Spotlight on Integration Aides - Add Your Story

This Edition of School News focuses' on the important work undertaken in our schools by Integration Aides and the key work issues that must be addressed.

Laptops ‚Äö?Ñ?¨ a Tool of Trade for Integration Aides!

CPSU believes SSOs deserve the same deal teachers receive on leasing laptops; that is leasing for less than $5 per fortnight.

DEECD has claimed that laptops are not a tool of trade for SSOs.

‚Äö?Ѭ?. How wrong they are!

Access to computers at school is limited for many SSOs even though schools are becoming more reliant on SSOs using this technology.
DEECD s upgrade to HRMS means all staff in schools will be applying for all leave & training on-line.

Integration Aides require computer access for their work specifically including:

‚Äö?Ѭ¢ modifying subject matter so students participate in learning
‚Äö?Ѭ¢ locating resources
‚Äö?Ѭ¢ Providing input into curriculum planning, using both Intranet and Internet resources
‚Äö?Ѭ¢ undertaking online training

How then can DEECD maintain that computers aren t a ‚Äö?Ñ??tool of trade?‚Äö?Ñ??

Recognising Integration Aides Worth

CPSU is pushing for changes to the Dimensions of Work in our SSO Agreement negotiations to ensure that the work of Integration Aides is properly recognised and remunerated.

There is a strong case for reclassifying Aides who work with children with complex needs that require training.

Integration Aides are involved in delivering educational outcomes for children, managing difficult behaviours, assisting independent learning, using Auslan, and Braille, and taking courses to upgrade skills so children with special needs get the best shot at education.

Special Allowances

Many students present with the need for both medical intervention and intensive care from trained SSOs; yet the SSO delivering both may claim only one of these allowances.

Even with extra skills, classification is still stuck in the lowest paid SSO range.

One SSO says:

‚Äö?Ñ??My child gets paid more at a supermarket stacking shelves on the weekend than I do at point 8, working every day of week, doing responsible and difficult work.

The work we do is not respected enough.‚Äö?Ñ??

Another SSO s comment;

‚Äö?Ñ??If you are assisting a child doing high school maths, then you must be able to both do the maths, and assist the child with modified work.

If you are assisting a child who is studying English or Literature you have to read the novels, and modify lessons, so discussion with the child is meaningful.

This is done through the medium of another communication method or language and/ or dealing with mobility issues.‚Äö?Ñ??

DEECD Staff Opinion Survey: Why the Pressure?

DEECD s Staff Opinion Survey takes 15-25 minutes to fully complete and SSOs have reported to CPSU that the survey doesn t ask the right questions.

SSO s say the survey doesn t take into account types of work SSOs do so no workstream information can be gathered.

SSOs are asked about their attitudes to the school and its leadership, but given the attitude of many school leaderships, SSOs fear being open.

CPSU members say pressure is put on staff to complete the survey; however getting access to a computer survey is hard, particularly at peak demand times.

SSO Workloads: Preparation Time Ignored.

Debriefing and preparation time is ignored in the time fractions worked by many Integration Aides.

Aides working at fractions of .8 and below regularly have to liaise with teachers on their own precious breaks.

CPSU is appalled that this should be the only way to get sufficient time to fulfill the role properly.

SSOs tell CPSU that schools load programs with high needs students; putting funded children in with other children. (The reality is that SSOs also work with the children who aren t funded).

CPSU members would welcome an overhauled funding process.

Extra work is done after school, or at home, often uncompensated by extra payment, or time in lieu. School managements say it s not ‚Äö?Ñ??approved .

Remember! If the extra work is needed, then SSOs should be compensated with payment or time in lieu of payment.

Occupational Health and Safety

Violence at work is a reality for many Integration Aides or SSOs who work in special schools.

WorkCover claims from SSOs in Special Schools were significant in a recent report.

SSOs are bitten, have hair pulled, and are hit by students.

One SSO has told CPSU people thought she was a drug user because of the regular bruises from a student.

To address this, CPSU has asked that SSOs have their own OHS Representatives, and Designated Work Groups, but DEECD has refused.

CPSU offers to participate with DEECD in an investigation of violence against SSOs in Special Schools and Integration Aides in mainstream schools.

Contact CPSU if you think you deserve your own Designated Work Group for OHS purposes.

Professional Development ‚Äö?Ñ?¨ are SSOs included in the School Learning Culture?

One SSO has contacted CPSU to say that at her last school there was a $10 per head PD budget for integration.

This is just insulting, given the vital job that integration SSOs perform.

Contact CPSU with your stories. Having a network conference or meeting?

Ask CPSU to give an update on the SSO Agreement negotiations.

Contact CPSU Industrial Officer Geraldine Hughes on phone 9639 1822 or 1800 810 153 toll free or email ghughes@cpsuvic.org

TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!

http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary