PSA and your delegates met with management on 10 October 2024 for the SafeWork Consultative Sub-Committee meeting and the weekly SafeWork Restructure meeting.
At the restructure meeting we discussed the EOI process for RSOs, role flexibility and location. SafeWork are determined that RSOs will still have to follow the EOI process despite strong lobbying by both your union and your local delegate, Louisa Burns, who continues to advocate on behalf of her fellow RSOs.
PSA is continuing discussions with SafeWork around support for RSOs going through the EOI process.
We were also advised that SafeWork would like to have the structure in place by 8 November 2024 but there is no confirmation of this date yet.
In the Consultative Sub-Committee meeting the following matters were discussed:
Recruitment
The Executive process has been completed. The internal process for 11/12 and 9/10 candidates has also been completed and people are being informed. EOIs for the 5/6 and 7/8 roles have closed. EOIs are now open for the 3/ 4 roles.
PSA asked if people were going to stage 4 (external recruitment) of the restructure without having gone through mobility. Management will look into this and come back to us.
Workplace Health and Safety
There was no one available to do the briefing. Your union advised that it will reach out to Safety and Wellbeing around options available for employees who feel distressed over the recruitment process for the restructure.
Body-worn cameras
Your union is pleased to advise that a request was made for exemption for SafeWork Inspectors under the Surveillance Act. A regulation will be made this year with a trial period of 2 years. This means that, thanks to the lobbying of your union, Inspectors will be able to wear body-worn cameras again.
Consistency Around Decision Making the Deputy Secretary raised concern at the lack of consistency around application of the Award conditions. They are already looking at policies around vehicles and are also looking at both reasonable and ergonomic adjustments being advised during onboarding which will allow for better support for new Inspectors.
PSA will keep Consistency Around Decision Making as an item on the agenda for the next meeting and will work with management in the meantime.
The next meeting will take place in December 2024.
If you have matters that you wish to raise either in the restructure meeting or the consultative sub-committee, please contact your local delegates in the first instance: