Family and Community Services – Meeting with Minister re Housing

Recently, the Minister for Family and Community Services, Brad Hazzard, invited PSA General Secretary Anne Gardiner to meet to discuss issues related to Housing.

The meeting occurred last week and PSA staff were accompanied by a Housing delegate.

Matters discussed included:

• work overload and resulting stress

• the use of agency staff

• difficulties arising from the new Broadspectrum maintenance contract, including increased queries and complaints as well as the inability of Housing staff to access relevant information

• the need for consultation with staff before relocation is considered.

During the meeting, Minister Hazzard undertook to ask the Department to review the concerns that the union raised. He expressed surprise at the number of agency staff rather than temporary staff being employed by Housing.

The PSA highlighted the distress of some staff in Housing due to work overload. The Minister appeared genuinely concerned by this.

A further update will be provided to PSA members once the Department has provided a response to the Minister regarding the above issues.