| What: | Press conference where Teacher Aides speak out about increased rates of occupational violence in Queensland schools. |
| When: | 10:30AM |
| Where: | Brisbane State High School
108-120 Edmondstone Street (Near the pedestrian crossing outside the Musgrave Park Swim Centre) https://maps.app.goo.gl/eZEqNWVf7opdS7JT6 |
| Who: | UWU Teacher Aides and United Workers Union Education Coordinator Errin Roberts. |
Teacher Aides and School Cleaners in Queensland have faced a huge increase in occupational violence in the past year, according to a new report released by the United Workers Union today.
Other students are being disadvantaged, and Teacher Aides and School Cleaners are being hurt as they deal with the fallout from record highs of occupational violence.
Teacher Aides say larger class sizes, reductions in funding, and unmanageable workloads have contributed to an increase in occupational violence incidents in Queensland schools.
The statewide survey of over 1, 200 Teacher Aides and School Cleaners found:
- 81% of surveyed teacher aides and school cleaners had experienced occupational violence during their working careers.
- Of those, a staggering 80% – or more than half the workforce – said they had experienced incidents of occupational violence in just the last school year.
- The majority of those who experienced occupational violence (65%) said they did not feel safe returning to work.
The results of the survey, which received responses from Teacher Aides and School Cleaners from Brisbane to Cairns, demonstrates that occupational violence is not a “one region” or “one type of school” problem, but rather a system-wide crisis in Queensland schools.
The United Workers Union is calling on the Crisafulli Government to implement practical solutions informed by the experience of Teacher Aides and School Cleaners to address the issue.
Proposed reforms aim to shift the Queensland Department of Education’s approach in addressing occupational violence from being reactive, inconsistent, and unsupportive to comprehensively supporting staff when dealing with the outcomes of occupational violence.
See the full United Workers Union report here: Ending Occupational Violence in Queensland Schools.
Quotes attributable to UWU Public Sector Education Coordinator Errin Roberts:
“It’s not right that over half the workforce say they have experienced occupational violence in the last year alone. Other students’ education and safety are being impacted due to the Government’s inaction on addressing occupational violence. Every student and education worker has the right to feel safe in our state’s schools.”
“Our members are dealing with multiple children with complex needs in overcrowded classroom settings on low wages. The Crisafulli Government cannot allow the status quo of occupational violence as just being ‘part of the job’ for teacher aides and school cleaners to continue.”
Quotes attributable to United Workers Union members:
“Having been a teacher aide now for over 8 years, I have experienced around 30 violent assaults during my career. The physical and psychological toll of these incidents has a compounding effect on your mental health. I have been forced to leave the sector because of occupational violence.”
– Murphy, Former Teacher Aide, Metro South
“I work in a school with 1400 kids, and I am constantly facing a bombardment of abuse, and because they are high school kids, they try and intimidate you. We are burnt out, occupational violence feels like it’s at an all-time high and it has gotten progressively worse in schools over the last 3 years.”
– Debbie, Teacher Aide, Far North QLD