Membership information
MTASA MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Membership Subscription Renewals for 2020/2021 became due on June 30. Subscription renewal notices were sent in late June via e-mail to remind members to log in and renew their membership for the 2020/2021 financial year. If you are a Full member you will be asked to indicate that you have completed seven hours of Professional Development during the previous twelve months. If you don’t receive an e-mail please check your spam folder. You can log in at any time to renew your membership. If it seems that you didn’t receive an e-mail, have forgotten your username or are having problems logging in please contact Masako Kondo ([email protected]). Paper invoices were sent to members who prefer to receive them.
NOTICE TO STUDENT MEMBERS
Have you fulfilled the requirements for Full Membership? Student members are reminded that Student membership is restricted to four years after which time it is expected that they would be eligible for another membership category, either Full Membership by Tertiary Study or Full Membership by RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience). Student members who are ready to upgrade their membership are invited to submit an application form to the Secretary together with the required supporting documents. Criteria can be downloaded from the MTASA website (www.mtasa.com.au) or obtained from the Secretary ([email protected]).
REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FULL MEMBERS OF MTASA
MTASA has introduced a Professional Development scheme for Full members. This commenced on July 1, 2019 when Full members began accumulating their seven hours of Professional Development. The scheme is designed to underpin and enhance MTASA’s established reputation for the professional excellence of its members, ensuring its standards are fully compliant with current educational expectations. These are clearly outlined in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (visit https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards) and similar documents.
From July 1, 2020 onwards Full members, when renewing their membership, will be asked to tick a box declaring that they have undertaken at least seven hours of Professional Development during the previous twelve months.
The following examples are provided to give general guidance for Full members about Professional Development that would be acceptable to MTASA.
These examples represent only a small sample of all the possibilities available to Full members. Generally Full members should feel comfortable about their own choices but in case of doubt you are welcome to contact the Secretary for further advice ([email protected]).
Improved music teaching should be a major factor in all activities that Full members wish to count towards their MTASA Professional Development.
MTASA will undertake random checks from time to time to ensure the system is working properly. So, on very rare occasions a Full member may receive a request from the Secretary for information about their Professional Development. In such instances you may submit evidence such as certificates, programs, diary notes, recordings and so forth.
Examples of Professional Development that would be acceptable to MTASA:
1. Online. Attending a webinar or similar event; undertaking an online e-learning course.
2. Face-to-Face. Attending a conference, workshop, masterclass or lecture.
3. Formal Study. Undertaking a qualification or part-qualification delivered by a recognised institution.
4. Personal Research.
Studying books, journals, articles, musical scores, musical theory, analysis, etc., which lead to an example of improved music pedagogy and/or pupil performance.
Self-conducted research leading to a presentation, masterclass or workshop at a conference.
Composing an educational piece of music that motivates a group of pupils.
5. Team Research.
A joint project with others that achieves particular improvements in a training ensemble.
Joint creation of music teaching materials that improve learning in a group of pupils. Remember! These are only a few amongst many possibilities. MTASA is a community of creatives. You are encouraged to be creative in your Professional Development!
WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK (WWCC)
New Legislation regarding Child Protection was introduced with effect from September 1, 2019. A ‘Police Check’ is now known as a ‘Working With Children Check’ (WWCC). The Working With Children Check is the most comprehensive check that exists. Anyone found guilty of breaching this legislation can be fined up to $120,000.
People working or volunteering with children in South Australia must, by law, have a Working With Children Check. A DHS/DCSI child-related check will be recognised as a Working With Children Check until it expires.
People need a Working With Children Check if they are in a ‘prescribed position’. This means people who are in paid or volunteering roles where it is reasonably foreseeable that they will work with children; run or manage a business where the employees or volunteers work with children; are employed to provide preschool, primary or secondary education to a child.
A Working With Children Check is needed for all schools (Government, Catholic and Independent).
For further information go to screening.sa.gov.au/types-of-check/new-working-with-children-checks.
MTASA MEMBERSHIP NOTES
Current Full, Student or Associate Members are not required to submit any supporting documentation to continue their MTASA membership. Anyone applying for Full Membership (either Tertiary Level Qualification and Study or Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience) or Student Membership for the first time must fulfil all of the requirements listed and submit the appropriate supporting documentation. Associate Membership is no longer being offered but those who were Associate Members on September 24, 2017 can continue their membership provided they remain as financial members. Full Membership (Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience) has replaced General Membership.
MTASA Members are always encouraged to write to the Secretary about any concerns that they may have. The MTASA Council will consider your request.
TEACHERS OF THEORY/MUSICIANSHIP
To be listed in the ‘The Directory of Teachers of Music’ on the MTASA website as a teacher of theory/musicianship applicants for Full or Student membership must supply evidence of having completed studies in this field to at least AMEB 5th Grade theory/musicianship standard or equivalent. Full, Student or Associate MTASA members wishing to have theory and/or musicianship included in their Directory listing should send copies of the relevant certificates to the Secretary ([email protected]).
POST-NOMINALS
Full members of the Music Teachers’ Association of South Australia may use the letters MMTA (member of Music Teachers’ Association) as a post-nominal while they are financial members. Interstate Music Teachers Associations are also encouraging their members to use this or a similar post-nominal.
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