SASS Recognition Week 2007

This year SAS Staff Recognition Week will be from 17 to 24 September. This year's theme will be 'SAS Staff at the Heart of Education'.

The PSA has written to all Principals and asked them to work as a SAS Staff person for a day. We hope this will raise the awareness of the work performed by SAS Staff and provide Principals with insight into your busy daily routine. We will soon send a package of goodies to each school, which will include bookmarks, bumper stickers and paper clip boxes as well as the usual poster and balloons. Organisers and Delegates will deliver notebooks to schools.

Minister Della Bosca has agreed to launch Recognition Week to help highlight the work done by SAS Staff in Schools.

DET payroll records

The DET is currently reconciling their payrolls covering permanent and casual staff. Seemingly this has highlighted some overpayments, which may affect PSA members. If any member is contacted in relation to this please call us as we can assist with organising a repayment plan that is affordable.

Training Allowance for SAS Staff:

The PSA has been successful in gaining more money for SAS Staff giving training. The new rate is:

• presenter rate during school hours - $2.66 per hour (in addition to normal pay rate); and
• preparation time outside school hours - $50.52 per hour.

Salaries and Payroll will generate a new CEPS code. In the meantime payroll will pay the allowance at the appropriate rate if it is marked "Training Allowance". SAS Staff should not deliver training unless they are paid the appropriate rate of pay.

Certificate IV in Government - School Support Services

Course participants will on completion receive a Certificate IV in Government - School Support Services as well as a Certificate IV in Frontline Management. At the end of the traineeship trial (2 Years) and if its assessed as having been successful the PSA and DET will discuss introduction of the traineeships throughout NSW.

Traineeships are not related to RSRGs activities.

ERN training

The PSA have made it clear throughout the consultations that the RSRGs will not cover the cost of training people on ERN. The IT directorate who are developing this program must cover the cost. The PSA will follow this up with the DET.

Dignity & Respect in the Workplace Charter

The PSA wrote to the DET requesting the Director-General sign the Charter. The DET will conduct training throughout the state once the training package has been agreed to. Information sessions of Dignity and Respect will be included in staff inductions/SAS Staff Development days and will also be available online.

Name change to Teaching Support Officer (Schools)

The PSA initiated discussion with the DET to change the name of Teachers Aide (Special) due to concerns raised by our members. The PSA Special Education Working Party was supportive of the name change which was endorsed by the Schools Departmental Committee. The PSA will inform The DET and will advise members when this new name change begins use.

Please refer to Red Tape August/September issue for President Sue Walsh's report on the new PSA campaign dealing with special education issues in schools.

Corporate credit cards in schools

The DET in the Western Region is trialling the use by Principals and School Executive staff of corporate credit cards.

The PSA has discussed this trial with the DET and has been assured that this will not mean extra work for our members as Principals have the responsibility to check and code the expenditure on the statements. Principals are also required to do the monthly acquittal.

The transactions will then be entered into OASIS by SAS Staff. This shouldn't mean extra work, as there aren't any purchase orders/invoices to enter or cheques to be drawn in payment. The trial will be assessed at the end of 2007 and members in schools that are part of the trial should advise the PSA if extra work is involved and we will meet with the DET.

Some duties you are not responsible for:

• Mobile phones: collecting, registering and storing is the responsibility of the School Principal or Executive Staff.
• First aid, prescribed medication and health care procedure duties:

This work is strictly voluntary. A Principal cannot impose upon you to perform these duties nor allocate these duties to you. Members who have volunteered to perform these duties should ensure their certificates are current and they are receiving the appropriate allowances.

• Casual teachers: contacting casual teachers to replace teachers who are absent is the responsibility of the Principal or Executive Staff. The PSA understands that some staff are being asked to do this as well as being asked to start before 7.30am to ensure it is done in a timely manner. This is not the job of SAS Staff.

PSA bans still in place:

Cash Flow Budgeting

FM Web .SSTARTS. SMART. STEMS & CSA6:

Members are not required to perform duties related to data entry and management of these programs. The DET is of the view that this work should be performed by other staff. The PSA has been informed that SAS Staff are being told that everyone has done the FM Web training. This is not the case.

NSW Budget implications

The NSW government has said that they will only be offering 2.5% pay increases to public servants. The PSA will not accept this. Please see Red Tape article in August/September 2007 issue.

General Assistants - Statement of Duties

The final draft of the revised SOD has been discussed and endorsed by the GA's Working Party, the PSA Schools Departmental Committee and sent to the DET. It is envisaged that the DET will sign off on this in the near future.

If you haven't as yet received your copy of Red Tape please advise us immediately of your new address. This will enable us to update our records and you to receive your Red Tape, which has articles, information and advertisements of interest to members.

Sue Walsh, President

Kris Cruden, Senior Industrial Officer

Contact Details
Suzanne Mann
Ph:  02 9290 1555

Campaign Bulletins
Current Stories | Archive by Date | Archive by Category

Schools Campaigns Index