The Public Service Association (PSA) Industrial Officer, Sue Cummins, and Senior Industrial Officer, Ian Peak met with SA Health on Thursday 14 May 2009, in relation to progressing private practice arrangements for Psychologists working in health. The Psychologists Association of SA (PASA) were also in attendance as the professional body.

In 2006 the “Social Inclusion Action Plan for Mental Health Reform 2007-2012” Report at Recommendation 23 stated - “The Department of Health should negotiate private practice rights for psychologists to enhance their career development and support recruitment and retention. Other allied health professionals should be encouraged to negotiate similar private practice rights.”

The SA Government in 2006 endorsed the direction of the Social Inclusion Board's recommendations for reform of South Australia's Mental Health System, which included Recommendation 23.

The PSA first met with the Department of Health on this issue on 6 February 2007. This issue has been reported to members via various briefs. The PSA and the Department of Health agreed that the best way forward was to initially achieve agreement for Psychologists employed within Health and later this would be expanded to other professionals and other government departments.

A half day workshop was held in early February 2009 with PASA and PSA, enabling SA Health to gain a good understanding of the critical issues involved, e.g fixed hours.

The Government has rejected the proposal to have a similar system as applies to Medical Specialists. This is partly because Medical Specialists work no fixed hours. There is also no State/Commonwealth Health Care Agreement for groups other than Medical Specialists.

Rights of Private Practice do not currently apply in other States of Australia.

SA Health, have put forward a proposal to introduce Private Practice Arrangements for Psychologists within existing employment conditions by way of Voluntary Flexible Working Arrangements (VFWA) for existing working hours, Clause 9 of the South Australian Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2006. This could be working a compressed week for normal hours of work and having a day that could be for private practice in external hours. This would allow for the use of departmental facilities for a cost to be determined. Other working arrangements could be using flexi-time core hours, seeing patients between 12 noon and 2 pm, or after 4pm, or on a Saturday. These agreements would also be available for part time workers.

A clear policy and guidelines would need to be developed to ensure that rights and responsibilities were clear. These would be developed in consultation with the PSA. Once agreed these arrangements could become an appendix to the Enterprise Agreement. The PSA will be including the rights to participate in private practice arrangements in the coming enterprise bargaining claim.

PSA's aim is to achieve the best outcome for Clinical Psychologists, Psychologists and other health professionals. The intent is then to expand Private Practice Arrangements to other eligible health professionals.

For any queries or comments please contact PSA Industrial Officer, Sue Cummins, on
8205 3260 or sc@cpsu.asn.au