Education department responds to complaint about relief teacher at school with flu symptoms

A Tasmanian school has been accused of breaching coronavirus restrictions after claims staff convinced a relief teacher to work despite having cold and flu symptoms. FULL STORY >>

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A RELIEF teacher at a southern Tasmanian public school came to work with cold and flu symptoms and was convinced to stay by other staff members after reporting her health status, a whistleblower says.

The concerned teacher has lodged a complaint with the education department about the issue that arose on Friday last week at the Jordan River Learning Federation senior school campus at Bridgewater.

The teacher turned up at school with obvious cold and flu symptoms, a whistleblower says.

The teacher said they believed it was a clear breach of COVID protocols, and that there are many signs at the school which warn people off entering if they are symptomatic.

“If she had made people ill, particularly if it was COVID related, it would be a disaster,’’ the teacher said.

“There are 13 signs in the front foyer. This is a public health issue and this is a vulnerable community.”

The education department confirmed it had received a complaint and was looking into it.

It comes at a time when Premier Peter Gutwein is cautioning Tasmanians not to let their guard down against the virus, as the state’s vaccination program commences.

Under current rules, people are not meant to go to work if they are showing cold and flu symptoms and are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test.

The whistleblower said they had a brief conversation with the relief teacher early in the day where they discovered she was unwell.

“She was blowing her nose into a tissue and had a handful of tissues in her other hand and her eyes looked red,’’ the teacher said.

“I asked her if she was okay, and she said ‘no, I’m not’.

“I asked her if she was okay for money and she said it wasn’t about the money but that she wanted to be seen to be reliable. I explained she would be seen to be reliable if she told the truth about her health status and went home.”

It is understood that the relief teacher was one of three working on the day to cover staff absences, and that the school is traditionally difficult to staff.

The teacher said she understood a conversation then occurred between the fill-in teacher and more senior staff and the relief teacher remained teaching there for the day despite reporting her symptoms.

When that happened, the concerned teacher decided to leave for the day.

“I’m in my 70s — I don’t want to get COVID,’’ the teacher said.

“People have got a false sense of security about this and even though we don’t have an active case that we know of at the moment, the rules around this are really clear in this school.

“This community is the last community you want to get COVID — every second adult would have an underlying health issue.”

The teacher said their stance was not personal but it was about ensuring the proper procedures were followed.

“I think it was a slack decision that was made … it was made on the basis it would be difficult to get another relief teacher and other avenues weren’t explored,’’ they said.

The whistleblower said the teacher who allegedly came to school with cold and flu symptoms wanted to appear ‘reliable’.

An education department spokesman said the department took its duty of care for staff and students seriously.

“Employees, including relief employees, who are sick and displaying symptoms of respiratory illness or similar are not to attend the workplace and must notify their principal or manager,’’ he said.

“Employees who are displaying symptoms should get tested for COVID-19 by contacting their GP or the Public Health Hotline.

“Sick employees may be directed by their principal or manager to leave the workplace if they show symptoms of such illness and are unwilling to leave.”

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