Keeping staff and students safe and healthy

7 April 2011

The Department of Education and Training has launched a comprehensive suite of documents to help staff and students stay safe and healthy while at work or school.

Workforce Management and Support executive director Mark Hewison said the new strategic documents would help the Department create safer work and learning environments for staff and students.

'We want to create a "safety culture" in our schools and workplaces that improves the health and wellbeing of our people and reduces the number and seriousness of health and safety incidents,' Mr Hewison said.

'These new documents are designed to help managers, principals and senior leaders achieve this. They will also help us comply with our legislative requirements.'

Mr Hewison said the documents, which include a strategic plan, management framework and policy statement, were organised around four key focus areas.

'The focus areas are leadership and commitment, knowledge and capacity, accountability and ownership, and people and partnerships,' he said.

'Under each area is a list of performance indicators, for example, health, safety and wellbeing training for all staff, and requirements for managers and school leaders to review the health and safety performance of their school or business unit and implement strategies accordingly.'

Mr Hewison said the documents reflect the department's strategic plan, which recognises the importance of keeping our people healthy and safe.

'Health and safety isn't an add-on but should be at the forefront of everyone's minds,' he said.

'All staff are encouraged to review the documents and develop appropriate health, safety and wellbeing strategies for their workplaces.'

For more information, contact the Organisational Health Unit by email or by telephone on (07) 3225 2359.