Page 2664 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 August 2019
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• The ACT Government provided $0.9 million in the 2017-18 Budget for additional work health and safety staff resources to support schools to implement changes to practice and better manage this risk. Staff have since been engaged to carry out the work and supporting schools.
• In December 2017, the Education Directorate implemented an initial pilot training program with 14 Learning Support Assistants completing their Certificate IV in Education Support with the Canberra Institute of Technology. The pilot enabled the participants to build their capability to work with students, particularly those with complex needs and challenging behaviour.
• Currently there are 41 Learning Support Assistants, which is the total number of Learning Support Assistants that applied for LSA Scholarships. LSA’s commenced study in 2019 on a Certificate IV in Education which has been customised to meet the needs of the schools. The Certificate IV in Education is designed to build capability that best supports children and young people, particularly in the area of complex needs and challenging behaviour. The qualification is being delivered through the Canberra Institute of Technology.
• As of September 2018, 48 schools had participated in occupational violence training.
• The ACT Government has provided $5.6 million over the forward estimates to support the enhancement and development of sensory spaces into schools where staff are able to support students with complex needs and challenging behaviour to manage their sensory needs. Factsheets and professional learning for this initiative have been developed for schools to support them in creating sensory spaces within the school environment. At September 2018 approximately $5.3m had been spent.
• As part of the Schools for All Program, the Education Directorate focussed on ongoing capability development of the workforce with regard to meeting the changing needs of students. This development and training had a particular focus on responding to students with complex needs and challenging behaviour.
• The Education Directorate executive, through the Education Governance Committee, reviews workplace health and safety matters regularly.
• The implementation of the new occupational violence policy and management plan in progressing.
• The Education Directorate has engaged the following four Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing independent, confidential and professional counselling services for work related or personal problems:
o Assure
o Converge International
o Benestar, and
o PeopleSense.
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