Free Read | Managing psychosocial hazards in schools

Subject: Schools Law Conference | Schools Law CPD
Author: Ben Tallboys, Principal Russell Kennedy Lawyers (with assistance gratefully received from Taylor Dawson, Law Graduate)

Not unlike the duty of care owed to students, schools have a duty to ensure the health and safety of teachers and other school staff (including volunteers, and persons ‘working’ without receiving payment). Health and safety legislation (and common law) across Australia provides that this positive duty extends to the health and safety of employees in relation to psychological harm and injuries.

The school environment has a unique nature compared to other workplaces, which presents a number of unique hazards and risks in relation to the psychological health of employees. For example, the behaviour of children and young people, or the actions of parents who may seek to do no more than achieve the best very for a child, may present challenges.

Schools, in their capacity as employers, must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers engaged, or caused to be engaged by the employer - and other workers whose activities in carrying out their work are influenced or directed by the employer - whilst at work.1 The duty to eliminate (or minimise so far as reasonably practicable) psychosocial hazards is encompassed by this duty of care

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Our Free Reads are sourced from technical papers presented by our faculty at recent  Webinars  or Conferences.