RSTAQ: Who we are: Mission statement

Remedial and Support Teachers' Association
of Queensland

›› Who we are

Mission Statement

PREAMBLE

RSTAQ is the amalgamation of the former RTAQ (Remedial Teachers’ Association of Queensland) and STAQ (Support Teachers’ Association of Queensland). RTAQ served teachers, students and parents for 33 years. STAQ originated as the Secondary Resource Teacher’s Association in 1978 and underwent a name change later to reflect changed role titles in the workplace. The amalgamation in 2001, of the two associations recognises the current educational context as one of change, challenge and opportunity. RSTAQ represents a spirit of engagement to celebrate diversity and to deal with the politics of identity and difference.

PURPOSE

To promote the professional role of the Learning Support Teacher working alongside teachers to enable students with diverse learning needs to participate in common educational experiences.
To provide a forum for communication and professional development among Learning Support Teachers.
To advocate that Learning Support teachers have a mediating position in schools, as trained specialists to remove barriers for students experiencing a range of learning difficulties.

VISION

Educational leaders problem-solving to create classrooms that accept and respect each student has the opportunity to learn and grow within a school community.

ACTIVITIES

Organise meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences for professional development and networking;
Publish professional journal, The Quarterly;
Maintain a website for the professional community;
Disseminate, through a variety of mechanisms, current research and theory in the professional field;
Liaise with and establish professional partnerships with other professional bodies with similar advocacy roles within Australia and internationally;
Liase and collaborate with educational training institutions and accreditation bodies;
Negotiate professional standards and qualifications Learning Support Teacher;
Advocate for the role of Learning Support with employing bodies;
Negotiate and liaise with employer bodies and industrial unions who cover Support Teachers in Queensland.

This Association embraces and demonstrates the philosophy of acceptance: respecting difference as opposed to conformity and realises that the adult learner, i.e. each teacher, is imperative for childrens’ learning.