Presented to the Fiftieth Annual General Meeting

Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017 Secretary's Report Presented to the Fiftieth Annual General Meeting of The English Teachers Association of Queensland, Inc.

Saturday 11 March 2017

This report aims to cover the activities and interests of ETAQ during 2016-7.

Patron Professor Catherine Beavis (Griffith University) was elected for a fourth term as Patron at the 2016 AGM. Catherine resigned as patron in May 2016 when she moved to take up a job at Deakin University. During the year Professor Beavis contributed a regular Patron’s Column for the association’s journal, Words’Worth. ETAQ expressed its thanks to her for her service over five years. Anita Jetnikoff agreed to take on the role of patron in November 2016, subject to official appointment at the 2017 AGM. Management Committee The Management Committee met eight times during 2016. Meetings were held monthly except for January, May, August and December. The February and March meetings comprised members of the 2015- 16 committee. Those elected at the AGM held in March 2016 were:

Position Name Meetings attended President Fiona Laing, Forest Lake SHS 8/8 Vice President Dr Kelli McGraw, QUT 5/8 Secretary Bronwyn Darben, Runcorn SHS 8/8 Treasurer Trish Purcell 8/8 Membership Secretary Diana Briscoe, The Gap SHS 3/8 1. Member Peter Algate, Marsden SHS 6/8 2. Member Julie Arnold, Corinda SHS 7/8 3. Member Garry Collins, UQ School of Education (sessional) 8/8 4. Member Melissa Blacklock, Centenary SHS 6/7 5. Member Sophie Johnson, Brigidine College 8/8 6. Member Helen Johnston, Brisbane Grammar 8/8 7. Member Debbie Peden, various schools 6/8 8. Member Michelle Ragen, Brisbane Grammar 8/8 9. Member Dr Stew Riddle, USQ 4/8 (2 x tele) 10. Member Matthew Rigby, Go Grammar Consulting 5/8 11. Member Jacqueline Rutter, St Aidan’s, and DET 5/8 12. Member Melanie Wild, Mitchelton SHS, QCAA 8/8

of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017 The following new member elected at last year’s AGM in March attended the March meeting as an observer as shown: Melissa Blacklock (March). Stew Riddle has attended meetings electronically in semester one and was on leave overseas in semester two

Venue for Management Committee meetings Most of the meetings of the Management Committee were again held in a board room at the offices of the IEUA-QNT (Independent Education Union Australia – Queensland and Northern Territory Branch, formerly the QIEU, Queensland Independent Education Union) in Turbot Street Spring Hill. This space is provided free of charge and the union arranges for one of its staff to work late to allow us access to the building. This generous support has been in place for many years and is much appreciated by ETAQ. The April meeting was held at Brisbane Boys Grammar School, again provided free for ETAQ. Administration Officer Trish Purcell continued in her role as the association’s part-time Administration Officer and Treasurer. Membership The numbers of financial members of the Association for the last three years were as follows: Full (i.e. Estimated total # Year Life Student Retiree Corporate Total individual) reached 2014 10 210 64 8 164 456 3231 2015 9 235 64 7 156 471 2919 2016 9 239 48 8 141 445 2662 PD Activities Face-to-face PD activities were conducted in Brisbane during 2015 as detailed below. In addition, PD events were also conducted by the Toowoomba and Townsville branches. Seminar 1  Date: Saturday 12 March 2015  Type: half-day seminar  CPD hours: 3 hours 15 minutes  Theme: Curious in Queensland: creativity and inquiry in English  Format: 1 x keynote address plus suite of supporting workshops  Keynote speaker 1: Bianca Hewes  Attendance: 188  Venue: Corinda State High School  Convenor: Julie Arnold Beginning Teachers’ Day  Date: Saturday 7 May 2016  Type: Beginning Teachers’ Day – This was the 6th year that ETAQ has run this activity  CPD hours: 5 hours 25 minutes  Keynote speaker: Jessica Matthew  Topic: Beginnings, Challenges and Aspirations: First year and beyond Page 2 of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017  Attendance: 55 registrations plus 10 presenters, committee etc.  Venue: Brigidine College  Convenor: Melanie Wild Seminar 2  Date: Saturday 21 May 2016  Type: half-day seminar  CPD hours: 3 hours 45 minutes  Theme: Script, Stage and Screen in the English Classroom  Format: 2 keynote addresses plus suite of supporting workshops  Keynote speakers: A/Prof Jane Stadler and Linda Hassall  Attendance: 48  Venue: The Gap State High School  Convenors: Bronwyn Darben and Diana Briscoe EALD Seminar  Date: Saturday 14 May 2016  Type: half-day seminar  CPD hours: 2 hours 30 minutes  Theme: Differentiating for EAL/D learners – theory and practice  Format: 2 addresses  Presenters: Dr Jennifer Alford and Gaetana Nastasi  Attendance: 48  Venue: Kelvin Grove State College  Convenor: Laura Cooke Grammar Refresher Course 1 and 2  Date: Saturday 4 June 2016 and 4 September, 2016  Type: half-day (9-12:30) class activity  CPD hours: 3 hours  Title: A half Day grammar workshop  Format: presentations, exercises & discussions  Presenter: Garry Collins  Attendance: 35 and 29  Venue: University of Queensland After-school forum 1  Date: Wednesday 20 July 2016  Type: after-school forum

