Teachers??

[mrsmac]

In NSW we get 14 weeks full pay or you can get it as 28 weeks half pay which I did. The half pay is great cause in the holidays it goes to full pay!

[peekay]

In QLD we get 12 weeks full pay or 24 weeks half pay. The same rule applies for the holidays as in NSW- it's full pay. My registrar is currently working out what will be best for me in terms of mat leave as I don't really know all the ins and outs.

I teach Prep in QLD and have to 'plan to finish' at 34 weeks. Closer to the time though, your ob can write a letter if he/she thinks you can work a bit longer. I'm hoping to work up to 35 weeks as it coincides with the June/July holidays. Boy it's been hard work though- especially when I've been feeling so sick and tired.

[Simba]

hi there lovely teachers,

just wanting some advice - last year i took mat leave from nov and dd was born end of nov. after loosing our little angel after her 2 1/2 week fight i took on a new position at a new school and started there this year teaching grade 1/2. i chose a new school as i thought it would be a bit of a new start etc.. but am really hating it - really disorganised and not much support. i have recently found out that i am pg again - around 6 weeks which is really exciting but now not sure what to do with work. if i finished at the end of next term i would only be around 20 weeks - can u start mat leave that early? i'm not sure? can u do crt work part time and then take the paid mat leave closer to 34 weeks? not sure if anyone will be able to answer these questions but just thought i'd see.

thanks

[mrsmac]

In NSW you can go on part time leave without pay. Not sure about the rules in VIc.

Hi there everyone,

I need some urgent advice. As I am extremely stressed at the moment!

I am also a teacher, currently teaching k/1, in an isoslated rural school. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant (nearly 36 weeks) and have been feeling fantastic up until today when I had a big blue with the principal. I'm not due to go on leave, until I am 38 weeks, which is 2 and a half weeks away. Last term I asked my principal if I could use some of my incentive leave (which I get for working in an isoslated school in NSW) to travel to a friend's wedding. The leave I required is on the Monday and Friday before my maternity leave starts. My principal had not confirmed with me whether he was able to get a casual for the days I wanted off, so I asked him about it again today. He basically told me I was rude and incosiderate for wanting to take leave just before my maternity leave starts. Unfortunately, my friend is having a shot gun wedding, because she too, has fallen pregnant and wants to get married before she has the baby. So I didn't get much notice, otherwise I would have taken maternity 1 week earlier. In addition, to calling me rude he also questioned my priorities as a mother to be, going away three weeks before the baby is to born. Which I had already checked with OB and he said, as long as we had plently of stops I should be fine. In the end, he basically told me that if I wanted the time off, I have to amend my maternity leave and start it now. I have felt physically sick and have had diarrhoea since leaving his office this morning and don't want to go back to work now becuase he was so horrible to me and has made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome at work. What do you think I should do? There is no one I can talk to at work because there are only three teachers in the school and one of them is an older lady who thinks I should have stopped working at 30 weeks.

Bethany

[mrsmac]

I would go on mat leave now hun! stress like this is no good for you at this stage in pregnancy. Most people would have finished earlier than this so he should be glad you have stayed this long.

[SallyJ]

I would be talking to Federation and/or employee services.

[BLBG]

I'm currently a contract teacher in Victoria, and I've been told that due to the new agreement I'll be made ongoing in the next 8 weeks when staffing for next year is worked out (fingers and toes crossed). I've been at my current school 4 years at end of 08, a 1yr contract, and a 3yr (currently, - contract ending in Dec)

If something happens and I'm not made ongoing, my contract (3yr) will run out in Dec. I'm due at end of Feb. Would I have any entitlements to mat leave if this is the case?

[mrsmac]

Victoria is completely different to nSW so i can't help you sorry. Our federation holds up Vic as a model of the worst case scenario!!

[Tanstar]

Thats great MrsMac! Heehee!

BLBG as far as Im aware you are only entitled to mat leave if you are ongoing and have worked 26 weeks in 52 preceeding the date you are taking leave from... I would imagine that if you are on a contract that you will not qualify unfortunately.
If you are a union member call them and get some advice but also be aware that if there is a position in the school next year, and because you have been on contract there for 3+ years they do hae to offer you ongoing (unless it is covering another family leave application etc..)
Good luck with it.

[BLBG]

Thanks TANSTAR.
I'm aware that if there is an ongoing position, - it must be offered to me, and I have spoken with my prin many times about this this year, - as I'm tired of being contract, and have been there coming up 4 years!

I'm wondering though, - if something happens and I start showing before the ongoing position is offered to me/ staffing for 2009 is finalised, - will this ruin my opportunity of getting the ongoing?
I guess I need to call the union and ask them to find out my rights.
I won't be telling my prin I'm preg, but if this all takes a while and I'm showing, I'm just wondering if she still HAS to offer me the position?
All of the other contract teachers at school have only been there 2 years, - so I'm the one that the onngoing must be offered to under the new agreement....

Fingers Crossed!!!!!!!

Thanks again Tanstar

[Tanstar]

She would definately have to still offer you the ongoing position even if she finds out that you are pregnant... whether she does or not is a different issue and unfortunately there are loopholes for prins who don't want to do so. They can claim declining numbers (obviously has to be backed up) family leave, and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head. If you are a member definately call the AEU and see what they say, they are really helpful and will give you a few scenarios. If she has said so far that you are going to get the ongoing position, then changes her mind if she finds out you are pregnant.. well there are serious implications for her if you decide to take it further with the union...I hope that helps - good luck.

[Simba]

BLBG just wanted to confirm what Tanstar said you do need to have worked 26 weeks directly before you take mat leave in an ongoing position to be entitled to paid mat leave. that does include term holidays not just working weeks so you would have to work it out. i am guessing the ongoing position is for 2009 so i guess it would depend on if you would actually be able to work 26 weeks next year? when is your EDD?

and yes i would recomend the union to give some advice however they can get it wrong sometimes which is what happened to me this year.

good luck x

[Tanstar]

I'm pretty sure the term holidays are included because I just went back at the beginning of this year and am taking my leave as of the 22nd August and I just qualify for mat leave again. I wonder if converted to ongoing that the previous 26 worked at the school on contract would count? AEU will definately be able to answer that as the website that talks about the 26 just says consecutive weeks... Ugh it's all so complicated. Stupid contracts should be made obsolete.

[BLBG]

Ooooh I'm feeling so worried now that by the time I'm made ongoing, that I won't have had the ongoing position for 26 weeks! Arggggh! This is all really stressing me!

Surely if I'm simply moving from my 3yr contract into ongoing, - they would take that into account......???. Here's hoping!

I'll call the union next week, - have an excursion all day Monday, so hopefully Tuesday. Anyone know what time they're open until? It doesn't say on the AEU Vic website...

Thanks girls!