AEU Journal October 2025

Journal AEU SA

OUR STUDENTS. OUR FUTURE. Launching our 2026 State Election campaign OUR MEMBERSHIP IS GROWING 2025 has been a year of positive change

HOW ARE THE BATHROOMS AT YOUR SITE? Good infrastructure is a matter of safety and dignity

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Our membership is growing

What you need to know

+ AEU SA membership numbers are growing

+ The way we support public educators has changed as we finalise a restructure

+ We’re excited for the next steps in building a sustainable union

2025 has been a year of positive change for our Union, and that change is now starting to pay off.

This year, we’ve tackled a significant restructuring of the Branch, a process that was designed to improve member services, grow our strength, and ensure our Union thrives into the future.

We started this journey with the establishment of our new Membership, Training, and Growth Team. Since their work commenced in April, our two Growth Team Officers have been out at sites tirelessly recruiting new members and updating the details of our current members. This work has been an unprecedented success. In a time when almost every union is seeing a steady decline in membership, our small but mighty team has already helped 908 members join or rejoin this year.

But recruitment is just one part of our work. Our refreshed Organising team has undertaken Growth Coaching alongside many AEU staff members and is now implementing these practical and effective strategies. Growth coaching enables our amazing Organisers to step into a mentoring role with members, fostering a collaborative, supportive, and sustainable approach. Each of our Organisers also has a specialist role to ensure every member is properly

supported. You can find out more about the Organiser team on page 12.

We’ve also reworked how we support TAFE SA members. If you’re a TAFE member with an individual issue or query, our confidential and informative Information Unit is here for you. If your concern needs more focused or ongoing attention, our Member Service Officers will provide you with support. If TAFE SA members are facing systemic issues, our Principal Officer team each share responsibility for facets of TAFE. That means our leadership team are all versed in the needs of TAFE members and able to represent you in every important conversation about education.

As the year comes to a close, we’ll reach the final phase of our restructuring, which will include further changes to how we support members who require complex industrial or legal support. Our term one Journal will provide members with a full outline of the new branch structure.

The work of supporting members and ensuring you have what you need to do your job is challenging, ever-changing, and daily. It’s also immensely rewarding. I’m proud to be part of the team you entrust with this vital work.

MATTHEW CHERRY, BRANCH SECRETARY

Safer workplaces, stronger learning

If we’re serious about asking what students need to flourish, then we must also ask what educators need to thrive. Safe, healthy, and well-resourced workplaces are not separate from student outcomes – they are the foundation upon which lives and learning are built. For too long, cultural assumptions in education have diminished workplace health and safety (WHS). Tacit attitudes from decision makers that schools are not workplaces or occupational violence and aggression (OVA) is ‘just part of teaching’ have left many educators feeling unsafe, undervalued, and isolated. But unsafe workplaces don’t just harm staff – they also compromise the learning environment. A stressed, unsupported educator can’t give their best to students.

Make real change through documentation

Robust documentation is central to changing this story. When incidents are recorded, we protect staff and safeguard the conditions that enable students to learn. Every form filled and every hazard logged becomes evidence that highlights systemic risks.

Our new AEU resource, Write it Right: Turning Workplace Issues into Strong Evidence, guides members through the process of documenting clearly and effectively. It asks members to capture specifics – what, where, when, and how – to build strong evidence that compels action. This is not about blame; it’s about ensuring the employer meets its legal

What you need to know

+ Like all workers, educators have a right to feel safe at work

+ For too long, Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) has been seen as ‘normal’ for educators

+ Reporting unsafe incidents or culture at your site is the first step toward making positive change

obligations to provide safe learning environments for staff and students alike.

Linking staff safety to

student success

Students succeed when their educators are healthy, focused, and supported. Adequate staffing, resourcing, and training – often won through union campaigns grounded in member documentation – directly shape the quality of education. Strong WHS systems reduce disruption, prevent burnout, and model respectful relationships. In other words, documenting OVA and other hazards is not just self-protection; it is part of advocating for the calm, safe, and supportive environments that every student needs to thrive.

See, speak, safeguard

Union values sit at the heart of this work. When members collectively see risks, speak through accurate reporting, and safeguard each other, we build the power to demand systemic change. Together, we create conditions where educators are safe, and students can flourish. The two are inseparable – and both are worth fighting for.

If you’re facing unsafe practices at work, you’ve witnessed an incident, or the WHS culture at your site needs to be improved, let us know. We can only act when we have strong evidence of member experiences.

ACCESS RESOURCES, REPORTING, AND SUPPORT

KENDALL PROUD VICE PRESIDENT

Our students. Our future.

In July this year, Premier Peter Malinauskas said that, We agree.

“No investment is more important to our future economic prospects than young people fulfilling their potential.”

Teachers, educators and support staff working at TAFE sites, schools and preschools know this intrinsically. Our work gives students the knowledge, skills, and problem-solving capability that enables our economy and society to thrive. Education is the foundation of individual well-being and healthy communities.

That’s why the future of students is the future of our state.

The success, prosperity, health, and safety of South Australia is directly linked to every child and young person having access to the quality education that allows them to reach their potential.

Every child in South Australia deserves to attend a preschool and school in a safe, comfortable, and up-to-date environment. Where educators are supported, welltrained, and passionate about their work. And every worker deserves access to exceptional vocational education, taught in industry-ready learning facilities, that provides them with the hands-on knowledge to help our state continue to grow.

When South Australia’s students succeed – so does South Australia. A strong public education system is one of the most cost-effective and future-proof investments a government can make.

That’s why we’re launching Our students: Our future. An advocacy campaign built on community support aiming to achieve two key wins in the 2026 state election.

1. EVERY BUILDING UP TO SCRATCH: A MINIMUM INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES STANDARD FOR ALL PUBLIC EDUCATION SITES, TO GET OUR PRESCHOOLS, SCHOOLS AND TAFE SITES UP TO SCRATCH

Too many students are learning in spaces we would never accept in our own workplaces. This doesn’t just impact their education; it affects their health, safety, confidence, and future opportunities. No child should be expected to succeed in crumbling, unsafe, or inaccessible facilities while others learn in wellresourced environments.

Public schools, preschools, and TAFE campuses don’t just educate students. They prepare the future nurses, builders, carers, scientists, and community leaders who will drive our economy and care for our society.

That’s why we are calling for a minimum standard for all publicly funded education facilities. We want the Government to audit every public school, preschool, and TAFE campus against that standard in the next term, and ensure all facilities are brought up to scratch in the term after.

It's not too much to ask. We should be able to expect safe, modern, and accessible facilities for every student in public education.

2. SUSTAINABLE STUDENT SUPPORT: RECLASSIFYING AND PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR OUR VITAL SUPPORT STAFF

Every day in South Australian public schools and preschools, a dedicated group of professionals work alongside teachers to help children and young people learn, grow, and succeed. These include School Services Officers (SSOs), Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs) and Early Childhood Workers (ECWs).

These educators are essential, yet too many are underpaid, restricted to part-time hours due to outdated classifications, and offered little chance of career progression. The result is high staff turnover, students missing out on consistent support, and in some cases, the learners with the greatest needs being supported by the least experienced staff.

Most SSOs, AEWs and ECWs start at Level 1, the base classification, even when their work is closer to Level 2 or Level 3 responsibilities. Without proper recognition, fair pay, and access to professional development, their skills and commitment cannot be sustained as long-term careers.

This isn’t fair on staff, it isn’t fair on students, and it doesn’t support the future of our State.

You’ll hear more about the campaign and how you, as well as your community, can be involved over the months leading up to the election.

Just doing SSO1 work?

I doubt it.

Do you have support staff at your site who:

+ Work under close direction doing routine tasks and are provided with daily instruction from a leader or teacher?

+ Rarely exercise initiative, discretion or judgement

+ Receive clear instructions every time a problem arises?

I doubt it.

The busyness of the school environment means that working purely within the scope of the SSO1 classification is nearly impossible. The reality is that the SSO1 classification doesn't reflect the work of those support staff.

Schools are unpredictable because children are unpredictable, and no support role can function without initiative, judgement, and problem solving. Everyone working in a school knows this.

Yet over 60% of support staff remain classified as SSO1. This reality shows the shameful undervaluing of support staff and traps SSOs into unsustainable pay scales that don’t reflect the reality of their daily work. But this problem isn’t limited to SSO1s and classroom SSOs. Finance officers at SSO2 levels are often working at an SSO3 level. Business managers often carry responsibilities far above their classification and many IT SSOs and Lab Techs manage networks and specialist equipment far beyond their classification.

