For further information including electronic templates go to:
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INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT PROVISIONS
The Victorian Institute of Teaching is neither an employing authority nor industrial organisation and as such has no jurisdiction over the terms and conditions of employment of teachers. These matters are covered under industrial agreements struck between employers and employees, or their representatives like the Australian Education Union or Independent Education Union.
You need to familiarise yourselves with industrial agreements particularly those that provide for a reduction in scheduled duties to allow for induction into the profession.
PROVISIONALLY REGISTERED TEACHERS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
The Victorian Government Schools Agreement can be found at <www.aeuvic.asn.au> For Australian Education Union (AEU) members the agreement is behind the membership wall. It is also available on the DET website <www.education.vic.gov.au>
Under this Agreement the primary focus of a graduate teacher is on further developing skills and competencies needed to become an effective classroom practitioner. It is recognised that ongoing support and development of graduate teachers is critical for the teachers themselves, the schools in which they teach, the communities in which they play a significant role, and for the students whose futures they shape.
To this end, the work allocated to a graduate teacher in their first 12 months of teaching should recognise the need for the graduate teacher to perform all of his or her required duties within a reasonable time frame and to participate in the necessary induction and development activities designed to assist graduate teachers in their first 12 months. Accordingly, within the resources available to the school, the scheduled duties of a graduate teacher should be reduced by at least 5% over the school week consistent with the allocation of duties at the school level. Please note that graduate teachers who have undertaken casual relief teaching in their first year of teaching may not be able to access this reduction if taking up a position in a school in their second year. If a teacher is requested to act as mentor for a graduate teacher the principal, as the Employer’s representative, should ensure that this role can be undertaken having regard to the total work required of that teacher over the 38 hour week.
Induction and mentoring programs provide optimum professional support for beginning and returning teachers. While induction programs welcome and introduce teachers to the profession, they also provide opportunity for them to reflect on the responsibilities, challenges and joys of their work, through the support of trained mentors. Induction and mentoring programs lay the foundations that support the development of quality teaching. They are the first stages in the continuing professional learning and development of teachers.
Principals are responsible for providing effective induction and mentoring programs. Principals should ensure that school based programs:
clarify expectations about teacher’s work and their role, including the standards of professional practice that graduate teachers are required to meet
acknowledge new teachers
enable the development of teacher commitment and purpose
integrate teachers into the school’s culture and structures
support the development of productive professional relationships
are linked with other personnel management processes.1
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PROVISIONALLY REGISTERED TEACHERS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The Victorian Catholic Education Multi-employer Agreement 2013 can be found at <www.ieuvictas.org.au>
Under this Agreement, teachers in their first year of teaching:
should participate in an induction program that covers the ethos and mission of theschool, the school policies and procedures, the identification of support persons and salary assessment information
in primary schools may be allocated a maximum of 21.5 hours of scheduled class time per week averaged over a term. This compares with 23 hours per week for an experienced teacher in 2014 and 22.5 in 2015
in secondary schools may be allocated a maximum of 18 hours per week of scheduled class time over a term. This compares with 20 hours per week for experienced teachers
Scheduled time includes:all scheduled classes allocated to the teacher whether that class consists of a single
student or a group of students
any sport/activities sessions allocated to the teacher which are scheduled during normal
class time
scheduled home room duties (secondary schools) scheduled assemblies (primary schools).
Part time teachers shall be allocated a pro rata amount of scheduled class time. PROVISIONALLY REGISTERED TEACHERS IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
In independent schools employment conditions will vary from school to school. It is important for PRTs to seek information about their employment circumstances and discuss how they can be supported as they begin their teaching career.
To avoid duplication the Institute has reached agreement with the Department of
Education and Training and Catholic Education Offices that the development of evidence for full registration by a provisionally registered teacher will fulfil professional practice requirements for performance appraisal in that year.
The majority of Independent schools also support the principle that there should be no duplication of appraisal processes during a teacher’s first year of teaching.
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REFERENCES
The following references have been useful in adding information and knowledge around the evidence-based process and mentoring. Schools may wish to add these to their professional libraries.
References:
Darling-Hammond, Linda – Getting Teacher Evaluation Right Portner, Hal – Mentoring New Teachers
Timperley, Helen – Using student assessment for professional learning: Paper No.21, May 2011 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
<http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/research/ timperleyassessment.pdf>
The Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct <www.vit.vic.edu.au>
Department of Education and Training <www.education.vic.gov.au>
http://www.vit.vic.edu.au
Victorian Institute of Teaching Level 9, 628 Bourke Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 Tel: 1300 888 067 Fax: (03) 8601 6101
Email: [email protected]