Staff Wellbeing & OHS
Staff Wellbeing Plan
The Department and PASS have launched a review into work-related violence (WRV), particularly within special schools across the state. This report and proposed framework has four broad aims:
- To raise awareness about work-related violance in specialist schools
- To develop positive, integrated approached to work-related violence prevention, management and incident response
- To provide guidance, training and support
- To buid the evidence base to support evidence informed policies and practices
This will not be published until 2025, therefore following professional learning from the Department and FBG, we have developed a Staff Wellbeing Plan about the actions we are taking as a school to promote, protect and address staff mental health and wellbeing. Despite WRV being present in all schools, this remains an ongoing concern for us at Jackson. We have received additional funding for a refresher of the Protective Intervention Training (PIT) which supports staff to keep themselves safe during critical incidents at work. It is vitally important that staff continue to lodge EduSafe reports when injured at work so that the Department, Secretary and Ministers are informed of the challenges faced within our schools every day. Staff must do everything they can to keep themselves safe during critical incidents where students are displaying unsafe behaviours of concern. Do not intervene physically or verbally and keep yourself and other students safe when a student is escalated.
For more information, please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/school-staff-wellbeing-after-conflict-violence-emergency-or-accident
Staff Wellbeing & Greater Space
Following staff feedback at the end of last year, Alex Baynes (Social Worker) has been appointed as the Staff Wellbeing Officer. Alex will be supported by Marg Keatley to provide wellbeing support to staff as required. All members of the leadership are also available and happy to provide staff with assistance when required. Just ask - We'll make the time! We will also continue to have Week 5 as our Staff Wellbeing Week for the term where staff can finish early on the Wednesday of this week.
This year we invested in Greater Space to provide additional mental health and wellbeing support for staff.
Greater Space is an innovative mental & professional health care solution specifically designed for educators. Educators meet with their preferred practitioner and discuss whatever they need to in order to be at their best for their students, colleagues or clients. Their mental health practitioners have worked in the classroom, and are also mental health practitioners - so we can help with a broad range of issues either related to your work, or beyond. They offer:
- 1:1 Virtual Counselling
- Clinical Supervision
- Critical Incident Preparatino & Debriefing
- Professional Development & Group Consulting
This is a free service paid for by Jackson School to support your mental health and wellbeing. It is completely anonymous and confidential. We only get an invoice for the number of sessions used.
To book in, click on the link below or use the tile on the portal. Select your preferred specialist and time. Include JACKSON in the redeem coupon section so you don't have to pay.
Employee Assistance Program
In Term 2, we had a short information briefing for staff on the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Remember that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available as a free, short-term, and strictly confidential counselling service that helps our employees be at their best. These sessions can be used to develop tailored strategies to help enhance wellbeing – both in and outside of work. The EAP is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for up to four sessions for the Department's employees (and school council employees such as casual relief teachers). Immediate family members of Department employees can also now access EAP. These services are provided by LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell which is an independent organisation experienced in delivering similar services in other workplaces. Staff can call LifeWorks directly on telephone number 1300 361 008 and make an appointment at a preferred time and location. For further information, please visit:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/safetyhw/Pages/employeeservices.aspx
Please find attached the slides from the EAP presentation in Term 2:
