All PSA SLSO members across NSW directed not to secure students into vehicles from Wednesday 21 October

All School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) members across NSW will be directed not to secure students in vehicles from Wednesday 21 October.

No School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) member in schools should undertake this work including Administrative and Support Staff, General Assistants, School Psychologists and Student Support Officers.

Your union, the Public Service Association (PSA), has been raising concerns with the expectation that SLSOs secure students into vehicles for a number of months.

The PSA’s position is that this is not part of the SLSO Statement of Duties and Department documentation, which clearly states it is a school responsibility and should not automatically fall to SLSOs.

Why are we directing members not to secure students?

In addition to it not being in your statement of duties, our SLSO delegates and the PSA are highly concerned about the conditions under which members are being asked to undertake this work.

This includes:

1. Lack of training, including training on complex disability harnesses.
2. Expectations that SLSOs secure students without supervision, despite the Statement of Duties clearly outlining that work must be undertaken under the direction and supervision of a teacher.
3. Unclear guidance regarding liability if seatbelts, harnesses or buckles are released by a student after being secured by an SLSO.

SLSO Delegates highly concerned: Motion passed on securing students

The Special Education Working Group has been discussing issues raised directly by members in relation to securing students for some time. Delegates on the working group passed a motion supporting the PSA taking action on this important issue for members.

This action has been brought on by members’ frustration with being asked to perform tasks outside their role and concerns around ensuring all students are safe.

All members must join the action and fight for what is fair

A school responsibility should not automatically fall to SLSOs whose Statement of Duties does not include securing students.

Now is the time to stand strong with your union and stand up for yourselves and the colleagues you work with every day.

Remember, only PSA members can take action. If your colleagues have not yet joined, make sure they do as soon as possible!

But what about the students?

It is the Department’s responsibility to ensure the safety and care for students and a school responsibility to ensure they are appropriately secured in vehicles, not SLSOs. You are not breaking the law when taking action and following a direction of your union.

You cannot be punished for taking this action

Victimisation for being a union member and following a direction of the PSA is illegal in NSW under the Industrial Relations Act 1996.

Any member who feels they are being targeted, or who receives any threat for taking this action, should contact the PSA Member Support Centre immediately.

If questions are raised about your compliance with this direction, provide a copy of this bulletin and politely explain that you are following a direction issued by your union.