Our state election campaign is calling for the removal of the SSO1 classification as an option in schools. Entry level positions should start at SSO2 to properly value the work being done and foster a more sustainable and attractive career path for our vital support staff.

As part of our campaign, we’re also asking the Department to consider qualification pathways for support staff to enrich their careers and strengthen our workforce. These pathways might include school-based teaching qualifications, youth work, counselling, business management and more.

This state election, we're asking for fair classifications, funded pathways, and the proper infrastructure our preschools, schools, and TAFE sites need. Because every child and student deserves to learn in a space where everyone is supported, respected, and set up to succeed.

SADIE GENT VICE PRESIDENT

AEU WIN

Did you previously work as a Special Authority Teacher? You might be eligible for a pay rise!

A recent AEU win means that days taught under a Special Authority to Teach (SAT) will now count toward your step progression once you’re fully registered! This means that the time spent in the classroom as an SAT will be properly recognised as teaching experience.

SATs and beginning teachers told us that they were disadvantaged that their hard work as SAT work didn't translate into career progression through the salary scale. The AEU raised this issue with the Department on multiple occasions to push for change, and after a year of lobbying, we won!

If you were an SAT and are now working as a teacher, this adjustment won't happen automatically. Eligible teachers will need to make sure that their details are updated to reflect their experience and the AEU is here to help!

If you or someone you know previously worked as a SAT, contact the AEU Info Unit today. We can provide advice and support to make sure your days are counted towards progression, so you don't miss out on the pay you’re entitled to.

How are the bathrooms at your site?

It’s familiar to all of us – break time comes, twenty minutes if you’re lucky, and you’re desperate for the bathroom. But so are fifteen other people. You’ve also got to eat, check a student’s work, and grab resources for your next lesson. If you’re lactating, there’s probably no space for you to express. If you’re a person with a disability, the one accessible bathroom is on the other side of the site. So, you hold on and hope you last til your next break.

Whatever the scenario, the take-away is the same: safe, adequate facilities are not optional. They're vital to dignity, health, and wellbeing at work.

The SafeWork SA Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities, the government’s own ‘best practice’ standard, reinforces this point. It states:

“The number of workers at the workplace will determine the size and types of facilities required. For example, calculating the number of toilets and hand washing facilities should take account of the number of workers who usually use them at the same time.”

“Facilities should provide privacy and security for any person. The requirements of workers with particular needs, for example pregnant or lactating women or people with a disability, should also be addressed in the design of the workplace.”

Educational settings demand more than the bare minimum. With concentrated peak-use periods, schools and preschools inevitably require more toilets and basins than basic guidelines suggest. And as a workforce that is overwhelmingly female, it is reasonable to expect that

What you need to know

+ Too many educators can’t access adequate bathroom facilities throughout the work day

+ Access to safe, adequate bathroom facilities are not optional, they’re vital to wellbeing at work

+ This State Election, we’re asking the Government to commit to infrastructure that respects the contemporary needs of public educators

every site should provide appropriate, private facilities for lactation, regardless of size or current staffing.

Some sites do this well. Too many, however, have long been neglected, leaving workers and students without the facilities they deserve.

This State Election, we want to see a commitment from the Government to providing infrastructure that respects the contemporary needs of educators, supports their health, and safeguards their dignity. Facilities must not be treated as an afterthought but as a fundamental part of a respectful workplace.

We encourage you to participate in our infrastructure audit and tell us about the state of your facilities. Your input will guide our campaign for better, safer, and more dignified workplaces.

A new network of support

Fleur, one of our 2025 Anna Stewart Memorial Project participants, shares her insights from this year’s program.

What made you decide to apply for the project?

The opportunity to network with feminist activists across different industries, who are interested in campaigning. And to develop campaigning skills to use in my workplace and wider community.

Before starting the project, what ideas did you have about unionism?

I’ve always been a union member and believe unions are essential to improving working conditions and wage inequality.

What surprised you during your time participating in the project?

How much of the groundwork in negotiating EB's and other conditions the members of other, smaller unions are doing themselves. There are so many women in very low paying and insecure occupations that are risking their employment to advocate for their colleagues and create change in their industry.

What are your three key takeaways from the project?

1. Campaign with integrity

2. We need to collectively do more to ensure people from diverse backgrounds and living with disabilities across all industries have safe working conditions and a wage that allows them a good quality of life

3.Adelaide has a large strong active feminist union presence and many inspiring role models like Anna Stewart.

