Our School Cleaning Service makes sure that public schools are clean and safe learning and working environments for students and staff.
Since 1 February 2020, the Education Directorate has run an insourced school cleaning services model. This means all of our school cleaners are ACT Government employees.
This change has ensured high-quality cleaning is delivered by a valued and professional workforce.
You can read more about insourcing school cleaning in ACT public Schools 
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Working with us
Job vacancies in our school cleaning teams are advertised on the Jobs ACT website
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About the School Cleaning Service
The School Cleaning Service (SCS) and individual schools agree to the provision of school cleaning services on an ongoing basis. This includes the developing and maintaining a School Cleaning Plan (SCP) that reflects the needs of each school. The plan sets out the program of cleaning services to be delivered in the school. Schools play an important role in monitoring the quality and consistency of cleaning as well as reporting any issues and concerns.
The following principles form the basis of the cleaning service delivery:
- Avoid duplication – to achieve efficiency the SCS and the schools will avoid duplication of functions.
- Effective service delivery – the SCS will deliver cleaning services efficiently and based on the agreed School Cleaning Plan.
- Standardisation – in the interests of simplifying processes and supporting collaboration between the SCS and schools, policies and processes are standardised wherever possible.
- Flexibility – the SCS endeavours to accommodate each school’s particular cleaning needs.
- Responsiveness – the SCS is responsive to requests for support and services. In return schools are responsive to requests for information, feedback and input into the development and delivery of services.
- Mutual Responsibilities – the SCS and the schools have shared responsibilities in support of cleaning service delivery.
School Cleaning Plans
Agreed School Cleaning Plans have been in place since 1 February 2020.
The SCS and each School regularly review cleaning service delivery against the agreed cleaning plans. The reviews facilitate discussion, assessment of cleaning quality and resolve any outstanding or ongoing problems or issues. A formal review of each School Cleaning Plan will occur on a bi-annual basis in order ensure Plans remain current and meet the needs of each school.
A School Cleaning Plan can be amended during a school year through mutual agreement – noting that significant changes may take up to two months to take effect to allow for the required resourcing to be identified and trained.
Services provided
The School Cleaning Service provides services as outlined in the School Cleaning Plan within the following categories:
- Routine Cleaning Services
- Vacation Cleaning Services
- Menu Cleaning Services
- Fee-for-service Cleaning Services
Each year the School Cleaning Calendar will set out which of these services will be provided to schools on a day-to-day basis.
COVID-19 Cleaning
The Education Directorate has introduced enhanced cleaning arrangements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has seen the introduction of new cleaning staff focussing on high frequency touch point cleaning to ensure that the possibility of transmission through surface contact is minimised.