Members  Matter 
Your Voice, Your Union!

Secondary Teacher - Willetton SHS

Giorgia Kloosterman

As the Women’s Contact Officer for my branch, I have listened closely to members and heard firsthand about the pressures we face every day. The message is consistent: workload, stress, and burnout are overwhelming educators and driving many from the profession. These issues cannot be ignored, and they demand strong, determined advocacy.

If elected to the SSTUWA Executive, I will:

• Fight for more DOTT time – preparation, marking, and planning are essential parts of our role, yet often sacrificed. Increasing DOTT is critical to both teacher wellbeing and student success.

• Push for smaller class sizes – overcrowded classrooms prevent teachers from giving students the individual support they deserve. Smaller classes will improve learning outcomes and protect teacher wellbeing.

• Demand job security – in the middle of a teacher shortage, it is unacceptable that long-serving staff remain on contracts. Permanency must be guaranteed for loyal, dedicated educators.

• Advocate for reduced membership fees – affordability matters. Lowering fees will encourage membership growth and strengthen our collective voice.

• Strengthen union presence in schools and TAFE – with more organisers on the ground, building stronger relationships, listening to members directly, and ensuring every voice is heard.

I believe in a union that is visible, responsive, and proactive. Teachers and lecturers deserve to be supported by strong representation that challenges poor conditions, protects jobs, and works for positive change.

I am committed to standing alongside members, raising their concerns, and fighting for improvements that make a real difference in classrooms, staffrooms, and across our profession. Together, we can create a sustainable future for educators, a stronger union, and a brighter future for public education in Western Australia.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Giorgia Kloosterman – Fighting for more DOTT time.

Teacher, Mount Pleasant PS

Nicole Conrad

I began teaching in 2001 in the Pilbara, where I first became a union representative. At my current school, I returned to the role to better support members in understanding their rights.

Throughout my career I have taught across a wide range of settings – metropolitan DTS schools, education support centres, and in specialist and leadership roles including GIR literacy specialist, learning support coordinator, acting deputy, and classroom teacher.

Recently I launched a district union group to connect branches from similar school contexts so we could share challenges and collaborate on solutions. This grew from a simple idea: when we come together, we are stronger. Collaboration reduces pressure, generates practical answers, and amplifies our collective voice.

At the school level, I:

• Liaise between the union branch and school leadership

• Hold solution-focused meetings that encourage all members to contribute

• Advocate for members’ rights and promote ‘full and proper’ consultation on decisions

• Work to reduce workload and improve support systems in classrooms

• Push to embed practical solutions into school policy – particularly around SAER

• Ensure the industrial agreement is upheld at school level

I am a strong opponent of the increasing over-reliance on testing platforms such as NAPLAN, PAT, Brightpath, Elastik and others. These data-driven demands are placing unnecessary stress on teachers and students alike, often at the expense of quality teaching and learning. There is little evidence that constant testing improves long-term outcomes – it is time for serious reform.

If elected, I will continue to stand for:

• Fairer workloads and real teaching conditions

• Practical, member-driven solutions to reduce pressure in schools

• A stronger, more connected union voice across WA

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Nicole Conrad – When we come together, we are stronger!

HOLA Rossmoyne SHS

Shaun Barton

My decision to seek an executive position stems from a simple belief: when we support our educators, they can serve our students better. As a school leader with a people-first philosophy, I've witnessed firsthand how systemic barriers prevent us from fulfilling this fundamental commitment.

Today's classrooms are more complex than ever, demanding greater support for our teaching staff. Unfortunately, current structures make it increasingly difficult to provide the leadership our teams deserve.

Three Critical Issues That Demand Action:

Inequitable Administrative Support: Head of Learning Area (HoLA) roles lack consistent administrative time allocation. Rather than leaving this to individual principals' discretion, we need systematic time allocation based on team size, ensuring all HoLAs can effectively support and develop their staff.

Outdated Funding Models: Our funding framework hasn't evolved in over 15 years, yet we're expected to deliver quality education despite inflation and rising costs. We need increased investment that doesn't burden families with additional fees while maintaining educational excellence.

