Important Community Services survey: COVID-19 and working from home

The PSA has been contacted by members raising questions and concerns around different approaches being taken by across regions, CSC’s and in some cases teams within the same CSC.  These issues range from unnecessary barriers to staff to work from home, including the requirements needed for approval, to application of safety protocols. In order to demonstrate clearly what is occurring across the state, the PSA…

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Reporting Services Branch: working from home

The PSA was advised by members that they were directed to work standard hours (seven hours per day without the ability to accrue flex time) while working from home. Following these reports, the PSA contacted the Department of Communities and Justice on 15 April 2020 and stated, as per the Flexible Working Hours Agreement, flexible working hours remain in place regardless of whether a member…

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Office of Emergency Management: move to Department of Premier and Cabinet

Further to the members’ meeting held on 14 April 2020, the PSA requested answers to the following questions from the OEM: How many individuals will be affected by the move to DPC? How many people will lose their jobs? How many people will need to reapply for their jobs? Are roles being deleted, if so which ones? Will there be a physical relocation? Will there…

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Work Health and Safety issues

The PSA met with the Office of Emergency Management on 16 April 2020 following reports of significant Work Health and Safety (WHS) issues members have endured; particularly overwork and fatigue. At the meeting, the PSA identified that adequate systems for dealing with WHS matters were required to manage and ensure safe working practices. The PSA proposed that the OEM allocate dedicated resources to WHS matters.…

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Fisheries: FOVB votes on partial lifting of work bans

Members would be aware of the current work ban regarding work under Acts such as the Biosecurity Act and the EPBC Act where the lawful use and carriage of batons and handcuffs was uncertain and separate to the normal compliance functions under the Fisheries Management Act 1994. The work bans were introduced because Fisheries Compliance Management (FCM), since mid 2017, has not provided the PSA/FOVB with any certainty as to…

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