HSR wins
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 7, 2 October 2026, page no.13
The QTU HSR Shield Network continues to grow, with more than 100 health and safety representatives (HSRs) now active in schools across Queensland.
They are an invaluable resource in every school. They play a critical role in turning workplace concerns into issues to be resolved and ensuring health and safety remains a priority. So, what better way to highlight the importance of the role than by sharing some of the outstanding wins these legends have achieved for their colleagues and communities?
Amplifying WHS
"Having a HSR voice on the WHS committee has made for real change at the school. I’ve been asked to do WHS audits of the classrooms in both primary and secondary and to assist with WHS planning. The WHS committee has made a psychological hazards risk assessment to assist all staff and leaders, identifying real hazards and risks and providing examples of how to control these risks." Dave Chettle
Strengthening school leader awareness
"I asked my principal if I could go to the HSR training. I had to support my application with all of the department’s resources on what a HSR is — regional staff and principals don’t seem to know about this role, its responsibilities, or the funding!" Tamara Conradi
Protecting teachers
"As an HSR I used section 70 of the act — “Consultation with the HSR” — to raise a safety issue which was creating an unsafe workplace for a teacher. The process was a learning curve for all, but the outcome was a plan for the student to access education without compromising the teacher’s right to a safe workplace — a tandem outcome that will be monitored." Ian Mitchell
Engaging the regulator
"The first success was becoming a HSR and getting to the training. The second success was having the confidence and skills to initiate contact with the WHSQ inspector to investigate ITD issues. The QTU supported me throughout the process and escalated matters within the Department of Education. The major success is that raising safety issues now brings all stakeholders together." Darren Moakes
Holding the council to account
"I used my new knowledge of the WH&S Act and Regulations to enter an official WHS Queensland complaint against the local council. It had constructed a park along a fence at our local primary school, which included a constructed deep-water pond adjacent to the low fence of our Prep-Year 2 playground. The inspector evaluated the site, and WH&S Queensland upheld my complaint. It ordered council to install a suitable fence to protect our students and staff from physical, psychosocial, and legal ramifications." Lauren Coward
Significant facility improvements
"The music workgroup’s newly appointed HSR identified a mould issue and escalated it through the HSW Committee. The department agreed to a deep clean and air testing. This resulted in DoE funded dehumidifiers being installed as a temporary control measure. We are currently awaiting a civil engineer’s assessment to identify other options to eliminate the source of the hazard. While this remains a work in progress, we actually have progress!" Nicole Richardson
Improved systems
"Staff identified potential risks arising from the current design, functionality, and operational processes associated with the management of student consent through the OneSchool/QParents platform. Review and redesign of consent notification, confirmation, and audit processes have been recommended, to strengthen integrity, reduce administrative ambiguity, and improve risk management outcomes for all parties." Martin Mitchell
Fire safety
"Despite annual fire warden training being a legislated requirement, no training had been conducted at the school for 25 years. After expressing repeated concerns about poor compliance and the removal of fire warden training questions from annual safety audits, I completed the fire safety advisor (FSA) qualification. I’ve now been appointed as the school’s FSA and have developed a site-specific training program, which I’ve delivered to 25 staff over two half-days at zero cost to the school. The program now ensures ongoing annual training and recertification." Peter Muchow