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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 375 asked in the Legislative Council on 17 April 2020 by Hon Donna Faragher

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — SCHOOLS — VULNERABLE STAFF

375. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and Training:

I refer to the minister's announcement today regarding term 2 arrangements for schools.

(1) What are the alternative arrangements being put in place for vulnerable teaching and school staff for term 2?

(2) Does the Department of Education intend to extend the COVID-19 leave or alternative work arrangements to staff who are under the age of 65 years with chronic medical conditions; and, if not, why not?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the member for the question and for her continuing interest in ensuring that education in Western Australia is sound during this extraordinary time.

(1) The Department of Education has issued alternative working arrangement guidelines for its workforce. Arrangements for an individual employee will be specific to their circumstances, role, ability to be deployed to other tasks in the school, ability to work at another location—it is worth bearing in mind in education that a lot of education-related work does not occur in a school—or to undertake working from home arrangements on either their work or alternative duties.

(2) Yes; when the medical condition meets health guidance on vulnerability to COVID-19. If there are specific circumstances that the member is aware of—she spoke to me behind the Chair about one—I am happy to pursue those.