What recommendations do you have for members based on what you’ve learnt so far?

Keep up with legislative changes and check your union emails! The union needs active members to keep it strong. Everyone should be learning about psychosocial hazards and campaigning at site level for changes in working conditions.

What advice do you have for members thinking about taking part in the project?

Apply and back yourself! You will get to spend a week and a half with some amazing women who have stories of success and resilience to share. You will leave feeling motivated with a new network of support. Check out the opportunities available to women in the union.

How to celebrate amazing union work at your site

2025 member education highlights

+ Women in Leadership Development (WiLD): culminating in a visit to the South Australian Centre for Democracy. An amazing space and source of inspiration for students and educators at the South Australian Library.

+ Union Leaders Conference: Singing ‘Solidarity Forever’ with a world-renowned banjo player who also delivered a powerful address on how economics, specifically neoliberal economics, has impacted public education.

+ Women’s Conference: Hearing from campaigner Wil Stracke, who is a powerhouse on social media at cutting through the confusion on so many union and human issues. Well worth checking out!

+ Merit Selection Training/Retraining: Helping hundreds of inspiring members commit or recommit to being the employee voice on merit selection panels.

+ Reconciliation Conference: Hearing from the inspiring Thomas Mayo, who reminds us of the challenges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and students face and why educators are so vital to the work of reconciliation.

NOMINATE FOR OUR UNION AWARDS

In my role as Union Education Director, I’m privileged to work with members across all classifications who strive to make a difference for educators at their sites. Thousands of members attend conferences, professional learnings, industrial training as a bonus of membership, and our offerings keep growing.

In 2026, we’ll be launching a new on-demand library of learning resources for members, which will include how-to guides, micro lessons, WHS deep-dives, and more. Later this term, we’ll be asking members to tell us what you want to see from this new learning library, so keep an eye on your inbox to have your say.

One of our key annual conferences, and a personal highlight for me, is our Union Leaders’ Conference. This special day celebrates the passionate members who step into union leadership roles at a site level to ensure we’re strong and unified across the state.

If you’d like to do more to celebrate unionism at your site, check out our Union Awards, which are now open for nominations!

Sub-branch/workplace of the year

+ Member nominated

Awarded to a preschool, schools or TAFE sub-branch or workplace that exemplifies the AEU values of working together and making positive change to strengthen our profession and the future of our union.

New Sub-Branch Secretary/Workplace Representative of the year

+ Member nominated

The award recognises the development and growth of a new Sub-Branch Secretary or Workplace Representative

Area of the Year

+ Panel selected

This award is selected by our panel and acknowledges an outstanding AEU SA region for their collaborative efforts to connect and develop their local AEU community.

SAM LISLE-MENZEL UNION EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Term 4 Planner

Organiser update

A quick check-in with our team of passionate and hard-working Organisers.

ANGELA DEAN Organiser, TAFE SA Specialist angela.dean@aeusa.asn.au

We celebrated National TAFE Day on Wednesday 3 September this year, with celebrations at campuses across the country.

A delegation of TAFE members was also in Canberra on National TAFE Day lobbying the Federal Government for increased funding for TAFE facilities, educational staff, and student support staff in the next stages of the National Skills Agreement.

Our state winner of the National Photography Competition, Anni Slee Photography and Digital Imaging student at from Adelaide Collage of the Arts, also joined the celebration and lobbying events in Parliament House on the day.

Anni’s photograph ‘The Dancer’s Soul’ captures the energy and passion of the skilled dancers also studying at the AC Arts Campus and truly embodies the competition theme of the heart of TAFE.

ROWAN SIMS Organiser, Country and Remote Specialist rowan.sims@aeusa.asn.au

I'm proud to be your country-focused Organiser, supporting regional and remote union members and leaders to take agency at a local level. I'm here to ensure the voices of regional and remote members are heard on issues and challenges specific to them. I'm excited to help build strong local networks in areas that might feel isolated or overlooked. It's my job to ensure regional and remote members have the same access to opportunities, development and support as our metro members. If you need support or would like to chat, contact me.

LISA SIGALLA Organiser, Support Staff Specialist lisa.sigalla@aeusa.asn.au

I’m back! Some of you might already know me from my previous work as your SSO-focused Organiser. In term four, I’ve been supporting members to navigate conversion to permanency and reclassification – processes that unfortunately still cause tension at many sites. If you’re interested in permanency or reclassification, I encourage you to utilise our member-only resources via the website, and to chat with your Sub-Branch Secretary to get their support. You have a right to secure, sustainable work. If you’ve got a question or need extra help, reach out to our Info Unit.

