The Internet is teacher union business : a report about the New South Wales teachers federation

Abstract

The NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF, hereafter referred to as the Federation) is the statewide trades union for teachers in public schools, TAFE colleges, and Corrective Services. Representing a membership body of approximately 60,000 teachers, Federation’s work requires active lines of communication that are equally accessible and effective for teachers in rural and remote areas as they are for those in urban centres. The purpose of this report is to analyse union communications strategies, with a particular focus on the adoption of digital communications in union campaigns. As Communications Officer of the Federation and a former producer of an education podcast, my work enables me to reflect on the challenges of communicating with diverse internal and external audiences. This report begins with a historical overview of communications strategies within the NSWTF and then goes on to discuss specific communication strategies.