The quarterly Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting  was held on 31 March 2025 for Northern NSW (NNSW), Mid North Coast (MNC) and New England (NE) and was attended by the PSA, your elected Delegates and Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) leadership.

This meeting serves as an important platform for discussions on various matters affecting our members in this District. Below are the key highlights:

Petty Cash

In the December JCC delegates raised issues with being reimbursed money spent on clients. Issues include the time-consuming process.

The PSA asked if there was any plan to remove petty cash from Community Service Centres (CSC). Your union was advised that, to reduce the petty cash floats due to low usage, there was a statewide process, which was to be done in consultation with individual CSCs. It was taken on notice that the Executive District Director (EDD) would discuss this with the management group to ensure that each CSC has a process in place to mitigate against some of the challenges.

Further discussion at the JCC highlighted that some delegates do not have access to petty cash. The EDD stated floats have been reduced only and an audit is taking place regarding the use of petty cash and gift cards.

As recently as this week, the PSA has been contacted by a delegate to raise concerns on that there is no longer petty cash at their CSC, which impedes the reimbursement process. The PSA is disappointed to see this is still an issue and will bring this up again at the next JCC. In the meantime, delegates are to meet with their Manager Client Services and discuss what processes have been put in place to mitigate against these challenges. Members are encouraged to provide any feedback you receive to the PSA.

Members are reminded the Department is responsible for ad-hoc costs for young people and families. If you are unable to be reimbursed in a reasonable time frame, either use a p-card or do not spend your own money.

Staffing

DCJ reports that NE is still facing the toughest challenges with recruitment, with a vacancy rate of 36 caseworkers. NNSW have a vacancy rate of nine caseworkers from the Lismore office and MNC is over numbers.

The District Director confirmed she has provided direction that each district can go over 15 Caseworkers. Delegates stated staff are leaving due to excessive caseload. The PSA has asked for a standard agenda item for the JCC is a discussion on why staff are leaving.

Ballina CSC closure

The PSA requested an update as to when staff will be able to collect their belongings. The EDD advised that a hygienist would complete a clearance, then arrangements will be made for staff to collect their belongings. The PSA has raised ongoing concerns about the building and that DCJ have sent staff back into the site without the structural remediation fixed.

It is the PSA view that if this site is remediated as per hygienist recommendations, then DCJ should consider moving back to this site.

Disaster Welfare

Recent weather events and the need for Community Services to run evacuation centers highlighted that DCJ still has not ratified the Disaster Welfare Award or created a specific time sheet for staff who work at evacuation centres. A positive was that overtime was paid promptly compared to last time when there was a considerable time delay. Clarification questions were asked, and the EDD took this on notice.

Members are reminded that when deployed to Disaster Welfare, Flexible Working Hours are suspended and any time worked over seven hours in a day is subject to Over Time Provisions.

Agile worksites

Concern was raised about the new agile worksites, including a time-consuming booking system. There are also concerns that the requirement to pack desks every night meant lugging heavy equipment around, placing staff at risk of physical injuries.

Other issues include excessive noise, the absence of offices for managers and a lack of permanent desks. The EDD said she will speak to Director Community Services and Manager Client Services at those sites to see if they can come up with a strategy to address these concerns.

New flexible working policy

While this was not discussed at the JCC, the new policy has caused confusion in this district. The PSA considers it members in Community Services to be frontline staff. However, in regards to this policy DCJ have advised the PSA it thinks otherwise.

While many of the positions require face-to-face contact with clients, your union believes there is also a significant amount of administration work that can be completed under Flexible Work conditions. This means staff can access all Flexible Work practices including working from home.

The PSA encourages members to read the policy in its entirety and not rely on individual management interpretation. If they need clarification, they should contact the PSA. Considering there is not enough desk spaces for all staff in some CSCs,  it is not realistic to demand staff return to the office five days per week. Nor is it DCJ policy.

Workload Planner

The PSA raised concerns there are staff who completed their Workload Planner and have more than the 140 hours directed in the Workload Planner. PSA members are advised to not agree to this and contact PSA for support.

The next JCC meeting is scheduled for 26 June. Members are encouraged to speak to their local Delegates to raise any issues and have your voices heard.

Contacts 

Member Support Centre
1800 772 679

Stephen Mears Regional Organiser

Michael Smart Regional Organiser

Rebecca Reilly Regional Organiser