The PSA recently met with Strategy Reform and Support for the Joint Consultative Committee. The following issues were discussed.
Deputy rostering system
Strategy Reform and Support have advised that two pilot programs have been completed, involving court reporters at Castlereagh Street and Parramatta. The pilot program has been expanded by a further four court reporters, bringing the total number of participants to eight. Most inquiries relate to system use and navigation rather than technical issues. Strategy Reform and Support advised that the pilot will continue to expand progressively, with all Court Reporters expected to be onboarded before Christmas, subject to ongoing pilot outcomes.
Relocation, operational efficiency, and travel between locations
The PSA raised concerns regarding the efficiency of Court Reporters, including:
- travel time between locations;
- transcription arrangements;
- the use of touchdown spaces; and
- the potential impact on service delivery and transcript production.
Strategy Reform and Support advised that the operating model remains under review and that service delivery requirements will continue to guide rostering arrangements, workspace utilisation and operational planning. It was noted that touchdown spaces and flexible work arrangements will form part of ongoing planning and consultation activities.
Court Reporters will be allocated a desk at Civic and a touchdown space at Law Court. Working from home may be possible if there are not enough desks at the Law Courts.
Opal cards can be provided for travel.
Storage, equipment and work health and safety
Discussion occurred regarding transportation of stenography equipment, laptops and work-related items between locations, together with storage requirements for equipment, reference materials and personal belongings. Concerns were raised regarding manual handling requirements.
Strategy Reform and Support advised that risk assessments have been undertaken and will continue to be reviewed as relocation planning progresses. Storage requirements, workplace equipment and touchdown space arrangements continue to be considered as part of the workplace design and relocation planning process.
Fifteen lockers have been provided at Law Courts. No individually allocated lockers.
Court reporting work allocation and operating model
The PSA raised questions regarding future court reporting arrangements, including transcription locations, trial allocations, work across court jurisdictions, team allocations, flexible working arrangements and the potential impact of travel between locations on transcript production and service delivery. The PSA also sought clarification on whether the relocation would result in changes to the work undertaken by Court Reporters and noted a preference for transcription to occur close to where court reporting duties are performed.
Strategy Reform and Support confirmed that no changes are currently proposed to the core duties performed by Court Reporters. Work allocation and rostering arrangements will continue to be considered as part of the broader operating model review. Strategy Reform and Support advised that consultation had occurred with the Supreme Court and other relevant jurisdictions regarding the proposed relocation and that operational impacts would continue to be monitored. Strategy Reform and Support advised that Hospital Road was not considered a suitable option and that the proposed arrangements at Law Courts provide the most appropriate accommodation to support court reporting operations.
Relocation timing
The PSA sought clarification on the timeframe for the relocation. Activities are currently planned for late November 2026.
Casual workforce utilisation
The PSA raised concerns regarding the utilisation of casual employees and the potential impact on operational coverage and transcript production.
Strategy Reform and Support advised that casual employees will continue to be engaged where operationally required. It was clarified that the intent is not to reduce casual staffing levels, but to utilise casual resources more efficiently by aligning engagement to operational demand. SRS also advised that additional casual recruitment is currently being considered.
Workplace design and facilities
The PSA raised concerns regarding workplace facilities associated with the relocation, including toilet facilities, workstation arrangements, access to supervisors, desk allocations, storage capacity and noise impacts within dual remote monitoring areas.
Strategy Reform and Support advised that proposed occupancy levels comply with applicable workplace design requirements and that amenity ratios had been considered as part of the design process. It was noted that not all staff would be present on the floor at the same time.
The PSA raised concerns about the current standard of cleaning on Level 18 and highlighted the importance of maintaining appropriate cleanliness standards following the relocation. Strategy Reform and Support agreed to review cleaning arrangements.
PSA raised concerns regarding potential noise impacts on dual remote monitoring arrangements. Strategy Reform and Support advised that acoustic treatments form part of the workplace design and that measures are being incorporated to address acoustic requirements within the area.
The PSA also sought clarification regarding the proposed relocation of supervisors. Strategy Reform and Support advised that supervisors would remain accessible to staff within the operational area, despite the revised workspace layout.
Concerns were also raised regarding additional desks and workspace arrangements, including the potential impact on existing workstation setups and WHS requirements. Strategy Reform and Support confirmed that staff would retain allocated desks at Civic and that touchdown workspaces would be utilised separately to support operational requirements at court locations.