WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR ON YOUR BEHALF

Supporting teachers and school leaders in local, regional, state and federal campaigns.

Our combined strength and success comes from teachers and school leaders working together with us to constantly improve State Education. Consultation, local workplace action, state and federal campaigns underpin our work every day. Cresta, Leah and Josh have demonstrated numerous wins in this area over the last term and with your support will continue to deliver and support members as your 2023 QTU Presidential Team    

Addressing complex school and TAFE issues with Government.

Strong union leadership is essential in advocating and achieving for our complex schools and TAFEs. By standing united with meaningful policies and strategic plans, we can tackle issues such as funding, resources and fair working conditions benefitting all of our members. Together, we work for a stronger, fairer education system empowering our school leaders, school and TAFE teachers.

Ensuring that the allocative model review addresses core teacher and school leader issues.

Workshops, consultation, school leader forums, branch and area councils, and regular school visits are part of every week for Your 2023 QTU Presidential Team. It’s how we stay across issues and hear members’ thoughts in real time. Catering for the needs of 21st century teaching and learning will take a restructure of resources to where they are best needed. Meaningful engagement is how we create meaningful change. And Your 2023 Presidential Team is the only team who can lead this change.

Representing members on a range of professional bodies.

Meeting with the QCT, QCAA, politicians from all side of politics, Department of Education and the government is all in a day’s work for the 2023 QTU Presidential Team. We articulate and represent the needs and interests of members to get the best outcomes. All key issues are discussed at our Executive and State Council, strategies and policies follow with outcomes and the interests of our members always the core priority.

Advocating for support and programs to manage behaviour in schools and resisting the current attempts by the department to curtail the right of principals to suspend and exclude students when warranted.

Your 2023 QTU Presidential Team knows the importance of supporting our school leaders and teachers. It’s been a cornerstone of our last successful term. Our schools thrive with safe and conducive learning environments and we believe school leaders are best placed to lead in this area. Student Disciplinary Absences are made with careful consideration and a commitment to the health and well-being of the entire school community. Ensuring that educators have the tools, resources and support needed to make tough calls is critical. We stand with teachers and school leaders, together we can generate safe spaces where disruptions are minimised. Let our leaders lead, our teachers teach and our students learn.

Meet Your Team

  • Cresta Richardson

    CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT

    Cresta Richardson is the current President of the QTU. In her first term, she has led the QTU through very unique times. Cresta has taught in city, rural and remote schools and is aware of the many issues teachers and school leaders face every day. Her activism began as a beginning teacher in the Sunshine Coast. She has vast and varied experience through many of the QTU standing committees. Curriculum and professional standards are areas of continued interest for her.

  • Josh Cleary

    CANDIDATE FOR HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT

    Josh Cleary is a Deputy Principal at Noosa District SHS and current member of the QTU Executive. He has taught for more than 15 years in rural and metropolitan schools across the state, teaching Visual Art and Hospitality before becoming Head of Department Senior Schooling and VET. Josh has a long history of activism and is passionate about fighting for the collective gains for all members. He is a State Council delegate, Vice President of the Wide Bay Area Council and is also a member of the QTU Working Conditions, the Professional Issues, and Appointments committees. Josh has also worked for the QTU as an acting Organiser in Central Queensland and on the Sunshine Coast, as well as acting Industrial Officer during both EB9 and EB10.

  • Leah Olsson

    CANDIDATE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT

    Leah Olsson is the current Vice-President of the QTU. She was a Primary Music Specialist before becoming a classroom teacher across various locations in metropolitan and rural settings, including FNQ. It is the diversity of teaching roles across these settings that led Leah to develop an interest and dedicate herself to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. It is this experience that encouraged her into leadership positions, acting roles as Head of Student Engagement and Deputy Principal, to champion positive outcomes for students, families and staff.