Executive Director’s Update to Principals #6 - 21 February 2024
Fire Danger Update
Dear Principals
As you will be aware there is an Extreme Fire rating danger and total fire ban for three weather districts tomorrow – Wimmera, South-West and Central.
No Catholic school in our Diocese is required to close at this stage.
However, that will change should a fire danger rating change to Catastrophic.
We will forward any update to change in fire danger ratings for tomorrow as soon as possible. Please also monitor the CFA and emergency websites.
We expect 11 DET schools to pre-emptively close tomorrow due to their higher risk locations and settings.
Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2024
Thinking about nominating some of the amazing staff and colleagues at your school for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award?
The nomination form can be found here and further information on the awards can be found here.
Nominations are open until Friday 1 March.
2024 Early-Career Teacher Program
In an effort to create efficiencies for principals and ensure consistent communication to relevant parties, a database has been created for principals to input Early-Career Teacher (ECT) and mentor teacher information.
All schools with Early-Career Teachers are required to provide information on your graduates teachers (years one, two and three) HERE. Those who provided some details on their ECTs at the end of 2023 will notice that information provided has been pre-populated and you will only need to complete the missing fields. If you have no ECTs, please email shanley@dobcel.catholic.edu.au to update our records.
See below the 2024 Early Career Teacher Program dates.
The Term 1 Program days are now ready to be booked through trybooking.
Based on feedback from participants and principals, program days in Terms 1 and 2, for all early career teachers, will be held in two separate locations. The content on both days will be the same.
Term 1
1st Year ECT Program Cost - $80
| 2nd/3rd Year ECT Program Cost - $80
|
People and Development Update
New Website – Victorian Catholic Education Authority
The CECV website has been decommissioned. The Employee Relations content will progressively be transferred to the ‘VCEA- Employee Relations’ page within the ‘Staffing and ER’ section on CEVN. Please contact either Maree Baker on 0436 460 275 or Jo Huntley on 0429 598 163 if you are unable to locate any required materials.
Changed contact details for Long Service Scheme and Catholic Capital Grants (Vic) Ltd
With the transition of Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) to Victorian Catholic Education Authority Ltd (VCEA), the contact details for Long Service Leave (LSL) Scheme and Catholic Capital Grants (Victoria) Ltd (CCG) have changed.
- LSL Scheme : 03 8417 9310.
- LSL applications using M22 forms : lslreimbursement@vcea.catholic.edu.au.
- General LSL enquiries including termination, portability etc: lslofficer@vcea.catholic.edu.au.
- CCG : ccgadmin@vcea.catholic.edu.au.
Reference Checking
Child safety must be a key focus in the selection and appointment process for staff in Catholic schools; therefore, appropriate and robust reference checking is critical during recruitment. Where a prospective candidate is employed (or was previously employed) at another school, with consent from the candidate, the principal must obtain a reference check from the current or most recent employing principal.
Where a candidate does not provide consent, their reasons should be explored and the principal should contact Sarah Hanley, Talent Acquisition Partner on 0488 148 612 to discuss.
If there are no exceptional circumstances for consent being withheld, the candidate’s application should not be progressed.
Personal Leave Entitlements
Under the Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022 (CEMEA 2022), personal leave is credited to an employee on commencement of employment and at the beginning of each school year thereafter. The Personnel Record System (PRS) application will be updated to reflect employees’ 2024 personal leave entitlements after all schools have completed the 2024 February Census.
Should an employee with a low personal leave balance be seeking to access their personal leave entitlement prior to the PRS being updated, Schools will need to manually calculate the 2024 personal leave entitlements. Any personal leave taken from the commencement of the 2024 school year and prior to PRS being updated should be recorded manually at the school level rather than through PRS. Once the system has been updated with the 2024 entitlements, schools can update PRS with the appropriate personal leave taken.
Schools require assistance in calculating the 2024 personal leave entitlements for employees, can contact either Maree Baker on 0436 460 275 or Jo Huntley on 0429 598 163. team to discuss this.
Fixed Term Appointments – Information Sheet
As a result of the ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ legislative reforms the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) has been amended to include provisions that make it unlawful for an employer to enter into a fixed term contract with an employee in certain circumstances. As the changes are in legislation, these provisions will override the terms in the Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022 (CEMEA 2022), where the provisions are inconsistent. These changes were effective for fixed term contracts entered into after 6 December 2023.
To assist schools, a Fixed Term Information Sheet and FAQs has been prepared to outline the key issues and obligations in relation to the use of fixed term contracts arising from the amendments.
The changes will likely impact the practices that schools are accustomed to when employing staff on fixed-term contracts. Therefore, it is important for school leaders to familiarise themselves with the changes to avoid potential industrial penalties, industrial disputes or unintended employment outcomes.
VCEA Key Updates
The CVEA Employee and Industrial Relations Key Updates is now available for viewing and includes the following:
- Website Transition – ER Resources
- Changes to Fixed Term Appointments
- Labour Hire Regulations
- CEMEA 2022 Implementation Guide
- Overtime and Time in Lieu for Education Support Employees
- Employee Authorised Deductions
For any further queries or for general advice, please do not hesitate to contact either Maree Baker, Manager Human Resources on 0436 460 275 or Jo Huntley Human Resources Advisor on 0429 598 163.
COVID-19 Update
We are aware of instances of COVID-19 presenting again in our local communities. To enable schools to manage this appropriately, please refer to the below FAQ.
If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, do they need to isolate?
It is recommended that you should isolate for at least 5 days and until you don’t have symptoms anymore. This means you should not go to work, school or grocery shopping, especially if you work with people at a higher risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19.
(Source: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/covid-19/checklist-covid-19-cases)
The 5 days are from when your COVID-19 symptoms started and/or you tested positive for COVID-19.
Does this count as Personal (Sick) Leave or Infectious Diseases Leave?
If you test positive for COVID-19, you can apply for Infectious Diseases Leave (in accordance with clause 37.1 of the CEMEA 2022) by emailing your Principal (or their delegate). The email should advise when you tested positive for COVID-19 (date), when your isolation will end and when you should be able to return to work/school. You should attach relevant evidence if you have it (eg a medical certificate, test results from a GP or testing centre, or a statutory declaration).
What if I am still sick after the recommended 5 days of isolation?
If you are still having symptoms at the end of the recommended 5 days of isolation and are feeling unwell, you should seek medical advice. If the medical advice is that you are unfit for work, you can apply for personal (sick) leave with a medical certificate.
Does the Principal need to inform the school community?
No, however, it is advisable that you inform staff who may be a close contact (that is, they have been in close contact with them 2 days before their symptoms started or before testing).
When I return to school, do I need to wear a mask or take other precautions?
A negative RAT result is a helpful tool to determine whether you are still infectious. Employees should wear a face mask when they leave home for at least 7 days after testing positive as you may still be infectious.
For any further Employee Relations queries or for general advice, please do not hesitate to contact either Maree Baker, Manager Human Resources on 0436 460 275 or Jo Huntley Human Resources Advisor on 0429 598 163.