Introduction

This induction introduces some of the key Human Resource and Work Health and Safety aspects of being a new worker (as defined by WHS Act 2012) at St Mary's College. Both you and the College have important roles and a shared responsibility for managing your own health and safety, and the health and safety of others while you are at work.

In the following pages, you will be provided with information, necessary to understanding your obligations as an employee or worker at St Mary's College and within the Catholic Education System. Please ensure you carefully read each section

This is your Duty of Care and is mandated by both Federal and Jurisdictional legislation and regulation.

WHS Legislation Guide

On 1 January 2013, Tasmania joined a number of other States and Territories in adopting a set of national Health and Safety Laws known as the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (The Act) and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012.This was a significant change to Health and Safety legislation in Australia.

These changes, known as the harmonisation of Health and Safety Laws,have an impact on every workplace and individual worker in Australia.

Please note the changes to Health and Safety terminology under the 2012 Act:

• The term “OH&S” was now replaced by WHS -Work Health and Safety.
• In the context of WHS legislation, The term “Employer” has been replaced by the term “Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking” or PCBU. For St Mary’s College,the “Roman Catholic Church Trust Corporation of the Archdiocese of Hobart”is the recognised PCBU.
• The term “Employee” has been replaced with the term “Worker”
• Workers include, all staff, relief staff, contractors, councellors and volunteers.

What does this mean for you? (The Worker)

As per Section 28 of The Act, while at work, a worker must–

• take reasonable care for his or her own health and safety; and
• take reasonable care that his or her acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons; and
• comply, so far as the worker is reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by the person conducting the business or undertaking to allow the person to comply with this Act; and
• cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure of the person conducting the business or undertaking relating to health or safety at the workplace that has been notified to workers.

“What is reasonable is determined by your role, influence and what a reasonable person in your position would be expected to do.”

A worker can comply with their WHS duties by, for example;

• attending relevant training provided by,or facilitated through, the College;
• utilising all safety equipment provided;
• ensuring your actions or omissions do not pose a risk to your health and safety or that of your co-workers, students or anyone else who might be in the workplace;
• complying with all reasonable directions of the College

All workers are required to;

• become progressively familiar with the College’s Work Health and Safety Policies and Procedures;
• undertake WHS e-Learning Modules when requested to do so by the College or CET;
• be aware of,and complete,incident & Hazard Report Formsas the need arises;and
• become progressively familiar with Risk Management documentation and procedures

You have the right to refuse to conduct unsafe work. If a worker has a reasonable concern that engaging in a particular type of work would realistically expose them to a risk to their health or safety, they may cease or refuse such work. This of course should be immediately communicated to your line manager and mitigated to continue working in a safe way.

This information highlights a need for all of us to proactively work together to ensure the health and safety of ourselves and others. It is critical that we all actively consult, co-operate and co-ordinate in relation to matters of Workplace Health and Safety.

WHS Policies and Procedures

St Mary's College is committed to providing a safe environment for all our workers, students, visitors and guests.

The implementation of Work Health and Safety is directed by the Principal through the implementation of College Policies and Procedures. These Policies and Procedures are located in the CET Safety & Compliance Portal which is the foundation of our Risk and Compliance Management System. Once you have been given a St Mary's email address you can access the system at https://smc.complispaceprimary.com.au

It is of vital importance and the responsibility of all employed staff to be familiar with how to access this site, its features, and how to have a general and progressive understanding of its content.

CET Policies and Procedures

In addition to the above, there are a number of CET policies that must be read.

You will need to acknowledge your comprehension of these policies at the end of this induction before you can be employed.

CET Policies that must be read and understood are;

Accreditation

Adult Behaviour Policy

Code of conduct

Workplace behaviour

How to make a complaint

Child safety code of conduct

Reportable conduct

The above CET Policies​​​​​​​ can be accessed here -https://catholic.tas.edu.au/policies

Please see James Lambert or email jlambert@smc.tas.edu.au for more information.

Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013 (TAS)

The Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013 (TAS) (the Act) makes it compulsory for people associated with specific ‘regulated activities’ involving children or other vulnerable people to be registered with the Tasmanian Department of Justice. The registration process involves a comprehensive background check, including a police criminal history check, to assess a person’s suitability to work with these target groups.

The Act specifies Child Education Services (Non-Government Schools) as a ‘regulated activity’. This means that WWVP Registration is required for all school  employees, volunteers, students on workplace practicum and external education providers who work or operate in non-government schools and/or provide a service to students.

Therefore the College must ensure that all employees (including relief teachers), contactors, volunteers and external education providers who are working or engaged in the College have a valid WWVP registration.

If you, as a staff member, engage any of the above, you must ensure that WWVP registrations are verified online with the Department of Justice (includes linking the registration to the workplace) and copies of sighted registration cards are retained and provided to reception on entry.

Emergency - Evacuation

In the event of an emergency evacuation, our ability to quickly, safely and efficiently evacuate staff from the workplace will be critical in ensuring the safety of all those in our care. Inadequate or poorly communicated evacuation procedures can present a considerable workplace hazard in the event of an emergency situation arising.

The sound to indicate an evacuation is the continuous ringing of the fire alarm or period changeover bell. The bell will continue until an authorised person usually from the Tasmanian Fire Service, turns it off.

Simple evacuation instruction cards must be displayed in classrooms and other work areas. If you cant see one, please ask for one.

 

Lockdown Procedures for Staff.

An Amber Lockdown is a Partial Lockdown- Where the threat is likely due to severe weather or environmental conditions etc..

If an Amber Lockdown is signalled whilst students are in class, please follow the below procedures.

• Keep students inside the classroom/room/building facility.
• Keep students calm and offer reassurance.
• Watch for emails or text messages or further PA messages giving updates on the situation and/or further instructions.
• Ensure no one leaves the classroom or building until the Lockdown deactivation signal has been given.
• If the Fire Alarm sounds, do not leave the classroom or building unless there is detectable smoke/fire in the immediate area.

A Red Lockdown is a Full Lockdown- Where the threat is likely due to human activity.

If a Red Lockdown is signalled, (in situations originating from more significant dangers) in addition to the above information, please also;

• Remain Calm
• Reassure Students
• Lock the door to the room (some doors may need to be locked from the outside) and close windows.
• Seat students on the floor below window level if possible.
• Turn off lights and close the blinds or curtainswhere fitted.
• Instruct students to place computers aside and ensure they are not used during the Lockdown.
• Ensure your computer & Mobile (if available) is switched on

Lockdown Deactivation

If attending onsite, emergency services will provide confirmation as to when it is safe to deactivate the lockdown. Where emergency services are not onsite, the Incident Controller will give the all clear based on evidence that there is no further threat.

The lockdown will be deactivated using the following repeated deactivation message over the college PA system:

“Attention, Attention, Attention -  The Lockdown has ended.” 

Possible Critical Incident

In the unlikely event that there is a Critical Incident, the College may need to contact you, as it is very important for the College to ensure that staff have the correct information and do not speculate as to the nature or details of the incident.
Please be sure to provide your mobile phone number on the completion form at the end of this induction.

First-Aid - Definition & Obligation

As defined in the Code of Practice, "First Aid in the Workplace", "First Aid is the immediate treatment or care given to a person suffering from an injury or illness until more advanced care is provided or the person recovers. Under Health Records legislation, a record of any first aid treatment must be maintained by the college. 

St Mary's College has developed our first-aid plan based upon the size, location and nature of our workplace, the number and composition of staff and students we have, the nature of the hazards we have identified through our WHS Program, and our assessment of our likely first aid requirements, which may include the treatment of cuts, bruises, loss of consciousness, sprains, strains, fractures, shock, burns, allergic reaction / anaphylaxis and CPR.

Our first aid plan is set out in detail in our Injury Management Program. Key aspects of the plan can be accessed through the Risk and Compliance management system.

