QTAD Q&A

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 126 No 4, 28 May 2021, page no.29

Is there a set student/teacher ratio for school excursions and camps? 

To ensure the health and safety of students and staff, schools are required to proactively manage all aspects of a variation to school routine. The school’s duty of care to students extends to school excursions and camps, which are integral to students’ educational programs. Activities conducted away from schools may increase risks, and the standard of care required must therefore reflect the increase in identified risks. As there is no specific student to teacher ratio for excursions/camps in general, you should use the curriculum risk assessment processes for the specific activities that may be conducted. CARA guidelines can be found at https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/stages-of-schooling/CARA/activity-guidelines 

I’m a prep teacher. Should my teacher-aide be replaced if they are away sick? 

Department of Education Teacher Aides’ Certified Agreement 2018 (https://www.qirc.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020_cb34.pdf?v=1594941013) confirms the following: 

“8.4.3 Preparatory year/special educational program or facility/students with disabilities 

Where teacher-aides are absent in a preparatory year, special education program/facility or working with students with disabilities, relief is provided immediately.”

This is further supported in a department document that provides further information on replacement of absent school-based staff (https://ppr.qed.qld.gov.au/attachment/replacement-of-absent-school-based-staff-at-no-local-cost.docx)

During wet weather, my school asks teachers to work with their teaching partner to enable them to take a break (to eat, use the bathroom etc.). What are the requirements surrounding breaks during wet weather? 

Teachers are entitled to an uninterrupted meal break and 10-minute rest pause each day, regardless of the weather. Consequently, schools should make appropriate arrangements to ensure that in the case of wet weather, supervision duties do not reduce these entitlements. 

At the end of each week, a full-time teacher must have received a daily 10-minute rest pause and 225 minutes per week of uninterrupted meal breaks (whether this is provided in half hour or 45-minute blocks per day is subject to LCC discussions). Any modifications to the playground duty (PGD) roster to accommodate wet weather must also ensure these entitlements are protected.

Schools should determine the wet weather PGD roster in consultation with members and endorsement through the LCC. It would be deemed reasonable to discuss and consult on the wet weather lunch PGD policy at the same time as the school is developing the usual PGD and bus duty roster. 

Wet weather PGD rosters are likely to look different from school to school, as schools will have different facilities available and the size of the school/number of staff will vary.