of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017  CPD hours: 1 hr 45 mins  Topic: Great Reads for Adolescents  Presenter: Joy Lawn  Attendance: 46  Venue: Brisbane Grammar School  Convenor: Michelle Ragen State Conference  Date: Saturday 13 August 2016  Type: full-day conference  CPD hours: 7 hours 25 minutes  Theme: Seeing the World Anew: English Teaching and Learning in Changing times  Format: 2 x keynote addresses plus suite of supporting workshops  Keynote speaker 1: Professor Wayne Sawyer– Topic: Curriculum history: A big why? With some what? and a little how?  Keynote speaker 2: Professor Gary Crew – Topic: Reading the invisible visual  Attendance: 282  Venue: Lourdes Hill College  Convenors: Dr Stew Riddle and Matthew Rigby Literary Breakfast  Date: Sunday 16 October 2016  Type: morning literary breakfast  CPD hours: 1 hour 30 mins  Format: address with breakfast  Guest speaker: Sean Leahy (Cartoonist)  Attendance: 39  Venue: Eves on the River, New Farm  Convenor: Deb Peden After-school forum 2  Date: Thursday 20 October 2016  Type: after-school forum  CPD hours: 1 hr 45 mins  Topic: English Communication, Engagement in English Communication  Format: Series of teacher presentations  Attendance: 48  Venue: Northside Christian College  Convenor: Peter Algate Page 4 of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017 2016 AATE/ALEA joint national conference The 2016 AATE/ALEA joint national conference was held in Adelaide over the period 7-10 July. The theme was Weaving Worlds with Words and Wonder. Assisted attendance at conferences Assisted attendance (Jim Buckley Memorial Scholarship) was offered to Elizabeth Fatowna (Mackay) for the state conference in August, covering registration and $200 towards costs for travel and accommodation. Melissa Jeffreys (QUT) was sponsored for her registration. The following were sponsored for the National Conference in Adelaide with the payment of their registration expenses: Anne Wood (St Michael’s College), Estelle Deshon (Centenary Heights State High School), Fiona Laing (AATE representative) and Julie Arnold (Corinda State High School).

Utilizing digital technologies ETAQ’s digital presence continued strongly in 2017. Our website (etaq.org.au) offers a range of functionalities, including online registrations for PD events, online membership signup and payment, emails using ETAQ logo as well as a space ‘behind the wall’ for resources such as videos and powerpoints of PD presentations. Previous years’ issues of Words’Worth are available in this area. Teachers in schools covered by corporate membership and non-members are also able to sign up to receive e-pistles and other news items which are regularly emailed out. Currently 1210 people are registered for this service. This represents a strong outreach to members, shown by the vast increase in the number of recipients throughout 2016. The website continues to make registration for events smoother and has allowed for registrations for events in Townsville to be managed through the website as well. Communications are also more efficient as they have links to registration forms and other key links from the website.