Student - Minor First Aid Treatment and Recording

Minor injuries that students present with, that historically would have been quickly recorded in a first aid folder, will be recorded in the Student Health Centre in SEQTA by college First Aid staff. This includes cuts, abrasions, bumps, falls and any events that are generally responded to by minor first-aid treatment such as, bandages, dressings, antiseptic creams and ice / heat packs. Where possible and appropriate to the incident, teaching staff should send students to the First Aid Officer for assessment and if necessary, treatment; or, call upon First Aid staff to attend. Teaching staff attending to students for very minor treatments such as applying band aids or paper towels need not complete a first aid record.

Any incident or injury where the student is returned to class to continue studies after first aid treatment or is collected by a Parent/Carer without professional medical treatment is considered minor and should be recorded in SEQTA by the treating staff member

First Aid data will be stored against the student name for future reference and analysed over time to explore trends enabling the college to identify potential hazards, providing a safer environment. 

Incident/Injury Reporting

For Incidents or Injuries that require the student to leave the College grounds into the care of a Doctor, Ambulance, outpatients or other professional medical practitioner, requires that details must be recorded using the Incident Report Form as soon as practically possible and no later than 24 hours after the incident occurring.

All Staff incidents and injuries, regardless of severity must be recorded using the Incident Report Form due to the requirements under workers compensation laws.

Near Miss Reporting

A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in an injury, illness or damage, but that had the potential to do so. Understanding serious near miss incidents is important for the Colleges preventative WHS management strategies.

Near Miss data provides indicators of where future Incidents may occur and steps can be taken to mitigate hazards before serious injuries occur. Staff are required to report Near Miss Incidents in the same way as actual Incidents using the Incident Report Form

Once the details of the Injury or Incident have been recorded, responsible staff are automatically notified via email and will assess the situation based on the information provided.

First Aid & Health and Safety staff should follow up with parents and/or staff to gather further information for assessment and reporting. 

Hazard / Risk Identification & Reporting.

What is a Hazard

A hazard is any situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards should be reported to the Risk and Compliance Manager as soon as posible by email, phone, in person or on the Hazard Report Form, linked on the College WHS Management system.

What is a Risk

A risk is the possibility that harm (illness, injury or death) might occur as a result of exposure to a hazard

The College maintains both a hazard and risk register. The risk register lists over 100 risks and a copy can be found here.

St Mary's Top 5 Risks

Staff should be aware of and pay particular attention to the management and control of the Colleges Top 5 Risks Which are:

• Child Safety (all aspects)
• Traffic (all traffic during arrival and departure of students) 
• Psychosocial (managing staff wellbeing at work)
• Excursions and Offsite Activities
• Cyber Security (Computer / systems breach, identity fraud, data breach)

 

Identification of Workplace Hazards / Risks

St Mary's College has a positive obligation at law not only to identify hazards that could harm employees, students, contractors or any other person at our workplace but also to analyse the level of risk posed by the hazard and to control the hazards identified. 

To assist in the hazard identification process St Mary's College has developed the following systems and procedures. 

Hazard Register

Based upon hazards that would typically be expected to be present in a workplace such as ours and upon our historical experience of workplace injuries St Mary's College has developed a register of potential workplace hazards.

The Hazard Register provides a useful reference point for the continuing process of hazard identification within the workplace.

Hazard Monitoring

It is the role of the Risk and Complianve Manager who is responsible for WHS, to review changes in the workplace and to assess hazards that may emerge from these changes.

Typically, changes in the workplace occur when:

• we occupy new premises or extend our existing premises
• new plant or equipment is introduced into the workplace
• hazardous substances are introduced into the workplace
• new work practices are introduced.
• The Risk and Compliance Manager will also review WHS information relevant to our industry to assist in the identification of workplace hazards.

As new hazards are identified they will be added to the Hazard Register and be assessed and controlled in accordance with this WHS Program.

