please cut text

APRIL- JUNE 2021

LEARNING OR INVISIBLE WOUNDS EARNING? Post Traumatic Universities after Stress Disorder in COVID-19 the workplace PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF NSW/CPSU NSW POST OFFICE APPROVED PP 255003/01563 ISSNPOST 1030-0740 OFFICE APPROVED PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF NSW/CPSU NSW PP 255003/01563 ISSN 1030-0740 FSS0124_Press FP_Brand_Red Tape Public Serivce_210x275mm+3_v03_Turbine.indd 1 11/3/21 2:18 pm please cut text

YOUR UNION

APRIL- JUNE 2021 CONTENTS

From the Secretary 04 The social cost of education cuts News 05 The scandal of Scone TAFE From the President 06 Universities and the regions PSA HEAD OFFICE From the Assistant 160 Clarence Street, 08 General Secretary NSW GPO Box 3365, Has higher learning lost its way? Sydney NSW 2001 09 T 1300 772 679 Where to now? F (02) 9262 1623 18 The post-COVID world of universities W www.psa.asn.au www.cpsunsw.org.au Work Health and Safety E [email protected] [email protected] 24 Not all wounds bleed First Nations 27 Our union’s Aboriginal Council MANAGING EDITOR Stewart Little, Women at Work General Secretary 28 International Women’s Day 2021 ISSUE EDITOR Jason Mountney Tea Break ISSUE EDITOR 33 News and reviews Marianne Ledic ART DIRECTION 18 Mine Konakci Training ENQUIRIES 34 Brush up your skills PSA Communications Unit 1300 772 679 MEMBERSHIP T 1300 772 679 E [email protected] PRINTER Spotpress Pty Ltd 24-26 Lilian Fowler Place Marrickville NSW 2204 [email protected]

27 All members of CPSU NSW are also members of the Public Service Association. The PSA is the associated body that manages and resources CPSU NSW. April-June 2021 RED TAPE 3 OPINION

From the General Secretary Stewart Little ATTACKS ON EDUCATION HURT US ALL

The post-COVID world needs a All these challenges can be faced with a commercial providers. Would you entrust better education system, not brighter, better-educated society – one that your house to a tradesperson who trained values the people involved in learning at in a course designed to run as fast as more outsourcing and budget all stages, from a support person helping possible for the biggest profit, or one who cuts. someone with a learning disorder keep went through the tried-and-tested TAFE up with their peers, through to TAFE and system? F ALL the cuts to university staff enabling students to learn Universities face possibly the biggest public services the in a well-supported, properly maintained challenge of all. COVID-19 and Canberra’s people of our state environment. acrimonious spat with Beijing has endure, pulling money changed their business model for years to and jobs out of come. The export dollars from overseas education is possibly students may never return to the heady the most callous. LIKE OUR SCHOOLS AND days of recent years. Instead, these places Long seen as an investment in a better can be taken by local students if the Osociety, education has been transformed TAFE COLLEGES, THE commitment and the funding are there. into yet another business by a government UNIVERSITY SYSTEM WAS Governments, both state and federal, that knows the cost of everything and the simply have to look at investing more value of nothing. DESIGNED FOR EDUCATION, money in higher education. Rebuilding The recent moves to sell the Scone NOT AS A SOURCE OF an economy devastated by a pandemic TAFE campus (see story right) shows the will be hard enough. Rebuilding it in a Government sees the campus as a real EXPORT REVENUE sustainable, low-carbon manner will be estate opportunity rather than a place even tougher. But with a well-funded that has launched countless careers in a Our schools staff have a much-deserved university system open to a larger rewarding, well-paid industry. pay rise, now they need permanent number of Australian school graduates, The debacle in universities has proven positions and a safer place to work. anything is possible. the folly of turning halls of learning into CPSU NSW members in TAFE need As with our schools and TAFE colleges, an export market akin to the trade in coal protection from job cuts and campus the university system was designed for or iron ore. closures. NSW has long boasted it has education, not as a source of export Even in our schools it was only the the world’s best vocational training revenue. It may have taken a global initiative of the PSA that meant support system, yet nearly every decision from pandemic for our ruling class to wake up and administrative staff were able to earn Macquarie Street seems to favour cut-price to that. a wage commensurate with the vital role they play in an inclusive education system. This is about more than just our members; it is about society in general. A better-educated society is one with fewer convicted felons in prisons and fewer people shut out of the job market. It is one that cherishes ideas rather than just business outcomes. It is one that sits at the top of good tables and at the bottom of bad ones. ’s comparatively strong position in the wake of COVID-19 should not lull us into a false sense of security. We face huge challenges rebuilding an economy devastated by the disease and the resulting shutdowns. China’s position at the centre of our export markets is in peril and Australia is at risk of becoming a global climate pariah as other countries show a firmer commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

