The NSW Teachers Federation is an organisation interested in workplace fairness for public school and TAFE teachers and for the students they teach. In 2007, the Federation commissioned an independent research organisation, Think: Insight & Advice to investigate issues specifically pertinent to young people enrolled full-time in public high schools or TAFE colleges in NSW and who also work part-time. The study did not include apprentices and trainees who have different work/study arrangements. Nor did it include students working in family businesses.
The findings of that research were published in two reports: "You're gold...if you're fifteen years old - The perceived impact of WorkChoices on Youth Employment and Education in NSW"
download pdf version"You're gold...if you're fifteen years old - A TAFE Student Perpective"
download pdf versionAs a result of the findings of these studies, the Federation Annual Conference initiated this site with the aim of providing advice and support for:
Students
- to provide a one-stop site for NSW students to find the sort of information which the study highlighted they were requesting;
- to help them better balance their academic and working lives, as well as other commitments such as sporting, family and social activities
- to provide links to the various agencies and organisations which may provide further assistance to student workers if and when they need it.
Teachers
- Students see their teachers as trustworthy sources of information and support, so we aim to provide resources teachers may find useful in answering the sort of questions students ask in an individual, informal way;
- Teachers aim to support students mature into well-rounded members of society, and so seek to understand the multiple roles which students play, including their experiences of work;
- Teachers aim to support students mature into well-rounded members of society, and so seek to understand the multiple roles which students play, including their experiences of work;
Parents and Carers
- to help parents and carers support their children as they make their way through the balancing act of work and school;
- to encourage their children to seek the kind of advice and support which they might need for themselves;
- to provide parents links to information about work because students say they look to their parents first for guidance.
Emplyers
- Employers aim to be fair in their dealings with their student employees, knowing that if the students' academic and working lives are well-balanced, they are likely to retain a loyal and stable student workforce.
This site aims to support employers in understanding the needs of students they employ and work with their employees to best meet everyone's needs.