Casual relief teachers (CRTs)
EBA advice
Many CRT members have contacted the AEU for information following the announcement of an in-principle agreement for teachers. By law, the proposed agreement covers only teachers and ES employed by the education department - not CRTs, who are employed directly by school councils or by agencies. CRT pay and conditions are governed by a ministerial order. This means that CRTs will not get the $1000 one-off payment that is a feature of the agreement.
CRT Association
Casual relief teachers often miss out on training, support and superannuation, and they can be abused and overloaded by the schools they work in. Their pay rate in Victoria is among the lowest in Australia.
The AEU is committed to supporting its CRT members, and has launched a CRT Association to campaign for better rights and rewards for casual relief teachers. Any current CRT financial member in primary, secondary or early childhood can join; meetings are held in a variety of locations to make it easier for members to attend. Attendance counts as PD for VIT registration purposes.
The convenor of the CRT Association is AEU deputy vice president James Rankin. He can be contacted by email or on (03) 9417 2822.
CRT members should also check this website's Schools Sector pages for other information about working in Victorian government schools.
CRTs face particular issues whether they work in public or private schools. These conferences are run by TLN and offer a full day of professional development and networking for teachers who often feel they miss out on the training and opportunities to share good practice enjoyed by other teachers. » more...
Check current pay rates here and find links to official documents setting out conditions and arrangements for CRT work. » more...
Answers to your frequently asked questions about the pay, conditions and entitlements of CRT members. » more...
CRTs often work in both state and private schools, but don't need to join two unions. The AEU has in place arrangements with the independent teachers' union. » more...
The CRT Association views with concern the practice of splitting class to avoid bringing in CRTs. We have prepared two letters which members and sub-branches can adapt to send to their school community, » more...
