News Flash

  
PSA Representatives met with the Minister for Education and Child Development, the Hon. Grace Portolesi on Tuesday, 31 January 2012.

The PSA was represented by President Lindsay Oxlad, General Secretary Jan McMahon, PSA Councillors Marg Tonkin and Monte Leverington,  Chief Industrial Officer Peter Christopher, a representative group of PSA members and PSA Industrial Officers.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss a number of key issues with the Minister.

School Services Officers discussed issues including;

Workloads - As a result of the Teachers and Leaders workload review it is likely that a number of duties that are currently done by Teachers will be passed to SSOs.  SSOs are already stretched to the limit. If extra duties are to fall to SSOs there needs to be more resources allocated to schools. 

Classification issues - The process for reclassification is too cumbersome and takes too long. There is a disproportionate number of SSO 1s compared to Level 1 positions in other Government Agencies. 

SSO 6 - To date there is no Position Information Document for SSO 6 classification.  This new classification was included in the SSO Award in 2009.

Allied Health Professional Officers discussed issues including;

Consultation - Need to improve consultation between management and members within the Agency, including matters at the local level. In regard to the integration between Families SA and existing Education and Child Services functions, a high level of consultation is essential to ensure the best outcomes are achieved.

Workloads - Variety of issues relating to workloads and case loads were discussed. It was acknowledged that the need for services was growing. Members highlighted the need for early intervention and adequate staffing but also the need to continue providing services to children and families once the initial crisis or incidents were addressed. 

Alternative Care - Finding suitable placements for children during "Mad March", where accommodation shortages exist in Adelaide, will provide a unique set of circumstances which highlights the increasing pressures on the Child Protection & Alternative Care systems.

The PSA will provide further information to the Minister on the matters raised.

The PSA welcomed the attendance by the Minister to this forum to hear directly from PSA members delivering Government programs and looks forward to working with the Minister on addressing these issues.

The Minister agreed to future regular meetings with the Public Service Association.

   

  2 February 2012