World Support Staff Day

Congratulations to all school support staff whose hard work was acknowledged on World Support Staff Day on 14 June.

The day is an initiative of the IEUA and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) TE RIU ROA, reflecting a resolution passed at the seventh Education International (EI) World Congress in 2015 to create a global celebration held every June known as World Support Staff Day.

IEU Secretary John Quessy said without the tireless efforts of secretaries and administrators, teachers’ aides, lab assistants, the maintenance team, bursars and countless other vital positions, schools would grind to a halt and learning would cease.

“These unsung heroes work tirelessly every day caring for sick children, making sure classrooms are prepared, clearing up rubbish and storm damage, ensuring the bills are paid, answering the phone, assisting teachers in the classroom with students with disabilities, setting up experiments, sorting out those who forgot their lunch, and all the other small but crucial things that matter,” John said.

Various morning teas, lunches and other events were organised, for instance at St Francis Xavier School, Ballina staff celebrated by organising a surprise high tea.

“Our support staff are enthusiastic, skilled and professional members of the school team. We would be lost without them,” Kath Egan, IEU Rep at St Francis Xavier, said.

St Michael’s Primary School, Nowra, where IEU Support Staff Vice President Carolyn Collins works, celebrated with wine, cake, a party and morning tea (duty free).