NSW must catch up to other states with public service mental health plan

MEDIA RELEASE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 The Public Service Association has today called on the NSW Government to introduce a mental health plan for all public sector workers to address soaring rates of mental illness. Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland all have mental health plans for their public services. “More people develop mental illness working for the New South Wales Government than at…

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Violence at Cobham overnight the latest in juvenile justice crisis

Three officers at Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre were assaulted overnight, highlighting the daily violence workers face across NSW's juvenile justice system. On Wednesday morning staff at Cobham held a stop-work meeting, following an assault by an A1B class inmate (high-risk offender). On Tuesday night, two officers were bitten and punched, and a third had blood spat on his face. General secretary of the Public Service…

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Corrections Officer Day Friday 18th January 2019

A statement from the Prison Officers Association of Australasia (POAA) "Last year, every State and Territory in Australia celebrated the 3rd Friday in January as “National Corrections Officer Day”. We are pleased to say that from 2019, this day will be acknowledged in New Zealand by the Corrections Association of New Zealand, and we hope that next year the government will follow suit. Corrections Officers…

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PSA to comment on Goulburn Correctional Complex industrial action following spate of inmate violence

Stewart Little, General Secretary of the Public Service Association, will be available to comment and take questions regarding industrial action at Goulburn Correctional Complex.   Date:       Friday, 8 March Time:       2.30pm Place:      Back of State Parliament, Sydney (Tree of Knowledge) Contact:  Suze Metherell 0412 867 084   Background: Since a judge's decision to reverse Bassam Hamzy's 20-month sentence extension for bashing…

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PSA comment on IRC direction concerning NSW correctives strike

The following statement can be attributed to a Public Service Association spokesperson: “On Thursday 28 February 2019 Acting Judge Stuart Graham issued a decision quashing the conviction against Bassam Hamzy in August 2017 for an assault on a prison officer within the Goulburn Correctional Complex. “Subsequently, the Department have also given a direction that officers may not impose behaviour management plans against violent and dangerous…

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