On Friday 5 March 2021, PSA Delegates, PSA industrial staff and NCAT management met for the quarterly Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting.
Agenda items discussed were:
CCD Sydney vacancies
Vacant Grade 5/6 Team Leader role that has been advertised as an expression of interest. A Grade 1/2 that became vacant at the end of February due to the incumbent securing a Grade 3/4 role will be filled using the talent pool.
Parramatta staffing
NCAT Parramatta was officially opened by the Attorney General on 15 February 2021. Both staff and Tribunal members are happy with the new facilities. There are four hearing rooms and regular sitting patterns for all divisions are being established.
PSA Organiser Alex Sala will be visiting these premises on 29 March during lunchtime and hopes to meet as many of you as possible. A notice will be sent out shortly.
Work Health and Safety
Jo Kaye, PSA Delegate raised an issue about risks associated with the CCD Sydney compactus. David Harradine, PSA Delegate said this issue was managed by raising staff awareness to check whether anyone else was using the compactus at the time. It was also suggested signage might help staff remember to make these checks.
Justice Link
Jo Kaye, PSA Delegate advised that the CCD sound recording staff can’t access the appeal files on Justice Link. Since the meeting the Executive Director/ Principal Registrar has advised she is arranging system access for the relevant staff.
Flexible work
Chris Moore, PSA Delegate asked if some flexible work/work from home (WFH) arrangements would be able to continue once COVID-19 restrictions ease. The Executive Director/ Principal Registrar advised that Corporate Human Resources was working on policies to guide WFH arrangements. She noted that a number of considerations will be taken into account including client needs, team needs and personal needs. NCAT is still conducting limited in-person hearings, but as this changes there will be increased need for hearing support and counter service. She noted that while the 1.5m distancing requirement continues, the building lifts remain an issue to efficiently moving people between floors. There was general discussion that the increased use of AVL for hearings seemed to be working well.
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday 18 June 2021
If you would like to raise anything that is of concern, or if you have any questions, please contact your workplace delegates Jo Kaye, Christopher Moore and David Harradine. You can also contact your PSA Organiser Alex Sala on 0439 443 851 or my email . You can also call the Member Support Centre on 1300 772 679.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Please encourage a colleague who is not a member to join today at psa.asn.au/join.
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