Across NSW public schools, É«ÀÇÉçÇømembers are telling us the same story: workloads are growing, staffing is not keeping pace, and too much responsibility is being shifted onto school support staff.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøthanks the many members and schools who have contacted us to share their experiences. Your feedback is critical in helping us build the case for change, and we are taking these concerns directly to senior departmental officials and the NSW Government.
Medications: Dramatic increase in need
The administration of student medications has changed dramatically over the years. What was once limited to one or two students requiring occasional medication support has become a significant and growing responsibility in many schools.
Members report increasing numbers of students requiring medication throughout the school day, more complex medication regimes, expanded record-keeping requirements and additional compliance obligations to ensure student safety.
This important work requires time, training, attention to detail and significant administrative oversight. Yet many schools have received no corresponding increase in staffing or resources to manage these growing responsibilities.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøhas raised these concerns directly with the Department and continues to advocate for greater recognition of the workload impact associated with medication management in schools.
General Assistants: Reporting changes compound job creep
Recent changes announced by School Infrastructure NSW have raised significant concerns for General Assistants across NSW public schools.
Many members have raised serious concerns with the É«ÀÇÉçÇøfollowing the release of two Department of Education Staff Noticeboard updates. These updates outline changes to when urgent maintenance requests should be logged and when issues must instead be managed through planned maintenance processes.
The guidance also encourages schools to increase reliance on General Assistants to undertake maintenance tasks as a cost-saving measure. This risks shifting systemic resourcing issues onto individual employees without proper recognition of role boundaries, training requirements or workplace health and safety obligations.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøis concerned these changes could lead to an unacceptable expansion of duties beyond the GA role description, including pressure to undertake skilled trade work such as plumbing or electrical tasks. Limiting access to reactive maintenance services is also likely to increase delays in addressing critical school maintenance issues, adding further unreasonable pressure on GAs to fill the gap regardless of capacity, capability, or safety.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøis collecting feedback from General Assistants impacted by these changes.
General Assistants are critical to keeping schools safe, functional and operational. The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwill continue to challenge workload creep, advocate for realistic expectations and push for proper staffing models that recognise the essential contribution of GAs across NSW public schools.
Enterprise Financial Planning Tool, finance and other systems: Pressures continue
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøcontinues to work with the Department to address concerns arising from the Enterprise Financial Planning Tool (eFPT), finance processes and other administrative systems that are increasing workload within schools.
Members have consistently raised concerns about the ongoing blurring of responsibilities between School Administrative Managers (SAMs) and Business Managers (BMs), despite both roles having distinct Statements of Duties.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇømaintains clear role boundaries are essential to ensuring workloads remain manageable and staff are not expected to undertake duties outside their classification without appropriate recognition.
Disappointingly, the eFPT Working Party established to address member concerns did not meet during Term 2. The É«ÀÇÉçÇøis actively pursuing its reinstatement in Term 3 and will continue to push for solutions that reduce unnecessary administrative burden.
We are also continuing to pursue issues raised by members regarding changes to Working With Children Check requirements for contractors and the confusion created by recent departmental advice concerning third-party software and student data management.
Technology and administrative systems should make work easier, not create additional workload and confusion. The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwill continue to hold the Department accountable for consultation, clear processes and systems that genuinely support schools rather than shifting additional work onto already overstretched staff.
Do your part: join your colleagues today
You can support the work of the É«ÀÇÉçÇøby joining your colleagues, arranging a É«ÀÇÉçÇømeeting in your workplace, and inviting your Organiser or becoming a Delegate and working with the union on solutions.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwill continue fighting for the recognition, resources and respect that school support staff deserve. Together, members are building the evidence and collective voice needed to win lasting improvements for workloads, staffing and conditions across NSW public schools.