Members at Norfolk Island Central School plan to take industrial action if their demands related to the future of their workplace are not met quickly.
The Queensland Government, instead of the NSW Department of Education, will provide education services to the island community from next year.
Federation Representative Susie Hale wrote to federal Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola Marino recently expressing members’ dissatisfaction that Norfolk Island Administrator Eric Hutchinson hadn’t provided answers to their pressing questions during or since his visit to the school on 9 August.
“[Members] have serious concerns about the Australian Government’s continued mismanagement of the transition process,” Ms Hale wrote.
“While we have been assured that no child or staff member will be disadvantaged in this process, the disadvantage has already begun … Critical staffing and curriculum decisions cannot proceed. Our students who commence or continue their HSC studies in 2022 do not know what curriculum they will be taught or if there will be enough trained teachers in front of them to deliver it … We have a school and a community in crisis.”
“It is not good enough,” her letter states, that students are losing teachers, parents are losing confidence in the school and “flawed and ineffectual intergovernmental relations continue to cause uncertainty, stress and anxiety to our school community”.
“[Members] have been patient enough. We, therefore, resolve to act in the interests of our students and our community, to ensure the continuity of education to Norfolk Island and to protect our school into the future.”
Members set deadlines for:
- detailed information about staffing and curriculum for 2022
- a commitment that current year 10 and 11 students will complete the NSW HSC in 2022 and 2023
- the school’s Federation Representative (or delegate) and principal be present at all NSW, Queensland and Australian government transition meetings
- that representatives from the Australian, NSW and Queensland governments address school staff on Monday, about these demands.
On 16 August members met to discuss the information they received, and a letter has since been sent to the NSW Education Department’s Education and Skills Reform Deputy Secretary, Lisa Alonso Love, outlining members outrage and disappointment with the content of the NSW Department’s response, the Administrator’s announcement on social media; and the ongoing inefficiency in communication. “Each of these demonstrates the sustained disregard for the wellbeing of our students, our staff and our community,” Ms Hale wrote.
Ms Alonso Love was given until Wednesday 18 August at 5pm to respond to questions previously submitted plus a new list.
Members intend to meet again on Friday, 18 August.
Uncertainty has surrounded the school since 2019, when the NSW Government announced its commitment to deliver school education on the isle would expire on 30 June 2021. Lobbying by Federation members and Officers achieved an extension for 2021.
In June, Ms Hale and Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos went to Canberra and met with shadow minister Jason Clare, Greens spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters and local MP David Smith. They were unable to secure a meeting with Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola Marino.