2023 ES Local Agreement

Thank you to all the ES staff members who voted on the 4 proposed options for the 2023 ES local agreement.

The ES local agreement further extends the 2022 VGSA and provides localised context for our ES staff.

After voting concluded, option 1 had the majority vote (it was a close one).

Here is a summary of option 1:

• Classroom/Inclusion ES staff members start at 8:30 am and finish at 3:10 pm each day (34 hrs) | Fulltime ES staff members start at 8:00 am and finish at 4:19 pm
• Classroom/Inclusion ES Staff members undertake 3 permanent yard duties a week
• Senior Secondary ES staff members (VPC & ASDAN) are not assigned a permanent yard duty whilst onsite
• Classroom/Inclusion ES staff members are to attend 9 professional learning sessions from 3:10 pm – 4:30 pm (throughout the year (scheduled on a Tuesday on the Jackson Termly) (12 hours)
• Admin, Allied Health & Engagement and Wellbeing ES Staff to make up 7.6 hrs throughout the year (Yard Duty Wellbeing Support)

Please find below the full local agreement for 2023.

Education Support Class 2023 Local Agreement 

Working Hours and Days

The standard attendance hours and agreed-upon working times for an education support (ES) class employee is listed in the table below:

* The standard working hours exclude the 30-minute unpaid free from duty break 

** To facilitate the extra hours worked, the time accrued from the additional 60-minute free yard duty per week and the time in lieu from Monday 6th November 2023 will be used. 

Working hours outside the listed above must be negotiated and approved by the principal.

 For education support class employees who are part time, your working days will be set based on the demands and needs of the school.

2023 Return Date

The return date for all Education Support (ES) class staff members for 2022 is Friday 27th January 2023.

Annual Leave and Additional Paid Leave

All Education Support Class employees who do not receive a fortnightly leave purchase allowance are entitled to 50 days of leave annually.

28 days of additional paid leave will be used throughout the terms 1, 2 & 3 vacation periods and 20 days of annual leave and 2 days of additional paid leave will be used during the term 4 vacation period.

Breaks & Yard Duty

As per the 2022 Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA), all Education Support Class employees are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break free from duties after working over 5 hours each day. 

Breaks will be taken between the hours of 11:00am – 2:00pm.

All ES staff members are required to do yard duties during the week.

Please refer to the table below for how many yard duties you are required to do each week:

Please note; If you are required to go offsite to support students in external activities/courses, you will not be assigned any yard duties.

Professional Learning

All Education Support Class employees must participate in either Jackson School or Department of Education (DE) organised professional learning sessions throughout the year.

All ES staff members must attend professional learning sessions 9 times throughout the year. These will usually occur on a Tuesday from 3:10pm – 4:30pm.

To facilitate the professional learning sessions, the time accrued from the additional 60-minute free yard duty per week and the time in lieu from Monday 6th November 2023 will be used. 

Student Free Days

Education Support class employees must be in attendance on all planned student free days. In the event that staff members are not required to be in attendance during the student free day, the hours must be made up as time in lieu.

Time in Lieu

Education Support class employees may be required to attend school-organised events from time to time.

It is at the employee’s discretion that he/she/they attend.

If an ES staff member attends a school-organised event, the ES staff member will accumulate time in lieu consistent with the time in lieu arrangements as per the VGSA.

All accrued time in lieu will be acquitted throughout the year as agreed with the principal or alternatively, your accrued time in lieu can be paid out.

Validity 

This local agreement is effective from Friday 27th January 2023 and valid until Friday 26th January 2024.