Accountability Gaps: When school-level issues arise, there’s no clear escalation pathway. The Independent Public Schools system grants principals significant authority but lacks adequate checks and balances. Staff need accessible mechanisms to raise concerns when policies are misunderstood or ignored.

Moving Forward Together

These challenges aren't insurmountable, but they require leadership committed to systematic change rather than quick fixes. Our educators deserve better support structures, and students deserve benefits that flow from well-supported teaching teams.

Education thrives when we invest in the people who make it happen. By addressing these structural issues, we can create an environment where school leaders can truly prioritize their teams, ultimately benefiting every student in our care.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Shaun Barton - invest in the people who make it happen

Primary Teacher, Tuart Rise PS

Christina Chabros

I bring to this election both classroom experience and a strong record of union advocacy. As a committed educator and active unionist, I understand the pressures our members face and the importance of having a strong voice at the table.

I have been a proud union member since my time at university, joining as a student teacher. Early in my career, I served as a branch representative, supporting colleagues and engaging in campaigns to improve salaries, conditions, and professional support. I now serve as a State Council delegate, representing members’ views and contributing to decision-making at the highest level.

For two years, I worked in the SSTUWA Growth Team, supporting graduate teachers through the New Educator Network, delivering conference presentations and training sessions, and helping recruit and retain more than 2,000 new members. This work reinforced my belief in building union strength by engaging and empowering members at every stage of their careers.

Through these roles, I have developed a deep understanding of the industrial and professional challenges facing educators. I know the value of collaboration, persistence, and standing strong together. I am committed to:

·       Ensuring educators are supported, respected, and heard

·       Advocating for fair salaries, conditions, and professional development

·       Strengthening our collective voice across all sectors of public education

·       Building an inclusive and responsive union that reflects the diversity of our membership

I am asking for your vote because together we can make a difference. By electing me to the Executive, you are choosing a dedicated, experienced advocate who will fight tirelessly for every member and for the future of public education.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Christina Chabros – Together, we can make a difference

Secondary Teacher, SIDE

Cat Mason

I have been a teacher for 20 years, working across primary and secondary settings in metropolitan, regional, and remote schools. Throughout my career, I have been an active union member, serving as a Union Representative, Women’s Contact Officer, and District Delegate. I also served as an Organiser for SSTUWA for two years, gaining a deep understanding of how our union can improve conditions for teachers and TAFE lecturers.

Colleagues know me as a staunch advocate who stands up for what is right and supports teachers through challenging workplace issues. Our members deserve a strong, responsive union that listens and acts on the issues that matter most.

If elected, I will fight for:

• Fairer, more affordable union fees

• Greater access to free industrial training and the Member Assist service

• Increased union presence in schools through regular organiser visits

• Improved communication with members via social media and other channels

I am particularly committed to addressing teacher retention, workload, and violence in school's issues that are especially urgent in regional areas. I believe solutions must be developed in partnership with teachers and school leaders to ensure safer workplaces and sustainable careers.

SSTUWA has a proud history of standing up for educators, but fresh ideas and renewed energy are needed to tackle long-standing challenges. I bring experience, passion, and a proven record of advocacy. With the leadership of Jonelle Rafols as Senior Vice President, Sally Dennis as General Secretary, and a dynamic Executive team, our “Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union” team is ready to deliver real, meaningful change.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Cat Mason - because your voice deserves to be heard.

Deputy Principal - Avonvale Primary School 

Nichole Everett

I have worked in education for almost 20 years, beginning my career as an Education Assistant before moving into teaching and school leadership. My journey has taken me across regional and metropolitan schools, supporting students at educational risk, those with additional needs, and the dedicated staff who teach them.

At the system level, I worked in Regional Office on the Behaviour and Attendance Team and in the Primary Behaviour Centres (now SSEN:BE), where I supported students with extreme behaviours and the educators who stood beside them. These roles deepened my understanding of the complex pressures schools face and the incredible commitment shown by our colleagues.

Now, as a Deputy Principal in a country school, I focus on whole-school improvement in behaviour and trauma-informed practice. I believe safe, supportive environments are the foundation for staff wellbeing, student success, and strong public education.

