News Flash

PSA Industrial Officer, Margie Lindley, has attended several meetings over the past few weeks within the Directorate of Ambulatory & Primary Health Care Service (A&PHCS), meeting members to discuss their concerns with the current reform process. The PSA also attended a meeting with Executive Director, Michelle Noort. Concerns discussed were the lack of consultation, implications for staff where it is proposed they move to another geographical area, ceasing of major community projects and excessive workload issues.

The PSA has written to Executive Director, Michelle Noort outlining members' questions and concerns. Management has made a commitment to the PSA that these questions and concerns will be answered in a question and answer format and distributed via a communique to A&PHCS. Some of the concerns that were raised are:

• The lack of consultation/communication with the community regarding the moving or changing of services being offered

• The significant reduction in services/programs for disadvantaged South Australians

• The 'transitioning'/cutting of major projects such as Man Alive (men's health initiative) and African Young Men's program

• The ceasing of contracts and non replacement of staff

• Workload issues due to non replacement of staff

• Non backfilling of reception staff so social workers are required to attend reception desks and answer phones

• Staff within Primary Health Care are now required to move from a holistic health & well being approach to a narrow physical health focus only.

These are just a small number of the concerns outlined to management. If you wish PSA Industrial Officer to attend your workplace for a meeting during a lunch time, or if you have concerns that you wish addressed, please contact Margie Lindley via email on mcl@cpsu.asn.au

30 October 2009