Training & Development Hours

After extensive negotiations on this matter over 2008 and 2009, DECS and the AEU have now agreed to its implementation. Effective for the 2009 school/preschool year, eligible employees will sign off on their own out of hours professional development in order to access the 37.5 hours or part thereof (36.25 hours for preschool teachers). Approval from site managers will no longer be necessary. There have been some small refinements negotiiated during 2009 which DECS has included in he January 2010 version HRG01 see link below.

The introduction of the self-declaration removes the unnecessary administration and inconsistencies of the previous approval process. Now DECS staff must individually make a personal and professional determination of their voluntary out of hours participation in training and professional development. The standard declaration form included in the DECS Guidelines HRG01 must be used and signed by employees at the end of the year. This is the only form to be used for this purpose. Site leaders simply acknowledge receipt of the completed declaration and file in the employee’s site file. This has considerably reduced the workload and responsibility which previously rested on leadership.

Other improvements that the AEU has achieved to the Training and Professional Support Strategy Guidelines include:

• Scope of activities to be relevant to the individual and MAY also relate to the site/district/department priorities.

• In excess of one hour travel time for attendance at a relevant professional development activity may be credited, rather than the current limitation of three hours.

• Negotiating duties with the Line Manager for Week 10 if the employee is required to report to duty, rather than being required to submit a plan.

• Removal of any tedious auditing requirements of the self-declaration.

The scheme remains purely voluntary. AEU members cannot be required to participate in training or professional development activities in their own time.

Hours spent by AEU members at AEU professional development which is held out of normal working hours, in school holidays and on weekends can count towards the 37.5 hours off in lieu in the last week of the school year. There is a claim form at the end of the guideline for use by contract employees to generate payment for week 10 term 4.

For further information about training and development hours,

contact Lynn Hall at the AEU, phone 08 8272 1399

Further Information

DECS Training and Professional Support Strategy Guidelines (PDF format)