| SSTUWA Executive: Hilary Carruthers |
 I am standing with Members First to seek re-election as an Ordinary Executive Member of the SSTUWA. I am a committed unionist and as a current Executive member I am also a representative on the ATSIE committee and the Country Matters Working Party. I have been a member of the SSTUWA and a primary classroom teacher for the past twenty years and have taught in Western Australian Government Primary Schools and District High Schools in both remote and rural settings. I have taught at Derby District High School for the past 12 years and I am currently working as a primary literacy specialist teacher working alongside teachers in the classroom every day. As most of these are graduate teachers, I understand the difficulty faced by our new educators who find themselves posted to country locations like the Kimberley. I believe that the knowledge that I bring to the Executive because of my experience in rural, remote and difficult to staff settings makes my perspective invaluable. I believe that classroom teachers have become disempowered within their own workplace. Teachers have become the instrument of continual assessment, data gathering as well as constant trials of the latest department initiatives. We have little time left to teach in our day. Members First will work hard to ensure that the act of teaching is valued by our employer so that we can get back to our core business of teaching. As a committed teacher, I am very concerned about the current state of education in government schools. We have many issues that need to be addressed which include; Behaviour Management and our right to be able to teach in a safe work place, Class Sizes, Workload - especially for teachers who have to write numerous IEPs and IBPs and the Recognition of Teachers who remain committed to classroom teaching. With the Members First team I will work hard to ensure the classroom teacher’s voice is not a forgotten one and to attempt to implement Twomey’s recommendations where classroom teachers and administrators are respected. Members First has the fresh approach that was able deliver the best pay deal that teachers have received in recent SSTUWA history of 22% to all teachers and administrators. We have proven that we are not bound by old allegiances that in the end have nothing to do with the current needs and desires of the teaching workforce. Ordinary members of this Union need and deserve representation by executive members who are currently teaching and who go back to classrooms after attending executive meetings. Members First pride themselves in having the welfare of ordinary working members first and foremost in everything that we do Members First has the experience, training and will to change our union. We are pushing for strategic plans and a more transparent process when negotiating with our employer. I am completely committed to continuing the good work that the Members First team has begun. Teachers now more than ever need a proactive and robust Union. I firmly believe that the approach of the Members First team will continue to represent teachers in a way that is consultative and courageous. |