Support Staff Week of Action 2021: 16-20 August

Celebrating Support Staff, an essential part of the Education Team

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.

This year, the member action is all about the National “Every School Every Child” campaign and for us in SA that means every preschool too – that’s Every Child Everywhere.

In this campaign AEU and community members are standing together and demanding enough funding so that every child receives the support they need, when they need it. Support staff know all too well how important this as many SSOs, ECWs and AEWs provide that additional support.

Increased funding will not only mean support that our children and students need to access their learning and be successful in our schools and preschools, but more employment opportunities and importantly, more secure employment for ECWs, AEWs and SSOs. 

As with previous years, 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.    

Ways to celebrate

Let’s blitz Facebook every day of the week with images acknowledging the essential work of support staff and help build the campaign to fight for more support for the young people we work with. 

Get a photo with one of the campaign posters and get it on social media to spread the word. Post to your own Facebook page or send to [email protected] for the AEU Journal and Facebook page. 

Then jump on www.everyschooleverychild.org.au and sign up to be part of the Australia-wide campaign to ensure that all our children and students get the support they need. 

Some other 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.