School support workers will meet with education officials this week after 14 schools closed for a day last week over a resourcing dispute spanning three decades.
The United Workers Union says more closures are inevitable unless the government updates its 1997 staffing allocation model to reflect modern school demands.
Education Facility Attendant Darren Bird, who has worked in the sector for over 13 years, says the outdated system is pushing workers to breaking point.
“We need extra resources, these are not the schools of 1997 anymore, they are the schools of 2025,” he said.
Bird pointed to dramatic workload increases that haven’t been matched with additional staff.
Student numbers at some schools have jumped from 450 to 1,000, while kitchen assistants now handle 36 cooking classes weekly compared to just 10 in 1997.
Labor leader Josh Willie has backed the workers’ concerns, warning that inadequate support drives good staff away.
“When the government isn’t engaging with their workforce and listening to their concerns, workers leave,” he said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirmed the head of the education department would meet with the union this week.
“I really value our facility attendants and of course all schools do,” he said.
The talks will determine whether further industrial action can be avoided.
