Today, like many other West Australian teachers, I'm not going to work this morning.
It's interesting that our industrial action is represented in the media as about pay. We're not striking over salary - we're striking because the system is broken.
My son has had no Phys Ed teacher all year. He's had a procession of relief teachers which, for a special needs child, is extremely distressing. He attends an inner city public school, but staffing shortages are statewide.
Speaking of special needs students, I'd like to look after my own without having to skip lunch to ensure their needs are met.
I'd like the Education Department to give me a personal device so I can do my job
(more efficiently). If I want a laptop, I have to lease one.
I'd like an acknowledgement of how teaching has recently become more difficult and demanding, especially during #COVID19, when we kept schools open and tried to keep students safe.
I enforced the mask mandate far more often than a rank-and-file police officer. I've probably been threatened and assaulted more times than many police officers too. And the statewide mobile phone ban? Guess who enforces that every single day.
So many of my colleagues have left teaching: re-trained or resigned due to burnout and stress. Who suffers? The students.
It's not about the pay. We're tired, and we need support. We're underfunded and under-resourced. We need to improve conditions for students. We need to fix the system.
"Compared with the period from 1901 to 1960, cool season rainfall in the last two decades has dropped by 20%. Very wet years have almost completely disappeared.
About half of this change has been blamed on rising greenhouse gas #emissions, which could be an underestimate, according to one study led by Bureau of Meteorology scientists."
A letter to parents from the SSTUWA
23 April stop work action
Dear parents,
It is likely that your child’s public school may be closed on the morning of Tuesday 23 April 2024. If it is open, it won’t be for lessons as normal. #union#sstuwa#westernAustralia#teachers#teachersStrike#education#parents
Western Australian Teachers taking half-day stop-work action next week.
The Education Department’s own red tape review said: “Our analysis indicates that the problem goes to the more fundamental question of whether the job of teaching as currently performed and organised is doable or sustainable.”
Please support your local teachers in this action. #sstuwa#union#teachers#education#auspol#westernAustralia#unionstrong
Torres Strait Islanders became expert train track layers during the 20th century in Far North Queensland. In Western Australia they broke the world record for laying 7 km of track in one day. This world record is unbroken.
From a boutique hotel in old warders' cottages to a huge new brewery sprawled along the docks, here's my hot tips to nine of Freo's newest and best for Traveller:
Here's everything you need to know about the WA government's backdown on its #Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws
By Jake Sturmer
Posted Tue 8 Aug 2023
"The WA government's 2021 changes were supposed to prevent what it described as a 'global embarrassment' from ever happening again.
"Instead, the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act has left many farmers confused and traditional owners frustrated.
"After just five weeks in operation, the government has backflipped — trying to stem the political bleeding that is tainting WA's new premier and now muddying the waters of the Voice referendum debate.
So what's changing?
"It's important to remember that any activities that could damage Aboriginal cultural heritage still need approval.
"The old-but-soon-to-be-new 1972 act meant the minister had to tick off on every action no matter how minor — known as a Section 18 approval.
WA premier announces repeal of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws
"Just five weeks after being legislated, Roger Cook announces the WA government will be scrapping its #AboriginalCulturalHeritageLaws.
"The 2021 act created a system of tiers and approvals.
"Want to build a fence with no clearing? No approval required.
"New #mine site with deep excavation? You'll need a management plan that has to be ticked off by a local Aboriginal organisation at your expense.
"But the government acknowledged these tiers have caused massive confusion and will therefore be scrapped.
"There were reports the rules would have prevented everything from gardening to installing a swimming pool, building a garage or burying a pet in the backyard.
"In fact, such activities were exempt, as were all properties smaller than 1,100 square metres.
"So it's no surprise the biggest outcry came from farmers.
How will another Juukan Gorge be prevented?
"When landowners requested to damage or destroy heritage sites, they needed one of those #Section18 approvals from the minister.
"If the minister rejected that, developers had a right to appeal but traditional owners did not.
"As part of the government's backflip, it will amend the laws to give a right of appeal to the native title party whose cultural heritage is impacted.
"Developers will also have to bring any new heritage information to the government's attention."
"Millions are sweltering through Western #Australia hottest February on record, with five days of temperatures above 40 degrees in Perth and likely more to come.
Other parts of #WesternAustralia are set to reach oppressive temperatures over the coming days, with some areas to reach more than 50 degrees."
A Perth set of windows for #FensterFreitag - within the somewhat bizarre mock-Tudor shopping arcade, London Court. The gent in the middle is Raleigh, I believe.
Will be going to various museums, Rottnest Island/wadjemup and the Busso pier underwater experience, plus some beaches and breweries. No hiking/really long walks. Open to other tips!