HR INCLUDING OH&S AND WORKERS COMPENSATION ALSO PROCUREMENT AND I.T. MAY GO TO SHARED SERVICES

The PSA issued a brief to members on 12/8/2008. This brief outlined the Government intention to transfer payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable services from health to Shared Services office within the Department of Treasury and Finance in mid November 2008. The government has many other areas under consideration. These areas include all of Human Resources and procurement as well as Information Technology (IT). IT has recently consolidated into one unit in health and there are no imminent plans to transfer to Treasury and Finance Shared Services.

In 2007 both the Treasury and the Health Minister announced that there would be a separate whole of health shared services. This was subsequently changed to a whole of government shared service, subsuming health. Any services which can be centralised will be considered.

PSA's concern in addition to the adverse effect on members transferring to Department of Treasury and Finance, is with the reduction and decline of direct services to other PSA members in health as well as to doctors and nurses. All employees within hospitals and health units are part of the hospital community, who understand what services are provided and who are available to other hospital employees on site.

Eventually the functions of payroll, accounts payable/receivable, HR, procurement etc will be provided by centrally based employees who have never worked in hospitals or health units.

The PSA's preference is to retain the status quo. That is for government to be aware of the benefits of these services being provided on site within the Health Unit and rescind the decision to centralise.

The benefits for all health employees and local communities in the country of retaining these functions are obvious

The PSA is gathering information from its members of the financial and other disadvantages that a move into a central city based shared services will cause. Much information has already been provided to the government, but PSA is still gathering information. A form for this purpose is available here. You could also contact your MP individually with a cc to the PSA.

PSA was initially gathering information from payroll members, but it is important that all members potentially affected provide information to the PSA to assist PSA in advocating on your behalf.

For any enquiries contact Senior Industrial Officer Ian D Peak on 8205 3294 or email: ian@cpsu.asn.au.

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