PSA thanks Delegates and members at Resilience NSW for raising concerns in relation to the Disaster Relief Grant process. There were various aspects raised with management at Thursday’s Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) in relation to this issue, but the one requiring the most urgent action relates to staff safety.

The PSA has been advised by members that employees in the regions are being directed to perform duties without adequate training and without proper assessment of the potential risk to staff. We understand that without appropriate levels of training staff at Resilience NSW are being directed onto rural properties to assess the level of disaster assistance that can be provided to individuals who are often dealing with significant levels of trauma.

The PSA is aware of the passion and care our members put into their work, and the value provided to the community but working in isolated areas has a multitude of possible dangers. Proper training and effective risk management factors are essential.

Several scenarios that could results in injury or harm to employees were discussed at our PSA members’ meeting and further articulated to management during the JCC. The PSA aims to be a constructive force to see this issue resolved with the safety and wellbeing of staff in mind.

The PSA has written to Resilience NSW to request urgent resolution of this matter.

While we hope that in bringing this matter to management’s attention, proper support and training will hence forth be provided to staff, the PSA reminds members they have the right to cease unsafe work under Section 84 of the Work Health Safety Act if there is a reasonable concern that to carry out the work would expose the worker to a serious risk to the worker’s health or safety.

Where PSA members feel they have no option but to cease unsafe work they should contact the PSA for further advice and refer to Section 86 of the WHS Act to ensure they are not exposed to misconduct allegations. Members can contact their delegates, PSA Organiser Amy Lennox or the Member Support Centre quoting 175397 for this matter for further advice.

Apart from the immediate safety aspects of this matter we also raised other points for future discussion including concerns regarding changes to Role Descriptions.

In less dramatic news, the PSA would like to formally congratulate Pete Christie and Adam Tran on being re-election as PSA Delegates for 2022. The PSA could not effectively advocate for members in Resilience NSW without them and we sincerely thank them for their contribution to the movement.