Aboriginal Education Assistants meet

Central Council, 13 February 2006

Report adopted

A meeting of the Aboriginal Education Assistants Steering Committee was held on 14 December 2005. The following arose from that meeting:

• A newsletter has been mailed to all AEA's notifying them of some recommendations of the Committee, dates of meetings in 2006 and contact details of delegates. Culturally-relevant "Rights at Work" information and postcard were also included in the mail-out.

• The statement of duties is to be updated and consultation to commence with members and DET. A draft of the statement of duties has been distributed to all AEA members.

• Proposals have been put forward for a name change to the classification for members to vote on. The outcome will be proposed to DET.

• Dates have been set for meetings of the Steering Committee to be held (one per term) in 2006.

The Steering Committee is concerned that some positions are funded by the State Government and some federally, and have raised concerns about the security of their positions in the changing industrial climate. The Committee has recommended the PSA write to DET seeking confirmation of security of their positions.

The Committee discussed the presence of in-class tutors, which are federally funded positions that do not perform the role of an AEA but are paid at the same rate as an AEA. DET has informed me that the Aboriginal Education Directorate is currently working on a package of guidelines for schools who will be receiving funding for in-class tutors in 2006, which will contain a draft job advertisement, statement of duties etc.