Delegate Development Program

Delegate Education for Your Union

With the recent delegates’ rights and protections won on the back of our movement’s campaigning, unions have a unique opportunity to deepen education for delegates.

The ATUI has developed a Delegates’ Education Matrix, comprised of 32 modules over three levels, as a robust framework for affiliates to support and enhance their delegates’ development.

We recognise that unions have a range of approaches to delivering training for delegates, which is why the ATUI is offering three options:

1. Affiliate Delivery

The ATUI can work with your union’s educator(s) to provide them access to ATUI-developed content and materials.

2. ATUI Delivery

Throughout 2024 and 2025 there are several modules that ATUI can deliver to your delegates free of charge.

3. Hybrid Affiliate and ATUI Delivery

We can work with you to deliver some modules to your delegates, and also provide content and materials to your union educator(s) for them to deliver other modules to your delegates.

ATUI Delivery: Foundational modules delivered by ATUI Educators

To support affiliates in delivering delegate education we are offering face-to-face delivery of three modules from the Delegate Education Matrix – Delegates’ Rights, Delegates Responsibilities and Legal and Industrial Framework – as one day of training, at no cost to affiliates.

These modules are from the foundational level of the matrix and clearly outline the roles, responsibilities and duties of delegates. The training will allow delegates to better understand the legal frameworks and get orientated in the system of industrial relations as it applies to them and their members’ workplace rights.

To book a session with an ATUI Delegate Educator, use the tool at the button below to select your state or territory and an available date. Please note that all training sessions commence at 9.00am, local time.

An ATUI administration team member will be in touch once your booking has been received. If you have any special requests, or you are based in a regional area, please reach out to us here.

Delegate Education Network

Unions are invited to nominate a representative from each national office, branch, and TLC, to join the Delegate Education and Training Network (DEN).

This is a network of affiliate staff who are responsible for the coordination or delivery of delegate education and training in your union.

Representatives of the DEN are the liaison between the ATUI and affiliates and will be provided with access to the Delegate Education Matrix modules and associated information which can be contextualised and delivered directly to delegates.

DEN affiliate representatives do not need to be a dedicated affiliate educator. ATUI will provide regular train-the-trainer sessions and affiliate representatives can attend the Education Skills for Unionists course to be equipped to deliver delegate education.

The network will share and collaborate on strategies, resources and materials to support the education and training of union delegates.

Register your Expression of Interest to join the DEN and receive further information.

Education Skills for Unionists

The ATUI has developed a course for affiliates that may not have a dedicated educator. This is designed to build affiliate internal capacity for organisers and other officials to deliver training to delegates. 

The ATUI is facilitating this three-day face-to-face course to equip affiliate staff with basic skills and knowledge to effectively engage adult learners and foster a cohesive and inclusive learning environment. The course covers key principles of adult learning and methodologies and frameworks that have informed trade union education.

Delegate Development Organiser Training

Affiliates can also schedule Delegate Development Organiser Training with the ATUI, which can be delivered over one to two days.

The training will cover identifying delegates, the role of the delegates, facilitating delegate elections, obligations under the model clause, building delegate development plans and implementing these plans. Resources will be provided to support affiliates engaging with the training.