Post by Queensland Department of Education

Victoria's teachers once saved her life. Now she's making sure school staff are the ones being looked after. In 1988, 14 year old Victoria boarded the Jupiter cruise liner alongside 475 other British students and teachers for a week-long educational voyage. Less than an hour in, a freight ship struck the vessel and it began to sink off the coast of Athens. Fortunately her teachers got her to safety. Decades on, that day still shapes the work she does. It led her to a Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Coordinator role at Pine Rivers Special School. 'I'm passionate about safety, because my teachers saved my life and now, I want to give back to them,' she said. Before roles like hers existed, safety work landed on teachers on top of their classroom and leadership duties. WHS Coordinators now help schools strengthen safety practices, respond to incidents, identify risks before they escalate, and support staff to return to work safely after a work-related injury. This year, coordinators have been recruited across all 46 of Queensland state special schools- a first step towards an additional new 139 WHS Coordinators delivered over four years. 'Most schools we work with have never had this specialised support before, so it's critical we keep connected, share expertise and learn from each other along the way. Victoria is now helping induct the newest cohort. 'These days are incredibly important. Because I've been in the role for a couple of years, I can pass along my learnings and give specific examples of what has worked so new co-ordinators can hit the ground running.' Thank you, Victoria. The profession is lucky to have you!