The Public Service Association met with members concerned about the impact of Public Health Orders (PHO) for the 12 Local Government Areas of Concern (LGA) and working from home. The PHO is clear in that it affects essential workers who reside in an LGA of concern and are required to leave the LGA for work.

As Helpline Staff have been working from home since the beginning of the pandemic, with no clear view on when this will change and Helpline staff will be asked to return to the office, there is little chance that a request to leave an LGA would come.

To support those members, the PSA wrote to the Department of Community and Justice, Community Services Statewide Services (CS), seeking that there is no direction for them to abide by that PHO as they would not be breaching it working from home. The letter can be viewed here.

There is no dispute on the Risk Assessment undertaken by DCJ that takes effect from 25 October 2021.

Unfortunately, DCJ have taken a hard line and declined to accept our position. They have raised that with the current high risk and large number of authorised workers in CS isolating due to either contracting or being exposed to COVID-19, there is an increased chance they may rely on Helpline workers to assist as needed. The letter can be viewed here.

It remains our view that the direction of DCJ towards its workforce goes above and beyond the requirements of the PHO in relation to our members living and working in areas of concern. The PSA will continue to support all our members through this difficult time.