Safety News, Alerts & Changes
Current safety updates and information relevant to schools 

🔗MOVEABLE SOCCER GOALS - tipping, crushing and finger entrapment and shear hazards

​The Department of Education QLD has issued an updated alert about the tipping, crushing, entrapment and shear hazards that can be associated with moveable soccer goalposts - particularly when folding, assembling and storing them. The alert contains hazard details and controls to prevent injuries (which are known to have occurred, some with devastating impact).

Consider checking moveable goal assembly, use, foldup and storage practices against the recommended risk controls   

🔗Research shows school PRINCIPALS AT SERIOUS WELLBEING RISK

​The latest report from a 4-year Australian study of Principals' emotional labour in 'volatile times', finds them under intense pressure from increasingly stressful and decreasingly supportive work environments. The toll on Principals' health, wellbeing and professional viability is serious risk, often eventuating. Careful consideration of safety-protective strategies for Principals is urged. 

Consider treating the risk to Principals' wellbeing as a psychosocial risk needing management care and attention. 

🔗NSW Department of Education PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPROVEMENT NOTICES upheld by IRC

Improvement Notices against the NSW Department of Education for exposing an employee to serious psychosocial risk during a workplace investigation have been upheld by the Industrial Relations Commission. Delayed communications,  unsatisfactory alternate duties and prolonged uncertainty throughout the investigation were found to have exposed the employee to risk 

Consider reviewing and ensuring that complaint, investigation and stand-down processes manage psychosocial risks through timely communication, role clarity and support. 

🔗ANTISEMITISM EDUCATION TASKFORCE report and EDUCATORS' HUB released

A 12-month Taskforce was established by the Commonwealth in December 2025, supported by the Australian Dept of Education, to recommend system and curriculum changes that will help prevent and respond to antisemitism. A progress report and a new Social Cohesion Education (SCE) Hub have been released to support social cohesion and multicultural education from early childhood to Year 12. 

Consider reviewing and improving the way antisemitism, discrimination and social disconnection are addressed in student and staff capability development, wellbeing and issue response arrangements. 

🔗Prosecution over SAFETY PROCEDURES DOCUMENTED but NOT IMPLEMENTED

WorkSafe ACT has issued advice to duty holders that having safety systems, procedures and controls in place is not enough. Following a recent serious incident, an ACT company and its director have been convicted for failing to ensure that the company's documented safety regime and procedures were followed, and so contributed to the serious injury of a worker. 

Consider actions to check and improve the extent to which key work and learning safety procedures are followed in practice 

🔗WHS Amendment (DIGITAL WORK SYSTEMS) Act 2026 approved, commencement pending

NSW parliament has legislated a new primary duty under the WHS Act (not yet commenced) to ensure that the health and safety of workers is not put at risk from the use of digital work systems. It is notable that existing WHS risk management duties already extend to identifying and managing foreseeable health and safety risks, including from digital work systems and AI, that may affect workers. 

Consider monitoring for commencement, and check that current and proposed digital work systems are included in WHS risk management