what I can offer to the position:

• Extensive experience in representation and negotiation at Departmental and Ministerial level
• Country and city, permanent and casual (including primary) teaching experience (Economics, Geography, Commerce, Aboriginal Studies, Teacher-Librarian), including DSP schools (as well as elected Federation Rep on regional and State DSP committee)
• Direct experience in fighting implementation of Tory educational policies, eg fighting off “opting out” as National Union of Teachers Rep in England
• Sixteen years (1979 – 1994 inclusive) of combined teaching and Federation activism, including positions of Fed Rep, Women’s Contact, and many Association positions
  Track record as a collaborative worker who, as an Officer, has taken part in major campaigns, negotiations, and industrial cases, including annual school reporting, salaries campaigns, supervision disputes, assessment and reporting, including ELLA and Basic Skills tests, global budgets, value-added data, league tables, reform of the HSC, school reviews, the national public education campaign, and the campaign for betterments in early childhood (preschool) education in NSW.
• Dedication to the future vitality and relevance of the Federation and the union movement, in the face of the onslaught of attack from governments.
• Proven success as an activist-researcher and public communicator, including through meetings of all sizes, Sky Channel, and in writing.