Education support staff are appalled NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has compared them ‘tea ladies’ while announcing changes that will see hundreds of their jobs cut, the Public Service Association said today.
Mr Piccoli this week finalised changes to a new model of delivering support to schools which will see at least 300 jobs cut in critical roles including curriculum development, program administration and community liaison.
The changes, coming into effect in 2014, cut 10 regional offices to support schools down to four.
“Minister Piccoli has revealed his deep lack of understanding about the work departmental staff in regional offices do to support schools,” said PSA President Sue Walsh.
“First he cuts their jobs, then he compares their work to that of ‘tea ladies’ to insinuate they are past their use-by date.

“The reality is, cutting these jobs isn’t just a matter of reducing ‘bureaucracy’. It will means services to schools are cut – principals and teachers will have to pick up the slack or do without.
“Teachers need support so they can focus on teaching – these cuts will undermine their efforts in the classroom.”
Mr Piccoli told ABC radio today that: “We used to have tea ladies in the public service and they provided some value but clearly there is better value in having teachers on the front line.”
“The Minister is treating education support staff – and the students, teachers and families they support – with contempt,” said Ms Walsh.
The job cuts flowing from this week’s decision will form part of the 1800 job cuts from the Department of Education and Communities announced last year.

Comment: Sue Walsh 0419 691 103 / more info: Jane Garcia 0434 489 533