2024 in review: CRT rates lifted
Casual Relief Teachers (CRTs) in Victorian Catholic schools continue to see increases to their daily rate of pay thanks to new provisions in the Agreement linking pay to the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review.
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 rate increased by 3.75% on 1 July 2024. A CRT in a Catholic school is now being paid over $465 a day which is $45 a day more than the daily rates in a Victorian government school. This win is important to all IEU CRT members because it informs our bargaining on behalf of CRTs in many independent schools.
Training and professional development
Maintaining professional development (PD) hours for teacher registration can sometimes be challenging for CRTs. The exclusive suite of PD available to all IEU members via the IEU Learning Hub assists CRTs in meeting their registration requirements.
IEU CRT members can also access free PD through the Teacher Learning Network and their CRTPD initiative which offers webinars, on demand courses and in person PD tailored specifically for CRTs.
Professional development is vital to ensure that the pedagogical practice of educators meets the expectations of leaders, the community and, most importantly, the needs of students.
This is particularly true for CRTs, who often miss out on accessing PD opportunities provided to more permanent teaching staff.
The Teacher Learning Network (TLN) has received Department of Education funding to continue providing its CRTPD program of ‘teachers training teachers’ for both primary and secondary sectors. This program delivers more than 80 free live professional development sessions per year addressing the needs of casual staff in schools and early childhood settings.
CRTs also have access to the free on demand library and in-person regional school holiday events, where teacher networking opportunities abound. Additional support is offered throughout the year, including interesting micro PD programs and links to essential classroom readiness training.
CRTs face unique challenges in their work: students they have just met, programs they are unfamiliar with, expectations to deliver programs they have little experience with and the pressure to make professional judgements within a school culture that is new to them.
They have to deal with all of this while also also meeting regulatory requirements such as teaching standards and codes of conduct.
When working in unfamiliar environments, CRTs often experience daunting behavioural challenges within the classroom. Courses such as ‘Managing Behaviour Beyond the Classroom’, ‘Creating a Calm and Positive Classroom Environment’ and ‘Wellbeing, Behaviour & Practical Resources’ offer practical solutions that empower CRTs to control their classroom practice.
Exploring these topics collectively, either in a live-online or in-person session, also helps to build collegiality and confidence in engaging more effectively with such challenges.
Inclusive Practice CRTs must be up to date with current evidence and advice for additional needs and inclusive practices within the classroom. TLN aims to remove barriers to supporting students and focus on the power that education can have when students feel valued, respected and included. Courses such as ‘Learning Diversity and Inclusive Practices: Understanding Individual Learning Plans and Responsibilities’ and ‘LGBTIQA+ Inclusion in Schools’ are important additions to the casual teacher’s toolbox.
The 2024 CRTPD program also addressed topics like ‘Anxiety and Safe Learning Spaces’ with important courses such as ‘Understanding Anxiety in Students’, ‘Understanding Children’s Emotions in a Post-COVID World’ and ‘Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Students’.
Some sessions award free digital credentials, which are a great way for a CRT to demonstrate acquired professional skills. Digital badges can be included in a resume, displayed in an email signature or shared to a social media account, allowing CRTs to more readily share impressive PD certifications.