Now is your chance to make a nomination for the 2024 Union Excellence Awards!

Nominate your Chapter or colleagues by 5pm Friday, 18 October 2024 to ensure their contributions to our union are recognised.

Our Union Excellence Awards are:
 
Beginning Educator Award
This award recognises the outstanding efforts of a beginning educator who demonstrates a commitment to build a better future for our members.
Elizabeth McCall Award
This award recognises female union activists who have displayed particular dedication to the pursuit of social justice.
John (Max) MacDermott Award (Chapter and individual)
This award recognises a Chapter and/or individual that has made a significant contribution to our union.
Judith Cooper Award - Northern Territory (Chapter and individual)
This award recognises outstanding Chapter and/or individuals in the Northern Territory that have helped to build the strength of our union.
Ruth George Award
This award recognises an outstanding School Officer member activist. 
Senior Leader Award
This award recognises the outstanding contribution made by a union member who holds a senior leadership position at a workplace.
Thersa Nunn First Nations Award
This award was established for a First Nations member who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of our union.
Vonnie Burke Memorial Award
The award seeks to provide an opportunity for an early career female member to undertake union-related professional development.
Teacher Education Bursaries
Our union also awards Teacher Education Bursaries to applicants studying education at university who have a connection to our union, such as a parent or family member who is an IEU-QNT member.

BEGINNING EDUCATOR MEMBER AWARD

Our beginning educators are the future of our union.

These members represent our next generation of IEUA-QNT Chapter activists and union leaders who will shape future working conditions and the nature of our education sectors.

One way we can support our beginning educators to meet future challenges is by identifying our best and brightest activists and providing guidance and acknowledgement of their efforts.

This Award provides an opportunity to recognise the outstanding efforts of a beginning educator who has demonstrated a commitment and passion to build a better future for our members.

AWARD CRITERIA:
  1. Union member in the first five years of their teaching career.
  2. Have demonstrated an early commitment to union values as they begin their career.
  3. Have shown an interest in the promotion and advancement of their chosen profession.
  4. Contributes to the activism or growth of their IEUA-QNT Chapter.
  5. Have demonstrated qualities of a future workplace or union leader.

Examples of relevant activities might include:
  • undertaking a role on the Chapter Executive;
  • participation in union activities at the Chapter level such as member meetings, collective activities or raising issues with school management;
  • participation in broader union activities such as local Branch meetings, member rallies, training or beginning educator (BEnet) events;
  • actively promotes union membership and talks with their colleagues about the importance of union;
  • initiates member discussions on workplace or professional issues;
  • supports collective bargaining negotiations or participates in an employee bargaining team;
  • actively supports social justice campaigns either in the workplace or in the broader community.

JOHN (MAX) MACDERMOTT AWARD

Nominations are called for the ‘John (Max) MacDermott Award’ for 2024, presented in recognition of members’ outstanding contributions to their union.

This award has been extended to enable members to recognise both the outstanding efforts of individual activists and the efforts of school chapters, chapter executives or chapter networks.

Why was the John (Max) MacDermott Award created?

John (Max) MacDermott was a highly successful and respected teacher at Mercy College, Mackay who had a deep interest in union activities. As a chapter president and staff representative he worked diligently and tirelessly to represent the interests of staff.  This award honours his memory and his outstanding contribution as a unionist and union activist.

Are there any ‘John (Max) MacDermotts’ in your chapter or branch?

If you know of individuals within your chapter or a chapter or other group who have made an outstanding contribution as unionists and union activists, we invite you to nominate them for the John (Max) MacDermott Award for Outstanding Contribution as a Union Activist or the John (Max) MacDermott Award for Outstanding Contribution as a Chapter, Chapter Executive or Network.

Award Criteria

  • Has worked diligently and tirelessly to assist members to address their issues.
  • Has acted with honesty, integrity and courage in the conduct of union affairs.
  • Has promoted member action and networking at the chapter and/or branch level.
  • Has made an outstanding contribution to their school chapter and/or branch and IEUA-QNT through activism in a specific area.

ELIZABETH MCCALL AWARD

The Elizabeth McCall Award has been established to honour inspirational QIEU member Elizabeth McCall who died as a result of a tragic accident outside her school on Thursday, 27 April 2006.

Elizabeth, who was a highly respected teacher at St Peter’s Catholic Primary school at Rochedale, was an extraordinary woman who made a remarkable contribution in all aspects of her life; including her union community to which she was dedicated and passionately committed.

Elizabeth touched the lives of many people with her warmth, her quiet dignity and her passion for social justice. In all she did she sought the best for others and her selfless dedication will remain an inspiration for us all.

She will be remembered as a warm and caring teacher, a dear friend, a committed and active unionist, a loving mother to her two boys, Sam and Tom, and a soul mate to her husband Mark.

For Elizabeth her union activism was very much part of her wider commitment to achieving social justice. Elizabeth believed in truth above all other things.

In the light of Elizabeth’s contribution to her union and her pursuit of social justice issues QIEU Council has made a decision to establish an ongoing award in her memory.

