Teachers??

How late did you finish up work?

I am teaching K/1 this year & I am planning to finish at 36 weeks - but I'm not sure whether I will be able to make it that long. Am I being overly optimistic?

Hi there, I finished up at 34 weeks - because the holidays occured at that time. I would have worked up to 36 if it wasnt for the holidays. Having said that I wasnt in the classroom this year - I was helping out in all grades providing time release, so the pressure wasnt as high. Can you speak to your school-tell them your intentions and if you find it too difficult, leave a few weeks earlier?
In Vic you also have to have Dr's permission to work past 34 weeks.
Good luck!

I worked up to 34 and 35 weeks with my two as it coincided with holidays, but I could have kept going if I needed to. I teach secondary PDHPE, so sitting down is a luxury that doesn't come too often and the heat was hard to deal with - but I made it. This time I intend on working up to about 37 weeks - all going well. It really depends on so many things and you can't really tell how you will feel until the time comes around. You can always alter your leave form as the time draws closer if you really need to and we do have generous sick leave entitlements that you can take advantage of. I would say leave it as 36 weeks and alter it if you need to. If you are medically not making it you can be on sick leave with a Dr certificate up unitl mat leave starts, which doesn't have to be until your due date. Good Luck.

Thanks girls. That's a good idea to use some of my sick if necessary (I get paid for longer that way too!).

E.

I would play it by ear. It could go either way - you are well and will be bored at home if you finish up too soon, or you could be tired and not well and really struggle, especially with such a demanding job. I would try to keep your options open.

As an interesting aside, my Mum used to be a school teacher and in those days you had to resign as soon as you were pg. Mum worked until 4 months as she was organising the school musical and wanted to see it through. She said if they realised she was pg and were concerned about it, let them be brave enough to ask her! They didn't, good on you Mum!

hey there- i'm a secondary teacher and i've got 2 days left (yah!!), so that means i'll be stopping before 33 weeks. to be completely honest with you, i feel as though i couldn't possibly work another day after that, and next time around (fingers crossed that there will be another one!) i would plan to stop at 30 weeks. my back and pelvis have been extremely sore, not to mention the insane tiredness i have been feeling. it's a very hard job to do when you're not feeling 100%.

With my DD I stopped at 35 weeks, but was probably to stop at 34 weeks as in that last week I fell over one of the kids chairs an landed on my belly- baby was fine but I had to go into hosp to have everything checked. I will probably work to 34 weeks this time even though I have the option of stoppin at 28 weeks when T3 holidays start, however I think I will be too bored over the next 12 weeks. I think it is good to pay it buy ear an definatley use up your sick pay if you get it.

I am a Primary sChool teacher and am finishing at 36 weeks though it would have been nice to finish at 34. I don't mind working the extra but I really really hope I don't go early. Teaching is fine but it;'s when I get home that I am soooooo tired. AS everyone said though - get paid for longer!

I finished about 1 1/2 weeks before EDD. I was teaching yr 5/6 at the time but coming from an early childhood background, probably would have finished a week earlier if I was teaching K/1.

Oh sorry, forgot to say - I finished later rather than earlier as I wanted to maximise the time with my bub when she arrived. I was healthy, having had a great pregnancy and wasn't getting too tired. If my pregnancy was getting me down, it would have been a different ball game.

Hi Girls,
Sorry to crash in on your convo. I've only just found out I'm pregnant but am already considering what happens with my leave entitlements. I'm a secondary HSIE/English Teacher but I'm not permament. I have just been offered a years block for next year but as I will now be due in July, I don't know what to do. I know I won't be enittiled to maternity leave but just wondering what you think I should do? When should I tell the school? Do I use sick leave? How long should I take etc etc etc?
Thanks girls!

i would accept the one year placement and tell the school when you are over 12 weeks that you plan to work until about 34 weeks.if you are not 12 weeks until next year, then tell them when you return from summer holidays in january. you are not obligated to tell them until after 12 weeks so i wouldn't.

Ellemae how long have you been working? You're on block placement now? If you are in NSW and you have been working for 40 weeks before the pregnancy then you are entitled to maternity leave, even as a temporary.

I was on a one year contract this year, after returning from maternity leave, but because I had one more than 12 months continuous service with the Ed. Dept I was entitled to Maternity leave until my contract ended. You are well within your rights to take up the position and tell the school in your own good time you are pg.
I would double check on what your maternity leave rights are, because you may find that you actually are entitled to some.

