Bans re School Support Officer Grade One Positions

Members should be aware that the PSA has been negotiating the implementation of the Grade One School Support officer position. This position was proposed during the Review of The Work of School Assistants and Senior School Assistants.

As part settlement of the review the Department offered $8m ongoing to introduce the new Grade One positions from the 1st July 2005. The PSA began discussions with the Department in May this year to implement the agreement. The PSA and the Department had previously agreed on job descriptors, competencies and duty statements for the Grade One School Support Officer. This position was also included in the current Award for School Administrative and Support Staff. The Department is now claiming it is logistically impossible to implement the agreement. The PSA rejects this claim.

The PSA strongly holds the view that any additional resources should be allocated equally to all schools. The Department initially wanted to establish Grade One positions in some schools only. However the Association has been successful in convincing the Department that all schools would benefit from additional hours.

Unfortunately the Department is refusing to introduce the Grade One positions and accordingly the Association is imposing the bans as previously advised.

Members are directed to immediately impose the following bans:

1. Ban on preparation and production of the Annual Financial Statement.
2. Ban on any Departmental returns for Term 4 e.g. Semester Two Student Absence Return.
3. All activities associated with the Back To School Allowance including collecting, updating, downloading and transmission to the Department of family information and other data.

The above bans are related only to the introduction of the School Support Officer Grade One positions. Only the PSA can lift these bans. Members will be kept informed by newsletter.

Sue Walsh
President

John Cahill
General Secretary