2. Recap Week 5 13/8/2013
Awards
• Awards outline the pay and conditions for the
workers covered by that award. Awards are
legally binding and are negotiated between
the unions, employers and Fair Work Australia
• You can visit their website and look up the
award you work under or any other award
Google: Fair Work Australia
Find an Award, Modern Award, Children’s Services
Award
3. Week 6 20/8/2013
Legislation and standards
• Within the workplace your employer has a
responsibility to uphold your rights and let you
know what your responsibilities are under any
legislation and standards. Such legislation
may include anti-discrimination laws and
policy, Work Health and Safety regulations
and ethical standards appropriate to the type
of service.
4. Legislation affecting work planning
There is a range of legislation that impacts upon workers as
employees. These include -
• Industrial Relations Act 1996 (amended 2011)
• Annual Holidays Act 1994
• Long service leave Act 1955
• Anti-discrimination Act 1977
• WHS Act 2011
• Children and Young Persons Act 1998 (amended 2010)
• Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998
• Workplace Relations Act 1996
• Workers compensation legislation (various acts)
5. Overview of the legal system
• Legislation means a set of rules and
regulations that are passed by parliament
(either state or federal) to become law.
• Child and family services have to adhere to
child protection laws.
• The workers are mandatory reporters.
What is a mandatory reporter ?
6. Mandatory reporter
• Means reporting if you suspect a child is at
risk of significant harm.
• As an early childhood educator you are also
required to complete a Working with Children
Check or police check to ensure you haven’t
been convicted of any type of crime involving
children or young people
7. Mandatory reporter
ACTVITY 1
• Using their iPads, students are to look at the
policy that relates to Child Protection within
the Summerville Children's Centre website.
• Any questions? i.e.
• What is disclosure?
• When do I report and to whom do I report to?
• How do I know if what I see or hear should be reported?
• In relation to action plans – refer to action
plan 1....which relates to ACTVITY 2.
8. Mandatory reporter
• ACTIVITY 2.
Students are to divide into 2 groups to both discuss and role
play the following scenario -
You have noticed that one of the toddlers in your
care appears to be very upset when her
mother leaves. This continues for several days.
The mother, when asked, suggests that home
is a little unsettled. When you change the
child's nappy you notice bruising on the upper
thigh area......
What would you do?
9. Legal obligations are:
• Contained within Acts and Regulations and are
absolute duties
• Are punishable by law if not followed
• We need to be very clear about our legal
obligations as workers in the community
services and adhere to them at all times
10. Planning workload with your
supervisor
• Once workers have an understanding of their
rights, roles and responsibilities they are in a
better position to start developing a work plan
with their supervisor.
• This involves meeting with your supervisor
and discussing what has to be done and in
what order.