4 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

TAFE

CPSU NSW SLAMS SCONE TAFE SELL-OFF Students can’t learn equestrian skills on a computer. HE ADVERTISEMENT from the real estate spruiker says it all: “An excellent opportunity exists to acquire a 17.9-hectare site in the Horse Capital of Australia, Scone.” You couldn’t ask for a better Tlocation. The property is lush, bucolic, surrounded by rural estates and equine establishments, opposite Scone Airport and adjacent to the Hunter Valley Equine Research Centre. The current owners have spent millions improving the property, including expansive stables, an animal enclosure, hay shed and an arena. There is even a tenant willing to pay $50,000 a year in rent! So what’s the catch? Look past the cheesy real estate copy and you will see the sale is part of a grubby plan to gut and privatise NSW’s great vocational education system. The ad is for the sale of Scone’s state- of-the-art TAFE campus for less than the Government paid for it. TAFE will lease the property for up to two years before a new private owner takes over. Stewart Little, State Branch Secretary of the CPSU NSW, condemned the decision and the impact it will have on the job prospects of local residents. Mr Little dismissed the idea the CLC stud farms and a world-class thoroughbred “The NSW Government should be could replace the quality of education offered breeding and racing industry. investing in the Scone TAFE and the at the Scone campus. “The CLC is designed The sale comes despite a 2016 promise amazing rural and equine courses it to teach skills like real estate services and by the Upper Hunter MP Michael offers, not selling the campus to a private barista coffee preparation,” he said. “It can’t Johnsen that the Scone TAFE campus operator,” he said. “This sale is a massive provide the practical experience in horse would not close. Mr Johnsen now publicly blow to the people of Scone and the breeding and animal handling needed to supports the sale and endorses a private Upper Hunter as they desperately try to prepare students for jobs in the multi-billion- operator taking over the site once TAFE recover from an economic downturn.” dollar equine industry. Watching a video has been displaced. The advert reveals the sale is caused of a horse is no replacement for hands-on “I have no objection to this and I by the 2019 opening of a digital- experience with a live animal. strongly believe the facility should remain education facility, known as a Connected “Youth unemployment in the Upper as a local educational place for equine and Learning Centre (CLC). The CLC is Hunter is nearly 18 per cent, so selling off agricultural courses, delivered by a registered housed in a small building in Scone’s this TAFE campus is only going to make training organisation,” said Mr Johnsen on a main street and offers mainly online the situation worse.” statement published on his website. courses with limited access to face-to-face The equine-focused TAFE is a key The TAFE system has been battered teaching. There are currently 14 CLCs reason why Scone is known as the “Horse by NSW Government cuts with 6000 operating in NSW and the Government Capital of Australia”. TAFE graduates teachers and support staff sacked since has provided no guarantees other TAFEs support the largest equine veterinary the Coalition won office in 2011, with the won’t be closed now the CLCs are practice in the southern hemisphere, an public system forced to compete against operational. Equine Research Centre, more than 70 cut-price private operators.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 5 OPINION