ETAQ currently maintains both a Facebook page as a public presence and a closed group for members to share resources and links. As of February 2017, the Facebook page has over 1220 and has had high level of engagement through the featuring of exceptional members as part of our “I <3 English” campaign to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the organisation. These posts have had a high level of interest and engagement and we thank the participants and their nominators for sharing their love of teaching. The Association’s closed group hosts almost 400 members. Throughout 2017, it has developed as a forum to share ideas, opinions and resources and to engage with other members. AATE continues to have a presence on Facebook with their ‘open group’ on Facebook.

Sophie Johnson has begun a special project, beginning in August 2016, to help to celebrate ETAQ’s 50 th birthday. She has gathered information from members from across the state, across ages and sectors, and posted an ETAQ Educator of the week on Facebook’s page (the open group). This has resulted in high levels of engagement with the public and has publicly promoted the work of English teachers in Queensland. By the Annual State Conference in August 2017, Sophie will have celebrated 50 ETAQ luminaries who will, hopefully, help celebrate that milestone at the state conference.

ETAQ continues to utilize Twitter as a social media communication tool- thanks to committee members Michelle Regan, Melanie Wild and Stew Riddle who step in when required to post updates and ideas and stream our keynotes during events.

Competitions Literary Competition 2016 The 57th Annual Literary Competition (established March 1959) was an inspiring and successful Page 5 of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017 occasion. An unprecedented 940 entries were received from students and teachers alike, across Queensland and the Northern Territory. The quality of these entries was outstanding as was demonstrated at the Presentation Evening in mid-October where the winning recipients showcased their literary craft. The winning entries were published in the November 2016 issue of the IEUA-QNT’s journal, The Independent Voice, as well as featuring on ETAQ’s official website, together with the judges’ commentaries. The work of the first place winners and the judges’ comments will be published in ETAQ’s Words’Worth in two editions in 2017. The Presentation Evening was once again held at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point in Brisbane, on Wednesday 12th October, 2016, attended by around 220 guests including dignitaries, winning recipients and their families and friends. Winners were drawn from across Queensland: Alice Watson (3rd place for Year 11/12 Short Story) travelled with her family from Freshwater Christian College in Brimsmead, Cairns. Additionally, two students: Bianca Kroll (1st place Year 6 Poetry) and Jesse Clapper (Highly Commended Year 6 Poetry) from Redeemer Lutheran College, Biloela travelled the 562 kilometres to Brisbane with their families to receive their awards in person. There were also several students who had won prizes in previous years and were again awarded places or Highly Commended acknowledgements this year. One prolific writer in the Teacher division is Sue Grotherr who took out 3rd place this year with her short story Blessed are the Meek. Sue has previously been awarded 3rd place in 2015, a Highly Commended in 2014, 1st place in 2013 and 2nd place in 2012! Again we were privileged to hear from a published author as guest speaker at the Presentation Evening. Children’s author, Samantha Wheeler, took us on a personal journey of her own writing experiences. For Wheeler, writing allows her to go on hundreds of adventures from the comfort of her writing desk. Drawing on the wisdom of Pulitzer prize winner, Junot Diaz, she argued that the secret of a writer is not in writing well or easily or because they may have talent: a writer is a writer when they keep on writing, even when they believe there’s nothing in their writing that shows promise. A new process that was introduced into the Literary Competition this year was the implementation of an originality checking system for all prize winners and Highly Commended entrants. This was undertaken courtesy of Stewart Riddle of the University of Southern Queensland and managed by Michaela Brittain of the IEUA-QNT. The Turnitin program ultimately confirmed the originality of all student and teacher entries. We are optimistic that this ongoing measure will uphold the integrity of the competition. From 2017 consideration is being given for all students who submit an entry in the competition, to be given a Participation Certificate, posted from the IEUA-QNT to all schools involved. This process is to be confirmed early 2017.

