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Fact Sheet #9

Independent Education Union

Of Australia

SCHOOLING IN AUSTRALIA

  • In Australia primary and secondary schooling is delivered to about 3.3 million students by government and non-government providers.  Approximately 70% of all students enrol at government schools with the remaining 1 million choosing non-government schooling.  This choice may be made for educational, religious, cultural or other reasons.

  • There are approximately 2,700 non-government schools across the country represented by 810 employing authorities employing 70,000 teaching staff and 20,000 non-teaching staff (FTE). 

THE INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION OF AUSTRALIA

  • The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) is the federally registered union representing all employees working in non-government schools and educational institutions - primary and secondary schools; community based and private pre-school settings, Life Education Centres, Business Colleges and English Language Colleges.

  • The IEUA has branches in each state and territory and a membership of over 50,000. Membership of the union is voluntary.  The current figure represents approximately 60% nationally, but membership in the Catholic sector, which comprises 75% of the non-government area, is higher and in most states and territories is approximately 75%.

IEUA POLICY PRINCIPLES

  • The IEUA supports the existence of comprehensive systems of education whereby parents have choice between schools both within and across the government and non-government sectors; however, the union does not believe in the concept of unfettered choice. The union supports planned educational provision which requires that new government and non-government schools should not threaten the viability and stability of existing schools and further that schools be required to demonstrate initial and continuing financial and educational viability in order to receive public funds. The IEUA does not believe in privatisation of the education sector nor does it support education for profit.

  • The IEUA believes it is essential for Australia to have a strong and viable government school system, funded directly by both Commonwealth and State Governments and which offers a high standard of educational service to all children, regardless of their background. The IEUA has always advocated that the development of one sector should not be at the expense of the other.

  •  The IEUA believes that the history of Australian education is one which reflects the enormous diversity and richness of the Australian society. The IEUA believes that the acceptance of religious and ethnic diversity, reflected in community support for non-government schools and systems, is a strength both of multicultural pluralism and the Australian education system.

  • The IEUA believes that both government and non-government systems and school authorities should receive sufficient levels of government financial support which guarantee a high quality education to all Australian students, whether they attend a government or non-government school.

  • The IEUA believes the Commonwealth has a central leadership role and responsibility ensuring that both government and non-government school authorities have the resources and the capacity to provide educational services of the highest quality.  Rigorous accountability and reporting mechanisms should form a key point of this responsibility.

     

    Independent Education Union (South Australia)

    213 Currie St, Adelaide, SA 5000

    Ph (08) 8410 0122 Fax (08) 8410 0282

    www.ieusa.org.au

    The content of this fact sheet was current 9 May 2008