Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)
Two opportunities within.
PPTA is seeking expressions of interest from members who would like to fill two vacancies that have occurred on the Rainbow Taskforce. This is for a two-year term commencing January 2021.
What does the taskforce do?
The Rainbow Taskforce was first founded in 1993 (under the name Safe Schools Taskforce). It has been working since then towards the goal of making all schools safe and welcoming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, gender diverse and intersex students, staff and family/whanau members. It meets about twice a year for a full day meeting, and at other times in conjunction with PPTA events such as Annual Conference and the Issues and Organising seminar.
The taskforce
- provides advice to the Executive, branches, and members on LGBTI issues
- works politically to influence policy and practice on LGBTI issues
- liaises with other organisations (e.g. SS4Q) to advance the union’s agenda
- reports regularly to Annual Conference on its work
Some members of the Taskforce have been helping with the work of offering anti-homophobia workshops in schools for staff professional learning and development. The union has been offering up to 20 of these per year since 2012.
For further information, see the PPTA’s Rainbow community page.
Requirements to represent PPTA on the taskforce
- Membership of PPTA
- To be ‘out’ as a LGBTI person, because your name, contact details, and photo will be displayed on the PPTA website so you can be contacted by members
- To be able to get release from your school to attend meetings of the taskforce
- To have shown an interest in the work of the taskforce, e.g. by being a member of PPTA’s Rainbow Network, attending the Asia-Pacific Outgames human rights conference in March 2011, doing work on LGBTI issues in your school, etc
- A commitment to ensuring that schools are safe places for LGBTI staff, students and family/whanau members, including, if possible, a willingness to help with delivering the anti-homophobia workshops referred to above.
The PPTA president and general secretary have been delegated by the executive the task of assessing the self-nomination forms and selecting the person who can make the best contribution to the work of the taskforce.
Expressing interest
Members wishing to be considered for the Rainbow Taskforce should complete this online form by 5pm on Friday 20 November 2020. If you want to talk about the position with someone, email Kirsty Farrant (kfarrant@ppta.org.nz).
