The Public Service Association (PSA) Brief dated 18 December 2007 and titled “SA Health Safe Conduct and Respectful Behaviour Taskforce”, advised members of the establishment of the Taskforce.

The Taskforce was established in response to a recognised growing risk in the workplace to South Australian Health staff of violent and aggressive behaviour from non-employees, in particular, patients. The terms of reference have been expanded to include bullying of staff by other staff.

The PSA has always been concerned about the health and welfare of its members, and especially the issues of security and bullying, and welcomes this Taskforce. This Taskforce currently comprises 19 members, and is chaired by Etienne Scheepers, (Executive Director, Workforce Development) and includes representatives from the major health unions, with Senior Industrial Officer Ian D Peak representing PSA members.

The terms of reference for this task force now includes:

“Purpose

Taskforce will establish mechanisms that:

Identify incidents that have a negative impact on workplace safety, physical and psychological wellbeing that are related to three distinct domains:

• patient-staff incidents, which includes factors that may result in inappropriate, aggressive or violent behaviours

• staff to staff interactions that may impact on psychological and physical health, including disrespectful behaviours, and those which may results in bullying and harassment claims

• workplace factors that impact negatively on psychological and physical health (such as workplace stress or disrespectful workplace behaviours)”

An initial task of the committee will be to collect data on the types and extent of incidents. The PSA has pointed out that many employees do not report incidents, therefore the problem could be wider than any collected data will show.

The PSA is therefore requesting that members put in Incident Reports for all occurrences to assist in developing a database.

It is also recognised that where bullying by a manager or more senior officer is concerned, there is often reluctance and concern about reporting this. Again the PSA recommends that members fill out Incident Reports. Information can also be given to Ian Peak, to raise at meetings.

There are five working parties, and the following report was tabled as the meeting of the Safe Conduct and Respectful Behaviour Taskforce held on 14 January 2008:

• “The Policy and Documentation working party have met and are working through existing portfolio wide policies and procedure. The aim is to collate documentation by type, location and currency. Another meeting has not been scheduled.

• Communication working party scheduled to meet 18/1/08.

• Data and Reporting working party scheduled to meet 22/1/08.

• Literature Review and Research working party scheduled to meet 24/1/08.

• Education and Training working party have had their first meeting; no date for the next meeting has been scheduled.”

All of these working parties would welcome additional members and the PSA is seeking members who wish to participate in these working parties. The comments that members emailed to Ian in response to the Brief dated 18 December 2007 were helpful, and were raised in the meeting on 14 January 2008. Further comments will be appreciated.

The Taskforce will be meeting monthly during 2008. The next Taskforce meeting will be held on Monday 11 February 2008.

Please direct any comments, queries and nominations for the working parties to PSA Senior Industrial Office Ian D. Peak by email: ian@cpsu.asn.au

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS IN HEALTH