[Design and Technology] destech Digest, Vol 129, Issue 11

[Jill Livett]

Hi all
This whole issue of ensuring that we have qualified and safe teachers in the Technology classrooms is a concern.
My reading of the situation is that:
VIT requirements are that a Technology teacher should have at least a sub-major tertiary study or an appropriate TAFE qual (at least Cert IV or Certificate of Proficiency) in a related Technology field to be registered to teach a Technology subject. However, a principal has the power to override this to satisfy the needs of their school. Principals need to made aware that this is an OH&S concern - and that it should be viewed as a significant risk. A high level of risk management needs to be put in place to ensure the safety of the teacher concerned and their classes - e.g. extensive in-house induction and training, a period of team teaching, technician support, alteration of curriculum to low risk activities, etc. I would recommend the involvement of the school’s OH&S rep and unions if the Technology faculty is concerned about the safety of a teaching situation.
Safe Use of Machinery course (the 4 day course) - this is a DET requirement for Technology teachers in the Wood and/or Metal areas. The intention of this course is to accredit or verify that qualified Technology teachers are safe in their use of static machinery, particularly if they are training, testing and supervising senior student in their use.  It was never intended to be a training course for inexperienced teachers in the use of this equipment - the 4 day course does not satisfy VIT requirements.  However, some schools/principals are inappropriately using it for this purpose as there are no machine training alternatives for inexperienced teachers. 
I hope this is clear
Cheers
Jill

On 30 Nov 2015, at 9:54 am, Ken McAlpine <Ken.McAlpine at stleonards.vic.edu.au> wrote:

> Opened s can of worms here!!!
> Kn
> Ken McAlpine - Design Technology Teacher
> St. Leonard's College
> 163 South Road, Brighton East, Victoria 3187 Australia | phone [+61 3] 9909 9300| fax [+61 3] 9592 3439
> Ken.McAlpine at stleonards.vic.edu.au | www.stleonards.vic.edu.au________________________________________
> From: destech-bounces at edulists.com.au [destech-bounces at edulists.com.au] on behalf of Maryann AUGUSTINUS [maugustinus at unihigh.vic.edu.au]
> Sent: 30 November 2015 09:19
> To: destech at edulists.com.au
> Subject: Re: [Design and Technology] destech Digest, Vol 129, Issue 11
> 
> Hi everyone.
> Rang Marsh the departments OHS reps and was told there are no prerequisites to teaching technology anymore. It is up to the principal who they employ. Anyone can do the 4 day course and use/teach plant in a state high school if the principal is happy with them doing so. This is not what is on the institute of teaching website or the departments own web site.
> Still confused.
> 
> 
> 
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