FAQ's
You have questions? We have answers.
About TPAWA
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Why did TPAWA start?
To give members a choice of representation. Teachers can now join a truly independent association with their RUSH subscription, not one selected by the Government or your employer. (See RUSH's subscription rates for the comparative rates).
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Who can join?
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All Teachers, including Senior Teachers, Head of Departments and Executive Principals can join.
Membership fees do not differ based on your role, only depending on the amount of hours you work a fortnight (see our membership options).
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Is TPAA a trade union?
The TPAA is an industrial association/trade union which is an incorporated association in Victoria.
Read more about our new structure here.
We pride ourselves on being run by teachers, not union officials or bureaucrats and will never donate any of your money to politicians or their parties. -
Can I only subscribe if I'm in Western Australia?
You can subscribe from anywhere in Australia!
We provide cover Australia-wide. We endeavour to provide in-person support where practicable, however, if we are unable to provide that we will be able to assist you with your issues via video conference or phone call.
We do, however, recommend that you join one of our sister associations instead. To view all available associations, please click here.
Services
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What legal support is available?
We guarantee strong advocacy on workplace policy, procedures and system changes. Under Federal Law, you are entitled to appoint one of our TPAA representatives to the bargaining table to negotiate your Enterprise Agreement.
If you have an Enterprise Agreement that you would like us to bargain for you, please check the "Enterprise Bargaining Representation Request" section of your member dashboard. Once there, please check our list of Agreements we're currently negotiating and appoint us as your bargaining agent or complete the representation request form.
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Enterprise/Agreement Bargaining
We guarantee strong advocacy on workplace policy, procedures and system changes. Under Federal Law, you are entitled to appoint one of our TPAA representatives to the bargaining table to negotiate your Enterprise Agreement.
If you have an Enterprise Agreement that you would like us to bargain for you, please check the "Enterprise Bargaining Representation Request" section of your member dashboard. Once there, please check our list of Agreements we're currently negotiating and appoint us as your bargaining agent or complete the representation request form.
Subscription Fees
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Will my subscription fees be used for party political campaigns or fighting funds?
No and No. That’s how our subscription fees are able to remain so competitive.
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Is my subscription tax deductible?
Yes, your tax invoice/statement is emailed following each payment and can be downloaded from the billing portal in your member dashboard.
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How do I resign from TPAWA/TPAA/RUSH?
Please note, we are unable to accept resignations over the phone because we are unable to verify your identity. Therefore, your resignation must be in writing.
Please head to your member dashboard, complete the membership change request form and one of our friendly staff will help process your cancellation.
Member Disputes
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What if I have an issue with another TPAWA member?
We pride ourselves on being able to provide quality member-to-member dispute representation, a membership perk often not found with our competitors.
We provide both parties to a dispute with quality representation. If necessary, we also refer matters to third-party legal representatives to ensure the privacy of each member is protected.