From The Point: Reps talk about the deal

Hear from the experts on the ground. Pam Harrison, Loreto College; Fiona Wright, Avila College; Geoff Martin, Mount Clear College; and Marie-Claire Anastasiadis, Ave Maria College, discuss new workload arrangements, and the new school year.

Reps Pam Harrison, Fiona Wright, Geoff Martin and Marie-Claire Anastasiadis.

What workload measure in the proposed Agreement means the most for you and why?

PM There are two areas related to workload measures in the proposed Agreement that genuinely excite me. The first is greater autonomy for teachers. The proposed measures which acknowledge and respect the dedication, professionalism and experience of teachers genuinely raise the possibility of teachers having greater capacity to use their time appropriately and have their decisions and activities supported. The other measure is time in lieu. This is ground breaking! For so long teachers have sacrificed family and personal time without recompense and sometimes even acknowledgement. This provision in the new proposed agreement will allow teachers to regain some time to use as they see fit. This is appropriate and long overdue for teachers, who are hardworking, highly qualified professionals.

FW The reduction in scheduled class time has been a significant acknowledgment of the workload issues of teachers. This job has changed over the years and the administrative demands have increased dramatically. By reducing SCT teachers have won back some of the time they have lost on all this administration – including compliance modules.

GM I think the reduction of face-to-face teaching allows for teachers extra time to attend to all the many facets of preparation, assessment, reporting and communication with families. It provides recognition that much careful planning and preparation is required outside of the classroom in order for the classroom to operate effectively.

MCA Just one! It’s too hard to pick!

I love the reduction in face-to-face teaching time in that it now gives me an extra hour of planning my classes or writing personalised learning plans.

I love the idea of having a clearly regulated working week in the 30 + 8 model. I feel like there is finally some recognition of the excessive hours that teachers have been working and we now have an attempt at trying to bring back a positive work-life balance through regulated work hours. I appreciate that in the early stages of implementation there is going to be lots of consultation required but it is an extremely positive step forward in clarifying the working week.

No extras in 2025! I’ve been teaching since 2001 and this is going to be a huge game changer! There is nothing worse than coming to work and finding out you have an extra in the morning that you didn’t plan for.

What is the best thing that has occurred for you in Term 1 at your school?

PM Our school has a larger number of new staff than usual, and it’s been great to see their enthusiasm for school life at Loreto and the good “vibes” they sense from students and existing staff. Coupled with this positivity from incoming staff, many staff members who’ve come from non-Catholic schools have already expressed their intention to join the Union. There is a real sense of the Union being a useful and positive collective to be a part of at our school. 

FW Being able to have whole school events again – the Opening School Mass and the High Achievers Assembly.

GM With COVID restrictions lifted, it has been lovely to have parents and families attend events at school again. Our opening school Mass and welcome BBQ night was a great success and opportunity for staff, students, and families to come together.

AMC One of the best things that has happened to me is taking on a new POL. I’m loving the challenge and working in a new environment with fantastic colleagues.

From an agreement perspective, I love that we have already had our meetings reduced to only Mondays and Wednesdays (if you’re not a POL holder or in a committee). I’m also fortunate to have already had my face-to-face time reduced without shaving time off classes.

What is the most positive reaction you’ve had from a colleague to the new workload arrangements?

PM The responses I have had have been largely positive about the proposed workload alterations, in principle. However, there are concerns about how the changes will be implemented. It’s how the changes are implemented within schools that will determine the long-term benefits for both staff and students. 

FW Lots of loud clapping when it was announced that we would no longer have any extras in 2025!

GM The introduction of TIL (time-in lieu) for approved school activities.  

AMC Most staff have commented positively on the removal of extras from 2023. There’s also been lots of discussion about time-in-lieu as a way of recognising the out-of-hours commitments teachers make by attending camp, participating in co-curricular activities as well as presentation nights and parent-teacher conferences. Most staff are keen to see how TIL will play out, particularly in MACS schools.