KARAMEA AREA SCHOOL
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR: TRADES PASTORAL CARE & VEHICLE DRIVER
POSITION: FIXED-TERM PART-TIME
Applications close at 3pm 30th January 2026
Responsible to: Principal and BOT
Term of Job Description: Fixed Term.; March 2026 to November 2026 (exact dates TBC)
Hours of Employment: 10 hours per week plus 1 overnight allowances (14 hours)
Employment Conditions: Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement (current)
Pay Rate: Grade BC, Step 5 : $29.60 per hour
MAJOR TASKS:
1. Secondary Teacher Aide support. Transportation of students from Karamea to Greymouth (and return) to participate in the West Coast Trades Academy programmes on 1 day per week – Travel on Thursday afternoon and attend Trades on Friday
2. Pastoral caregiver / supervision of students overnight on Thursday
3. Clean and refuel school vehicle after use.
4. Report registration/WOF/vehicle maintenance issues to Principal.
5. When in Greymouth, the driver may be required to undertake other school tasks.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT / PAYMENT RATES:
(a) Rate of payment, allowances and other conditions of service shall be in accordance with the current Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement.
(b) Allowance payments are as per the Collective.
(c) The rate of pay is Grade BC: Step 5 = $29.60 per hour. Overnight allowance (14hours at minimum wage).
This hourly rate is indicative of the responsibility required and the importance placed on the health and safety of students.
(d) Trades Driver must sign and adhere to the Karamea Area School Vehicle Transport Policy.
FIXED-TERM, PART TIME CONTRACT
Start Date: March 2026
End Date: November 2026
This is a Fixed-Term, part-time position as employment is funded through external funding received from the West Coast Trades Academy. This funding is only available if students attend the Trades programmes. The uncertain nature of this funding pool means that the Board of Trustees cannot guarantee that this position can continue if funding is reduced. Should that situation occur you will be provided with at least one month’s notice.
HOURS OF WORK
Employment is for 10 hours per week, being:
- THURSDAY: 3 hours driving Karamea to Greymouth plus overnight allowance
- FRIDAY: 1 hour morning supervision, 3 hours during day emergency “on call” for student support or to undertake school duties required by the Principal, 3 hours driving Greymouth to Karamea and dropping students off home.
TOTAL = 10 hours
There may be additional hours / days in excess of the normal Trades days required.
Any additional hours / days in excess of the Trades Day will be negotiated with the successful applicant and approved by the Principal.
Any variation to these will be advised in accordance with the relevant provisions to the Collective Agreement.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensure vehicle is fuelled and road ready before departing Karamea.
2. Ensure road and weather conditions are safe for driving between Karamea and Greymouth.
3. Transportation of students on Thursday at 3pm collect Trades students from KAS and transport to their accommodation in Greymouth.
4. Friday collect Trades students from TPP at 2.45pm and transport back to Karamea, dropping off students to their homes.
5. Thursday nights (6pm – 8am) provide overnight pastoral care and supervision to students at their hotel in Greymouth.
6. Friday mornings (8am – 9am) provide morning supervision of students, including transportation to TPP Polytech for their trades courses.
7. On Friday, be emergency “on call” for student support whilst at TPP Polytech.
8. When in Greymouth, the Trades driver may be required to undertake additional school tasks as requested by the Principal, such as school banking or getting Trades vehicles serviced.
9. Driver is responsible for the health and safety of students whilst in their care.
10. Driver must adhere to the KAS Vehicle Transport Policy.
11. On return to Karamea, refuel the vehicle before returning to KAS. Fuel receipts to be handed into the School office.
12. Record all vehicle travel in the KAS vehicle logbooks.
13. Report any WOF/Registration/vehicle maintenance issues to the Principal.
14. There may be additional hours or days required for transporting WCTA Trades students, for example collecting students from the WCTA Trades WIO transport. These additional hours/days in excess of the WCTA Trades Day will be negotiated with the successful applicant and approved by the Principal.
QUALITIES
- Honest and reliable
- Safe driving record
- Ability to relate to youth
- Ability to follow instructions and to use professional initiative
- Clean and tidy appearance
OTHER
- NO use of cell phones whilst driving.
- NO smoking in the vehicle.
- Drivers must be in a sound state of health to safely transport students and not be impaired in any way.
- The successful applicant must have a satisfactory Police Vet Report.
- The successful applicant must sign and adhere to the Karamea Area School Code of Conduct.