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Watch this video for an easy explanation of what GHS is & what you have to do.

https://youtu.be/y8CpfzFZkR8

Science ASSIST signing off 

Sadly, the Science ASSIST project is now coming to a close and the Science ASSIST team are extremely proud of what they have achieved over the 2.5 years since the Science ASSIST website went 'live'.

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the progress of the service. A Project Management Group has been set up to oversee the direction of the project and the following support officers have been appointed:

Laboratory Technician Support Officer: Teresa Gigengack, Email: labsupport@asta.edu.au
Science Teaching Support Officer: Kate Dilger Email: teachersupport@asta.edu.au

Teresa and Kate are part of the project operations group and should be your point of contact if you have any questions or queries concerning the advisory service .

The service will be known as Science ASSIST: Australian School Science Information and Support for Teachers and Technicians ASET NSW congratulates Teresa and Kate and looks forward to the progress of the Advisory Service.

Many of you will be aware of the new science initiative Science ASSIST. Science ASSIST is a national online advisory service for school science educators and laboratory technicians. This service will provide free, timely and accurate advice and support to teachers and school science laboratory technicians.

Science ASSIST is not meant to replace technician associations or web based discussion forums but to provide authoritative information and support for school science teachers and technicians. It is a very exciting project and information and past newsletters can be found at http://asta.edu.au/programs/assist .

Here is a copy of the latest exciting news on Science ASSIST  e-Newsletter Dec 2017

ASTA and SETA are VERY pleased to inform you that they have managed to secure further support from the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training to 'reboot'  Science ASSIST.

At this point, the Science ASSIST advisory service will focus wholly on school laboratory safety for teachers and technicians. New science curriculum resources and advice will not be included in the short term. 

In the next few weeks, the Q&A section of the website will be reopened and the Science ASSIST team will continue the development of technical resources including Standard Operating Procedures, Risk Assessments and Information sheets. These will be loaded to the website as they are completed.

Thank you for championing the project by continuing to access the Science ASSIST website over the past 6 months and letting the Science ASSIST team know the value of the resources and advice to you. We couldn't have done it without you.

We will send another newsletter by the end of July letting you know of our progress and when the Q&A will be once more 'open for business'. In the meantime, please spread the word to your colleagues and encourage them to sign up for the e-News if they haven't already.

Just wanting to clarify that the impetus for Science ASSIST came in part as a result of recommendations contained in the 2009 report by Professor Mark Hackling “The Status of School Science Laboratory Technicians in Australian Secondary Schools” as well as a report released in 2012 by the Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb titled “Health of Australian Science”. 

To download the 2009 report follow the link on the SETA page at http://moodle.asta.edu.au/course/view.php?id=32 and to download the 2012 report go to http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/HASReport_Web-Update_200912.pdf

A working party was formed in 2010 at the National Forum on the Role and Support Structures for School Laboratory Technicians in Australian Secondary Schools. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the working party was charged with creating a national standard for laboratory technicians by 2015.

The standards aim to set a minimum expectation for the training and practice of Science support staff in schools across their professional knowledge, professional practice and professional attributes.

ASET is committed to keeping our members informed of progress to date.

Members can read more about this project and the latest updates by logging in to the member's only area.