World Support Staff Day on 16 May is an important day to recognise and celebrate our invaluable colleagues – professional, administrative and support staff.
Support staff are an essential part of our schools. The IEU is proud to be the voice for thousands of professional, administrative, operational and support staff in independent schools and services across NSW and the ACT. Our members are administrative staff, Aboriginal Education Officers, teacher’s aides, laboratory assistants and library assistants, canteen staff, nurses, counsellors, boarding-house supervisors, bus drivers, grounds-keepers, archivists and many other non-teaching employees in the non-government education sector.
World Support Staff day is an initiative of Education International, the global federation of more than 370 education unions, including the IEU.
Everything that happens in our schools that enables teachers to teach starts with support staff.
On 16 May, we urge everyone to say a big thank you to all support staff across NSW and the ACT for their incredible work.
WATCH: HAPPY WORLD SUPPORT STAFF DAY!
MESSAGES FROM IEU’S 2025 MARCH COUNCIL
Members offered messages of appreciation for support staff in their schools at the March 2025 meeting of IEU Council.
“I’d like to give a big shout out this World Support Staff Day to all the Aboriginal education officers, all the IT workers, all the learning support assistants, all the grounds and maintenance staff. We couldn’t do our work without you.” – Alex Thompson, rep at Canberra Grammar School
“Happy World Support Staff Day, particularly to those great people who are support staff in Brindabella Christian College.” – Andrew Dane, Vice President ACT
“Happy Support Staff Day everyone, especially those at Penola. We can’t do our work as teachers without you. You are invaluable to us, so we hope you feel valued. Have a great day.” – Liz Heggart, Vice President Systemic.
“We can’t actually do the job without any of you. You are the integral backbone of our schools. So, thank you very much, especially to the Learning Support team at St Francis.” – Jacob Betts, rep at St Francis Xavier College, Florey, ACT, and member of the IEU Executive.
“A big shout out to St Carthage’s, to all the support staff at our school. You are wonderful.” – Jennifer Allen, rep at St Carthage’s Primary School, Lismore.
“Happy World Support Staff Day to our wonderful people at St Francis Xavier Primary School. You’re awesome.” – Kath Egan, rep at St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballina.
“Thank you to my school, St Clare’s College at Waverley. You do an amazing job and keep us all running so smoothly.” – Louise Armstrong, rep at St Clare’s College, Waverley.
“Thank you to all of my support staff colleagues at Presbyterian Ladies College. Thank you for all the help that you give us each and every day. You’re wonderful.” – Michelle Mella, rep at Presbyterian Ladies College, Croydon, and member of the IEU Executive.
“Happy World Support Staff Day, but especially to my colleagues at Catherine McAuley College in Medowie. We love you and the place couldn’t run without you.” – Sarah Gardiner, Religious Education Coordinator at Catherine McAuley College, Medowie, member of the IEU Executive.
“Thank you to all the support staff in all our schools around Australia, but an even bigger shout out to all the Maitland-Newcastle support staff. You’re all gems and no schools can work without you. We love you.” – Steven Newman, Hunter Valley Sub Branch Council member.
More support staff news from the IEU
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IEU Speaks on PISA 2026
The latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) edition of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2026 (PISA) reports that Australian teachers and students continue to perform above the OECD average. This major educational data set provides evidence at odds with recent political attacks on teachers. While the PISA results confirm that Australian teachers continue to…
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IEU Speaks on securing a pro-teacher AI agenda
Australian teachers reported the fourth highest use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the third highest levels of stress among teachers in OECD countries in 2025. Our teachers have adapted to AI faster than most of their international counterparts, in part to try and offset unsustainable workloads and declining levels of professional satisfaction. Read more here: Securing a pro-teacher AI…
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IEU Speaks on attacks against the teaching profession
At a time when teachers, school leaders and school support staff are under more pressure than ever from increasingly complex student needs, unsustainable workloads, the onslaught of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and escalating rates of gendered violence, some political figures have chosen to spread disinformation and disrespect. Read more here: IEU Speaks on attacks against the teaching…
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Model B & C schools: Bargaining update support staff
Bargaining has commenced for replacement multi-enterprise agreements (MEAs) covering teachers and support staff in Model B and Model C Catholic independent schools. We want a better deal for support staff. Please read the NewsExtra below explaining the claim. For more details of our support staff claim sent to employers, click here. More Model B and…
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Catholic Independent Schools: Model B and Model C bargaining set to begin
Bargaining is about to start for new multi-enterprise agreements (MEAs) in 30 Model B and Model C Catholic independent schools. Current agreements for both teachers and support staff are due to expire at the end of 2026. By now, schools should have advised members of the commencement of bargaining. If your school hasn’t yet notified…
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Media release: ICAC inquiry – Union members demand transparency
The union representing teachers and support staff in non-government schools in NSW and the ACT is deeply concerned by revelations that public funding for Catholic schools may have been wrongfully spent on Liberal party matters, including branch stacking. The NSW Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations that Catholic Schools NSW made illegal political…
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ICAC Inquiry: Members demand full transparency on school funding
IEU members are deeply concerned by revelations that public funding for Catholic schools may have been wrongfully spent on Liberal party matters including branch stacking. Illegal political donations The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations that Catholic Schools NSW made illegal political donations to the NSW Liberal party. The ICAC public inquiry…
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Media release: IEU statement on Redeemer Baptist School
The union representing teachers and support staff in non-government schools in NSW and the ACT is deeply concerned by media reports at the weekend and today about Redeemer Baptist School in North Parramatta.
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Spotlight on reps – TASC reps
IEU reps from schools affiliated with The Anglican Schools Corporation joined us for reps training. They discussed ways of building strong chapters to increase bargaining power for all members. Jess Castleden – St Luke’s Grammar School, Bayview Jess Castleden is a Year 6 teacher at St Luke’s Grammar School’s junior campus in Bayview. Jess previously…
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Classroom behaviour: Union welcomes more support for teachers
The IEU supports plans to improve initial teacher education and invest more in professional development in a bid to address unruly behaviour in classrooms. The plans are part of the federal government’s response to a Senate inquiry into increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms. Classroom disruption can impede student learning, contribute to lost teaching time…