Brighton Grammar School is committed to ensuring a safe place of work, learning and wellbeing for our staff and students. The School’s Senior Executive continues to monitor the advice provided by the Australian and Victorian Governments, and Victorian Chief Health Officer.
If you feel like you would benefit from some additional support, you can contact the School’s Employee Assistance Program. This service, provided by Converge International, offers confidential telephone and consulting counselling services 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. They can also be contacted on 1300 687 327.
Alternatively, we have compiled a list of helplines, websites and other community related services available to provide support during these unprecedented times.
A review of the School’s emergency management plan has been undertaken and the Senior Executive is comfortable that we are prepared in the event of a potential COVID-19 case.
As required by the Victorian Government, the School has a COVIDSafe plan which outlines the steps we have taken in order to protect our staff, students and visitors during the return to onsite learning. This plan also contains the steps the Headmaster/Senior Executive would take should there be a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 at BGS.
As per advice provided by the Victorian Chief Health Officer, teachers and other school staff may be at greater risk of more serious illness if they contract coronavirus if they are:
Should you fall into any of these categories, or have concerns about returning to work, please contact your Head of School, the Chief Operating Officer or Director of Human Resources.
BGS face masks (reusable/cloth and triple layer) were provided to staff during Term 3. Please contact Main Reception (ext 200) if you have not received your mask.
Please note: you may choose to wear your own cloth mask or a disposable surgical mask. Surgical masks will be available from all reception areas around the School. All staff are reminded of the need to change their surgical mask after 4 hours of wear whilst also disposing of their used surgical mask appropriately.
Should you opt to wear a reusable cloth mask, please remember to wash your mask after each use. If during the day your mask becomes visibly dirty or wet, please collect a new disposable surgical mask from reception.
Further information regarding face coverings can be found on the DHHS Face coverings at work webpage.
All staff will also undergo compulsory training in the use of face coverings prior to returning onsite. Staff will be required to acknowledge their participation in the online training.
A range of fact sheets are available to assist with managing your wellbeing when working remotely, returning onsite or when navigating the challenges of life in general.
Please note: additional resources will be added periodically to the Staff drive under BGS Intranet / My Employment / Wellbeing. You can access this by locating the S Drive on your computer.
Coping with stress during COVID-19 (PDF)
Strategies for managing stress (PDF)
6 Tips to protect your hands during handwashing (PDF)
Tips for remote working for professional support staff (PDF)
How to wear a face mask (PDF)
The School has established a comprehensive list of protocols to support a safe and supportive return to working onsite. These can be found here. All staff are asked to familiarise themselves with these protocols prior to their return.
Academic staff will be required to attend school when the year levels they teach return to onsite learning. Academic staff who do not have teaching/pastoral commitments at either end of the day are encouraged to come in later/leave early.
You should only be onsite when you are performing duties that require you to attend onsite.
At this stage, professional support staff who are not in roles that require them to be onsite, must continue to work remotely. The School is closely monitoring Government advice, and the Victorian roadmap, and will advise when this is able to be changed.
We appreciate that many of you have been working remotely for many months now so it would be great to be able to offer some flexibility when we are able to do so.
All staff who are required to be onsite will need an authorised work permit.
Academic staff are required to contact their Head of School to organise a work permit if they do not already have one. Professional Support Staff are to contact the Chief Operating Officer to organise a permit.
Please note: this may change over the course of the term. Any changes to this requirement will be communicated as they come into effect.
Staff with children who have not as yet returned to school, and no other arrangements can be made (e.g. they return to their school as a child of an essential worker), are asked to speak with their Head of School, Chief Operating Officer or Director of Human Resources to discuss support available.
You are welcome to catch up with colleagues on your breaks; if doing so, it is preferred that this takes place outdoors (for e.g. at the tables and benches located outside for staff use) with social distancing requirements being kept in mind.
Please refrain from eating lunch with colleagues in common rooms or offices unless social distancing requirements can be met.
The Department of Health has a COVID-19 specific training module which is short and informative. This online course is free and covers topics including signs and symptoms, keeping safe, hygiene and myth-busting.
If you are unwell, you are required to follow the usual process of notifying your manager or DOBs, providing work etc. A leave form, and accompanying medical certificate (if longer than two days absence) will also be required.
Further questions should be directed to your Head of School, Chief Operating Officer or Human Resources. It might also be helpful to review the comprehensive return to work protocols that have been distributed via email.
Please contact Human Resources if you require a copy of these protocols.
Contact IT Support for issues relating to computer hardware, software, network folder permissions, emails, Staff ID cards and door security,
User Guides are available in the FAQ section under IT assistance.
Contact ITContact MIS for enquiries relating to Synergetic, The Hub, Consent2Go, SynPortal, Staff user account creation, data extracts and analyses, Crystal, PowerBI and excel reports.
Contact MISVisit our COVID-19 page to find updates, information and guidance about the School’s response to the current outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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