Establishing a Federation

Workplace Committee
A guide for Federation Representatives and
Womens Contacts in schools and colleges
May 2013

Why establish a Federation Workplace Committee?

Effective communication with internal and external stakeholders is the key to understanding risk, managing risk
and developing a workplace culture that values and promotes positive behaviours. Consultation with employees and
unions is integral to this process.
Director-General of Education and Training and General Secretary NSW Teachers Federation
Dignity and Respect in the Workplace Charter (2008)
Professionally respectful, collegial and consultative schools and colleges are committed to ensuring teachers are involved in
decision making and problem solving. A Federation Workplace Committee can:
build the collective capacity of members to engage with everyday issues in the workplace
establish another source of the collegiality that underpins quality teaching and learning
support the Federation Representative and the Womens Contact to more effectively engage the whole school or college community in Federation campaigns at the local level.

What a Federation Workplace Committee should be doing

Develop and implement strategies to effectively inform and engage the whole school or college community in Federation campaigns and maximise member participation at the local level.
Create and maintain processes for engaging with the everyday concerns of members about whole school/college issues,
procedures and professional practice, discuss possible solutions and make representations to the school/college executive.
Monitor and (where necessary) engage with the local implementation of industrial agreements between the Federation
and Department such as the statewide staffing agreement and other critical legislation such as workplace health and safety.
Recruit new members and encourage 100 per cent financial membership; assist in the promotion and running of Federation meetings; and, ensure your school or college is represented at Association meetings.

Four steps to maintaining an effective Federation Workplace Committee

1. Meet regularly, with purpose. Meetings can be scheduled to coincide with significant decision making forums (for example,
after your local Teachers Association meeting or Federation Council) or be called at significant times in a Federation campaign
to share information and plan actions.
2. Have a structured approach to the meeting. A basic meeting structure might include a report from the Federation Representative (for example, on campaign developments and/or Federation material such as tefed ACTION), a period of questions
and discussion followed by the planning of action and allocation of tasks.
3. Establish a presence in your school community. Make people aware of the members and activities of the Federation Workplace Committee and seek opportunities to keep Federation members informed about developments in priority campaigns
and local issues. For schools, seek an invitation from the P&C President for the committee to attend P&C meetings.
4. Engage members and move them towards appropriate action. Always ask the question: what do members need to know and
to do? Campaign activities such as completing petitions, participating in delegations and writing to members of Parliament and
local problem solving processes are important steps towards preparing members for future collective actions when required.

Federation Workplace Committee checklist

Establishing the Federation Workplace Committee Tasks

Seek expressions of interest from members at your school or college.

Hold a Federation meeting to elect the Federation Workplace Committee (see Federations advice).
Formally register elected members of your committee with the Federation and ensure that member contact
details are current.
Identify routine campaign tasks that the committee might need to complete.
Identify roles and responsibilities, including a chairperson for committee meetings.
Identify and schedule preferred meeting times.

Maintaining the Federation Workplace Committee Tasks (each meeting)

Federation Representative to report on decisions of Federations Council, relevant proceedings of your

Teachers Association and campaign resources available to your school or college.
Discuss campaign issues, priorities and required actions.
Bring campaign issues and questions from members to each meeting and seek advice from the Federation
Organiser as required.
Delegate tasks within the group and establish an action plan.
Establish a presence in your school or college by reporting at staff meetings, distributing materials and
encouraging action.
In schools, seek an invitation to P&C meetings.

Engage members and move them towards appropriate action Tasks

Identify what members need to know and do to contribute to local problem solving processes and Federation campaigns. Keep in touch with your Federation Organiser.
Reflect on the success of the committees strategies in engaging members.
Ensure a member of the committee attends the local Teachers Association meeting to engage with colleagues from other schools or colleges and receive campaign updates from the Organiser.

Organising a Federation meeting Tasks

Invite the Organiser to attend a meeting of Federation members at your school/college.

Communicate with members (email, verbally at staff meetings, notice in pigeonholes, on whiteboard) that a
Federation meeting has been called and scheduled.
Include in that communication the meeting agenda and/or the attendance of the Organiser.
Identify roles and responsibilities of committee members for the meeting to ensure an effective and useful
gathering of members.

Resources for the committee: The Federation website (www.nswtf.org.au) has a range of multi-media

resources and information. Every member also receives the Education journal. For further information and support
contact your Organiser.

Authorised by Jenny Diamond, General Secretary, NSW Teachers Federation, 23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills 2010 13125