If you work in one of my areas and would like a visit, let me know. I’m happy to visit during breaks, after school, or at any time that works for you.

MICHELE APPLETON Organiser, Aboriginal Education Specialist michele.appleton@aeusa.asn.au

In term three, my work focused on planning our annual Aboriginal Members’ Conference with our passionate Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee and spreading the word about the Flinders University Aboriginal Teachers and Leaders Professional Learning. These two amazing conferences took place over the school holidays, and it was wonderful to connect with so many like-minded educators. Outside of my focus area, I’m working with sites to establish an active sub-branch, ensuring support staff understand their rights and responsibilities, and getting to know members in my new Areas! If you’re in one of my Areas and you’d like me to visit, let me know.

LEANNE SHANE Organiser, Inclusive Education Specialist

leanne.shane@aeuas.asn.au

As a new member of the AEU Organisers team, I’ve been busy meeting members and gathering feedback on many important topics, especially inclusive education. My background is in special education, with a focus on assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication strategies for learners of all ages. Inclusive education covers many areas, and as learner needs become more complex, it’s vital we share ideas and collaborate on solutions.

I’m keen to learn more from you:

+ What does inclusive education look like at your school?

+ Is your workload being impacted?

+ Do your facilities provide an inclusive space for all learners?

+ Do you know where to find support and assistance?

If I haven’t visited your school yet, I look forward to meeting you soon. Please reach out to book a visit. I’d love to hear about your experiences and discuss how we can support inclusive education together.

ANNE BEINKE Lead Organiser anne.beinke@aeusa.asn.au

We've been working to get out into sites to help members to build strong and healthy subbranches. Staffing shortages, workload, and increasing complexity have affected members’ capacity for engagement. However, unionism is about the collective, and our strength is in our members!

It’s never been so important for us to work together for positive change. Our new Organisers have hit the ground running, and the whole team is passionate about working with you to build a strong, positive, and engaged union culture in your workplace. That starts with having an elected Sub-Branch Secretary or Rep and (unless you’re in a tiny site) a Workplace Organising Committee to share the workload.

MATT COFFEY

Organiser and Membership and Training Officer

matthew.coffey@aeusa.asn.au

In term three, my work as an Organiser was focused on SSO reclassification, supporting members in the conversion to permanency process, and general member support. I was also proud to support two recruitment-focused events led by sub-branch teams at Mount Barker High School and Charles Campbell College. These member-led events resulted in a number of new members joining, as well as some student member signups. If you’re keen to host a recruitment event at your site, get in touch!

If you haven’t had a visit from your Organiser in a while, please reach out. It’s important we’re united as we approach the upcoming State Election and the next round of enterprise bargaining. Let’s work together across the state to keep building a strong and united force for positive change in our public education system. The union is all of us!

Our 2026 Organiser map

As we head into 2025, get to know the team who will be supporting you at your site. Organisers know your workplace and are there to ensure your rights are being upheld.

WHAT IS AN ORGANISER?

Organisers are AEU employees who are responsible for developing union activism in workplaces by identifying, motivating, leading and educating members and potential members. Organisers work in schools, preschools and TAFE campuses, collaborating with existing members to understand and improve conditions and grow membership.

If your site would benefit from a visit, get in touch with campaigns@aeusa.asn.au

ANGELA DEAN

+ TAFE SA

MATT COFFEY

+ Hills

+ North East Urban

ROWAN SIMS

+ Fleurieu

+ Lincoln

+ Murraylands

+ Riverland

+ Whyalla

+ North West

LEANNE SHANE

+ Elizabeth Munno Para

+ Central Urban

+ Eyre

+ Mitcham

+ Noarlunga

+ Southern Vales

+ Le Fevre

LISA SIGALLA

+ Lower South East

+ Southern Urban

+ Tea Tree Gully

+ Torrens

+ Upper South East

+ North West Urban

+ Northern Urban

ANNE BEINKE

+ Barossa

+ Far North

+ Far West

+ Flinders

+ Mid North

+ North West

+ Pirie

MICHELE APPLETON

+ Eastern Urban

+ Gawler

+ Kangaroo Island

+ Lower North

+ Yorke

+ Western Urban

The awards recognise and celebrate the hard work, commitment and passion AEU Representatives and members have in making public education the best it can be for colleagues and students.

