SAS Staff News, October 19

DET closes a key element in the fight against drugs in our schools

Formerly located within the University of Sydney, it has been forced to close and place its extensive collection of drug education resources in storage after the Department of Education and Training failed to secure them a new location in the Sydney Institute of TAFE.

The HEU had been funded by DET since 1999 in recognition of the vital role it plays in the State's drug and alcohol prevention strategy. Prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse is far better than cure, and the HEU has been a vital link between health professionals and educators in drug prevention campaigns.

The University of Sydney indicated to staff in the HEU earlier this year that they wanted the Unit's room for additional office space. The Unit's staff were told that they had until the end of June to find a new location or close down.

An agreement was reached between the HEU and Sydney Institute of TAFE for the Unit and staff to be transferred to their Ultimo Campus, however DET and the Minister's Office blocked the move the day before it was scheduled to go ahead, in what can only be characterised as a cheap money saving exercise.

That leaves the Education Minister as the last hope for the Unit's survival. The PSA is making strong representations to the NSW Minister for Education, Carmel Tebbutt, urging her personal intervention to ensure that the Health Education Unit and its staff find a new home from which they can continue their vital work.

"It is in the Minister's hands now," Health Education Library Manager, and PSA member of 14 years, Tim Cotsford said. "She is the only person who can guarantee that the Library will survive, and that our resources don't continue to gather dust in storage while drug and alcohol prevention suffers."

It is vital that other PSA members in the education sector show solidarity and support for the workers in the Health Education Unit. They have devoted years of their lives trying to prevent our young people from falling into the traps of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse, and only our support will allow them to keep doing their good work.

Please distribute copies of this petition around your school and ask other support staff, teachers and students to sign.

Once the petitions have been signed, please send them to the address on the bottom of the page. Only by convincing Minister Tebbutt of the widespread support for the HEU and its drug and alcohol prevention campaigns will these programs, and the young people they assist, be saved.

Sue Walsh, President
Kris Cruden, Senior Industrial Officer