AEU Industrial Update #11 – November 2024 

Extreme heat in schools

As we approach summer, members should be aware of policies regarding extreme weather and how to ensure your health and safety is protected.

The EDU is responsible for the provision of a safe workplace, which includes risks associated with high temperatures. According to WHS law, the employer must identify hazards, assess risk, eliminate or control against risk, and then continue to review the controls put in place. Consulting with workers is a crucial part of this process.

It is a reasonable expectation that all employees can perform their work in reasonable thermal comfort within the classroom. In temperature-controlled spaces, this range is between 18-28 degrees Celsius.

Before extreme weather occurs

Schools must have site-specific plans to manage the health and safety risks associated with extreme temperatures. This should include:

• Identifying areas of the school which are impacted by extreme temperatures
• Identifying alternative spaces for teaching
• Establishing safe routines to:
  • Reduce the impact of direct sunlight
  • Maximize air flow
  • Allow appropriate venting of warm air after school hours
  • Provide ready access to water for staff and students
    
    

The best way to prepare for days of high temperatures is to ensure all necessary equipment is in good working order prior to summer. This includes:

• Air conditioners
• Windows
• Shutters/shading
• Window furnishings
• Fans
  
  

If equipment isn’t available or is in a state of disrepair, notify your school leadership immediately so they can be replaced or fixed. This can be done in several ways, but it should be in writing. Preferably you would lodge it as a Safety Portal report. You should also speak with your Health and Safety Representative (HSR).

During extreme weather

In extreme weather, schools should take the following actions to reduce risk of heat stress:

• Optimise ventilation, air movement, and shade
• Deploy additional fans or air conditioners
• Ensure easy access to water
• Rotate classes around cooler areas in the school
• Adjust educational programs to minimise potential for heat stress
• Limit playground access to shaded areas
• Restrict access to areas affected by extreme temperatures
• Provide misting bottles for teachers (students should not handle these bottles directly)
• Adjust school uniform requirements
  
  

Where it is no longer possible to maintain a safe and healthy work environment, steps should be taken to close down schools.

Who to contact for help

If you are concerned about your school’s preparedness for summer, you should:

• Talk to your school leadership, particularly if there is a potentially easy solution through:
  1. Provision of appropriate equipment
  2. Repair of existing equipment
  3. Modification in how teaching is delivered
• Speak with your school’s HSR if you believe appropriate steps are not being taken
• Submit a Safety Portal report to ensure the WHS area of the EDU is aware
• Raise the issue at your sub-branch, particularly regarding broken equipment or lack of extreme weather planning
  
  

You can contact the AEU office at any time for advice or assistance. We recommend first attempting to address issues at a local level through your sub-branch or HSR as this will be the timeliest way to resolve issues at your school. If local options have been exhausted, the AEU office can help escalate the issue.

For heat-related emergencies, immediately:

• Familiarise yourself with symptoms of heat stress
• Protect your health and safety, including removing yourself from unsafe conditions
• Notify your management and HSR
• Contact the AEU when safe to do so
  
  

Changes to eligibility for permanent employment

The ACT Government has removed the restriction limiting permanent employment to Australian citizens and permanent residents. You may now be eligible for permanent employment in the ACT Public Service if you hold a valid visa that permits you to live and work in Australia.

This change affects all members working in public schools and at CIT. To discuss your eligibility for permanency:

• EDU employees: Contact EDU Secure Employment
• CIT employees: Contact CIT Human Resources
  
  

The end of year/Christmas party: make it one to remember, not regret

After another challenging year serving your communities and supporting your students, you deserve to celebrate. Here are essential guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable end-of-year celebration:

1. Understand that workplace laws, rules and policies continue to apply at the event

End-of-year/Christmas staff parties are work-related functions. This means:

• Your employer must ensure the event is safe
• Employees must follow employer policies and procedures
• The Code of Conduct and professional standards continue to apply
• Behaviour at such functions may result in your employer commencing a preliminary assessment or misconduct investigation into your behaviour or actions
  
  

2. You don’t have to go, and you can leave at any time

End of year celebrations should be inclusive to all staff. This means everybody should feel welcome to attend, regardless of whether they drink alcohol, their religious or cultural background, or whether they want to spend much of their own money.  

That said, if you don’t want to go to your staff party, you shouldn’t feel pressured to. And if you do go and something makes you feel uncomfortable, you can leave at any time.

3. Don’t party without a plan

It’s a good idea to make a plan about how much you intend to drink and how you’re going to get home. Having a plan B in case one drink becomes a couple is essential.

For top marks, team up with some trusted colleagues and make sure that everyone has a great time and gets home safe.

4. Solidarity means we look out for each other 

If you notice that anyone feels uncomfortable, is engaging in unsafe behaviour, or needs a hand in any way – be the colleague they need in that moment. It’s always alright to call someone a taxi or remind them of their professional responsibilities at work events. It’s always alright to ask someone for help. 

Did you know… you do not need to provide a medical certificate every time you take personal leave

Personal leave (also known as sick leave or carer’s leave) is available to full-time and part-time employees to take paid time off work because they are:

• Suffering from an illness or injury;
• Caring for an immediate family or household member who is ill, injured or affected by an emergency; or
• Need to attend a medical appointment for themselves or an immediate family or household member.
  
  

You might be told by your manager that you must produce a medical certificate every time you access personal leave. This is not correct.

Under the enterprise agreement, you may access personal leave without evidence for absences of up to three consecutive days; and up to an accumulated maximum of seven days in a year.

If you are absent for more than three days, or if you have already accessed a total of seven days of personal leave without evidence in a year, you need to provide evidence.

When evidence is required, you may provide either:

• A medical certificate; or
• A statutory declaration.
  
  

The EA states that it is ok to use a statutory declaration if it is not reasonably practicable for you to supply a medical certificate. For example, you might not be able to see your GP at short notice. This would make it not reasonably practicable to get a medical certificate, and it would therefore be reasonable to instead supply a statutory declaration.

The EA does not state that a medical certificate must be supplied instead of a statutory declaration.

Further information on personal leave can be found by accessing our fact sheet.

Fact sheets and member resources

The AEU ACT has launched a new member portal. Various fact sheets and information guides can be found by logging into the member portal.

For those who previously accessed the fact sheets and information guides in the old member portal, you will see that there has been a change in how they look. They are now embedded within the website. Live fact sheets and information guides ensure that the information you access is up to date.

Keep an eye out for the remainder of 2024, as the team is working hard on uploading new fact sheets and information guides.