I'm in NSW now. I've only just started a block for 4 weeks.Have been teaching in the ACT for the majority of the year. So I'm not quite sure if I'll be entitled to anything. Just thinking I'll have to take lwop or sick leave. I'm due at the end of July so figure I'll take term three off and then come back for term 4.
What do you all think?

Hi girls,
i too am a teacher, teaching grade 5/6 this year. I am due at the start of April so decided not to go back next year! This means I will only be 26 weeks by tht time I finish off. When I looked at the dates for next year, I realised that if I stopped working at 33 weeks, I would only be going back for a couple of weeks so decided it was not worth the disruption for the school and would allow me to totally relax before bub comes along. I am sure to get bored though so hope to get lots of Scrapbooking done from my Africa trip earlier in the year. This way I still get paid for the Summer holidays as well as the 14 weeks maternity leave. My pay increment is due on the 26th Jan so at least I will get paid the extra amount for the 14 weks too which works out well. Mel

Mel your lucky to be able to start your mat leave so early. I wanted to start mine at 30 weeks but Ed Dept policy here in WA is that you cant start leave before 34 weeks- which meant I had to go back for 4 weeks of term, which was a total pain for everyone involved. Even with a Dr. cert. you can take sick leave or unpaid leave but not start your mat leave untill 34 weeks (or if bubs is born earlier you can start from then!)

Last year I was a Primary School Deputy Principal so I wasn't in the classroom all day (thank goodness because I had very frequent toilet trips in the first trimester) and I finished up really early because of the timing of Christmas holidays. I started holidays/leave at 26 weeks. I am now getting a bit bored as everyone else heads back to work but don't think I'd have been able to go back now (33 weeks) for a week in this heat (plus what would a school do with me).
The most fantastic thing is that WA teachers get 12 weeks paid leave (this goes up to 14 weeks in June), and can have 3 years of maternity leave (which has to be applied for each year) - one good thing about working for the government. I was wondering what the paid leave entitlements are for teachers in other states?

In NSW we get 14 weeks full pay or you can get it as 28 weeks half pay which I did. The half pay is great cause in the holidays it goes to full pay!

In QLD we get 12 weeks full pay or 24 weeks half pay. The same rule applies for the holidays as in NSW- it's full pay. My registrar is currently working out what will be best for me in terms of mat leave as I don't really know all the ins and outs.

I teach Prep in QLD and have to 'plan to finish' at 34 weeks. Closer to the time though, your ob can write a letter if he/she thinks you can work a bit longer. I'm hoping to work up to 35 weeks as it coincides with the June/July holidays. Boy it's been hard work though- especially when I've been feeling so sick and tired.

hi there lovely teachers,

just wanting some advice - last year i took mat leave from nov and dd was born end of nov. after loosing our little angel after her 2 1/2 week fight i took on a new position at a new school and started there this year teaching grade 1/2. i chose a new school as i thought it would be a bit of a new start etc.. but am really hating it - really disorganised and not much support. i have recently found out that i am pg again - around 6 weeks which is really exciting but now not sure what to do with work. if i finished at the end of next term i would only be around 20 weeks - can u start mat leave that early? i'm not sure? can u do crt work part time and then take the paid mat leave closer to 34 weeks? not sure if anyone will be able to answer these questions but just thought i'd see.

thanks

In NSW you can go on part time leave without pay. Not sure about the rules in VIc.

Hi there everyone,

I need some urgent advice. As I am extremely stressed at the moment!

I am also a teacher, currently teaching k/1, in an isoslated rural school. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant (nearly 36 weeks) and have been feeling fantastic up until today when I had a big blue with the principal. I'm not due to go on leave, until I am 38 weeks, which is 2 and a half weeks away. Last term I asked my principal if I could use some of my incentive leave (which I get for working in an isoslated school in NSW) to travel to a friend's wedding. The leave I required is on the Monday and Friday before my maternity leave starts. My principal had not confirmed with me whether he was able to get a casual for the days I wanted off, so I asked him about it again today. He basically told me I was rude and incosiderate for wanting to take leave just before my maternity leave starts. Unfortunately, my friend is having a shot gun wedding, because she too, has fallen pregnant and wants to get married before she has the baby. So I didn't get much notice, otherwise I would have taken maternity 1 week earlier. In addition, to calling me rude he also questioned my priorities as a mother to be, going away three weeks before the baby is to born. Which I had already checked with OB and he said, as long as we had plently of stops I should be fine. In the end, he basically told me that if I wanted the time off, I have to amend my maternity leave and start it now. I have felt physically sick and have had diarrhoea since leaving his office this morning and don't want to go back to work now becuase he was so horrible to me and has made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome at work. What do you think I should do? There is no one I can talk to at work because there are only three teachers in the school and one of them is an older lady who thinks I should have stopped working at 30 weeks.