Due to the growing interest in the Literary Competition, the IEUA-QNT has proposed the introduction of Year 5 into the Poetry/Short Story divisions. Once this proposal is ratified, it is hoped that it will be in place for the 2017 competition year with a Year 5/6 Poetry/Short Story division being implemented. This amalgamation will mean no added prize money costs, book prizes or judges required. This competition is, of course, made possible by the ongoing valued support and sponsorship of the Independent Educators Union of Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory branch. We would especially like to convey our appreciation to the Union’s Michaela Brittain, Mary-Ellen Pascoe and Rianne Gillespie for their invaluable help and sponsorship. We also acknowledge the Page 6 of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017 ongoing support and sponsorship of the senior non-fiction section by James Cook University. Sincere thanks also to Penguin Random House in Sydney for their contribution of age- and category-specific book prizes for each place-getter. Our acknowledgement goes to all students and teachers for their valued submissions. Congratulations to the winners, place-getters and highly commended awardees. The 1st place- getters for 2016 are:

Section A Non-Fiction Prose – Isabella Ostini, Somerville House Section A Short Story – Amy Coomer, Kimberley College Section A Poem – Nick Moncrieff, Kelvin Grove State College Section B Short Story – Caitlin Williams, Kelvin Grove State College Section B Poem – Hannah Ostini, Somerville House Section C Short Story – Rosa Flynn-Smith, Kelvin Grove State College Section C Poem – Sonika Tamlin-Stockbridge, MacGregor State High School Section D Short Story – Skye Butcher, Peregian Springs State School Section D Poem – Bianca Kroll, Redeemer Lutheran College, Biloela Section E Short Story – Andrea Anderson, Seven Hills State School

Special acknowledgement goes also to the judges for these various divisions. Thank you for your time, commitment and expertise. The judges for 2016 were Dr Judith Seaboyer, Pam Schindler, Esme Robinson, Dr Stephen Torre, Jeffrey Harpeng, Garry Collins, Duncan Richardson, Ynes Sanz, Beryl Exley and Debbie Peden. Deb Peden has been coordinating the ETAQ component of the competition for seven years. She commends the students and teachers who make this Literary Competition so successful, together with those who have inspired and guided them. ETAQ and IEU-QNT look forward to the Queensland and Northern Territory writers continuing their creativity and celebrating their work through our Literary Competition.

Curriculum Matters Australian Curriculum: English The major change in 2016 was the preparation of new syllabuses in English, Essential English, English as an Additional Language, Literature and English and Literature Extension. The first four syllabuses were substantially based on the Australian Curriculum for Senior English. These syllabuses are due for implementation in year 11 in 2019. No changes occurred in the P-10 of the Australian Curriculum in 2016. One of the areas of great concern in 2016 has been ACARA’s plans to introduce on-line testing for NAPLAN. For the reading component, the capacity to have a range of tests available, each changing according to the needs of the student sitting the test has been generally welcomed. However, the introduction of auto- marking of computer processed writing has been resisted strongly. ETAQ has appealed to the Education Minister, to the federal minister’s office and to its membership. Auto-marking is technically more accurate and reliable than human marking, according to the research. However, what this exemplifies is the artificiality of the NAPLAN test wherein 5 out of 45 marks are allocated to the ideas within the writing. ETAQ will continue to argue for a strong revision of the artificiality of the writing task.

of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017 Interaction with the QCAA 2016 was a year of frenetic activity to achieve the writing of the suite of English syllabuses ready for implementation in year 11 2019. The new syllabuses represent a large shift in practice including a reduction to four assessment pieces for year 12 with one of these an external task, externally set and externally marked. ETAQ was provided a position on the Senior Assessment Working Group for English in 2015 (following a drought for numerous years prior). This was followed in 2016 by the creation of the Learning Area Reference Group for English. ETAQ continues to have a position on the LARG. The LARG has provided feedback to three drafts of the syllabus created in 2016 for the first four English subjects. For each draft, ETAQ has collaborated to create thorough feedback. In May this feedback was based on a survey of members as to their expectations of what should be in the new syllabuses. A trial of external assessment in year 11 English, based on one of two plays, occurred in May 2016 and will be repeated, on a new set of novels, in semester 1, 2017. The ETAQ committee has been called upon to provide feedback and guidance throughout the period of great change in senior assessment.

