News Flash

On 19 June 2011, the Public Service Association(PSA) hosted the regular Industrial Liaison Forum(ILF). The ILF is an opportunity for PSA and other unions to maintain effective communication and provide feedback to the Department on a variety of matters. It is also the appropriate forum to have matters addressed that have not been able to be satisfactorily resolved at a local level.  The PSA is in the process of establishing a similar Forum for Intake, Assessment and Resource Allocation(IARA). Watch this space.

This forum has changed PSA membership due to the creation of the new Department for Families and Communities (DFC) Division, Community and Home Support SA. This is the forum for the Disability and Domiciliary Care Services arm of the new division. PSA is represented by Sheila Corcoran(AHP Stream Rep), Renee Grootenboer(OPS Stream Rep) and Margaret McLellan(ASO Stream Rep). The Executive Director of Disability and Domiciliary Care Services, chairs the ILF and DFC Human Resources and Management representatives also attend. Members are encouraged to contact the the PSA Representatives to enable them to raise members' issues and present member feedback to the ILF.

Some key points of discussion were:

Occupational, Health, Safety & Welfare:
DFC Project Officer presented the revised OHS&W intranet site and functions. The site contains Committee updates, information updates and modules for Managers to learn and implement within their worksites. Members are encouraged to become OHS&W Representatives should their worksite not have one and to actively participate in their relevant committees. At this stage the intranet site is operational for Disability staff. Dom Care also have access to their OHS&W systems.

Local Regional Consultative Meetings:
These local meetings will soon be established to ensure that local matters have an appropriate forum for members address issues. These Committees will also provide opportunities for the agency to communicate with workers from their respective regions.

AHP Peer Assessment:
DFC Human Resources provided an update on Peer Assessment application process. 40 applications were received with some requiring further information. It is important that members provide this information to ensure that they have maximised their opportunity to progress. PSA reminds members that back payments are assured from 18 January 2011 for successful applicants. PSA is able to support unsuccessful applicants to appeal the decision. It is also important to note that unsuccessful applicants must be performance managed to succeed in progressing.

Role of Union Representatives :
This mater had been raised at the peak DFC Industrial Relations Forum and concerns comments made by management and HR consultants, to PSA and other Union's representatives when attending meetings with members. Worksite Representatives report that they are often told  that PSA Representatives cannot speak during the meetings etc and are only there to offer emotional support to their members. This is not the case. PSA Representatives are more than "support people", they are Industrial Advocates and under legislation have the same authority to represent members as do PSA Industrial Officers. It is important that PSA Representatives contact their Industrial Officer should this occur in the future.

The next ILF will be held on 19 October 2011.