I am standing for election because our profession needs strong, courageous voices who understand the reality of classrooms and leadership. Workload, behavioural challenges, and increasing expectations are impacting every educator I meet. We cannot accept these pressures as “the new normal.”

If elected, I will:

• Fight for manageable workloads that allow teachers to focus on teaching and learning.

• Advocate for safe, respectful workplaces where staff wellbeing is protected.

• Champion regional and country voices so that our experiences are heard at every level.

• Bring a balanced, informed perspective from classroom to leadership, ensuring decisions reflect the realities faced by members.

I believe in the strength of our collective voice. Together, we can secure fair conditions, respect for our profession, and a brighter future for public education.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Nichole Everett - because regional and country voices deserve to be heard.

HOLA, Bunbury SHS

Renee Chapple

I am the proud product of the regional public-school education system. For the past 15 years I have been teaching in high schools across the Southwest and Goldfields. I firmly believe that neither postcode nor family income should determine the quality of education. I am passionate about ensuring regional students have the same access to quality teachers as their metropolitan peers. Working in regional areas, I have seen firsthand the consequences of gutting regional education offices. I am determined to fight for policies that attract, support, and retain quality educators outside the metropolitan area.

I have been an active and committed SSTUWA member since university. My union involvement includes:

• Union Representative and Deputy Representative (since 2013)

• District Councillor and State Councillor

• Member of the LGBTQIA+ Committee, Women’s Committee, and Dispute Resolutions Committee

• Representative on the Unions WA Council

• Delegate to the 2023 Federal Women’s Conference in Canberra, including participation in the For Every Child lobbying trip to Parliament House

• Active participant in EBA campaigns, including speaking on stage at the Bricknell Shell rally about the impacts of class sizes and pay stagnation

Alongside union involvement, I bring a wealth of classroom and leadership experience. I have taught both in MESH areas and electives, I am currently a Level 3 HOLA, and these experiences have strengthened my understanding of the challenges educators face throughout their career.

If elected, I will:

• Champion equitable education for students, regardless of geography or background

• Fight for fair pay, manageable class sizes, and safe working conditions

• Ensure regional and metropolitan educators alike are supported and valued

Together, we can build a stronger, fairer future for all educators.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Renee Chapple – Regional schools’ matter.

Primary Teacher - Waggrakine PS

Michelle Steel

With over 30 years of experience in metropolitan, rural, and remote schools and more than 20 years as an active union member, I understand the real challenges educators face every day. I’ve held a range of branch roles, currently serve as Union Representative, and was recently honoured to be nominated to attend State Council.

I know what it means to take a stand. When our branch took protected action, I made the difficult decision to cancel a fully planned Year 7 camp. It was heartbreaking for students and families, but necessary to protect our working conditions. These decisions are never easy, but I believe in standing firm for what’s right.

This campaign is about returning the union to its rightful owners: the members. One of our top priorities will be to reduce union fees to a fair rate, as promised during Covid. That commitment has not been honoured.

Our union is financially strong, but money sitting in the bank doesn’t improve classrooms or protect teachers. It’s time to put those funds to work, investing in better conditions, stronger campaigns, legal support, and real, tangible backing for our members. Let’s make every dollar count for members.

If elected to Executive, I will:

• Put members first – ensuring your voice is heard, respected, and acted on

• Restore transparency – making leadership accountable and decision-making clear

• Strengthen our union – building unity, local engagement, and grassroots strength

It’s time for a union that listens, includes, and delivers. I bring decades of experience, unwavering integrity, and the courage to take action when it matters most.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Michelle Steel - Our union must always put members first.

SLP Teacher, Alkimos College

Sarah Dinan

As a Branch Union Representative and elected Health and Safety Representative, I have worked to safeguard fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. Beyond Alkimos College, I serve as a State Council Delegate, Unions WA Council member, and contribute to the SSTUWA Dispute Resolution and Women’s Committees. I have also proudly represented members at the AEU Federal Women’s Conference and in national lobbying at Parliament.

