Support Staff Week of Action 2022:

22-26 August

The AEU's Support Staff Week of Action each year acknowledges School Services Officers (SSOs), Early Childhood Workers (ECWs) and Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs). We know that sites could not function without you and everything you do helps support young people to achieve their potential.

It’s about acknowledgement and appreciation, cake and flowers but it’s much more. Respect and appreciation of a person’s work also means taking action to improve their working lives – this action is one way you can show respect for AEW, SSO and ECW members of our union and your education team.

Our theme this year is 'Secure Employment for a Professional Workforce', and it reflects the ongoing action in sites this term to support the conversion of eligible contract support staff to permanency. Find the details around conversion to permanency for SSOs and ECWs here. 

Professional learning opportunities

SessionDateAboutCity
Mindfulness for Support Staff!Monday 22 August, 4:00 PMPart of the AEU SA Support Staff Week learning series. Join us on the first afternoon of AEU Support Staff Week to re-centre, consider your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others and learn a little about mindfulness in practice.Online CourseMFSS2201
AEU Member PAC Training 2022 - Non-Teaching Staff FocusTuesday 23 August, 12:30 PMAEU member PAC training is offered to ensure all AEU members with an interest or responsibility in school human resource matters can access, investigate and discuss elements of the Enterprise Agreement and other documents in relation to PAC decisions.Online CourseAEUPAC2208
Conversion to Permanence for AEWs, ECWs and SSOsWednesday 24 August, 4:00 PMPart of the AEU SA Support Staff Week learning series. Are you eligible for conversion to permanency? Not sure or don’t know how it works?  The AEU conversion to permanency action for SSOs and ECWs is on! There is a unique process for AEWs and this session will cover both processes.Online CourseCTP2201
Managing Movement, Noise and CollaborationThursday 25 August, 4:00 PMIn this session an experienced teacher will share five activities that occur in their classroom, in which students are actively collaborating (and maybe noisily) in a safe and controlled manner and learning is occurring.Online CourseTLN2208

Ways to celebrate

Some suggestions for celebration and acknowledgement:

  • Morning tea or shared lunch
  • Certificates of appreciation
  • Awards at assembly, from staff or children/students 
  • Cards made by staff, classes or individual students
  • Photos for display with positive messages, thank you notes and shout outs
  • Schools and preschools post thank you notes or acknowledgements on their Facebook pages
  • Articles in school and preschool newsletters or online platforms 
  • Special treats, such as chocolates, biscuits, home-made goodies or flowers.
  • Teachers, leaders and other staff take on a role to give support staff members a break for celebrations  
  • Support staff share something about their role and an achievement.

Certificate of Appreciation

Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to support staff is a popular activity during Support Staff Week.

Click the button below to download a printable Certificate of Appreciation. 

Certificate of Appreciation

Download the poster

Share the Week. Click the button below to download a poster to print for your noticeboard. 

Support Staff Week poster