New reps, unprecedented challenges
This was not an easy year to start out as a Rep. Here, some new Reps share how they performed their duties in another year dominated by lockdowns and remote learning.
Julie Previtera, Holy Child Dallas
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
Not being onsite limited opportunities to meet with members or to be relatively available to them if they had a concern. So needing a new approach, correspondence was through email or phone. Face-to-face is so much more informative and welcoming.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
The gratitude from members. That I was trusted and respected with personal concerns, and the appreciation of outcomes. Hoping I have made work-life easier for some, especially during these unpredictable times.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
To be proactive and to check in with members with concerns. That it is important to understand and empathise with the perspectives and reasoning of all parties to a situation. To be prepared.
What was the funniest or most unexpected thing that happened to you as a Rep this year?
PENS, pens and more pens. Just about every member I gave an IEU pen to commented on how they are one of the greatest/easiest pens to write with. And that they were happy to take more than one. That has got to be irrefutable data on how good the pens are, we all know how much writing goes on in schools.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education? Why?
I am a music person, so perhaps am more inclined to list songs that have resonated with teaching, and the titles, rather than the song content, that are indicative of why: I say a little prayer by Aretha Franklin; School Days, Chuck Berry; One More Cup Of Coffee, Bob Dylan; The Nips are Getting Bigger, Mental as Anything; Ain't no Mountain High Enough, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Julie Previtera
Rian Prestwich, St Catherine’s Berwick
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
The biggest challenge was being unable to meet face-to-face to discuss grievances or chat with members. There is nothing better than sitting down with someone and chatting and this was removed from us. Also, being new to the school and having a large member base meant it was harder to establish good connections with members.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
Taking staff feedback onboard and seeing a change which results in positive feedback. We, like many schools, were still trying to find the best 'onsite supervision' roster which took into account FTE and fairness. After some feedback to leadership, there was a change that made members happy and promoted the ongoing relationship between the union and leadership.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
That some conversations are venting and some require an answer. I was introduced to the statement, "Do you want me to listen or do you want advice", and I have used this on a few occasions. I am very much a solution-orientated discusser which doesn't always work for people who just want to vent.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education?
A short video, which I highly recommend to have a laugh at is Substitute Teacher Mr Garvy by College Humour. A film I like is Bad Teacher – not due to the title or the premise but purely because it makes me laugh.
Rian Prestwich
Nathan Sampson, St Anthony's Melton South
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
Looking out for union and other members of staff without being able to see them. It was difficult to understand their thoughts and feelings behind a screen.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
When union members came to me for advice or question. It was comforting knowing I was seen as the one that could help.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
I’ve learnt more about policy and rights of teachers and the education sector.
What was the funniest or most unexpected thing that happened to you as a Rep this year? The funniest thing to happen as Rep was when people turned up to my meetings!
Nikki Melilli, St Dominic's School, Melton
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
The biggest challenge in taking on the role in the middle of the pandemic was not being able to converse with staff face-to-face and introduce myself as their IEU rep. To be honest I still haven't had the chance to because of the amount of work everyone has on at the moment in Term 4. Hopefully 2022 will be a far better year than the last two.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
The biggest satisfaction I've had this year is being the first LSO at my school to be voted as IEU Rep by my fellow co-workers. When I joined the union back in 2016, I always assumed it was a teaching staff position.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
By being an IEU Rep I've learnt to be a lot more proactive. I'm looking forward to doing the training in 2022 so I can be better in the role of IEU Rep.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education? And why?
I don't read books on education. I love to read, for me reading is better than watching a movie or series on Netflix (much to my students’ disgust hahaha). Reading is my downtime, so I choose books that transport me to happy and interesting places.
Steve Lewis, Brighton Grammar
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
The biggest challenge I faced as an IEU Rep was being able stay informed, connect and chat with colleagues about workplace issues during the pandemic lockdown.
I gained the most satisfaction from being able to discuss the merits and benefits of IEU membership with colleagues who were contemplating then became new members.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
I gained invaluable information and advice about being a Rep from Branch Organisers and other Reps through initially attending a New Rep Orientation Zoom session and Rep Council Zoom sessions during the year.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
I wasn’t expecting to be contacted by so many colleagues who were non-members asking for advice and IEU assistance with workplace issues. There was a common misconception that IEU membership was linked to VIT membership.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education? And why?
My favourite teaching/education themed films are The Blind Side and School of Rock.
Melanie Lindsay, St Agatha’s Cranbourne
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
Supporting members with their queries, not being able to have a meet and greet with union members on staff. Encouraging new members.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
Helping out a couple of staff members that needed assistance by directing them to mt Organiser.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
You need to be diplomatic and not create situations with an “us and them” mentality.
