An update from your School Administrative Officer Science delegates
The Public Service Association (PSA) School Administrative Officer (SAO) Science Advisory Group’s Term 1 meeting occurred on 3 March 2026 and discussed many concerns and topics raised by members and delegates along with continued areas the PSA and delegates are working on.
In this update
- Chemical Management and Disposal in Schools
- Your role in science: clarifications
- Chemical Safety in Schools (CSIS) Co-ordiation
- Chemical Storage: Safer Storerooms Survey
- Your delegates: SAO Science Advisory Group contact details and representation
- Free training courses for PSA members with paid leave
- WHS Concerns and the Importance of Reporting
Chemical Management and Disposal in Schools
Following the recent communication from Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing regarding end-of-year chemical management, this is a reminder to all SAO Science that chemical management in schools must be conducted under the supervision of your school’s designated Chemical Safety Officer. SAOs Science may assist but do not have responsibility over it.
This includes:
- Maintaining and updating the hazardous chemical register
- Reviewing banned chemicals
- Ensuring correct storage and segregation
- Arranging disposal of chemical and radioactive waste
- Completing required chemical safety training.
If you are not trained or do not feel competent to undertake any aspect of chemical handling, storage, or disposal, you must seek guidance and supervision. Chemical management is a compliance and safety matter and should not be undertaken independently without appropriate training and authorisation.
All relevant staff are required to complete the refreshed Chemical Safety in Schools training modules. Please ensure this training is prioritised and that time is allocated as advised to be done in your working hours.
Safe chemical practices protect our students, our colleagues, and ourselves. If in doubt, pause and escalate to your Chemical Safety Officer, WHS Adviser, or school leadership.
Chemical waste collection is covered by the whole-of-government waste contract. You must safely dispose of chemical waste, any chemicals in containers which are deteriorating, any chemicals not adequately labelled and chemical excess.
Thank you for your ongoing professionalism and commitment to maintaining safe science workplaces. Also, a reminder that when assisting in this, your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mask should be fitted.
School Administrative Officer – Science Laboratory
Your role includes:
- Providing technical assistance in the operation of the science laboratory under the supervision of a teacher, including where some discretion and judgment is involved
- Assisting in evaluating and selecting equipment and supplies
- Providing guidance to students in the use of laboratory equipment
- Preparing materials and resources for science lessons in accordance with relevant safety protocols, including disposal of materials, as directed by the teacher
- Testing and demonstrating experiments under the guidance and supervision of a teacher.
Please ensure your duties are carried out within this framework and that appropriate supervision, direction, and training are in place.
Chemical Safety in Schools co-ordination
From Principle’s guide – 1.12.2: Co-ordination:
“Chemical Safety in Schools (CSIS) is relevant to all staff in all schools K-12. Implementation must be coordinated effectively. In some schools, the principal may choose to act as coordinator. In others, the principal may delegate the coordination to a senior executive or to a small coordinating committee led by a senior executive teacher.
The coordinating committee may consist of
- head teacher/s, teacher/s, school administrative and support staff or a H&S committee representative”
The PSA industrial staff and delegates have ongoing CSIS working party meetings and will continue to update members through our bulletins.
Chemical storage: Safer storerooms survey
Recently, the PSA sent out a “Safer Storerooms” survey, and the overall feedback was encouraging. Most respondents reported that their storerooms are generally well organised and safely maintained. A small number of schools, however, indicated areas where conditions were not as positive.
Please contact your PSA delegate or local PSA Organiser to explore steps together to improve the situation.
PSA SAO Science Advisory Group
The PSA would like to thank Shibaun Aitchison for her input and dedication while part of the SAO Science Advisory Group and wish her well in her future endeavours.
The PSA SAO Science Advisory Group has three vacancies: North West Electorate (Tamworth) and Newcastle/Central Coast.
If you or any other PSA SAO Science are interested in participating in the group, please contact Susan Chee Quee,PSA Organiser for more information. Your PSA SAO Science Advisory Group Delegates:
PSA delegates represent you
Your union represents your interests at meetings with the Department of Education called Joint Consultative Committees (JCCs). The purpose of a JCC is to establish a regular forum for issues and concerns to be raised and addressed collaboratively.
If you have collective workplace issues you would like raised at your next JCC get in contact with one of the Advisory Group delegates close to you.
Invite a PSA organiser or delegate to your Network Meetings or meetings can be organised at your school. Email for more information.
Are you a SAO working in Science?
If you haven’t let us know yet that you are a SAO working in science, please go to www.psa.asn.au and update your membership details. That way you can stay up to date with PSA Bulletins specific for SAOs working in science.
Free PSA training courses for members and delegates
PSA union training is open to all PSA members, not just delegates.
Non-members wishing to attend training will need to submit a membership application form first. You can join easily online.
We offer a variety of courses and PSA members have access to 12 days’ paid leave each two-year period to attend PSA training courses.
Having your union and its collective strength behind you in the workplace is the only way to make sure you get fair outcomes.
WHS concerns?
Where there are potential WHS implications in your role or workplace, contact the Work Health & Safety Advisor for your area to obtain specific Department of Education guidance on any restrictions or guidelines regarding use in schools.
Informing the Work Health & Safety Advisor also helps raise awareness of the WHS concerns we are facing. This enables issues to be escalated where necessary and ensures informed advice can be provided to appropriately manage risks in the future.
Report! Report! Report!
If there is an incident that in any way compromises your safety or the safety of others, report it.
- Health, Safety & Staff Wellbeing (HSSW) welcome incident reports
- There is no blame in reporting
- Your Principal / HT / BM / SAM should not discourage you from reporting
- If you are discouraged from reporting, the PSA wants to know
- By reporting, you are assisting ALL your colleagues to go home safely
- Our role has specific and unique hazards that need recognising and documenting
- Near misses should also be reported
- Do not neglect psychosocial hazards or injuries.
Reporting protects you. It protects your colleagues. It strengthens our case for improved safety systems and formal recognition. The Department’s WH&S Hotline is 1800 811 523.
Know someone who isn’t a member?
A strong union means better outcomes for all members; forward this bulletin to your colleagues and encourage your workmates to join the PSA today.
Having your union and its collective strength behind you in the workplace is the only way to make sure you get fair outcomes.