Consultation with staff
School Based Staff
Overview
It is the principal's responsibility to make the school-based decisions required to deliver Government education objectives within a framework that enables staff to have input into the decisions that affect their working lives. This is an acceptable and recognised aspect of good management practice.
The principal has ultimate administrative and operational responsibility for decisions at the school level, provided that these decisions are made consistent with the consultative provisions of clause 11 of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2008 and clause 11 of the Victorian Government Schools – School Services Officers Agreement 2004 (the agreements).
The agreements adopt the following comments, to enhance understanding of effective consultation, made by Smith C. in CPSU, the Community and Public Sector Union v Vodafone Network Pty Ltd (Print PR911257)
'Consultation is not perfunctory advice on what is about to happen. This is common misconception. Consultation is providing the individual, or other relevant persons, with a bona fide opportunity to influence the decision maker… Consultation is not joint decision-making or even a negative or frustrating barrier to the prerogative of management to make decisions. Consultation allows the decision making process to be informed, particularly as it may affect the employment prospects of individuals.'
Consultative structures
The principal must put in place formal staff consultation structures that ensure school staff and the union at the school have the choice and opportunity to be involved in the consultation process in the school. This may involve arrangements that are inclusive of all employees or separate consultative arrangements for education support class employees and teachers.
The consultative arrangements must allow for the direct input of staff and the union(s) at the school and include the operational procedures. The consultative arrangements must enable workplace representatives to be provided with the opportunity and time to canvass the views of staff to ensure informed consultation can occur.
As part of the consultative arrangements the principal will ensure that workforce planning information is available to staff to allow informed consultation to occur. Such information should include:
- the school strategic plan (or its equivalent);
- high level school student resource package data. This requirement is satisfied where the following documents (or their successors) are provided: SRP Indicative Allocations, Management Report generated by the SRP Planner and SRP Confirmed Allocations;
- anticipated enrolments and staff movements.
The Department is committed to protecting the privacy of personal and health information the Department or its schools hold. In providing the documentation set out above principals should ensure that the privacy obligations set out in the Departmental policy are maintained.
Reporting
Prior to 1 September each year schools are required to provide a report to the Department on whether consultation structures have been agreed at the school level.
Where a school reports that consultative arrangements have not been agreed the matter shall be considered by the Department and a nominee of the relevant union/s who shall discuss the matter and determine whether, in the particular circumstances, agreed arrangements can be implemented or the “default” consultative structures set out in the respective Agreements are to apply.
Other Resources
School based staff | Public Service Staff
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