Anna Stewart Project
AEU representatives to attend this year’s Anna Stewart Project.
The project is a week-long training program aimed at increasing women’s participation in unions.
Participants learn about how unions work and get training in a supportive environment on key aspects of union organising with a focus on women’s involvement and why unions are critical for women.
The Program runs for five days in Hobart with the final day being the Unions Tasmania Women’s Conference.
It will take place at Unions Tas from 31st July – 3rd August, followed by the Unions Tas Women’s Conference on 4th August. AEU Tasmania received nominations from members across the state, and five applicants for the project this year. AEU Tasmania is pleased to share the successful member applicants are:
- Jessica Cepeniuk, Campania District School
- Monique Hamilton, Southern Support School
They will be supported by AEU Tasmania Southern Organiser Miranda Debeljakovic.
AEU Federal Women’s Conference
The AEU Federal Women’s Conference will be held in Canberra on 4th and 5th September, with a welcome dinner on 3rd September. There is also a First Nations women’s huddle on Sunday 3rd, which two of our delegates will be attending. The focus of the conference is on a lobbying event to politicians on Day 2 of the conference. The AEU’s delegates to the conference are:
- Donna Watson, Northern Support School – First Nations delegate
- Kate Wilson, Lindisfarne North Primary School – First Nations delegate
- Kathy McDonald, TasTAFE Clarence – TAFE delegate
- Alicia Cook, Invermay Primary School – member delegate
- Michelle Rippon – AEU TAS Women’s Officer
Federal Women’s meeting
This week AEU Organiser Miranda Debeljakovic attended a meeting with Emma Lowe, the AEU Federal Women’s Officer and the other branch women’s officers. The main agenda item was the lobbying event that will form part of the Federal Women’s conference. The key takeaways from this meeting were:
- Lobbying is about storytelling – women will be encouraged to tell their authentic stories as women working in public education
- There will be opportunities for delegates attending the conference to build their confidence and hone existing skills before the lobbying event
- The AEU Women’s Officers will continue to provide clarity on what the ‘key asks’ of the Federal Government will be, with a focus on women connecting their stories about day-to-day work with issues, and with asks
- Delegates will be briefed on the strategy and skills involved with lobbying
- Delegates will be allocated into specific groups based on sector, and will have time to rehearse