Reporting

On occasion an incident may occur in the workplace which highlights the existence of a hazard; but does not however result in an injury (e.g. a worker may slip but not be injured). In these cases the incident must be recorded through the College's Injury/Incident Register. The incident will be investigated and corrective action taken where this is deemed necessary.

Observation and Consultation

Workers are in the best position to identify potential workplace hazards and to make recommendations with respect to the implementation of hazard control measures.

The staff consultation and training and education procedures are designed to ensure that staff are aware of WHS issues and have a clear channel for communicating workplace hazards.

St Mary's College encourages the involvement of all workers in making ours a safe workplace. Report hazards to your immediate supervisor or through our on-line hazard notification form. The College is required by legislation to consult with staff about matters of Work Health and Safety. This may be facilitated by email, directly to individual members of staff or to a specific work group, through a staff meeting or through the College Health and Safety Committee. Matters of concern regarding Work Health and Safety may be communicated to the College by email using safety@smc.tas.edu.au or by speaking with a member of the Consultitive Committee or the Risk and Compliance Mannager.

Workplace Inspections

It is the College's policy to carry out workplace inspections on a regular basis to ensure that we maintain a safe workplace. Home room teachers are responsible for completing classroom safety checklists when required.

 

Excursions

An excursion is any activity organised by St Mary's College (except work experience) whereby students leave the college grounds for the purpose of engaging in educational and physical activities. As excursions are conducted off college premises, away from the usual protections of the college environment, they have the potential to present unique risks for St Mary's College, our students, our teachers and others involved. St Mary's College has developed policies and procedures to manage the risks associated with college excursions and to make excursions as safe as possible. Excursions are essentially an extension of the college environment and as such, all WorkSafe Policies and Student Duty of Care Policies continue to apply unless it is impractical for them to do so.

Please ensure you work with your mentore, coordinator or manager, who will provide instruction and training on the excursion management system.

Signing In/Out

For Emergency situations, the College needs to know when you go off-site during school hours and when you return again.
Please be sure to use the register to sign Out/In which is located in the Business Office.
Note- Signing in is only required if you return to the college after signing out or if you are here outside of your contracted hours.

Transporting Students

Under normally circumstances, staff members are not to transport students in private vehicles. This includes excursions.
However, under exceptional circumstances, and where deemed necessary to exercise duty of care, permission needs to be sought from the Principal or Deputy Principal and from the parent. If possible, have a second adult or student in the vehicle and ensure that the student/s sit in the back seat of the vehicle. If it is not possible to contact the Principal or Deputy Principal, permission must still be obtained from the parent. Contact the Principal, Deputy Principal,  by phone as soon as possible.

Manual Handling

Manual Handling injuries are common in all workplaces. Manual Handling Includes sitting, twisting, lifting and repetitive movements such as operating a computer for long periods (over 30 minutes). 

Statistics show that over 40% of reported claim injuries within the education profession are back related injuries due to poor manual handling practices.

If you are injured at work and require medical treatment, you have a right to claim under section 33A and regulation 23A of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.

The Hazard – Manual Handling

 Hazardous manual handling involves an activity that requires the use of force exerted by a person to handle (lift, lower, push, pull, carry, hold, restrain or otherwise move, hold or restrain) any animate or inanimate object that involves one or more of: repetitive or sustained application of force, sustained awkward posture, repetitive movement, single or repetitive application of high force and/or exposure to sustained vibration. 

While lifting objects is the most obvious manual handling hazard, injuries such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) also fall within this category. A chart describing characteristics of hazardous manual tasks is available on the Risk and Compliance portal.

Common manual handling injuries include back strain, sprains, soft tissue injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.

The College's Policy on Manual Handling
St Mary's College is committed to providing a safe environment for all our workers, students, visitors and guests.

It is our policy that: 

• All risks arising from manual handling in the workplace are effectively identified, assessed and controlled.
• plant, equipment and containers are, as far as practicable, designed to be able to be handled safely.
• the work environment is designed to be, as far as workable, consistent with safe manual handling.