Melinda Watson, St John's School, Euroa
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
The unprecedented, ever-evolving nature of the pandemic.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
I do enjoy having professional discussions with colleagues, mostly! I think it's an important part of working in a team and I'm looking forward to having these discussions more often in the future.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
Our rep contact at the union is always very helpful.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education?
I'm new to teaching art and I've been teaching PE for a long period of time. Kate Hart's Art Skills Handbook F-6 has really been a great guide and continual reference point for me.
Melinda Watson
Sarah Collins, Assumption College
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
Communication was perhaps the biggest challenge this year. You never quite realise just how valuable conversations in the hall and playground are to get a feel for how the staff are feeling about issues. Trying to keep your finger on the pulse of the school during lockdown was very hard.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
This was my first year as Rep in Victoria with the IEU, I previously I was a Rep with the NSW Teacher’s Federation, and I found getting my head around a new award was confusing at times. Thankfully my Organiser was always there to help me clarify things.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
Negotiating the expectations of the leadership team and the staff was a huge learning curve for me. There were definitely times I trod on a few toes, but I’m learning fast.
What was the funniest or most unexpected thing that happened to you as a Rep this year?
It’s been such a tough year and I have at many times felt I haven’t been able to support the staff as I would like, but a really pleasant surprise is when members have come up to me and said I was doing a great job as Rep even though I have not felt I was doing enough.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education?
My favourite education book is Free to Learn by Peter Gray. Grounded in evolutionary psychology it totally revaluates what getting an education looks like, how one becomes educated and who our education system should be designed for. This will make you see education and your students in a totally new way.
Nicola Bailey, St Thomas the Apostle, Cranbourne East
What was the biggest challenge in taking on your role in the middle of the pandemic?
My biggest challenge this year has been getting to know the staff. I am new to my school and not being able to be on site, chat in the staff room and have staff meetings face-to-face has meant it has taken me a long time to work out who is who. In fact, I am still working on it.
What gave you the most satisfaction as a Rep this year?
Creating a safe place for staff to talk about things has given me a lot of satisfaction this year. We have had a sub-branch meeting each term and discussed lots of things. This has given me a chance to meet our members. Having a few new members join this year has also been great.
What have you learnt about being a Rep?
Being a Rep is all about bringing staff together. We have a forum to ask questions and discuss issues. It’s not about knowing all the answers. Just about facilitating communication.
What was the funniest or most unexpected thing that happened to you as a Rep this year?
I think the most unexpected thing has been the support for our union by staff and the recognition of the important role it plays in our school community by members, non-members and leadership.
What is your favourite film or book about teaching or education?
I love STEM! So any books on STEM or project-based learning are great. Teaching Creative Thinking by Bill Lucas and Hello Ruby by Linda Liukas are two of my favourites. I also love the movie Wonder and have vowed never to play Dodgeball again!
Nicole Bailey
Sharon Healy, Holy Cross New Gisborne
Frozen screens and sanity checks: 2021 is not easily forgotten.
What a year it has been. Just when we thought remote learning was done and dusted, we found ourselves once again sitting in front of a screen reminding people yelling at screens to unmute and hearing: ‘It’s frozen’.
As educators we persevered through all that technology threw up. Our students needed us, and we were there to take up the challenge. This year seemed harder than last and as a staff we required more support – not to do the teaching but to be there for each other.
The hardest part was not having the day-to-day contact in school with colleagues; the conversations that spontaneously happen in the staff room during break times, being able to share a student’s achievement with others as it happened... Working from home just didn’t feel the same. I even missed the photocopier running out of paper or the coffee machine not being filled (and I don’t drink coffee).
When I nominated to be the sub-branch Rep for Holy Cross Gisborne at the start of the year, I didn’t envisage all of this! However, I found that working as a sub-branch, as a collective, members had support through the collective. I had attended Rep training early in the year, which helped to prepare me for this.
There were so many Zoom meetings when text messages were sent saying ‘It won’t let me in the meeting’. Being technically challenged, I often found myself putting my little hand up in meetings (when I finally worked out there was a hand) asking questions and then forgetting to place myself back on mute as the dishwasher clanked away in the background.
It was a great insight into people’s home lives as we often had animals and little people join our meetings.
This year also saw the resignation of our long-service principal. It was a sad but also an exciting time. It was an amazing experience to work with the Consultative Committee team in workforce planning for the next school year and reviewing policies and procedures in readiness for the new principal.
Throughout it all we never forgot to look out for each other and a weekly check-in from a colleague was great for my mental health and sanity. We cried, we laughed, but we did it together and that is what I treasure the most – knowing I was not alone. As a sub-branch we also experienced solidarity with each other. I had my co-workers and the support of the Union to get me through.
But no, I do not want to go through it again.
Sharon Healy