AATE AATE, the Australian Association for the Teaching of English, is the umbrella national body with which ETAQ and the other state and territory English teacher associations are affiliated. During 2016, Garry Collins, the immediate Past President of ETAQ, played the role of Past President of AATE. When the national president stood down in September, Garry resumed the presidency until the AGM at which time Wendy Cody from WA took on the rest of the presidency. As is ETAQ’s usual practice, the President, Fiona Laing, served as our delegate to the AATE national council. The 2016 AATE/ALEA joint national conference was conducted in Adelaide in early July. The 2017 event will be held in Hobart over the period 6-9 July. Council business was conducted via email, teleconferences and two face-to-face meetings. Both of these were held at English House, AATE’s headquarters in Adelaide, one following the national conference and the AGM on the weekend 22-23 October. Besides this routine business, some key AATE advocacy activities during the year were: • Consultation with ACARA over the future of the NAPLAN test and the future of the Australian Curriculum in Adelaide  AATE published The Artful English Teacher, a text for early career English teachers. Strong initial sales led to a further print, with negotiations under way for its move to digital sales.  Dr Anita Jetnikoff, then at QUT, commenced a 2-year term as Editor of English in Australia from the start of 2016.  AATE has actively supported opposition to proposed changes to copyright law which are seen to undermine income for local writers and therefore the strength of the Australian voice in literature and film.  AATE undertook a survey regarding the uptake and confidence of teachers in the Australian Curriculum: English and shared the results with ACARA.  The election of executive positions is now reorganized so as to be staggered so that only two of four change at the same time, in the interests of maintaining stability over time.

of 10 Secretary’s Report to ETAQ AGM 11 March 2017  The ongoing participation in IFTE (International Federation for the Teaching of English) is being reviewed to investigate its value to Australia compared to the costs involved and the overall strength of the organization.  Work has started on digitising back issues of English in Australia with the aim of having a full digital catalogue of back issues.

Three reports on ETAQ activities were provided for publication in the AATE journal English in Australia. Book Sales The bookstall which sells a selection of AATE and Phoenix publications was well patronised at the March and May seminars and the state conference. The financial results appear in the Treasurer’s Report. Branches Branches at Toowoomba and Townsville have been active during the year, running a number of activities for local members which have generally been well attended. Publications Three editions of Words’Worth were published during the year and mailed to members. These have also been placed in the members only area of the website for future reference. Members have been diligent in offering articles for publication, making Steve Riddle’s job as editor much less onerous. Members have also been supplied with three editions of English in Australia. The Management Committee decided to trial offering full members the opportunity of opting out of receiving a hard copy of English in Australia this year. This was communicated to members with the renewal of membership notice. So far not one person has taken up the offer.

Peter Botsman Memorial Award At the Annual State Conference in August 2016, Grace Loyden was awarded the Peter Botsman Award for her services to the teaching of English in the ‘schools’ category. Grace travelled from Spinifex College in Mt Isa to accept her award and share her thoughts on the teaching of English. The text of her speech is included on the ETAQ website and was published in Words’Worth last year.

JCQTA ETAQ continued its membership of the Joint Council of Queensland Teacher Associations (JCQTA) and was represented at meetings by the Immediate Past President, Garry Collins, and Vice President, Kelli McGraw. The two activities other than routine meetings were the Presidents Dinner on Wednesday 17 February and the annual forum on Saturday 10 September (rescheduled from Wednesday 17 August). Participation enabled ETAQ to stay informed of the activities of similar associations in the state.

An ongoing issue for JCQTA is the level of affiliation fees set by its affiliated national body APTA, the Australian Professional Teachers Association. For several years now, a complication has been that, at the national level, AATE has joined a national umbrella body entitled the Australian Alliance of Associations in Education (AAAE) which seeks to operate in the same space that APTA previously did.

Another issue is that, in the past, JCQTA was a conduit for federal government funds for education-related projects but such funds have dried up. Another ongoing issue is the unwillingness of the state minister to meet with JCQTA or to discuss possible funding in future.

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Conclusion In 2016, we have tried to showcase the passion so many of our members have for their chosen teaching area through the “I <3 English” campaign. This passion is also evident in members of the Management Committee and various sub committees and the tasks they take to make English teaching and learning in Queensland an exciting experience. Once again, thank you, our members for your continued support, without your input and attendance ETAQ as we know it would not function. I trust your membership of the ETAQ has brought you opportunities to develop, improve and inspire.

Bronwyn Darben Secretary 11 March 2017