The award will be for a woman who demonstrates a fundamental commitment to the principles of unionism and in particular gives expression to the pursuit of social justice issues.

The award may be given to more than one woman in any given year.

A recipient of the Elizabeth McCall Award will:

Demonstrate a fundamental commitment to the principles of unionism by:

  • Actively building membership strength and a strong collective voice;
  • Being educated about the issues impacting on her and her colleagues and what they can do about them;
  • Building a collective culture and supporting her colleagues in her workplace to achieve fair and just outcomes.

Actively encourage the expression of the voice of the collective in the pursuit of social justice issues by:

  • Working to bring social justice issues to the attention of her colleagues and seeking to inspire and educate others through their own example;
  • Recognising the importance of educating for social justice and inspiring students in her care to investigate issues they care deeply about;
  • Taking action to promote justice and fairness by standing alongside like-minded colleagues;
  • Recognising our union’s capacity to achieve social justice.

JUDITH COOPER AWARD

Our union relies heavily on the efforts of members of our Chapters and Chapters themselves to provide initial assistance to fellow members and act as representatives of their fellow members.

Nominations are called from members in the Northern Territory for the ‘Judith Cooper Award’ which is presented in recognition of a member’s outstanding contribution as a union representative and/or in recognition of a Chapter’s outstanding contribution to building a strong union.

The award provides the opportunity for a School Chapter to recognise the outstanding efforts of Chapter activists by nominating those most deserving of this award.

The award recognises the particular contribution of all union activists in the Northern Territory and especially honours an outstanding contribution of an individual on behalf of Chapter members.

Why was the Judith Cooper Award Created?

Judith Cooper played an instrumental role in the establishment of a union in the non-government sector in the Northern Territory.

In 1983 Judith Cooper, a school assistant at St Mary’s Primary School, Darwin and some teacher colleagues at other predominately Catholic schools joined together to start working through the issues which were affecting non- government school employees.

In 1984 Judith was instrumental in the establishment of The Northern Territory Independent School Staff Association (NTISSA).

Judith was elected as the first Branch Secretary for NTISAA in 1984. Within the year NTISSA had worked extensively to establish the first award to cover independent schools in the NT.

AWARD CRITERIA:

  • Works diligently and tirelessly to assist members to address their issues.
  • Acts with honesty, integrity and courage in the conduct of union affairs.
  • Promotes member education, action and networking at the Chapter and/or Division level.
  • Has made an outstanding contribution to the School Chapter and our union through activism in a specific area.

RUTH GEORGE AWARD

In recognition of the outstanding contribution made by individual school officers on behalf of their colleagues, our union established the ‘Ruth George School Officer Award’ and is calling for nominations for 2024.

This Award will be presented in recognition of a school officer member’s outstanding contribution as a union activist. The IEUA-QNT ‘Recognise, Reclassify, Reward’ School Officer Campaign highlighted the strength that member involvement gives to a campaign. 

The continual improvement of workplace pay and conditions is entirely dependent upon the passionate commitment of individual members to the principles of collective bargaining and support of other union members.

Without the willingness of these individual members to provide assistance to their colleagues, to act as representatives and to give their time on behalf of members, successful outcomes for staff in the non-government education sector simply would not occur.

Ruth George played a key role in re-establishing the universal award covering non-government assistant mistresses in 1937. During the Depression assistant school mistresses had been forced to accept pay reductions in their Award.

Ruth George and her colleagues took on the challenge of restoring their salaries despite the opposition of the employers. Her determination and commitment to this cause was crucial in overcoming the employers’ objections and opposition.

This award honours her memory and outstanding contribution as an activist and union representative.

Like the teachers of the 1930’s the valuable work of school officers, to ensure the smooth functioning of schools and quality educational outcomes for students, have gone largely unrecognised and unrewarded by employing authorities.

This award provides the opportunity for all members of our union to recognise the outstanding efforts of school officers generally and the particular efforts of school officers who have helped organise their colleagues to achieve better working conditions.

Is there a ‘Ruth George' in your School Chapter?

If you know a school officer who has made an outstanding contribution as a unionist and union representative, we invite you to nominate your colleague for the ‘Ruth George School Officer Award’ for outstanding contribution as a union representative to school officers. 

Examples of activist activities might include:

  • participation in union activities such as meetings, protests, rallies, campaigns, professional development and training;
  • dissemination of union information;
  • recruitment of colleagues;
  • promoting awareness of Award conditions;
  • pursuing accurate role descriptions for themselves and colleagues;
  • participating in enterprise bargaining negotiations and the single bargaining unit (SBU);
  • acting as a representative on the school consultative committee; or
  • involvement in school workplace policy development e.g. health and safety issues such as anti-bullying and discrimination.

SENIOR LEADER AWARD

The Senior Leader award has been established to recognise the outstanding contribution made by a union member who holds a senior leadership position at a workplace and who is a tireless advocate for union issues, on behalf of their colleagues. IEUA-QNT established the Senior Leader Award in 2020 and is calling for nominations for 2024.