NOMINATIONS FOR OUR ANNUAL AWARDS ARE NOW OPEN AWARD CATEGORIES

SUB-BRANCH/ WORKPLACE of the year

NEW WORKPLACE REPRESENTATIVE of the year AREA of the year

Nominations close 5pm, Friday 14 November. Nominate on behalf of yourself or a colleague qrco.de/union-awards

We need every TAFE educator’s voice

Over the past ten months, we’ve been bargaining with the employer with an aim to end excessive workloads, improve working conditions, and secure our workforce.

Our TAFE Enterprise Bargaining team have tabled a draft EA based on our negotiations with the employer, including a pay increase of 16% over the life of the new threeyear agreement. We expect to receive a response in the coming weeks.

In term three, a representative of the employer met with TAFE Divisional Council delegates specifically to discuss their proposed expansion of the Span of Hours. The employer is seeking to increase the Span of Hours to 7:00am – 10:00pm Monday – Friday and 9:00am –5:00pm Saturday. They are also seeking to move from a TOIL system for overtime to a paid system. Negotiations over the loading of these hours are ongoing.

During the meeting, the employer also made it clear that an agreement to extend the Span of Hours will directly impact what pay increase they will offer in the bargaining process. Despite feedback from our delegates and bargaining team, along with a lack of data from the employer outlining why they need this change; they remain wedded to their proposed change to the Span of Hours.

Our position is clear, without the improvements proposed in the AEU’s draft EA, TAFE SA will continue to struggle to attract and retain an educational workforce. It's more

Heart of TAFE Photo Competition

Congratulations to our SA Winner Anni Slee

What you need to know

+ The AEU and the employer are committed to reaching an agreement soon

+ The AEU has tabled a new draft EA and are awaiting a response

+ It's essential every TAFE educator joins the AEU to strengthen our position

important than ever to ensure that we build strength in our union to help secure the strongest enterprise bargaining offer from the employer possible.

We’re calling on our TAFE members to help educate and inform all educational staff at TAFE SA about the proposed changes to their working conditions and the importance of joining the only union that can help fight for their rights at work.

READ MORE ABOUT BARGAINING

Our new peace pole

After hearing about the opportunity to apply for a Peace Pole through Rotary at a Branch Council meeting, Ernabella Anangu School took up the offer.

In the lead-up to our unveiling and commemoration event, secondary students undertook a short unit of work about the British atomic testing at Emu Field and Maralinga. AEU Member teachers Daphne Nyaningu, John Ehlers and Hannah Leske led the learning along with Christine Brady. Many Anangu who live in community today were affected by the resultant fallout, and some of the older members of the community came to school on the day and shared their personal and poignant stories of the time – the sickness, the deaths, the stress on the clinic at Ernabella and the dislocation of Anangu from their homes and homelands.

Karina Lester (Adelaide University Mobile Languages Team), whose father was blinded following the Totem series of tests at Emu Field, also came to school and spoke passionately about the links between the story of the Japanese and Anangu, and the importance of never forgetting these stories.

The commemoration ceremony was attended by students and staff from Fregon Anangu School, members of the Ernabella community, and staff and students from Ernabella School. Our peace pole has messages in four languages. As a part of the unveiling, the peace messages were read by Eva Wells (Anangu

Coordinator: Pitjantjatjara), Karina Lester (Adelaide University: Yankunytjatjara), Campbell Hamilton (teacher: Japanese), and Sharon Diglio (Principal: English).

If you would like to apply for a peace pole at your site, contact your local Rotary Club.

Every member matters. Every conversation counts.

Since January, the AEU Growth Team has welcomed 908 new and returning members. That’s 908 more voices for public schools. 908 more people ready to stand up for our profession and our students. Every new member makes our voice louder, our campaigns hit harder, and our bargaining power stronger.

The next state election is right around the corner and we’re working to make public education a key issue. Politicians must know South Australians demand well-resourced, high-quality public education. And a bigger, more active union membership is how we set that agenda.

In 2027, we’ll negotiate our next schools and preschools enterprise agreement. To secure better pay, conditions and resources, we must be strong enough not to be ignored. Growth today is power tomorrow.