From the President Kylie McKelvie WHAT PUBLIC SERVICES MEAN TO OUR STATE

Public service jobs are not only earners and their immediate families who Public services will help the state important to our members, but suffer. recover, COVID-19 and its resulting havoc The people of NSW, regardless of where have hit NSW hard. It is the public service to the communities in which they work, suffer when the public service is rolling our vaccines, devising health policy they live. attacked. For local businesses, a pay cut, or and adjusting to a reset in the working even just a drop in consumer confidence, and commuting lives of the people in our ORKING in the can see sales slump. Suddenly incidental state. NSW public spending, anything from a morning coffee Again, these are roles that the private service, I know to a wardrobe upgrade, drops and local sector, running off the profit motive, will how important businesses are forced to cut staff. never be able to replicate. wages and In addition to the economic impact Neoliberalism won’t work in the post- conditions are to of attacks on wages and conditions, cuts COVID world. A boost in public spending our members. to the services provided by PSA/CPSU will not only keep us safer, it will help However, when these conditions are NSW members can affect the state’s social revitalise local communities, filling shops, Wattacked – as we have seen with the recent fabric. The efforts of many departments restaurants and pubs, boosting cultural paltry pay rise handed grudgingly to most in wake of the March floods can never be life and retaining the vibrancy we had 18 of our members – it is not just the wage done by the private sector. months ago.

6 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

THE REVOLVING DOOR OF EVOLVING TRANSPORT As if living through a pandemic and a recession wasn’t uncertain enough, PSA members at Transport for NSW (TfNSW) have had their jobs under threat for more than 15 months. If you are buying or selling EARLY 9000 employees have seen property, there are traps positions reviewed, reworded and in many cases re-advertised at you may not be aware of, lower pay. Members in some branches are still so let us help you! waiting to find out if they have a job. N“This has been an incredibly stressful time for our members, made worse because management wouldn’t explain what was going on. It wasn’t ‘Evolving’ but ‘Revolving’ Transport as management We have experienced and kept going around in circles,” said Nathan Bradshaw, the PSA’s Industrial Manager for the transport cluster. “The PSA won trained staff that will make a commitment from TfNSW to retain jobs and halt forced redundancies until your transaction go as the pandemic improved. So TfNSW spent last year sending out emails, making presentations, conducting video smoothly as possible. conferences and issuing information packs with no information in them. But now they have ramped up their plans.” The PSA worked with its members during the consultation period to ensure their views on their individual role and the overall restructure were taken into account in the final restructure. (02) 9233 4744 At the time of publication, 23 of the 28 branches have finalised new structures. In response to the work of the union and its email: [email protected] members, many roles have been removed from the restructure. However, there are LIKE US ON FACEBOOK still more than 1000 employees being forced to reapply for a job. If a role has Over 30 years associated with PSA changed by just 20 per cent, it is deemed a new position and the incumbent must compete against colleagues in the same branch. Members whose roles have changed by less than 20 per cent may also need to reapply if there are more employees than roles. The PSA has launched a dispute over recruitment practices.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 7 OPINION

From the Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright HALLS OF LEARNING, NOT CASH COWS