Today’s senior leaders in our workplaces face daily challenges from any number of fronts and their ability to plan, strategise, team build and develop leadership opportunities for others is central to their effectiveness as a senior leader. It is these skills that contribute to a collective union culture. An effective senior leader knows inherently that connecting and consulting with staff, taking on feedback, thinking creatively to resolve an issue, just to name a few, promotes a positive working environment.

This award provides the opportunity for all members of IEUA-QNT to recognise the outstanding efforts of school leadership employees who are engaged and active in their chapter’s union leadership.

If you know a Senior Leader who has made an outstanding contribution as a unionist, we invite you to nominate your colleague for the Senior Leader Award for outstanding contribution as a unionist, in a senior leadership role.

Examples of activist activities might include:

  • promoting union led initiatives at the workplace;
  • engaging in the consultative mechanisms at the College (however so organised and described at the local level);
  • participation in union activities such as meetings, protests, rallies, campaigns, professional development and training;
  • disseminating of union information;
  • promoting awareness of Agreement and/or Award conditions;
  • pursuing accurate role descriptions and/or classification for colleagues;
  • ensuring Agreement/Award conditions are promoted;
  • participating in enterprise bargaining negotiations and the single bargaining unit (SBU); and
  • involvement in school workplace policy development/revisions/updates as needed.

AWARD CRITERIA:

  • Works diligently and tirelessly to represent the interests of chapter members.
  • Acts with honesty, integrity and courage in the conduct of their union’s activities.
  • Has made a noticeable contribution to the school chapter and/or IEUA-QNT through engagement and/or activism in a specific area.
  • Has supported and/ or promoted member action and/or engagement and networking at the site and/or branch level.
  • Has fairness and respect at the heart of their daily actions and interactions with colleagues.

THERSA NUNN FIRST NATIONS MEMBER AWARD

The cultures, histories and achievements of First Nations People are an integral feature of the geographic and sociocultural landscape in which we all live and work. The IEUA-QNT recognises the fundamental importance of a formal commitment to reconciliation.

Our First Nations members are a strong and significant part of our membership and they share a desire to enhance the quality of life for teachers, school officers and services staff in non-government education institutions.

The IEUA-QNT has established an award for a First Nations member who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of our union.

This award provides the opportunity for all members of our union to recognise the outstanding efforts of First Nations members and the efforts of those who have helped organise their colleagues in pursuit of shared industrial, professional and reconciliation goals.

The award is named in honour of Aunty Thersa (Ther-esa) Nunn, a proud Noonuccal Woman, Quandamooka Elder and long-standing IEUA-QNT member.

Thersa’s commitment to union is evident not only in her ongoing support for industrial and professional campaigns, but also her efforts to educate others on the benefits of union.

The quality of support and care that she provided to Indigenous students within that role is widely appreciated within the Indigenous community and it is this that makes her voice, as a union member, so influential.

If you know a First Nations member who has made an outstanding contribution as a unionist, we invite you to nominate your colleague for the ‘Thersa Nunn First Nations Member Award’.

AWARD CRITERIA

  1. Has made an outstanding contribution to our union through activism in a specific area.
  2. Works diligently and tirelessly to represent the interests of First Nations members.
  3. Acts with honesty, integrity and courage in the conduct of our union’s activities.

Examples of activist activities might include:

  • participation in union activities such as meetings, protests, rallies, campaigns, professional development and training;
  • dissemination of union information;
  • recruitment of colleagues;
  • promoting awareness of Award conditions;
  • participating in enterprise bargaining negotiations and the single bargaining unit (SBU);
  • acting as a representative on the school consultative committee; or
  • involvement in school workplace policy development e.g. health and safety issues such as anti-bullying and discrimination.

VONNIE BURKE AWARD AND SCHOLARSIP

Vonnie Burke (1934 – 2018), Life Member, had a fundamental understanding of the empowering nature of education and a commitment to provide opportunity through education wherever she could.

As a teacher and as a unionist she was innovative, committed, challenging but above all determined that whether as a student or as a worker, the institution of school and union promoted fairness and dignity and provided opportunities which otherwise might be denied.

She was particularly motivated that girls and women have opportunities beyond their existing circumstances in life.

The Vonnie Burke Award and Scholarship is made in honour of this remarkable teacher and unionist and seeks to provide an opportunity for an early career female member to undertake union-related professional development.

The value of the scholarship is to be determined by the governing body from time-to-time.

In 2024 the amount is $3,000.

The allocated sum (with the approval of the Secretary) may be spent on course fees, release time, travel and accommodation as relevant.

The professional development is to be taken within the twelve months following the Award.

AWARD CRITERIA:

Applications for the Award should address the following (100-200 words each):

  1. Demonstrated advocacy for fairness and respect in the workplace.
  2. A statement of personal union values and why unions are essential in our community.
A statement on what the Award would mean for the applicant’s development as a unionist and as an educator.
Powered byFormsite