IEU ES members speak out on pay, duties and expectations
The strong turnout at the union’s online ES event on Wednesday 21 May highlighted the growing appetite among Education Support staff for information and advice.
More than 70 busy ES staff discussed concerns and asked questions about wages, classifications and the duties they are being asked to perform every day by employers.
Issues raised included:
ES staff being asked to supervise students or dangerous equipment without teachers in line of sight
Extra tasks ‘being added on constantly’ and more advanced duties being assigned without any change to classification
Members being denied copies of contracts and job descriptions.
A common response from union staff in attendance was: ‘Contact your Organiser or the MSU – that shouldn’t be happening’.
It was also emphasised that the sooner a member seeks assistance from the union about a discrepancy, the more can be done.
Deputy General Secretary Kylie Busk also provided a detailed update on bargaining on ES claims in Victorian Catholic education.
Advice for members arising from the event included:
If your line manager instructs you not to discuss your contract within your team, ask them to put the request in writing. They won’t – it is not allowed.
If you feel the impact of workload creep, ask for clarification of your responsibilities and log exactly what you are doing and when, and talk to the union. We can help remind employers that if you perform higher duties, you need a higher classification.
Get a copy of your contract, which lists your duties and classification. Contact your Organiser or the Member Services Unit if your employer does not provide it – there is no justification for not doing so.
While ES staff can undertake some supervision of students, they must not be used in place of a teacher.
If there is anything potentially hazardous about an activity you are involved with, there’s a strong chance you’re being asked to do things beyond your classification.
ES members were reminded that IEU staff are here to help. If you have any concerns about your pay or classification, contact your Organiser or the Member Services Unit for assistance.
Union staff can’t stop employers ‘trying it on’ with all of these matters, but they can tell you your rights and help enforce them.
Wages and conditions
With the in-principle agreement between the state government and the AEU only days old, there was strong interest in what it contains for ES staff.
Key ES outcomes in the proposed government sector Agreement include:
• Introduction of paid planning time
• Four professional practice days per year, to be used for planning, collaboration, preparation or professional development
• Improved payment for camps.
The IEU claim for Education Support staff in the Victorian Catholic School Agreement includes:
• Significant wage increases
• Clearer classification structures to better reflect and reward actual duties
• Stronger recognition of workload pressures
• Improved access to professional development and structured career progression pathways
• Stronger consultation rights so ES staff are properly involved when duties, systems, or expectations change
• Safety and workload protections, particularly around supervision duties, complex student needs, and higher-risk activities.