Young Member Activist Program
Each term the AEU invites two members to participate in a Young Member Leadership Program. This is a great opportunity for young members to experience and participate in AEU activities.
The Young Member Leadership Program runs for one week and the AEU will cover the replacement cost of the successful applicants. Successful applicants are encouraged to participate in AEU regional meetings for the remainder of the year.
Your principal/employer must sign your application form. We recommend that you inform your principal/employer as early as possible to arrange replacement staff.
For further information email Andrew Cassidy or call him on (03) 9417 2822.
2012 dates
Location for all programs is the AEU Abbotsford office.
Term 2: Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22
Term 3: Monday, September 10 to Friday, September 14
Term 4: Monday, December 3 - Friday, December 7
What participants think
Nicole James of Mount Ridley College took part in the program in 2010. Here's what she wrote about her week at the AEU:
My name is Nicole James and I am a teacher at Mount Ridley College. As our sub-branch representative, I spent four days at the AEU learning all about how the union runs as part of the Young Member Activist Program.
It proved to be a very helpful and informative week. The first day I spent meeting the staff, getting a feel for the nuts and bolts of the union and attending meetings regarding different sectors of the union.
During the next day I had the opportunity of attending a meeting with Mary Bluett and education department secretary Peter Dawkins to discuss some integral matters to the teaching community, in particular the effectiveness of NAPLAN.
Day three was spent with (primary sector deputy VP) James Rankin, visiting schools and discussing the new Public Education Campaign. My final day gave me an insight into how the union councils run, spending the whole day observing council meetings.
After a week out of the classroom, I felt inspired to go back to my staff at MRC and inform them of the fantastic knowledge I had gained from being at the union. The YMAP program gave me invaluable information about the union and a great starting point for our school’s very first local agreement.
