ACT Education Minister Joy Burch has denied union claims three learning assistants were told not to return to work after nurses were reinstated at a Canberra special school.
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Australian Education Union ACT secretary Glenn Fowler said the three casual staff were expected to return in term two, which began last Tuesday, until the government's decision in the school holidays in response to staff and parents' concern.
"As a result of the nurses going back to Black Mountain, 2.7 full-time equivalent learning support assistants have been told they're no longer required," he said.
"The celebrations about the return of the nurses were short-lived when we learnt that other workers would be looking for work."
Ms Burch's office and an ACT Health deputy director-general said on April 14 and 15 - during the first week of school holidays - nurses would be returned to the school, responding to concerns, including from the teachers' and nurses' unions, about teaching staff being left to perform complex medical procedures.
There was no public indication from government any school staff would be lost, and Ms Burch said on Friday there had been no job losses as a result of ACT Health's nurses decision.
"I've been advised by the Education and Training Directorate that no school assistant at Black Mountain has lost their job or had their contract revoked," she said.
"Further, the school assistants who were involved in supporting the Healthcare Access At School trial run by ACT Health at Black Mountain School continue to work at the school now that the nurses have returned."
The confusion comes as a father of a diabetic student at a second special school said he had been disappointed there had been no extra scheduled on-site nursing presence this term.
John Hillier said he had expected a full-time return of a nurse on site, as was in place before it was removed against he and his wife's wishes due to the HAAS arrangements last year.
Health Minister Simon Corbell said prior to the HAAS arrangements, now under review, a nurse had been present "during school hours" at The Woden School to provide support to an individual student .
A significantly lengthened care plan – which Mr Hillier said now ran to 15 pages, up from two before the trial – was then agreed to with a doctor, nurse and the parents.
"In line with the agreed care plan nurses now attend the school once daily," he said.
"We will however work with the family if they wish to review this care plan."
