The PSA met with DECS management recently with concerns about how schools are implementing the policy for tea breaks after receiving many calls from PSA members about this issue.

There is acknowledgment from DECS that although tea breaks are not an award provision that in terms of long standing custom and practice and the well being of school staff, that schools will facilitate a paid break for staff to partake in a “cuppa”. There is a DECS Circular to Principals, which can be found on this  website, informing schools of the management of tea breaks for SSOs.

On investigation the PSA has found that there is great variation in the provision of tea breaks in schools. Some schools don't provide tea breaks at all, some schools provide breaks but insist that SSOs make up the time, some schools allow some staff to have tea breaks and others can't, and some schools implement the policy correctly.

SSOs should be aware that they should be provided with a tea break. It is a paid break therefore there is no requirement to make up the time and the provision should be equitably applied.

The PSA has requested that DECS reissue the circular to schools to ensure Principals are providing tea breaks to SSOs correctly.

PSA PROTECTING SSOs CONDITIONS AND RIGHTS