Schools Campaigning for paid placements for all
UNION WINS PAID PLACEMENT CAMPAIGN – UPDATE 7 MAY 2024
Our pre-service teacher members told us that completing their placements while receiving no income is a real barrier to completing their studies. That’s why AEU members have been campaigning hard to win paid placements for teaching stduents.
Ultimately, our petition for paid placements attracted 13,455 signatures.
On 7 May 2024, the Albanese government delivered on the AEU’s demands: from 2025, pre-service teachers will receive payment of around $320 a week whilst undertaking school practicum placements required as part of their courses.
Make no mistake, this decision was only made because union members stood up, campaigned, and demanded the government do more to support pre-service teachers.
TERM 1, 2024
Thanks to your efforts – and the support of more than 12,000 people who have signed our petition for paid placements for pre-service teachers – late last year the state government announced a $32.2 million Pre-service Teacher Placement Grants program.
Students completing teaching placements in regional, remote, and specialist government schools will now be eligible for payments ranging from $140 up to $420 per day. This program provides up to 11,000 placements over the next two years, covering costs incurred by pre-service teachers during placements, including accommodation, travel, and loss of income.
This is an amazing outcome – and a great example of what we can win when we campaign loudly together. But it is not enough. The program only covers 11,000 placements over two years – and this is not an ongoing solution to the problem of unpaid placements.
In 2024, the AEU will continue to campaign with pre-service members to win paid placements for all teaching students. And we need everyone on board. AEU membership is free for pre-service teachers, so urge every pre-service teacher you know to sign up right now: aeuvic.asn.au/join/student.
Post-COVID, we have seen a lot of teachers leave the profession, retire early or change careers. Workforce shortages are going to continue to be a feature over the coming years, and the government must find ways to replace members who leave.
The AEU will have an increased presence in universities this year to urge pre-service teachers to join the public education profession and to talk to them about all the ways their union can support them – now and when they step into the classroom.
Welcome new teachers into your sub-branch!
Did you know, one of the things we won in the previous VGSA was the right for the AEU to be involved in staff inductions?
Every school sub-branch should be part of the school induction process and also make sure to invite all new colleagues along to a union meeting. This is especially important for new graduates and early-career teachers, who may not be aware of their entitlements or the support on offer.
