WELCOME TO APECS

NEWS:

ENTERPRISE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS 2012

Preliminary discussions with CCER for the new Award 2012 have indicated that the Catholic employers will be basing any future claims for salary increases on our ability to demonstrate that Principals are performing at a level that is above and beyond the professional standards for principals identified by the Institute of Teachers.

The following links will give you an indication of what is expected of Principals in NSW and Australia:

                     www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/accreditation

                     www.aits/national professional standards for principals

 

Given all  of these expectations what do principals do, beyond what is done now, that merits an increase in salary above 2.5%.

Please peruse the above links and email APECS  to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   so that we may take your responses to our next CCER meeting.   

 

 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

APECS has been in discussions with the CCER for some time regarding the Grievance Procedures for principals and the revised document APECS tabled.  Still the CCER are of the view that APECS should raise any concerns with each Diocesan Director individually so that concerns can be considered at diocesan level.  APECS questions why procedures differ when dispute issues are consistent across dioceses - usually between Priest/Parent/Teacher or CEO personnel.

APECS does not support inconsistent procedures.  We accept local conditions and practices must come into play however duties/workloads do not vary significantly from Diocese to Diocese or school to school. As such we firmly believe that a uniform document across dioceses is fair to all principals.  CCER has now written to all diocesan directors seeking clarification of the status of the procedure document. 

 

 RELIGIOUS PRINCIPALS

Whilst not being considered eligible for membership Religious Principals have shown  their support  for APECS by way of affiliation. The association does not have the strength or resources of a large organisation and the support of religious principals enables APECS to continue to represent principals in their unique situation, maintaining a Gospel approach to industrial relations.
 

RULE CHANGES

It is proposed to alter a number of rules of the Constitution, subject to approval of members and the Industrial Registrar. A copy of the proposed  amendments will be sent to financial members during term 3, and a secret ballot shall be taken by the Secretary.
 

The State Awards for Principals employed in Catholic Schools ceased on 31/12/10 and are  now replaced with Enterprise Agreements  for a term of one year (31/12/11). The Agreements set out terms and conditions of employment; flexible working arrangement for parents with children under school age, or children under 18 with a disability;  improvements to compassionate leave; individual flexibility agreements; and a 3.8% salary increase which was part of negotiations in the State Award.  Negotiations are now in place for the new Awards for 2012.
 

DISPUTES

Last year a number of disputes were notified to APECS which were resolved successfully.  Principals should be mindful of how quickly a small issue can escalate and we urge you to contact the Association as soon as any problem arises.  APECS always negotiates in a professional, non-confrontational manner, maintaining absolute confidentiality to ensure the dignity of those involved.

 

BARBARA HOLBOROW OAM

Barbara Holborow was appointed to the Bench in 1982 where she remained as a Children's Court Magistrate in Sydney for 12 years, spending a good part of her magisterial career presiding over the toughest children's courts.

In 1973 she was integral in the establishment of free legal aid for all children and from then on championed the cause of children, despairing at the inadequacy of the justice system as it related to children.  She fought to bring about changes and is proud of what she achieved.

 

She has written a number of books, "Those Tracks on my Face" and her second book "Kids: Loving for Life" looks closely at the way children are reared - drugs, child abuse, the effect of violent videos and how important it is to keep young offenders out of the adult criminal system for as long as possible.  Her third book "The Good, The Bad and the Inevitable" is a series of short stories.

 

Barbara is a sought after speaker, addressing audiences from all sectors of the community, both corporate and private, delivering her inspirational, emotionally charged and thought provoking message.

She has been a speaker for the youth foundation "Step to the Future" and has spoken at well over 40 youth forums aimed at students in years 7 to 12 in both junior and senior student forums throughout Australia.

Barbara was recently a guest of the Wollongong Diocese where she addressed teachers, counsellors, p&f groups and diocesan representatives on the needs of children and the responsibility of the community to promote their strengths, allowing children to achieve pride and respect in themselves.  She spoke of teachers often having closer contact with children than some parents, and the responsibility this places on teachers.

She is available to speak to children in schools, and offers inservices and workshops for principals, teachers, etc.

Barbara Holborow OAM

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone: 0401 634 565

Web: www.kidschampion.com.au