WHSW coordinators pilot is game-changing
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 2, 11 April 2025, page no 18.
The Department of Education’s workplace health, safety and wellbeing coordinators pilot was launched in Term 1 2024 as Queensland’s initiative within the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.
The pilot was focused on supporting staff in teaching roles (including principals and school leaders), and feedback has indicated that it has proven to be game-changing in reducing the workplace health, safety, and wellbeing (HSW) administrative burden across 33 Queensland state schools.
By appointing 11 dedicated coordinators to clusters of three schools (primary, secondary, special), the pilot significantly alleviated HSW tasks for school leaders, and teachers. Weekly HSW workloads were halved, from more than 12 hours to just six hours, enabling teachers to focus more on teaching, learning, and student engagement. Coordinators were able to provide focused attention to annual safety assessments, inspections, hazard management and HSW meetings, enabling significant reduction in time investment by teachers or school leaders. All schools reported improved HSW outcomes and better risk management. This was achieved through leadership commitment and integration of coordinator skills and practice to improve existing HSW systems at each school.
The pilot has also enhanced staff capability and workplace safety culture, with 65 per cent of surveyed principals noting substantial improvements in their HSW understanding and 100 per cent agreeing that the coordinator role made schools safer. The pilot facilitated compliance and quality improvements, particularly in occupational violence and aggression (OVA) management, with better staff follow-up and proactive safety practices. This success has effectively returned the equivalent of a full teaching day per week to school leaders, showcasing the pilot’s value in improving efficiency and wellbeing outcomes.
An unintended benefit of the pilot was improved principal wellbeing. Principals reported that the local support and expertise gave them a greater sense of control and confidence in their ability to manage HSW tasks on site. This had knock-on effects, with principals having more time and capacity to support staff.
Due to overwhelming support, the program has been extended until 30 June, with the role being expanded to now include injury management and fire and safety tasks. Additional schools, including partnership schools, have joined the initiative, further demonstrating its scalability and impact.
This pilot stands as a model of how dedicated resources can uplift safety compliance, reduce administrative burdens, and support school communities.
Your safety is our objective
Strategic objective 1 of the Queensland Teachers’ Union Strategic Objectives 2024-2028 is “Ensure member physical and psychosocial safety,” with the goal being to implement comprehensive safety protocols and support systems to maintain a safe working environment for all members.
Strategies are to:
- develop and enforce workplace safety standards and guidelines
- provide training and resources on health and safety best practices
- establish a support/HSR network for reporting and addressing safety concerns.
To support this strategic objective, in 2024 the QTU established a Workplace Health and Safety Organiser position and developed specific QTEC training sessions for teachers and school leaders.
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