The TasTAFE Teaching Staff Award and Agreement AST1 definitions are very clear – ‘Advanced Skills teacher Band 1 Level 9 means an employee appointed as such, who has advanced teaching skills and provides educational leadership, guidance and mentoring to employees in respect to preparation, delivery and assessment, evaluation and other techniques related to teaching duties.’
What is included in the AST1 role?
Prepare lesson plans and training programs; assist with development and review of new and existing training packages; prepare training materials and equipment; provide teaching equipment; student assessment including RPL; consult, counsel, liaise and provide advice to students, parents, employers; maintain student records; enrol students.
You could also be asked to do some or all of the following: educational leadership/mentoring of other teachers, including beginning teachers and Bachelor of Education – Applied Learning practicums; consultancies, course development review and implementation; develop and use flexible delivery strategies; preparation of learning materials; provide specialist advice on course materials; equipment and new technology where appropriate; co-ordination of resources; induction and assisting staff with professional development activities; teaching or assisting teachers who teach students with learning difficulties/behaviour problems.
What is not included in the AST1 role?
AST1’s should remember that all tasks asked of you should comply with your teaching duties, this does not mean undertaking the role of a manager who has responsibility for –
- Timetabling and scheduling
- Monitoring teaching loads for the team
- Performance management
- Budget administration or expenditure approvals
- Approval of staff leave requests or other HR matters
If you think what you are being asked to do is something outside the definition of an Advanced Skills Teacher Band 1 Level 9, then you need to contact your union – the AEU on 6234 9500.
If you are not an AST 1 to learn more about the process go to www.aeutas.org.au/factsheets and download the ‘Are you eligible to become an AST1?’ info sheet.
