Links

Other Laboratory Technician Associations
Tasmanian Association of Laboratory Technicians
LabNet West - WA
Regional Technicians Group - WA
Queensland Education - Science Technicians
Science Technicians' Association of New Zealand
Science Education Technicians Australia - the National Lab Technicians' Association

Classroom/Preproom Resources
General - School Science Lessons
Geology - http://nesen.unl.edu/Lessons/Geosphere/Geosphere.asp
General - The Science Spot
Posters etc - Teachers' Bazaar

LABCON - Papers from past conferences
Laboratory design (Labcon 2003)

General Links
VSAEC (Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee)

Suppliers
Crown Scientific - laboratory supplies
Cospak - glass and plastic containers
Dick Smith Electronics
Edusupplies - suppliers and servicers of microscopes
Haines Educational
Jaycar Electronics
Science Supply Australia P/L
Scientrific
Southern Biological

Magazines
Helix magazine (CSIRO) http://www.csiro.au/resources/The-Helix-Index.html
Scientriffic http://www.csiro.au/resources/ScientrifficIndex.html
Cosmos http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/   

Unions (descriptors are taken from the organisations' websites)
VIEU
The VICTORIAN INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION represents members who work in non government education in Victoria.
Whether you are in teaching or non-teaching employment (such as laboratory staff), you are eligible to join VIEU. For information about VIEU, go to the website or talk to an organiser on 9254 1860.

AEU
The AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION UNION - Benefits of joining the AEU include advice regarding work agreements, professional support and development programs, union training and free legal advice regarding work matters

CPSU
Community and Public Sector Union has a national membership of 200,000 including colleagues employed right across the Victorian Public Sector. Together with our members, the Union conducts a never ending campaign to improve the terms and conditions of employment, as well as providing specialist individual help or representation if you need it. CPSU offers industrial protection and that ensures you have the principal public sector organisation looking after your working rights, winning wage increases, protecting your conditions, and providing personal industrial assistance when you need it.
In addition, the Union also, provides a wide range of membership benefits and services.

OH&S
DEECD has a new OHS web page at: www.education.vic.gov.au/hr/ohs

Some OH&S information relevant to Government Schools
The Department’s Employee Health Unit (EHU) has recently appointed five of nine advertised Regional OHS/WorkCover Advisors. It is anticipated the four remaining Advisor roles will be filled by the end of May 2009. The five appointments are:

The Regional Advisors will provide an EHU presence in each region and have responsibility for the provision of enhanced OHS and WorkCover support and policy advice to school leaders as well as providing support to regional offices to drive improvement in OHS and WorkCover performance and build OHS capability in schools and regional offices.
Regional Advisors will also assist the DEECD OHS service provider (Marsh) with the roll out of the DEECD Occupational Health & Safety Management System in schools and other DEECD workplaces.