With over twenty years in secondary teaching, I know both the pressures of the classroom and the resilience of our profession. I understand the toll of heavy workload, staff shortages, and systemic underfunding. I also know the power of collective action in bringing about meaningful, lasting change.

I am committed to ensuring every member is heard, valued, and respected. I will continue to champion the rights of neurodivergent, marginalised, and LGBTIQA+ colleagues, placing fairness, equity, and inclusion at the centre of everything I do.

The prominent message is clear: members want a union that has their back. When conflicts arise between teaching staff and leaders, members deserve strong, reliable support and equal representation by specialist organisers. No one should be left unprotected: conflict-of-interest issues must be tackled head-on, decisively and achieve fairness for all.

I will fight for:

• Reduced membership fees to ease financial pressures

• Affordable and accessible professional development to strengthen careers,

• Increased industrial support with organisers on the ground where members need them most.

These are practical, member-focused changes that will make a real, tangible difference in our workplaces every day.

Together, we can build a union that is member-led, uncompromising in its advocacy, and fearless in its defence of public education.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Sarah Dinan – Advocating for Fairness, Equity, and Inclusion

Senior School Psychologist

Geoff Miller

I am standing for election to the Executive because members deserve strong, fair representation and leadership that truly listens. My guiding value has always been a fair go for all, and I am committed to challenging poor working conditions while driving practical, positive change.

As a representative for the School Psychology Service Branch, I have actively advocated for members by putting forward seven motions at State Council over the past four years each aimed at improving the professional and working conditions of school psychologists, teachers, and school leaders. I know that when we set clear, realistic goals and pursue them with persistence, we can achieve meaningful outcomes.

The union is a democratic organisation. Its Executive must uphold decisions voted on by Council and reflect the will of the membership. I am committed to ensuring members’ voices are central to every decision.

With 30 years of service in the Department of Education across approximately 70 schools, I bring a deep understanding of members’ diverse needs. My career has taken me from remote and regional schools to the wheatbelt, education support centres, high schools, and primary schools. This breadth of experience has shown me both the unique challenges and the shared struggles of colleagues and reinforced my belief that no member should ever be left behind.

I believe in an Executive that is proactive, transparent, and accountable. If elected, I will continue to advocate for fairer conditions, recognition of professional expertise, and decisions that improve the everyday lives of members. Together, we can build a stronger union that not only defends but also advances our profession.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Geoff Miller: Stronger Representation, Real Change.

Secondary Teacher - Cannington SHS

Dee McLaren

Over the past three decades, I have taught across a diverse range of contexts metropolitan and regional, academically gifted and high-needs, mainstream and inclusive education settings. I have seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs of our schools. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the complex realities teachers face daily: workload pressures, psychosocial demands, safety in the classroom, and the need for professional autonomy. As an Executive Board member, I will bring both lived experience and a solutions-focused mindset to every discussion.

For almost a decade, I have proudly served as my school’s union representative. In this role, I have worked with colleagues and the union to secure meaningful improvements for staff and students. Acting as both advocate and bridge, I have ensured members’ voices are heard, concerns addressed, and agreements upheld.

Beyond the classroom, I have mentored colleagues, led curriculum initiatives, and served on workplace health and safety committees. These roles have sharpened my ability to listen with empathy, negotiate fairly, and advocate with courage. I value transparent communication, collaboration, and strong relationships with government, community, and union partners.

Looking forward, I believe our union must adapt to a rapidly changing world of work, technology, and social context. I am committed to amplifying the voices of early-career educators, strengthening professional development, and embracing innovation while never losing sight of the human connections at the heart of teaching.

I seek this role not for personal recognition but because I believe in the collective power of teachers united. Together, we can safeguard educators’ rights, shape policy with integrity, and uphold a public education system that remains the cornerstone of our society.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Dee McLaren - Negotiate fairly, and advocate with courage

Secondary Teacher - Mount Lawley SHS

Heidie Vanzetti

I see firsthand the increasing pressure placed on secondary teachers. In my role as a secondary teacher, branch representative, and state council delegate, I regularly hear from members who feel their concerns particularly around

workload and salary are not being heard.

