Membership fees

Your AEU membership fees – or union dues – are based on your job role, sector, and how many hours a week you work. This makes things equitable for everyone. AEU membership fees are paid every 28 days by direct debit from your bank account, or by credit card. 

It’s important that you’re paying the correct fees, so you will be covered if you ever need to seek industrial or legal help. 

It's your responsibility to let us know when your employment or leave details change by updating them in your member dashboard. Alternatively, you can call us on 03 9417 2822 or email [email protected].


2024 membership fees and deduction dates

You can find our rates valid from 1 February 2024 below.

Our direct debit payment dates, refund policy and information about membership fees while on leave are available below.

Early childhood

Teacher, preschool field officer and early years advisor. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time63.56
0.957.41
0.851.27
0.745.13
0.638.98
0.531.78
0.425.64
0.319.49
0.213.35

Assistant and co-educator. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time34.45
0.931.22
0.827.99
0.724.75
0.621.52
0.517.23
0.414.00
0.310.76
0.27.53

Casual relief teacher. Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A20.46

Casual EC assistant. Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A12.52

Early career teacher – discounted. Read more

Graduate teacher, para-professional, Teach for Australia* and      
Career Change programs*.

We recognise that graduate teachers have a lot of expenses, so membership fees are lower for the first three years of teaching. Graduate teachers receive a 40% discount off their fees in their first year of teaching. In the second year they will receive a 30% discount and then a 20% discount in their third year of teaching.

Time fractionYear 1Year 2Year 3
Full-time40.9247.3953.86
0.937.0442.8648.68
0.833.1638.3443.51
0.729.2833.8138.34
0.625.4029.2833.16
0.520.4623.7026.93
0.416.5819.1721.76
0.312.7014.6416.58
0.28.8210.1211.41

*Members receive the discount across the two years of the program and the first year of teaching.

Schools

Teacher (primary, secondary and special settings), principal and instructor. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time66.79
0.960.32
0.853.86
0.747.39
0.640.92
0.533.40
0.426.93
0.320.46
0.214.00

Education support staff and Koorie educator. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time37.69
0.934.13
0.830.57
0.727.02
0.623.46
0.518.85
0.415.29
0.311.73
0.28.18

Casual relief teacher. Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A20.46

Casual education support staff and Victorian School of Languages casual (including Saturday morning). Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A12.52

Early career teacher – discounted. Read more

Graduate teacher, para-professional, Teach for Australia* and     
Career Change programs*.

We recognise that graduate teachers have a lot of expenses, so membership fees are lower for the first three years of teaching. Graduate teachers receive a 40% discount off their fees in their first year of teaching. In the second year they will receive a 30% discount and then a 20% discount in their third year of teaching.

Time fractionYear 1Year 2Year 3
Full-time40.9247.3953.86
0.937.0442.8648.68
0.833.1638.3443.51
0.729.2833.8138.34
0.625.4029.2833.16
0.520.4623.7026.93
0.416.5819.1721.76
0.312.7014.6416.58
0.28.8210.1211.41

*Members receive the discount across the two years of the program and the first year of teaching.

TAFE

Teacher, senior educator and education manager. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time63.56
0.957.41
0.851.27
0.745.13
0.638.98
0.531.78
0.425.64
0.319.49
0.213.35

Industrial skills instructor. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time50.62
0.945.77
0.840.92
0.736.07
0.631.22
0.525.31
0.420.46
0.315.61
0.210.76

Sessional teacher. Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A20.46

Disability

Instructor. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time44.16
0.939.95
0.835.75
0.731.55
0.627.34
0.522.08
0.417.88
0.313.67
0.29.47

Casual instructor. Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A12.52

AMES

Teacher. Read more

Time fraction28 days
Full-time60.32
0.954.50
0.848.68
0.742.86
0.637.04
0.530.16
0.424.34
0.318.52
0.212.70

Casual relief teacher. Read more

Time fraction28 days
N/A20.46

Other

Associate member66.00 annually
AEU News subscription66.00 annually
Pre-serviceNo charge

Changes to your employment

There are several employment changes that can affect your membership fees. Read more here.

Membership fees while on leave

You can pause your membership while you take unpaid leave. Read more

Simply provide your leave dates in writing to our membership team or through your member dashboard. Your debits will be suspended until you return to paid employment. Your membership remains active, and you are welcome to access membership services or contact us for assistance or advice while on leave.

While members are required to pay fees for any period of paid maternity leave, fees are adjusted to reflect the member's maternity leave status. Read more

If you take maternity leave at full pay, you will continue to pay the full rate. If you take your maternity leave at half pay, your fees are halved accordingly. This acknowledges your change in circumstance and allows you to retain access to services and benefits provided by the AEU, including the capacity to seek support, advice or assistance throughout your paid maternity leave and unpaid family leave period.

Most importantly, you will have the support of the AEU when negotiating your return to employment at the conclusion of your leave. Simply provide written notification of the start and end dates of your planned leave, indicating half or full pay, and we will adjust your fees accordingly.

Similarly, members are required to pay fees for any period of paid long service leave, with fees adjusted to reflect the member’s long service leave status. Read more

If you have elected to take long service leave at full pay, you will continue to pay the full rate. If you take your long service leave at half pay, your membership fees are halved accordingly. This allows you to retain access to services and benefits provided by the AEU, including the capacity to seek support, advice or assistance throughout your long service leave period.

2024 direct debit and credit card schedule

Bank First & credit cards: 25 January, 22 February, 21 March, 18 April, 16 May, 13 June, 11 July, 8 August, 5 September, 3 October, 31 October, 28 November, 26 December

Banks, Bank Australia & building societies: 11 January, 8 February, 7 March, 4 April, 2 May, 30 May, 27 June, 25 July, 22 August, 19 September, 17 October, 14 November, 12 December

Please note we do not cover everyone working in education.

If you are unsure whether the AEU is the right union for your profession, please call our friendly team on 03 9417 2822.

Assistants, educators and co-educators working in long day care cannot be covered by the AEU, unless they are covered by the VECTEA. If you work in long day care and are not employed under the VECTEA, please contact the United Workers Union or the Australian Services Union.

Residential care workers in the disability sector are not covered by the AEU.


Read AEU refund policy

 

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