Delegate Development Program
Building the future of delegate education
The future of delegate education depends on building strong capability within affiliates. By developing educators, sharing resources and strengthening networks, we can ensure every union has the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to develop the next generation of workplace delegates and leaders.
Plan for 2027
Every affiliate starts in a different place. Meet with an ATUI Delegate Educator to discuss your union’s delegate education priorities for 2027, including training delivery, educator development, shadowing opportunities and building internal delegate education capability.
Building Delegate Education Capability Across the Union Movement
The Delegate Development Program supports affiliated unions to develop confident, skilled, and effective workplace delegates.
Over the life of the program, more than 30 delegate education modules have been developed, five learning streams established, a national Delegate Education Network created, and nearly 10,000 delegates have participated in training. Almost 200 union staff have also developed their education and facilitation skills through Education Skills for Unionists.
The program has always been about more than course delivery. Its purpose is to build sustainable delegate education capability within affiliated unions by developing educators, resources, and networks. In 2027, the focus will be on supporting affiliates to strengthen and embed their own delegate education programs.
What’s Included
- Delegate education modules for you to use directly with your delegates
- Facilitator guides and participant resources to support your direct delivery of delegate training
- Education Skills for Unionists training to develop union organiser skills to take on delegate training responsibilities in your union
- Delegate Education Network activities to bring delegate educators together across the union movement to share and collaborate
- Delegate educator development and shadowing opportunities to build your team’s delegate training skills
- Support to build internal educator capability within unions
Delegate Development Program 2027 Guide
View detailed information about the 2027 program, including supported course deliveries, educator development opportunities, trainer shadowing, fees, and future program directions.
Build Delegate Educators
Strong delegate education programs need skilled educators. Whether you are an organiser, educator, industrial officer or another union staff member interested in developing others, the Delegate Development Program can support your educator’s development journey.
Explore educator development, affiliate endorsement, Education Skills for Unionists, module adaptation sessions, peer learning, shadowing and supported facilitation opportunities. The pathway is designed to help affiliates develop educators who can confidently use and adapt delegate education resources within their own union.
Education Skills for Unionists
Training to develop union organiser skills to take on delegate training responsibilities in your union. Education Skills for Unionists develops the practical skills needed to plan, facilitate and deliver engaging learning for delegates, activists and members.
Train the Trainer Sessions
Train the trainer sessions are designed to build educators’ skills and confidence in areas where further professional development may be needed; for example, anti-racism and dealing with family and domestic violence.
Participants explore the module content, facilitation approaches, and learning activities.
Sessions are held on the first Friday of each month from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm (AEST/AEDT), commencing on 5 February 2027.
Participants register once and receive access to all sessions for the year, allowing them to attend according to their needs and availability.
Join the Delegate Education Network
The Delegate Education Network connects educators, organisers and trainers from across the union movement to share ideas, explore practice and learn from one another. Sessions include discussion, resource sharing, practical examples, and guest presentations for educators at all stages of development.
Network sessions are held on the third Friday of each quarter from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm (AEST/AEDT).
The first session will be held on 19 February 2027, with subsequent sessions held every three months.
Participants register once and receive access to all Delegate Education Network sessions for the year, helping them build connections, learn from peers, and stay connected with developments across the union movement.