​

Key issues like TOIL, internal relief, and DOTT time remain unresolved. Many members felt unsupported during the last EBA negotiations, particularly when it came to secondary-specific concerns. Increasingly, experienced teachers, not just early-career ones, are dropping to 0.8 loads to manage burnout.

The message is clear: WE NEED MORE DOTT TIME, NOT LESS!

The current proposal to reduce class sizes to 27 does little to address secondary workload. With senior classes already capped at 26 and middle school classes still sitting at 32, this change amounts to a minimal workload reduction. By comparison, average class sizes in NSW and Victoria are 21. Many secondary teachers feel this campaign is primarily focused on primary school issues, leaving them sidelined.

Some members have even left the union, citing rising fees and a lack of meaningful representation as key reasons. They no longer feel supported, and that must change.

I will be a strong voice for secondary educators. I will push for real workload reform, more DOTT time, fair TOIL compensation, and protections against excessive internal relief. I will advocate for reduced union fees, more industrial training, and improved transparency and diversity of views within the executive. Every branch, every member, and every issue deserves to be heard and addressed.

It’s time our union prioritised the voices of all educators, especially those feeling ignored. I’m ready to fight for that change.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Heidie Vanzetti – WE NEED MORE DOTT TIME!

Secondary teacher, Karratha SHS

Jill Pether

I am standing for election to the Ordinary Executive as I believe our union must reflect the realities of educators working in classrooms, staffrooms, and communities across Western Australia.

I have been a proud SSTUWA member since the early 1990s, first becoming active during the “work to rule” campaign that exposed the pressures of excessive workloads and under-resourcing. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to fairness, collective action, and protecting the profession we all value.

My career has been spent entirely in public schools, six years in Bunbury and the past seven in the Pilbara. For many years, I have served as my school’s union branch representative, supported by union training to strengthen my advocacy.

As a regional educator, I know firsthand the realities that come with teaching in country WA: the long distances from family, limited access to services, and the constant stress of housing shortages. The Government Regional Officers’ Housing (GROH) crisis is hitting educators hard in the Pilbara and beyond placing unbearable pressure on teachers and their families. These issues must be front and centre in our union’s work.

I am also passionate about supporting early career teachers finding their place, relief teachers facing insecure work, and working parents balancing competing demands. Every member, in every setting, deserves to be heard and backed by their union.

If elected, I will bring lived country experience, strong advocacy, and respect for the extraordinary work you do every day. I will continue to listen, to act, and to ensure your voice is represented at every level.

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Jill Pether - Every member, in every setting, deserves to be heard

Teacher at North Metropolitan TAFE

Beverley Worrall

I bring both a strong commitment to advocating for workers’ rights and decades of practical experience in education. I will represent and defend the interests of all members in both schools and TAFE, ensuring that no voice is left unheard and that our union remains a powerful force for fairness and respect in the workplace.

I have been teaching for more than 20 years and throughout this time I have actively represented members in a variety of union roles, including:

• Deputy Union Representative at NMTAFE Kendrew campus

• Branch Representative at NMTAFE

• Member of the SSTUWA TAFE Committee

• State Council Delegate for the Butler District

• Joint Consultative Council representative for NMTAFE

• Participant in numerous working groups across the sector

In these positions, I have successfully resolved industrial disputes and workload issues that directly impacted members’ wellbeing, while also challenging management practices that undermined job security and professional conditions. I have played an active role in progressing General Agreement aspirations, including co-authoring a 2024 press release in support of TAFE industrial bans, which achieved strong compliance across the sector even among non-members.

I am particularly passionate about the General Agreement ensuring its fair and consistent application to all staff. While my background is in TAFE, I know colleagues in schools face similar pressures: excessive workloads, insecure employment, underfunding, and increasing administrative demands. These shared challenges require strong, fearless representation and union leadership that delivers real industrial support.

I stand for:

• Stronger industrial backing from the union office

• Genuine protection of jobs and job security

• Fair and sustainable workloads across all sectors

• Ensuring every member’s voice is heard at the Executive table

Vote above the line [X] for Members Matter – Your Voice, Your Union!

Beverley Worrall – Experienced, Proactive, and Committed to All Members.