Members, I can’t believe it has been a year since our 2024 conference! Time is moving faster than ever.
September was a busy month for myself, Organiser Luke Hutchinson and Comms Officer Emma Chandler as we attended not only the USU Delegates Conference but also the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRECON) hosted by Public Services International in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Luke’s article can be read here.)
It was a great honour to attend the Conference with Luke and Emma who both stepped up and represented USU members on the global stage. I was proud to join over 300 public sector union leaders from across our region to develop strategies for a united fightback against attacks on public services and privatisation which is central to many campaigns our members face here in Australia. You can read more about the conference here.
Once again I am celebrating USU Delegates Conference and the great achievements of your amazing delegates who every day go above and beyond for you – the wonderful members of the mighty USU.
I want to extend my personal appreciation to our USU Executive pictured above. It has been an interesting year with USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly taking an extended – and very well deserved – break. Our fantastic management team have shared the GS duties while Graeme has been on leave and our Executive have worked with them to ensure a very smooth year. I thank them for their contribution, they certainly make my job as President much easier.
Conference is a highlight for our union as we develop strategies for the year ahead and celebrate the achievements of the year past. This conference we tried a few new approaches and I thank Acting USU General Secretary Stephen Hughes and the USU staff team who worked so tirelessly to ensure it ran smoothly. More information about conference can be found here.
While extending thanks I would like to congratulate and thank USU Women’s Officer Sandie Morthen for an amazing job working with the Women’s Committee to deliver an outstanding Women’s Conference. This year the Women’s Conference presented directly to the main conference with breakout groups discussing the issues highlighted by them. It was great to see our female delegates take on such leadership roles. The issues developed by conference as a consequence of these breakout discussions will help formulate key campaigns over 2026 and beyond.
Sandie will hang up her Women’s Committee hat while she focuses on her new role as USU Manager Energy and Utilities, Private Sector and Airlines and USU Organiser Danielle Kelly will take on the role. I look forward to working with Danielle as she embarks on this great adventure.
I urge you to read the stories contained in this edition of the journal. It makes me very proud when reading of all the wins we achieve together. Our aim in 2026 is to become even stronger and we can all play a role in that by talking to our comrades at work and urging them to join our great union, making us even stronger.
By your side,
Sharon Sewell
USU President
