Membership
Who can join the AEU - ACT Branch?
You are eligible to full membership of the AEU if you are employed by:
- the ACT Department of Education and Training or
- the Canberra Institute of Technology
AND you are a permanent, temporary or casual:
- teacher or
- School Services Officer [SSO]* 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.
* School Services Officers [SSOs] 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 ACT Teacher 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
- The ACT Teacher journal - 4 editions per year
- e-Bulletins
- Legal advice
- Financial advice
- Eligibility to join Teachers' Credit Union, MembersEquity Bank and Teachers' Federation Health
- 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 when salaries change due to negotiated increases, incremental advancement, promotion or other changes in workload notified by members.*
- A member on Leave Without Pay may suspend their membership for the period of their leave [contact the AEU office to arrange this].
- A member on half pay leave can have their fees reduced [contact the AEU office to arrange this].
- Union dues are tax deductible.
Note: *Members have an obligation to advise the AEU office of changes in their circumstances [workplace, workload, salary rate, leave etc] 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.
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
