industry & reform
England , New York City or elsewhere , that ventilation is an important risk-mitigating strategy . They dragged the chain week after week and they only commenced that audit two weeks before the end of last term .
More importantly , they ’ re dragging the chain with respect to risk mitigation strategies where ventilation is poor . Strategies , for example , that require the purchase of various instruments , such as CO₂ monitors and air filtration systems . They ’ ve yet to order them .
While Victoria announced the procurement of 51,000 air filters , New South Wales had done nothing with respect to procurement . So these are important risk mitigation strategies , which have not been seen through by the government and its department .
What are your members saying about mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations ? Are they behind it ? From the outset of this pandemic from August of last year we were making representations to the federal government seeking the prioritisation of teachers for the vaccination rollout . In February of this year , we did the same . We continued those representations to prioritise teachers for the vaccination rollout . And that is because , overwhelmingly , the teaching service embraces the science and recognises that vaccinations are an important part of confronting this virus and getting this pandemic under control .
From the outset of this second wave in New South Wales on 14 June , there wasn ’ t a day where we didn ’ t repeat the call to prioritise teachers for the vaccination rollout . And our members were very angry that they weren ’ t being prioritised .
We finally saw a breakthrough in prioritisation , but only in three LGAs . That prioritisation was never extended . Our advice to teachers and the teaching service at large is simple . Get vaccinated . Where you can ’ t for medical reasons and there ’ s medical contraindication , we will make sure through appropriate negotiation for the government that we have measures in place to ensure your ongoing employment in a safe environment as is required . But the message is very clear : get vaccinated .
Do you think it ’ s wise that students en masse will be back at school in term four ? As I said , this is not without risk . And we ’ re very concerned that the government has not put in place the adequate measures required to mitigate risk . We are expecting the outcome of that ventilation audit any day now . But it ’ s not only the report that we want , we ’ ll be demanding to know what actions have been taken to put in place the strategies to mitigate the risks that are identified .
We ’ re very concerned that the government has not put in place the adequate measures required to mitigate risk .
If there are rooms where windows cannot be opened , the simple question will be , “ Well , what are you going to do about it ?” They have a responsibility under the Work Health and Safety Act , and we ’ ll be demanding that they fulfil that responsibility – not only to identify the risk , but with respect to taking the actions necessary to mitigate the risks .
We hear throwaway lines . ‘ The best advice is open the window .’ Well , what if there is no window ? ‘ The best advice is get cross-ventilation .’ Well , what if there is no capacity for cross ventilation ? Or the other one , ‘ Maybe you should just take the students outside and do some outdoor learning .’ Where in particular have you got in mind ?
It really gets under my skin because these are throwaway lines , which are nothing short of disrespectful and betray an absolute ignorance with respect to the contemporary school setting and the challenges that teachers experience every single day . ■
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