Page 2115 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Schools—violence
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, in an answer published yesterday to questions on notice 2448 to 2485 directed to the Chief Minister seeking the total number of occupational violence incidents in each directorate, he reported that for the period 1 July 2018 to 10 April 2019 the Education Directorate had the highest number of occupational violence reports and the highest number of physical injuries arising from those reports. In October last year the Education Directorate was issued with an enforceable undertaking by WorkSafe ACT, including a $2 million occupational violence policy and management plan. Given these statistics cover the majority of the period since introduction of that plan and investment, what evidence do you have that the plan is having an impact?
MS BERRY: The evidence we have is that there is now a culture of reporting within Education that did not exist before. The high incidence of reporting, which has resulted from a number of incidents occurring, has also shown us that whilst there is a high number of reports, which is good because then we know what is going on and we can work with the schools to resolve those issues, there is also not a high number of work days lost as a result of injuries within schools. That is also good information to have, because it shows that we are addressing issues and providing supports to teachers and staff within school communities to ensure that they can continue at work.
This is an issue that we are facing as a community, and schools are not immune to that. We all have a role to play in resolving issues around bullying and violence within our community. Within our schools we have a plan and a process in place—nation leading, the first in the country to do something like this, confirmed and backed up by the Work Safety Commissioner—where we are taking action. But it will require significant change across our community to address the issues that are occurring in our schools. These are sometimes complex and complicated issues but the Education Directorate is absolutely committed, as is the ACT government, to addressing these issues, along with the involvement of staff, learning professionals, parents, students and the union.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, have you hosted the forum with other jurisdictions on occupational violence in education settings which was part of the enforceable undertaking? If not, when will you do so? If so, what were the outcomes of that forum?
MS BERRY: Yes, that forum has been held. It was very positively received by other state and territory representatives who attended. The communique on that forum is available on the Education website.
MR WALL: Minister, why has the Education Directorate continued to have a higher incidence of workplace injury than the police, the emergency services or the Health Directorate?
MS BERRY: This is a matter that I have been working on with the Australian
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video