News Flash

Public Service Association (PSA) lodged a dispute with the Department for Families and Communities (DFC) in October 2010 raising concerns about the lack of meaningful consultation regarding the implementation of the Peer Assessment Process for the Allied Health Professional (AHP) level 1 to level 2 employees, as outlined in the Enterprise Agreement 2010. The department finally agreed to meet with PSA on 21 December 2010 to discuss the draft PSA proposal.

The document outlines a process for the AHP level 2, increment level 1 staff who are eligible to apply for assessment after 14 January 2011 to undertake the same process as that agreed between the PSA and the Department of Health. The proposal acknowledges the length of service and expertise displayed by staff who were translated from PO1, increment level 6 and 7 into the Allied Health Professional Stream in January 2010. This particular group has already been assessed through a process outlined in the Enterprise Agreement 2006.

DFC have now agreed that this group of employees (whose incremental date is 14 January 2010) will be able to apply for progression to the next increment level via a modified process.

PSA has also been advised by DFC that the Guidelines for Peer Assessment Process for all eligible staff will now be available in January 2011.

PSA has already negotiated with DFC that no member will be disadvantaged by the delay in the Peer Assessment process and the date of eligibility applies retrospectively if the applicant is successful.

22 December 2010