School excursions to UTS

The University often coordinates events involving visits to the campus by school groups.

The NSW Department of Education and Training prescribes specific procedures for the implementation of its excursion policy, and the University also takes a structured approach to ensuring the safety of all parties on campus during school visits and related activities.

Who is responsible for the safety of school excursions to UTS?

The UTS staff member who organises the school group's visit has the duty and supervisory responsibility to ensure that any health and safety risks to school groups (including students, teachers and supporting volunteers) are identified, assessed and controlled. They also have a duty to ensure that the school visit does not place others in the University community at risk.

The UTS staff member organising the school visit must have a reasonable understanding of the health and safety risks:

• During preparation for the school visit e.g. the setup of exhibits or staging by UTS staff, students or contractors etc. This is covered in detail in the Event management section of this web site.
• Within the activities in which school groups participate during their visit.
• During the ingress and egress of the school group to the campus.

School principals and other excursion coordinators must disclose any special needs that their group may have to the UTS staff member organising the visit. They must follow the requirements of the Venue & Safety Information for School Excursions document (see below) provided by the UTS staff member organising the visit.

Risk management for school excursions to UTS

The UTS risk management process for school excursions to the University involves responsibilities for:

• UTS staff member organising the visit

  UTS staff organising visits by school groups should contact the Events, Exhibitions and Projects department within the UTS Marketing and Communication Unit in the early stages of planning visits by school groups to the UTS campus.

  The Venue & Safety Information for School Excursions template (Word 97-2003 format, 74 Kb - UTS staff access only) should be completed by the UTS staff member organising the school visit to the campus. Please note that the fields in bold must be completed.
  
  The completed form should be made available to the school principal, careers advisor etc. prior to the visit.

• School principals and other excursion co-ordinators

  The UTS staff member organising the school visit can provide school principals with venue and safety information concerning excursions to the University and the activities that will occur during this visit. They will be able to provide the information required by school principals to conduct an excursion risk assessment, including:

  • Public liability insurance cover.
  • Access and special requirements e.g. for students with special needs.
  • Emergency procedures and relevant training of staff.
  • Known hazards and controls related to proposed activities.
  • Mobile phone and emergency services access for the excursion.
  • Use of licensed personnel for construction, maintenance and repairs.
  • Availability of appropriate facilities e.g. showers, refreshments, toilets.

Resources

NSW Department of Education and Training

• Excursions Policy (opens an external site)
• Excursions Policy Implementation Procedures (opens an external site)

Need more information?

Safety & Wellbeing branch

Staff seeking further information regarding health and safety aspects of visits to the campus by school groups may contact Campbell Lee in the Safety & Wellbeing branch.