IS DEPARTMENT ACTING, OR IS IT JUST SPIN?
After reading Jessica McSweeney's article in The Sunday Telegraph (26th September, 2021) 'Teachers go bush for $20k bonus' it would be reasonable to assume that the NSW Department of Education was not only serious about addressing the imminent state-wide teacher shortage by offering incentives or bonuses to teachers who were willing to teach in hard-to-staff locations such as Griffith but that in fact, it was already doing something.
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When I read, "In regional centre Griffith teachers have flocked to the area to receive a $10,000 bonus, more personal leave and 50 per cent rental subsidies," and later, "Benefits for starting a position at the hardest to staff schools will also double from a $10 000 bonus to $20 000," I was confused.
Was Jessica McSweeney suggesting that teachers at Murrumbidgee Regional High School, here in Griffith are already receiving incentives and a bonus of $10,000 because this is the first I'm hearing of this?
Just as interesting is the comment about teachers flocking to the area.
We started the school year without enough teachers, we're going into term four still with a number of unfilled vacancies, and it was only two weeks ago that an article in The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted the fact that the number of our school's uncovered classes was the highest in the state.
It's a challenge trying to sift through all of the obfuscation and misinformation. It's really not fair.
Kids in Griffith deserve better.
Anthony Catanzariti, NSW Teachers Federation representative, MRHS Griffith
FRANCE OWES US A DEBT OF GRATITUDE
Regarding France's attack on the Australian Government's decision to switch from them to the UK and USA in reference to having a nuclear submarine preference, when this agreement was entered into a clause was also added that enabled either party to withdraw from this agreement if they so desired.
Australia has, which is their prerogative under this "clause".
The original deal with France was not expected to eventuate for years down the track.
However there is a need for Australia to fast forward our defence as a matter of urgency as we observe worldwide tensions escalating.
Australia has very little in the way of defensive weapons at our disposal particularly seeing as our port up north is leased to China, leaving us wide open to anyone to move in on us.
It might be said we are like sitting ducks "found wanting".
We can't afford to be complacent and therefore it is our government's duty to quash this lease agreement immediately as a protection for our nation's people.
While France gripes about our nation they ought to remember those from our nation who made the supreme sacrifice by giving their lives (over there) protecting France during the war years.
Such sacrifice may not be so generously forthcoming next time around.
It's time for France to stop whinging, if anything they owe us a debt of gratitude not a barrage of unfair criticism.
Yvonne Rance, Griffith
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Thank you to all the community members, health care professionals and people impacted by dementia who marked Dementia Action Week 2021 from 20-26 September. Across Australia, individuals and organisations supported our campaign, 'A little support makes a big difference'.
The campaign was to increase understanding about dementia and how we can all make a difference to the lives of people who are impacted and help to eliminate discrimination.
On behalf of the estimated 157,000 people living with dementia in NSW, we thank everyone for their support. For information and tips to find out how you can continue to make a difference please visit discrimination.dementia.org.au.
Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia
WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY?
Email your letter to the editor to letters@areanews.com.au or post it to PO Box 1004, Griffith, NSW 2680. All letters will need a number (for publication) and a contact phone number (not for publication). Or use the form below...