Many years ago now, I found myself teaching an entire High School Music programme out of a storeroom. I wish I was joking. Not only was it a store room, but it was an old store room that had been used to store chemicals for science. In addition to this horrific mix of smell and danger, all the old orchestral instrumental left over from this particular school's glory days were boxes into crates, and stacked precariously high, with just enough of a gap between them to harbour a serious mouse and spider situation.
This classroom arrangement was the worst I have ever been in work wise, leading to many moments questioning my particular career choice. Fast forward to now, and I work in a beautiful school, with incredible resources and a wonderful, supportive administration, and cannot even imagine being sequestered to an oversized cupboard. However, I cannot help but think back and wish I had known about some of the support mechanisms that the Department of Education have in place outside of the ones that exist in schools. For the record, if you are reading this, this information pertains to the Department of Education in Western Australia. If you work elsewhere, I would suggest getting in contact with your central office to see if these schemes are available in your state/country. * Reimbursement for Working With Children Check. Keep your receipt, hand it to your Manager of Corporate Services, and it will be put in with your next pay! Link HERE * Subsidies for Glasses and Lenses. Teachers are eligible for up to $220 back per year if you wear glasses or contacts in your line of work. *Note, this is only for those deemed 'optical aids', however claim your sunnies, hats, enclosed shoes and sunscreen on tax! Link to the optical aids form HERE * Salary Packaging. I salary package mine and my husbands car, and combined, we save $13,000 in tax over the course of 5 years. You can also salary package computers, phones and tablets, provided they are for work purposes. * Notebooks for teachers. Similar to Salary Packaging, but your computer is leased through the department. Link to the Department's ICT page is HERE * Deferred Salary Scheme. Essentially, work 4 years at 80% pay, take year 5 off. I only know 1 teacher who was accessing this scheme, although he was a pretty happy guy! For more information call Personnel and Payroll: (08) 9264 8383 Or download the application package from HERE * Counselling. The department offers a counselling service to all it's employees and their immediate family, and this is not restricted to work place matters! Sessions can be face to face, over the phone and by Skype , and are free of charge and confidential. Each member of your family is entitled to up to 6 sessions a year. More information can be found HERE *Ergonomic and Workplace Assessments Why didn't I know about this when I was teaching in a cupboard? The Department of Education has stated publicly that it is committed to 'safety excellence', and will happily liaise with schools, provide assessments and support and provide training to schools on how to create safe work spaces. More info HERE I hope this has been helpful and maybe provided you with something you didn't already know! Hang in there guys, almost half way.
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