Every member in every school, preschool and TAFE has a role in our growth. Ask your colleagues: ‘Are you in the union? If not, help them join. A one-on-one conversation with a trusted colleague is the most powerful organising tool we have. If you want to build a better future for public education, start building membership at your site now so we can call on that power when we need it.

WE'RE PROUD!

If you need support with recruitment at your site, get in contact with the Growth Team.

Phone: 8172 6300

Email: growth.team@aeusa.asn.au

MATTHEW COFFEY MEMBERSHIP AND TRAINING OFFICER

AEU is proud to be a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and excited to attend Feast Festival this year! Come march with us on Saturday, 1 November and chat with us at Picnic in the Park on Saturday, 22 November. Make your site safe and inclusive

1. Model inclusive language and behaviours

2. Educate yourself about diverse identities

3. Actively listen and advocate for rainbow students and colleagues

4. Display visible signs of support, such as inclusive posters or rainbow pins

5. Help establish a Gender and Sexuality Alliance to give students a voice

6. Support student-led events or awareness campaigns that foster inclusion and belonging

Vale Miriam Tonkin

A beloved friend, activist, and comrade who achieved remarkable things for preschool and school educators during her time working with the AEU. Our thoughts are with Miriam's loved ones, and our heartfelt gratitude is with Miriam for her lifetime of work for our movement.

Pictured at the 1983 Preschool Teachers' Association annual meeting, Miriam Tonkin of Marino Kindergarten (seated left) with guest speaker and standing from left are Jenni Grossi of Netley Kindergarten and Kathy Bodnar, Chandler's Hill Child Centre and SAIT executive. (SA Teachers' Journal photographic collection)Support programs like the Employee Assistance Program offer short-term help. Many educators pay for private psychological care, which can lead to burnout or leaving the profession.

Brain Breaks

Quick breaks that help you refocus and return to work feeling centered.

AT YOUR DESK Hip opener

1. Move your chair so that your knees are no longer under your desk

2. Place both feet flat on the ground and sit up as straight as possible

3. Lift your right leg and place the outer edge of your right foot on your left knee

4. Aim to lower your right knee to be level with your right ankle

5. For a deeper stretch, lean forward gently, keeping your back straight

6. To extend the stretch to your back, drop the head forward and round the spine slightly

7. Repeat on the other side

Professional learning

Access a wide range of values-based professional learning to develop your practical skills and grow as an educator.

The sessions are in real time and allow you to work with other professionals to gain insight and grow as an educator.

Embedding phonics into early primary reading

+ Thur 16 Oct, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

+ Cost: Free for members

+ For: Members only

This course helps teachers explore practical ways to integrate phonics into early reading lessons. Participants will learn effective techniques to teach letter-sound relationships, decoding, and word recognition, helping young learners build strong reading foundations.

Elected Health and Safety Representative Conference 2025

+ Fri 17 Oct, 9:15am - 3:30pm

+ Cost: Free for members

+ For: Members only

A dedicated conference for trained AEU Health and Safety Reps to continue building comprehensive responses, strategies, policies, and solidarity around safety in our schools and preschools.

AEU Merit Selection training and retraining

+ Wed 22 Oct, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

+ Cost: Free for members

+ For: Members only

AEU SA Policy requires AEU members to complete Merit Selection Retraining every five years to be eligible to be an AEU Representative on Merit Selection Panels.

Student voice and agency to maximise engagement in learning

+ Thur 30 Oct, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

+ Cost: Free for members

+ For: Members only

Providing students with the opportunity to guide their learning can increase a sense of ownership and connection to the classroom. This session will explore the concept of student voice and agency in the classroom, and opportunities for all teachers to connect with student voice and increase student agency.

Key Online/ Virtual In Person

Check out the AEU SA website regularly for more dates and courses at aeusa.asn.au/upcoming

Supporting students with sensory needs

+ Thur 30 Oct, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

+ Cost: Free for members

+ For: Members only

Understanding the cognitive processes that enable students to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully will support students in approaching work tasks. In this session, the presenter will outline specific teaching strategies to benefit not only students with ASD and ADHD but all students in the classroom.

Leadership skills: data-informed change

+ Thur 13 Nov, 4:30pm - 6:30pm

+ Cost: Free for members

+ For: Members only

This course assists educators in developing leadership skills for driving data-informed change within their schools. Dr. Fisk guides participants through strategies for collecting and sorting through numbers to tell impactful data stories that lead to positive, data-informed educational change.