Bethany

I would go on mat leave now hun! stress like this is no good for you at this stage in pregnancy. Most people would have finished earlier than this so he should be glad you have stayed this long.

I would be talking to Federation and/or employee services.

I'm currently a contract teacher in Victoria, and I've been told that due to the new agreement I'll be made ongoing in the next 8 weeks when staffing for next year is worked out (fingers and toes crossed). I've been at my current school 4 years at end of 08, a 1yr contract, and a 3yr (currently, - contract ending in Dec)

If something happens and I'm not made ongoing, my contract (3yr) will run out in Dec. I'm due at end of Feb. Would I have any entitlements to mat leave if this is the case? :(

Victoria is completely different to nSW so i can't help you sorry. Our federation holds up Vic as a model of the worst case scenario!!

:rolleyes: Thats great MrsMac! Heehee!

BLBG as far as Im aware you are only entitled to mat leave if you are ongoing and have worked 26 weeks in 52 preceeding the date you are taking leave from... I would imagine that if you are on a contract that you will not qualify unfortunately.
If you are a union member call them and get some advice but also be aware that if there is a position in the school next year, and because you have been on contract there for 3+ years they do hae to offer you ongoing (unless it is covering another family leave application etc..)
Good luck with it.

Thanks TANSTAR.
I'm aware that if there is an ongoing position, - it must be offered to me, and I have spoken with my prin many times about this this year, - as I'm tired of being contract, and have been there coming up 4 years!

I'm wondering though, - if something happens and I start showing before the ongoing position is offered to me/ staffing for 2009 is finalised, - will this ruin my opportunity of getting the ongoing?
I guess I need to call the union and ask them to find out my rights.
I won't be telling my prin I'm preg, but if this all takes a while and I'm showing, I'm just wondering if she still HAS to offer me the position?
All of the other contract teachers at school have only been there 2 years, - so I'm the one that the onngoing must be offered to under the new agreement....

Fingers Crossed!!!!!!! :pray:

Thanks again Tanstar :)

She would definately have to still offer you the ongoing position even if she finds out that you are pregnant... whether she does or not is a different issue and unfortunately there are loopholes for prins who don't want to do so. They can claim declining numbers (obviously has to be backed up) family leave, and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head. If you are a member definately call the AEU and see what they say, they are really helpful and will give you a few scenarios. If she has said so far that you are going to get the ongoing position, then changes her mind if she finds out you are pregnant.. well there are serious implications for her if you decide to take it further with the union...I hope that helps - good luck.

BLBG just wanted to confirm what Tanstar said you do need to have worked 26 weeks directly before you take mat leave in an ongoing position to be entitled to paid mat leave. that does include term holidays not just working weeks so you would have to work it out. i am guessing the ongoing position is for 2009 so i guess it would depend on if you would actually be able to work 26 weeks next year? when is your EDD?

and yes i would recomend the union to give some advice however they can get it wrong sometimes which is what happened to me this year.

good luck x

I'm pretty sure the term holidays are included because I just went back at the beginning of this year and am taking my leave as of the 22nd August and I just qualify for mat leave again. I wonder if converted to ongoing that the previous 26 worked at the school on contract would count? AEU will definately be able to answer that as the website that talks about the 26 just says consecutive weeks... Ugh it's all so complicated. Stupid contracts should be made obsolete.

Ooooh I'm feeling so worried now that by the time I'm made ongoing, that I won't have had the ongoing position for 26 weeks! Arggggh! This is all really stressing me!

Surely if I'm simply moving from my 3yr contract into ongoing, - they would take that into account......???. :( Here's hoping!

I'll call the union next week, - have an excursion all day Monday, so hopefully Tuesday. Anyone know what time they're open until? It doesn't say on the AEU Vic website...

Thanks girls! :)