Manual Handling Risk Factors
The main manual handling risk factors are:

• work area design and layout, such as insufficient space, poor storage, stairs or obstacles in the path when carrying larger objects.
• the nature, size, weight or number of things handled in performing the manual task
• systems of work including time constraints, staffing levels and the level of resources, for example not being able to share a lifting task.
• the environment in which the manual task is performed (e.g. lighting, slippery surfaces, temperatures).

Manual Handling Hazard Control

The college will, as far as reasonably practicable, identify any manual handling undertaken or to be undertaken by an employee or staff member and eliminate any risk of harm associated with manual handling. 

If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, the college will reduce the risk by:

• altering the workplace layout, workplace environment or systems which involve hazardous manual handling;
• changing the things used in the hazardous manual handling;
• using mechanical aids; or 
• combining any of the risk control measures referred to above.

If the college has reduced the risk so far as reasonably practicable, and the risk of harm still exists, the college will reduce the risk further by using information, instruction or training. 

The college can only solely rely in or primarily on the use of information, instruction and training to control the risk of harm if none of the measures, listed above are reasonably practicable.

When considering what measures to use to reduce harm, the college will take into account the following:

• posture
• movement
• forces
• duration and frequency of the manual handling
• environmental conditions (including heat, cold and vibration).

Staff Members' Responsibility
All Staff are responsible for carrying out their duties in a safe way and in particular in compliance with the systems and procedures that have been established to reduce manual handling injuries. This includes taking rest / pause breaks from computers.

Code of Conduct

St Mary's College will only succeed in achieving our objectives where we have the respect of our stakeholders (including our students, parents and colleagues) and the communities in which we operate.

Our reputation is dependent on a culture where every one of us acts with the highest level of honesty, and takes responsibility for their actions. The College is committed to ensuring it operates with integrity and expects all employees to do likewise.

The College's Code of Conduct sets out the ethical behaviour expected of us. It will assist every employee in solving ethical dilemmas they may face in their working environment.

Commitment to an ethical culture within our college involves us capturing opportunities to increase the awareness of the the College's Code of Conduct and making it part of our daily business decisions and actions. It is up to all of us to ensure the Code of Conduct becomes part of the operational fabric of our college. 

Privacy & Confidentiality

How St Mary's College handles the information we collect about individuals (referred to in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) as personal information) is very important for two main reasons: people we deal with expect us to handle their personal information properly and we have a legal obligation to do so.

There are substantial penalties for serious or repeated breaches of the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Non-compliance with our privacy obligations also poses a risk of reputational damage to St Mary's College if the privacy of an individual is breached, and further damage if the breach is managed poorly. 

Staff WHS Training

The provision of training, information and briefings, relevant to each staff member’s position and duties, is part of the duty of care owe to each staff member by the College. The College uses two main digital platforms for online staff training; The Staff Learning System (facilitated by the TCEO) and our Risk and Compliance management system

Modules relating to Work Health and Safety and Duty of Care are periodically released for all staff to complete. Access to the Staff Learning system is via the Catholic Education Office, who will be in touch once induction has been completed.

Introduction

Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) and St Mary's College (SMC) requires its relief staff, contractors, consultants, counsellors, coaches and volunteers (Engaged Staff Group (ESG)) to read and comprehend this briefing upon initial entry into the College

Having read this training - contractors, consultants, counsellors and volunteers are required to sign the agreement at the end of this briefing for retention.

This process, reading and signing, is to repeated on an annual basis for the ESG

Key Points

●      The paramount objective is to keep students safe.

●      Therefore we reduce the risk to our students by:

• Screening workers for suitability – WWVP registration.
• Training our staff to know the boundaries and to be situationally aware.
• Being observant of adult interactions with students.
• Responding with empathy and professionalism to concerns raised by students.
• Reporting allegations and suspicions.

Working with Vulnerable People Registration

●      ESG members who have direct contact with students must hold WWVP registration.