The is of Adelaide, Tasmania, Queensland and They have allowed the financial hole showing contempt for tertiary Western Australia. The founders of these all left by the prohibition on international embraced the 19th-century principle that students to swallow our universities. education in Australia. knowledge should be pursued for its own With no plan in sight to bring back these N 19th-century NSW, William sake and that academics should be free to students, the Morrison Government is Wentworth had a huge influence teach according to their own convictions. simply letting other countries steal market on the colony. This principle is captured by academic share and our jobs as students choose to He crossed the Blue Mountains and religious leader John Henry Newman study in countries with open borders, even in 1813; authored the first book who in 1852 described a university as a if they are not as safe as Australia. by a colonial-born Australian; place “in which the intellect may safely Another blow to Australia’s universities published Australia’s first range and speculate. It is a place where is the new funding model passed by the independent newspaper; created its first inquiry is pushed forward, discoveries Morrison Government last year which Ipolitical party; and helped draft NSW’s first verified and perfected, and error exposed, reduces the fees for courses it thinks are constitution. by the collision of mind with mind, and more desirable to employers. For other There were atrocities also. His efforts knowledge with knowledge”. courses, student contributions will increase. led the colony to forcibly dispossess Looking at the way the Morrison Humanities, for example, will have their Aboriginal Australians of their lands. Government approaches universities today, student fees more than doubled. Arguably his most enduring act was it is heartbreaking how far we have moved establishing the in 1850 away from the idealism of the 19th century. as a place designed “to enlighten the mind, to This Government abandoned our refine the understanding, to elevate the soul” greatest educational institutions at their THE NEW FUNDING MODEL and to provide “the opportunity for the child time of greatest peril. It denied access to WILL CUT BETWEEN $700 of every class to become great and useful in the JobKeeper wage subsidy, even creating the destinies of this country”. rules to make it impossible for public MILLION AND $1 BILLION Wentworth’s vision was of a university universities to qualify for the scheme. governed by egalitarianism and free of While public universities were being religious dogma. He put his own money abandoned, the Morrison Government behind the university and was a member granted exemptions to four private Some people may ask, why wouldn’t of its first senate. universities – Notre Dame, Bond, Torrens taxpayers want their money spent The University of Melbourne opened and the University of Divinity – allowing on courses that help graduates get three years later, followed by the universities them to access JobKeeper. employment? But the approach has two flaws. It abandons the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake in favour of the needs of private corporations and it reduces the universities’ independence. The new funding model will cut between $700 million and $1 billion from the university sector at a time when Australia should be investing in skills and knowledge to rebuild its post-COVID-19 economy. There is still time to save our universities. It will require urgent action by state and federal governments to protect, reposition and grow all our public universities, including an injection of funding. Without this, critical Australian research, innovation and training will suffer and thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be lost. And if our universities can’t sustain research, innovation and employment for Australians, then we really do have to ask what are our universities for?

8 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

SCHOOLS

“Many were close to tears when they found out their applications were successful,” she said. “Having a permanent job is huge for them. They feel validated in the work they do. They now feel they are important members of the team. The teachers are all saying it should have happened years ago! “These permanent positions provide much needed stability in difficult and uncertain times. Some have partners who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, so having a permanent job means they know they can afford things like Christmas and birthday presents for the kids. “Our SAS staff love their jobs. Most work with children who have learning or behavioural issues or a disability. We need them every year, so it made sense for them to be in permanent roles.”

“WE NEED THESE PEOPLE EVERY YEAR. THEY NEED PERMANENT ROLES”

The journey from temporary to permanent started when PSA members read a bulletin about the conversion process and approached the principal, Warren Welham. Mr Welham asked Ms Schofield to organise a meeting with the PSA to verify the procedure and guidelines. After checking which staff were eligible, they were invited to apply for conversion. “Principal Welham was grateful for the PERMANENT JOBS A GREAT PSA’s help and he was supportive right from the start. Within a few weeks the applications were submitted and the staff were told the process was in place,” Ms START TO THE YEAR Schofield said. Help from the PSA ended years Thanks to the PSA’s campaign to Ms Siobhan Callinan, the PSA’s Acting Industrial Manager Communities Health of uncertainty for long-term convert long-term temporary employees to permanent positions, these eight public and Education, said winning permanent temporary staff at one Central school employees now enjoy greater job employment for SAS staff is part of Coast school. security and a confidence about the future the union’s 100% Paid, Permanent, that only comes from ongoing employment. Protected Campaign. here was a spring in the All had worked continuously in “After the PSA’s big pay equity win for step of some employees temporary roles for at least two years. SAS staff, the focus has been on getting at Northlakes High Several had been on temporary contracts more of our members into permanent School as they walked for more than a decade, living with the roles,” Ms Callinan said. “We want all our through the gates to constant stress of never knowing if they members to have access to secure work. start the new school year. had a job to go to next year. “SAS staff in schools need to feel Eight School and The school’s Business Manager and PSA confident in their jobs so that they Administrative Support (SAS) staff were representative, Ms Petronella Schofield, can continue to support the students Tabout to begin their first day in their said the permanent jobs have made the and school communities in which new permanent roles. SAS staff feel valued. they work.”

