Grievances, Complaints & Disputes Procedures

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THORNLEIGH WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS’ AND CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION

Grievance, Complaints & Disputes Procedures

The Thornleigh West Public School P&C Association (P&C Association) is committed to providing an environment where all concerns of P&C Association members, volunteers to the P&C Association, employees of the P&C Association, staff of Department of Education, and students enrolled at Thornleigh West Public School are dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.

A grievance or complaint may be received by the P&C Association in relation to a fellow member, volunteer, or P&C Association employee (Member). Where a grievance relates to a Department of Education employee or student, the grievance should be lodged directly to the Principal of Thornleigh West Public School in accordance with the policies of the Department of Education.

A grievance is a complaint about any situation, which is considered by the complainant to be wrong, mistaken, unjust, or discriminatory.


Principles:

  • Complainants should not instigate grievances that are frivolous, vexatious, or malicious;

  • Grievances and information arising from the handling of the grievance must be treated confidentially;

  • Concerns should be raised as early as possible after the incident relating to the grievance has occurred;

  • The principles of natural justice will be observed throughout. This means before a decision is made the person who has been implicated has the right to be informed about the nature and content of the grievance, have the right to be heard by an unbiased decision maker, and have the right to have a witness present.


Procedures:

  • Complainants should endeavour to resolve the issue themselves with the relevant parties face-to-face;

  • If the grievance cannot be resolved informally, the complainant should provide written details of their concerns and the grounds for the grievance, to their immediate supervisor where they are an employee and to the P&C Association President, or to the P&C Association Vice President where the grievance is about the P&C Association President. Where the grievance is about the P&C Association Executive it may be provided to the P&C Federation along with a copy of these procedures and all relevant policies;

  • The Supervisor/President or other person handling the grievance as described in these procedures will initiate an informal meeting with the complainant to discuss the grievance and may request further information which the complainant must provide;

  • The complainant may have an independent witness attend any meetings;

  • The Supervisor/President or other person handling the grievance as described in these procedures will provide written acknowledgement of the grievance being lodged within seven days of receiving the grievance;

  • If the grievance pertains to another Member, that person will also be informed, in writing, within seven days of the grievance being lodged. The person against whom the grievance is made will not receive a copy of the grievance unless written permission is expressly given by the complainant to share the document;

  • Wherever possible, grievances are to be resolved no later than six weeks after the grievance is lodged.

The outcomes of a formal grievance process may include (but are not limited to): recommendation to amend policies, recommendation to alter practices, agreement by parties regarding interactions, access to training and development, or disciplinary action, including a restriction on membership of the P&C Association or formal employment review as allowed in employment agreements and as permitted by the relevant Employment Award.

Where a person disagrees with an outcome of a grievance, they may lodge an appeal or further grievance with any relevant government agency or relevant mediation service.

These Grievance, Complaints and Disputes Procedures are as adopted by the Thornleigh West Public School P&C Association general meeting on 31st August, 2021.

Signed President: Meera Seemampillai NAME: Meera Seemampillai

Witnessed Principal: Julie Granville NAME: Julie Granville

Date: 31/08/2021

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TWPS P&C Grievance, Complaints, and Disputes Procedures