decs as an employer of choice uni sa mawson lakes

DECS SITE HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES
DECS: An Employer of Choice
UNI SA (Mawson Lakes)
16 February 2011
Leona Graham
Senior HR Project Officer
1


STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
• We would like to acknowledge this land that we meet
on today is the traditional lands for Kaurna people and
that we respect their spiritual relationship with their
country. We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the
custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural
and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living
Kaurna people today.

2


The Department of Education
and Children’s Services (DECS)
• The Department of Education and Children’s
Services (DECS) is responsible for providing
quality care and education to children and
students in government preschools and schools.

3

DECS
• Provides programs from birth to the completion of SACE
that meet the needs of a wide range of individuals in
locations across South Australia ie in most communities
- metropolitan and country.
• Delivers these programs in over 1,600 sites (around 600
childcare, 400 preschools and 600 schools).
• Schools/sites range from adult re-entry schools,
secondary schools, primary schools, junior primary
schools, area schools, children’s centres/ preschools.
4


DECS
• Largest employer of teachers and ancillary staff
in South Australia with approximately 17,000
teachers.

5


DECS offers a variety of career choices:
•
•
•
•

in the country or the metropolitan area
in a preschool or school
in a leadership role

visiting locations to advise and support
teachers and students
• leading new projects or curriculum
• working in a regional office or central office
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Employment Conditions
•
•
•
•

Permanent and temporary employment
Part-time employment
Additional support for graduates
Training and development

7


Employment Conditions
•
•
•
•

Career opportunities
Overseas exchange opportunities
Scholarships for additional study

SSS Superannuation

8


DECS SPECIAL PROGRAMS
DECS provides a range of Special Programs to support the recruitment
of quality teacher education students
Country Teaching Scholarships
Targeted Graduate Recruitment Scheme
Country Teaching Practicum Scholarships
Aboriginal Teaching Scholarships

9


COUNTRY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIPS

Who is eligible?
Undergraduate and postgraduate Teacher Education Students who are:
- studying DECS areas of identified need eg specialist Maths/Sc, Tech St, H Ec, Ag, Spec Ed
- committed to teaching in the country
- undertaking a full time teacher education program
Incentives
Financial assistance while studying and a guarantee of permanent employment with
DECS upon completion of all scholarship requirements
Currently available
$10,000 Scholarship (closing date: 15th April 2011)
Application process
Written application and interview

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TARGETED GRADUATE RECRUITMENT SCHEME
Designed to recruit final year teacher education students to permanent employment
with DECS
Who is eligible?
Undergraduate and postgraduate Teacher Education Students who are:
- studying DECS areas of identified need eg specialist Maths/Sc, Tech St, H Ec, Ag, Spec Ed
- committed to teaching in the country for most subject areas
- undertaking a full time teacher education program
Incentive
Guarantee of permanent employment with DECS (financial support not provided)
Closing date
15th April 2011
Application process
Written application and interview
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COUNTRY TEACHING PRACTICUM SCHOLARSHIPS
Provide financial support to students undertaking a teaching practicum in a DECS
country school
Who is eligible?
Third and final year teacher education students
Incentive
$1,250 to support a practicum in a country school
Limited number available (closing date: 31st March 2011)
Scholarship enquiries?

Contact Craig Bowering
Program Manager, Graduate Recruitment
 8226 3963

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ABORIGINAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIPS

How can DECS support me as an Aboriginal teacher education student?
• DECS is committed to providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal teacher
education students to align with the representation of Aboriginal people within the wider
SA population.
• The DECS Aboriginal Teaching Scholarship provides up to $10,000 for Aboriginal teacher
education students and opportunities for permanent teaching employment in both metro
and country locations.
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ABORIGINAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIPS
Who is eligible?
• Year 12 school leavers, Aboriginal Community Education Officers (ACEOs) or mature-age
students applying to study a university teacher education course.
• Current pre-service teachers
• University graduates with appropriate degrees applying for post-graduate teaching
degrees.

Want to find out more?
• Contact Wendy Hartley-Brammer
Program Manager

Recruitment & Retention
 8226 4370


Aboriginal


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Where are the teaching vacancies?
• Teaching positions are available throughout South
Australia - metropolitan and country.
• Less competition for country positions (an area of
need) but also opportunity in the metropolitan area.
• Senior secondary in a range of subjects eg
Mathematics (Studies / Specialist), Science (Physics /
Chem), Technology Studies etc but also opportunity
in other subjects / levels of schooling.
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TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES WITH DECS
• Permanent employment may be gained by:
– Winning advertised teaching positions
– Participating in
• Country Teaching Scholarships
• Targeted Graduate Programs
• Aboriginal Employment Strategy

– Other initiatives eg Teacher Renewal Program (2011
initiative recently announced by the Minister)

– Recruitment from ETR

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TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES WITH DECS
• Temporary employment:
– Being appointed to temporary positions from 20 days
to 12 months from an employable run
– Working as a TRT (Temporary Relieving Teacher) on a
daily basis

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WAGES AND SALARIES
Step 1
$55,665.00
Step 2
$58,537.00
Step 3
$61,409.00
Step 4
$64,277.00
Step 5
$67,156.00
Step 6

$70,026.00
Step 7
$72,897.00
Step 8
$76,781.00
Step 9
$79,816.00 (assessment process)
(pay increase 1/10/11)
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COUNTRY INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE
Incidental Payment (rates for 2011)
• Assistance to pay for incidentals that arise
• Upon recruitment to permanency
– Zone 2
– Zone 3
– Zone 4
– Zone 5

$386
$515
$645
$772

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COUNTRY INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE
Cash Incentive Payment (rates for 2011)

Year

Zone #2

Zone #3

Zone #4

Zone #5

$pa

$pa

$pa

$pa

1

937

2141

4149

7225

2

1206

2408

4549

7493

3

1539

2676

4817

7760

4

1873

3011

5085

8030

5

2141

3347

5352

8296
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Country Incentives
LOCALITY ALLOWANCE
• Fortnightly payments (based on adverse environment;
abnormal depreciation of motor vehicle; increased cost
of living, aspects of isolation, cost of travelling to
Adelaide for recreational activities, etc.)
–
–
–
–
–

Mt. Gambier
Ceduna
Karcultaby Coober Pedy
Ernabella -

-

-

$118pa
$899pa
$1,408pa
$6,981pa
$7,480pa
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Example
• Permanent Appointment to Coober Pedy Area School
– (First Year of Appointment)
•
•
•
•

Salary (Step 1)
Zone 5 (Year 1)
Locality
Incidental

$55,665
$6,947
$6,981
$772
$70,365

– (Second Year of Appointment)
• Salary (Step 2)

• Zone 5 (Year 2)
• Locality

$58,537
$7,205
$6,981
$72,723

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RELOCATION COSTS
• Teacher appointment to contract or permanency
• Removal expenses covered (including travel)
• Contact Gavan Carey:
(08) 8226 1065
Email:

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HOUSING
• Subsidised government housing is available for
both permanent and employable teachers
• Managed by REM for DECS

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LEAVE

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•
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Leave Management in Schools
Special Leave Policy
Long Service Leave
Maternity/Adoption Leave (14wks after 12mths cont. service)

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