Your union is awaiting a statement from the Premier about the situation in WA. Here there may be a stronger case for staff who aren’t vulnerable being present at school, with appropriate safeguards. The actual and gradual return to school physically of students has and will vary from state to state/territory.
Your comments and feedback are welcomed by emailing communications@ieuwa.org.au
The IEUA Federal Executive has today urged school employers and governments to act with concern for and commitment to the health and safety of everyone in our school communities.
Our schools and their staff have already acted professionally and capably to ensure that students and their learning are catered for during this crisis.
Our members have responded magnificently to the need to ensure schools cater for the children of those workers who have nowhere else to be cared for during the day and for those children at risk in our community.
In extraordinary circumstances and tight timeframes staff have developed opportunities for continued learning through remote and online education.
However, our members’ health and safety remains at risk while there is confusion and lack of clarity about how schools and school systems will be organised in term 2 and expectations of staff attendance on site.
Schools and their communities have prepared for remote and online learning for several weeks. The IEUA federal executive believe that this should be the mode of delivery for all students, for at least the first half of term 2. This mode of delivery should apply for those at home as well as those needing to attend school.
School staff, like other members of the community, should predominantly ‘stay at home’ during the coming weeks. At the school level, arrangements can be made for rosters of supervision to provide supervision of those students so attending.
Vulnerable workers, including those who are pregnant, should all be working from home. All school staff, including support and services employees, are essential to supporting the home-based learning model and should continue to be deployed. All employees can assist with the required additional workload and support of remote and online education programs and providing ongoing pastoral support to and connection with students and families.Your comments