Crossing shortage puts students at risk

While Christmas spirit is abundant at school crossings throughout Cardinia Shire, the same can’t be said for the City of Casey, which is experiencing severe crossing supervisor shortages. Kay Hughes and Peter Jones are two of the crossing staff employed by Cardinia Shire Council.

By Alison Noonan
THE safety of Casey’s schoolchildren is being put at serious risk by a dire shortage of crossing supervisors.
Council officers have revealed an alarming lack of staff available to man crossings in the city, leaving young students to negotiate busy roads alone.
Cranbourne, Pearcedale and Narre Warren South are amongst the worst-affected areas, suffering from high staff turnovers and a scarcity of relief workers.
A report presented to last week’s council meeting stated that council officers were having trouble employing new staff to supervise school crossings and finding relievers willing to work in the event of an emergency.
It said pedestrian signals at Pearcedale Primary School had gone unmanned for two months due to a lack of relief staff.
Local laws officers were posted at the site as a last resort, but they described the practice as “uneconomical and unsustainable”.
The report said Pearcedale wasn’t alone in its troubles, with council unable to find relievers for a number of crossings on busy roads in Cranbourne and Narre Warren South.
“The new Amberley Park Drive crossing would have been operational a term earlier if there had been relieving staff available.
“As such, the lack of staff and therefore the need to recruit/train new staff delays the operation of new sites.”
The report said the number of hours, pay rates, times or availability, location of work, training for the type of crossing and effect upon Centrelink benefits were behind the shortages.
“These staffing issues, while previously a minor hassle, are becoming serious issues in relation to the provision of new crossings, and even staffing, of existing crossings.”
Pearcedale Primary School principal Don McKenzie said he was unaware of any major problems regarding school-crossing supervisors at the school.
But he said any expressions of interest to assist the school’s current staff was more than welcome.
“Obviously, the safety of our students is of vital importance and any boost to our crossing supervisors would be greatly appreciated,” he said.