In 2005 the Public Service Association was negotiating with the Intellectual Disability Services Council (IDSC), now part of Disability SA (DSA), working on behalf of members who were classified in the Operational Services Stream, as Options Coordinators (now Service Coordinators), who had studied disability programs at university for them to be recognised and classified in the Professional Officers' Stream.

When DSA was established the above matter stalled, whilst a new organisational structure was implemented. The PSA wrote to the Executive Director of DSA in late 2006 and to Public Sector Workforce Relations (PSWR) in early 2007 to progress this matter. PSA sought a variation to Schedule 3 of the SA Public Sector Salaried Employees Interim Award, to include the occupational group of Developmental Educators within the Professional Officers Stream and Commissioner's Standard 2 (Quality Staffing).

The PSA was advised by PSWR that they were seeking advice from the Department for Families & Communities (DFC), as to whether the Flinders University Bachelor of Disability and Community Rehabilitation qualification was essential. It was a concern of the PSA that this stage of the investigation was taking too long to complete, as Mr Richard Bruggemann, Chief Executive of IDSC, had already agreed that this should occur. DFC finally advised PSWR in April 2009 that they would support the inclusion of the qualification on the list of recognised qualifications within the PO Stream.

The PSA recently met with PSWR after formally writing again to progress this matter as there are no more impediments (a recently completed Section 99 Review of the Intellectual Disability Services Award having Developmental Educators removed from that Award), to the inclusion of the professional occupational group of Developmental Educators within the above Award. PSWR are undertaking a series of 'tests' and assured the PSA that this will now be a priority matter.

The PSA has made application for the other disability agencies (eg Minda, Novita) where PSA members are employed as Developmental Educators to follow the public sector, who intimated that they were waiting upon the State Government's response.

For enquiries contact PSA Industrial Officer, Sue Cummins on 8205 3260 or email sc@cpsu.asn.au