About the Australian Education Union

 

Welcome to the Australian Education Union. On these pages you’ll find out about the huge range of activities, policies and campaigns we undertake on behalf of our 165,000 members. They work as teachers and allied educators in schools, colleges and early childhood centres. The AEU is proud to work for people who have the most important job in the country - educating for the future.

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More about the Australian Education Union

The Australian Education Union has a membership of 175,000 educators who work in public schools, colleges, early childhood and vocational settings in all states and territories of Australia. Members include teachers and allied educational staff, principals and administrators mainly in government school and TAFE systems.

The AEU represents its members industrially and professionally in diverse forums. This includes the maintenance of comprehensive industrial protection and representation through industrial awards and agreements in all industrial tribunals in Australia. This involves industrial research, negotiation and advocacy over a wide range of matters including salaries and teaching and learning conditions.

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Organising and Representing Members

The AEU and its associated state bodies collect around $45 million in membership fees per year. This is directed to representation of members’ interests including the employment of around 450 organisers and other staff in all capital cities and in major provincial centres. As the largest union in the education sector, the AEU is an effective lobbyist for educational resources at both Commonwealth and state levels. Through the Federation of Education Unions, the AEU works closely with the two other Federal unions which cover educators in non-government schools and universities.

Through its organisation and associated enterprises the AEU offers a wide range of services to members. These include professional advice and support, welfare, health insurance, credit unions and discount purchasing.

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Membership Applications

Applications for membership should be directed to the AEU or its associated body in each state and territory. Associated bodies are the NSW Teachers Federation, Queensland Teachers Union, and the State School Teachers Union of WA. Click here for the page to join the AEU.

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How we Work

The AEU is a nationally organised union with a Federal Office in Melbourne and offices in all state and territory capitals as well as many regional centres. Click here for State and Territory Organisations.

The union is a registered organisation under the provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996. The union is governed by a Federal Conference which meets at least annually. The AEU Federal Executive with representatives from all states and territories meets frequently and makes decisions about current issues and strategies affecting members on a national basis.

Federal and Professional Officers of the AEU are responsible for carrying out decisions of the Federal Conference and Executive. The Federal Office has particular responsibility for campaigns and relations with the Federal Government as well as International Relations for the AEU. The AEU is an Australian affiliate of the Education International, the world’s largest non-government organisation.

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AEU People

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Annual Federal Conference

Federal Conference is the supreme governing authority of the Australian Education Union. Delegates to Federal Conference include the Federal President, Deputy Federal President and delegates representing the General Division, TAFE Division and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members in each state and territory of Australia. Delegates hold office for two years, after which time they may be re-elected.

The AEU's Annual Federal Conference held in the Christmas school holidays is an opportunity for Australia's public educators as unionists to make plans for the coming year. Federal Conference meets annually to discuss the priorities and policies of the union. It also determines changes to the AEU Federal Rules and appoints professional officers to work in the AEU Federal Office.

Speeches from the 2009 Conference are available here.

Speeches from the 2008 Conference are available here.

Speeches from the 2007 Conference are available here.

Speeches from the 2006 Conference are available here.

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Officers

Federal and Professional Officers employed at the Federal Office deal with a range of professional policy issues affecting educators, as well as policy issues affecting the terms and conditions of employment of educators. Officers are employed with specific job descriptions and qualifications in the areas of Legal and Industrial matters, Technical and Further Education, Women members, Educational Research and Policy, Aboriginal Education and International Relations.

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Affiliations

The AEU is affiliated to the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the peak body of unionism in Australia as well as all state and territory labour councils and provincial councils. Internationally the AEU is affiliated to the Education International, the largest non-government organisation in the world.

The Campaigns and Policies of the AEU can be found on this site.

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Rules and Elections

National TAFE Council

The AEU Federal Conference in January 2009 decided by the requisite majority to make a rules amendment as follows which has been duly notified to the Registry.  

That Federal Rule 47 “NATIONAL TAFE COUNCIL” subsection (10) (a) be amended by adding the words:

“by one or more delegates resigning or, if not,” before the words “by determining the person or persons last elected during the counting of votes and the allocation of preferences;”

E2009/103

The AEC recently completed election: E2009/103 for a Federal Executive Member representing the General Division of the Victorian Branch. A copy of the AEC Post Election Report and Declaration is available from the AEU upon request.

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Summary Financial Statements

Year ending 30 September 2008

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This page last updated 6 April 2009

  Privacy Statement

Copyright © 2009 Australian Education Union - Federal Office
120 Clarendon Street, Southbank, Victoria, Australia 3006
Ph: +61 3 9693 1800 Fax: +61 3 9693 1805
Email: aeu@aeufederal.org.au