●      ESG members who do not hold WWVP registration are not permitted to have any direct contact with students. If likely to have more than incidental contact, then they must be supervised by a person who has completed CET’s online child safety training and who holds an employee WWVP registration.

Behaviours and boundaries

DO NOT:

●      Engage in any form of inappropriate behaviour towards children or young people or expose children or young people to such behaviour.

●      Use prejudice, oppressive behaviour or inappropriate language with children and young people.

●      Express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of children and young people or discriminate against any child or young person based on culture, race, ethnicity or disability.

●      Engage in open discussions of an adult nature in the presence of children and young people.

●      Engage in any form of sexual conduct with a child or young person including making sexually suggestive comments or sharing sexually suggestive material.

●      Engage in any form of behaviour that has the potential to cause a child or young person serious emotional or psychological harm.

●      Develop ‘special’ relationships with children or young people that could be seen as favouritism (for example the offering of gifts or special treatment for specific children or young people).

●      Engage in undisclosed private meetings with a child or young person that is not your own child.

●      Engage in private or inappropriate personal communications with a child or young person through any medium, including any online contact or interactions with a child or young person.

●      Take, receive or publish (including online) photos, movies or recordings of a child or young person without explicit parental/guardian consent and unless strictly school related

●      Post online any information about a child or young person that may identify them by: full name; age; email address; telephone number; residence; school; or details of a club or group they may attend.

●      Ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse, neglect or grooming.

Prohibited Conduct on School Premises

●      Smoking or using tobacco products.

●      Consuming, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol.

●      Using, possessing or be under the influence of illicit drugs.

●      Using your position to take advantage of any young person.

DO:

Put Safety First

●      Observe safe work practices and avoid unnecessary risks.

●      Follow reasonable safety instructions given by supervisors.

●      Report any safety hazard or hazardous practice.

Have Respect for Others

●      Treat students, staff and other members of the school community with respect:

●      Treat everyone with courtesy, sensitivity, tact and humility.

●      Dress appropriately.

●      Respect the cultures, beliefs, opinions and decisions of others.

●      Take reasonable instruction from staff and not obstruct staff in the execution of their duties.

Communication

●      Avoid swearing or other use of profanities.

●      Use non-discriminatory and non-judgmental language.

●      Maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality.

●      Be aware of people’s personal space.

●      Be aware of own body language.

 

Reporting Child Safety Concerns

Workers are required to report breaches of the behaviours and boundaries set out above to the school principal.

Furthermore, all adults in the course of their work with CET, whether paid or in a voluntary capacity, have legislated mandatory reporting obligations.

Workers must make a child safety notification to the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line (1800 000 123) as soon as possible if he or she knows, believes or suspects that a child or young person has been or is being abused, harmed or neglected.

Abuse, harm or neglect includes:

●      Sexual abuse.

●      Grooming.

●      Physical or emotional injury.

Mandatory Reporting

Section 14 of the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (Tas) (CYPF Act) requires prescribed persons to inform authorities of concerns about abuse or neglect. These persons are referred to as Mandatory Reporters.

Mandatory Reporters must make a report when, in carrying out official duties or in the course of their work (paid or unpaid), they believe or suspect on reasonable grounds that:

a child or young person has been or is being abused or neglected, or is an affected child as defined in the Family Violence Act 2004 (Tas); or
there is a reasonable likelihood of a child or young person being killed or abused or neglected by a person with whom the child or young person resides; or
while a woman is pregnant, there is a reasonable likelihood that after the birth of the child, the child will suffer abuse or neglect or may be killed by a person with whom the child is likely to reside, or the child will require medical treatment of other intervention as a result of the behaviour of the woman or another person with whom the woman resides or is likely to reside before the birth of the child.

 

 

Please complete the below agreement only after reviewing and understanding the induction information.

I {name} acknowledge that I have completed the St Mary's online Compliance Induction and have read the above sections as per the induction

 If you have any questions relating to Risk & Compliance including Work, Health and Safety, Please contact James Lambert. jlambert@smc.tas.edu.au