Join Us
Who can join the AEU - ACT Branch?
You are eligible to full membership of the AEU if you are employed by:
- the Education and Training Directorate or
- the Canberra Institute of Technology
AND you are a permanent, temporary or casual:
- teacher or
- Education Support Officers [ESO]* working with students
OR you are:
- a pre-service teacher in your final practicum [which includes "duty of care" of students] at an ACT public school.
* Education Support Officers [ESOs] include those who work directly with students such as Preschool Assistants, Learning Support Assistants [formerly STAs], Youth Workers and Home School Liaison Officers and other education workers.
The AEU also offers Associate [Retired/Student Teacher] membership which entitles you to receive the Public Education Voice journal and basic services for a minimal fee.
Note: Members of other AEU Branches and Associated Bodies in other States or the Northern Territory do not have reciprocal membership. If you are working in the ACT, you must belong to the AEU - ACT Branch in order to be covered by our services. In this circumstance you are advised to resign from the other Union Branch.
What are the benefits of AEU membership?
The benefits of AEU membership include:
- Negotiation on behalf of members for the protection and advancement of salaries and working conditions
- Advice, support and advocacy for individual members
- Journey Cover Insurance
- Union Training
- Teacher Welfare Fund
- Public Education Voice journal - 4 editions per year
- e-Bulletins
- Legal advice
- Financial advice
- Eligibility to join Teachers' Mutual Bank, MembersEquity Bank and Teachers' Health Fund
- Access to Union Shopper discount shopping
- Car buying service
- Discount computer and internet leasing and purchase [including salary packaging]
How much does it cost to join the AEU?
- Union dues are calculated on 0.85% + GST of a member's salary.
- Dues are adjusted automatically when salaries change due to negotiated increases, incremental advancement, or generally promotion or changes in workload percentage.
- Members are strongly advised to inform the AEU office of changes in their circumstances such as promotion, workplace, workload percentage or leave, in order that their membership is always current.
- If an overpayment of fees occurs due to lack of notification of changes in workload, a member may apply to the Union office for a refund in line with Rule 34C.
- A member on Leave Without Pay may suspend their membership for the period of their leave. If a member does not advise the Union and deductions continue, Rule 34C will apply. [Contact the AEU office on 6272-7900 to arrange this].
- A member on half pay leave can have their fees reduced. [Contact the AEU office on 6272-7900 to arrange this].
- Union dues are tax deductible.
More reasons to join the AEU
The Union consults with AEU members when pursuing improvements in pay and conditions, negotiating better education funding and advocating on professional issues - to the benefit of all DET and CIT education workers. Consequently, it is critical that all education workers are Union members to ensure that the policies and practices of the Union accurately reflect the views of the entire workforce.
ATO GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS TO ASSIST WITH CLAIMING WORK RELATED EXPENSES ON THEIR TAX RETURNS
If you are a teacher, the Australian Taxation Office [ATO] has developed a guide with you in mind to help you get the most out of your tax return. The guide Teachers - claiming work-related expenses included valuable information about what work-related expenses you can claim, such as:
- car expenses;
- home office expenses;
- other expenses