Information for Teacher Aides

Information for teacher aides

The following information for the statewide move of Year 7 to secondary school settings in 2015 is provided for teacher aides in Queensland state schools.

Why is Year 7 moving to high school? consideration of some permanent hours at another local school. The move of Year 7 to secondary school settings in 2015 is a major reform to This process will take into account the skills, Queensland’s education system, which will knowledge and preferences of each teacher benefit all students. aide and will be run in accordance with the The move follows other educational reforms, existing Teacher Aides Certified Agreement. including the introduction of the Prep year in 2007 and the raising of the Year 1 entry age I am currently on a temporary contract by six months in 2008. with a school; are there any guarantees By 2015, Queensland Year 7 students will be of employment? in their eighth year of school and this is the Allocation of temporary teacher aide hours will right year for high school to begin. continue to be dependent upon available In a secondary setting, Year 7 students will funding at each individual school location. also have access to specialist teachers and facilities, which will allow them to fully engage How will PBH be allocated in schools with the Australian Curriculum. in 2015? The allocation of PBH in all primary, Is Year 7 moving in all Queensland secondary and special schools will continue to schools? be allocated based on Day 8 student In 2015, Year 7 will transition to secondary enrolments, and in accordance with the school in all Queensland state and non-state existing centrally administered staffing model. schools. Your school’s allocations may change as a In state schools, Year 7 will join Year 8 and 9 result of the Day 8 enrolment collection. as the Junior Secondary stage of schooling. What happens if my school’s PBH are What guarantees of employment are reduced? being offered to permanent teacher In primary schools where Day 8 indicates a aides that may be affected by the move decrease in PBH, the region will work with the of Year 7 to secondary school? school to develop strategies to best manage the loss in accordance with industrial awards In instances where there may be insufficient and agreements. hours at an existing school, any change to permanent base hours (PBH) allocations will Existing enterprise bargaining provisions will be managed in accordance with the enterprise not be compromised. Schools and regions bargaining provisions; this may include the will adhere to the management process contained within Clause 1.5 of Section 1 of teaching and non-teaching staff in state the Certified Agreement. schools.

Am I able to move from a primary to a Where can I get further information? secondary setting? Teacher aides who would like further information on the management of PBH are Some teacher aides may be interested in encouraged to speak with their schools’ working in secondary settings or across both leadership team. primary and secondary schools. School leadership teams are encouraged to Teacher aides interested in such opportunities work closely with regional human resources should discuss this with their school teams to ensure a smooth transition for staff leadership team as part of the local in primary and secondary schools. consultation process. Information about Junior Secondary and the Has the union been consulted in move of Year 7 to secondary settings in 2015 regards to the management of PBH in is available from the Flying Start website at 2015? flyingstart.qld.gov.au The department has undertaken extensive The website contains a collection of fact and continued consultation with the relevant sheets and frequently asked questions for unions and key stakeholders to establish school staff. transition arrangements that support existing