Commitees

The VIEU Committee of Management has the power to establish advisory committees to assist the work of the union and advance the interests of members. Committees are either ad hoc working parties established for a short time to work on a specific issue or permanent standing committees such as the Education and Women's Committees, and the newly convened Social Justice Committee..

Education Committee

The VIEU Education Committee comprises a mixture of primary and secondary members, Committee of Management members and union officers. Its purpose is to advise and make recommendations to Committee of Management on key educational issues and to advise Committee of Management and VIEU Officers of members' educational and professional concerns. The Education Committee will work in an advisory capacity with VIEU reps on the Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Ministerial Advisory Committees. The Committee will meet at least once a term, and will work as a committee on VIEU educational policy/submissions/responses.

For more information please contact Cathy Hickey.

Women's Committee

In the new millennium, much still needs to be done to ensure equitable structures for women in schools. Most educators in schools are women, but women do not hold the majority of leadership positions in schools. In many schools, curriculum and administration structures are not equitable. The particular needs of women in dealing with difficult and aggressive behaviours are not always recognised, and the need to balance work and family commitments is often ignored. The VIEU Women's Committee is dedicated to shifting the balance. 

If you are interested in becoming involved in the Women's Committee, or for more information, please contact Therese O'Loughlin at the VIEU office.

Social Justice Committee

Given the personal nature of the members and the schools at which they choose to work, VIEU sees the Social Justice Committee as a way of expanding the outreach and influence of the union in the broader community. Equally, this Committee, which is in the process of being established in 2002, will hopefully provide a method of information and activity sharing between members. It will also allow members to actively pursue issues of social interest which have a broad level of support amongst the union.

VIEU has been active in a range of social justice issues including:

• Support for East Timor independence and assisting with members who have been seconded to work there in assisting in re-establishing a functional education system.
• Raising awareness of Fairwear campaign through interested member schools who are prepared to sign a statements of commitment to stop the exploitation of outworkers in the clothing and textiles industry. For more information on this program, go to www.fairwear.org.au
• Active support for the end of mandatory detention of asylum seekers and Australia’s stance towards the treatment of refugees in this country as evidenced by the Palm Sunday rally.
• Support for Koorie Kids in Education Project

The Committee will meet at least once a term and members who are personally interested in supporting it or are responsible for Social Justice issues within their school, should contact Emma Morrissey to register their interest.