03 Mar 2020
School cleaners join the Education Directorate
School cleaner Eleanor Schneider wears her new uniform at the school cleaner induction earlier this month.
The Education Directorate has welcomed over 200 school cleaners into the public service as permanent government employees.
In an Australian first, the ACT Government is paving the way for improvements to the employment conditions and treatment of school cleaners, who play an important role in the systems that support learning in ACT public schools.
The School Cleaner Induction, held in January, featured a week of information sessions and training, culminating in cleaning staff being presented with their new uniforms.
For experienced cleaner Eleanor Schneider, who has been cleaning public schools since 2012, the change has inspired feelings of excitement, but also some nerves.
“The announcement came as a surprise to me. I felt nervous at first, but this week has been informative. I have a better idea of what to expect now,” Eleanor said.
She looks forward to the changes that being a member of the public service will bring, in particular greater agency, and more of a voice when it comes to how she works.
School cleaners David Proposch and Thongbai Sokkho are excited to be joining the Education Directorate.
David Proposch and Thongbai Sokkho are a married couple and received their new uniforms together. Both have been in the industry for a number of years and are excited to be members of the public service.
“My wife Thongbai and I are looking forward to working with the new ACT Government cleaning services,” David said.
“I love working for Narrabundah College… lovely principal and vice principal, staff are very friendly and I love the job. I work hard to keep them all happy, plus myself.”
School cleaners have always been respected members of ACT school communities, now they can proudly wear their new uniforms as members of a unified, government-employed cleaning team.