PSA staff and delegates have maintained a regular consultation meeting schedule throughout this year with the Department’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), and the Executive Director of the Transformation Program. It also remains a standing agenda item at our Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meetings for tracking updates and addressing any issues arising.

Where is the Transformation Support Services three-year program up to?

The Department of Education’s Transformation of Corporate Support Services Program is a three-year undertaking and we are in year one.

Design phase

As you may be aware, the Transformation Support Services (TSS) overarching design phase is complete. Design materials were shared with staff and the PSA over a consultation period and the virtual Town Hall meeting held by the COO provided opportunity for Q&A and compilation of feedback.

PSSE Recruitment

The Senior Executive (PSSE) Restructure/Recruitment piece has required executives at Band 1 and Band 2 to undertake a comprehensive recruitment application process, if they wish to be placed in a role in the new ‘transformed’ structure. The PSA has been advised that no non-executive staff are subject to deletion in this process. Some non-executive teams and/or individuals will find themselves reappointed to a new manager but the impact on roles will be minimal and we are assured that staff have made significant contributions to the design of how the teams are reasonably reappointed in accordance with workflow.

PSA staff and delegates had a TSS meeting on 16 November to be updated on the PSSE restructure and were informed that the internal recruitment will be finalised shortly. The Department will then go out to external recruitment where these executive roles have not been filled. We understand the Chief Operating Officer intends to conduct another “all staff” virtual Town Hall session later this month, to update staff and report on feedback that has been incorporated.

Consultation with the PSA over the next phase

We have another meeting scheduled for early December. This will ensure we finish up the year with full visibility of the next steps of the TSS Program and will devise a schedule of meetings for 2022.

In December the PSA will be formally invited to engage in a ‘proof of concept’ before moving on to further engagement on specific pieces of work being undertaken as part of the TSS. The PSA will ensure delegate/member representation from both corporate Education and Schools on Customer Service Panels and specific pieces of work, as they arise.  

Thank you to Delegates

The PSA would like to take the opportunity to thank your Departmental Committee Delegates for their attendance at regular TSS meetings throughout this year and for their valuable contributions and feedback from members. The PSA has high visibility and engagement in this process. The Chief Operating Officer and Transformation Executive certainly know who the PSA Delegates are, and have been receptive to our constructive feedback throughout. We will maintain this high level of engagement in the new year and throughout the process.

The PSA is aware that there are currently more than “100 initiatives” for the first plateau of the TSS program. The time frames have changed somewhat due to pandemic disruption but expect there to be a relaunch of the TSS Program goals and undertakings in the new year.

PSA staff and Delegates will continue our engagement with the Department over the life of the Transformation program and we look forward to providing some briefing session to members in 2022, once the substantive pieces of work that may impact members are due to commence.

Know someone who isn’t a member?

To advance the interests of PSA members in the Department of Education, feel free to share this bulletin with your colleagues and encourage them to JOIN the PSA today.

To log any concerns or questions please contact the PSA Member Support Centre on 1300 772 679.