Latest News

Every Australian is invited to join the celebration of public education day by sharing their #ProudToBePublic story on social media.

The Australian Education Union has welcomed the establishment of the National Respectful Relationships Education Expert Working Group to support the implementation of the Federal Government’s Consent and Respectful Relationships Education program. 

“Improving the safety of women and children in Australia is the responsibility of all members of our community, but teachers, principals and education support personnel play a particularly important role,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said. 

The Australian Education Union and the Australian Council of TESOL Associations are jointly calling for English as an Additional Language or Dialect education in schools to be made an equity priority in the next National Schools Reform Agreement.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said a renewed focus on prioritising high quality English language education and literacy provision in Australia is crucial to enhancing the skills of students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Students will benefit the most from the Minister for Education, Jason Clare’s renewed commitment to get every school on a path to 100 per cent of its fair funding level.

The Minister repeated Federal Labor’s 2022 election promise while announcing the membership and terms of reference for an expert panel to advise on the best way to achieve fair education funding.

Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe welcomed the announcement and the Federal Government’s commitment to consulting with the teaching profession as an essential part of the process.

The Australian Education Union will engage in the consultation process following the release of the Teacher Education Expert Panel Discussion Paper today.

“Teaching is a rewarding and fulfilling career. Often, students enrol in initial teacher education because they want to make a difference in the lives of children. The best opportunity we have to ensure initial teacher education graduates can realise this vision is by fully preparing them to enter the classroom from day one,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.

The Education Ministers’ recently announced feasibility study investigating a one-year education Master’s degree is an attack on the qualifications of the teaching profession, according to the Australian Education Union Victorian Branch.

AEU Victorian Branch President, Meredith Peace said the announcement was short-sighted, would do little to address the teacher shortage and leave new graduates with inadequate preparation for the classroom.

The Australian Education Union has rejected the Education Ministers’ announced feasibility study investigating a one-year education master’s degree as an attack on the qualifications of the teaching profession.

Federal President, Correna Haythorpe said the AEU would never accept a move that undermined Australia’s teachers.

“It is less than a decade since Education Ministers agreed to a two-year Master’s degree, a move that was widely applauded as a measure that would enhance the qualifications of Australian teachers.

The Australian Education Union is calling on the Federal Labor Government to prioritise universal access to preschool for three and four-year-olds and ensure greater investment in early childhood education and care workforce ahead of the Early Years Summit in Canberra tomorrow.

“This is an opportunity to re-create the early years system to ensure every child, no matter where they live or their family’s circumstances, has the opportunity to start school ready to learn,” said Correna Haythorpe, Federal President of the Australian Education Union.

Victorian public schools are the second lowest funded schools in the nation, as detailed by the latest Report on Government Services.

The report, produced by the Productivity Commission, shows that each Victorian public school student received $893 less that the national average from the Victorian and Federal governments or over $575 million in 2020-2021.  

Australian Education Union Victorian Branch President Meredith Peace described the low funding for public schools as reprehensible.

The Australian Education Union has continued to hear reports from AEU principals of private schools across Victoria poaching teachers from the public school system amid the current staffing shortage crisis.

AEU Victorian branch President Meredith Peace said these reports are extremely concerning, with this practice exacerbating the already serious staffing challenges faced by the state’s public schools.