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 9 DISABILITIES

CPSU NSW STOPS $25,000 PAY CUT FOR DISABILITY WORKERS

The Federal Court throws out “This was an attempt to cut employee public service jobs transferred to Northcott. wages by changing job titles and switching Mr Alvarado’s permanent Team Leader job Northcott’s plan to slash the their employment from one Northcott was guaranteed for two years, so he couldn’t pay of Team Leaders. company to another,” he said. “The be made redundant. His NSW public service ORTHCOTT has jobs were the same but the pay was pay and conditions were copied into a failed in its attempt to significantly less. Federal Award and protected for five years. force Team Leaders to “The CPSU NSW immediately saw It didn’t take long for the company to accept lower-paying what Northcott was up to. We tried move against Mr Alvarado’s employment Service Coordinator consultation but their management protections. First, Northcott announced positions thanks to pushed ahead with these unfair plans to abolish his job, and that of union action. changes. We were determined to fight, more than 100 Team Leaders. Then, in In a major win for the CPSU NSW, the so we took them to Court. And now we September 2019, Mr Alvarado received NFederal Court found the work of a Team have a decision in our favour.” an offer of employment as a Service Leader was substantially the same as a Coordinator on $25,000 less than he was Service Coordinator, so the former Team THE DISPUTE receiving. Northcott gave Mr Alvarado Leaders are still entitled to their previous Carlos Alvarado was one CPSU NSW a choice – take the pay cut, or take rate of pay, so they should be paid up to member whose evidence swayed the court. a redundancy when the two-year job $25,000 more than Northcott pays them as For six years he has done the same job, guarantee ran out. Service Coordinators managing and leading a team of Disability Fortunately, Mr Alvarado had a third The CPSU NSW’s State Branch Service Workers and providing support option. A member of the CPSU NSW, he Assistant Secretary, Troy Wright, said the and care in a group home for people with called his union. decision sends a warning to disability high medical needs. The CPSU NSW warned Northcott services companies not to attack employee In November 2017, Mr Alvarado and not to implement the restructure until working conditions. 1200 of his fellow workers had their NSW the dispute was resolved. In October 2019, the union took the case to the Fair Work Commission. Northcott tried to settle the dispute with an offer to cut salaries by $20,000, a proposal that was overwhelmingly rejected by the CPSU NSW’s membership. The union’s legal team worked over the holidays preparing to take the matter to the Federal Court in the New Year. BEFORE THE COURT The Court’s decision turned on a single question – was the work of the Service Coordinators the same, or substantially the same, as the work performed by Team Leaders? If the answer was “yes”, then the employees were still covered by their Copied State Awards and entitled to their former salaries. Leading industrial and employment barrister, Mark Gibbons SC, represented the union, which relied on evidence from former Team Leaders now employed as Service Coordinators: Mr Alvarado along with Tony Buhajiar, Eilise Kennedy and Margretha Stronkhorst. These four CPSU NSW members

10 RED TAPE April-June 2021 testified that the work they did now was not markedly different from what they did before. Their description of their work was not challenged by Northcott’s legal team and the cross examination of their evidence was brief. In her judgement, Justice Anna Katzman agreed with the union, stating, “The Service Coordinator work is substantially the same as the Team Leader work. “Team Leaders were, and Service Coordinators are, the senior employees working in group homes. Team Leaders were, and Service Coordinators are, the sole supervisors of support workers with immediate responsibility for the delivery of care to the employer’s clients or customers. “Although the Team Leaders have additional responsibilities as Service Coordinators, most of their administrative and management responsibilities are the same as those they had previously.” Troy Wright said the union welcomed the decision and called for the employees to have their entitlements restored. “The decision means the copied State Awards continue to cover the Team Leaders who transferred to Northcott from the NSW public service, and who have taken up Service Coordinator jobs,” he said. “Northcott should immediately begin paying the higher salaries and entitlements as well as back pay.”

UNION APPEALS AGAINST YES VOTE The CPSU NSW is appealing against the result of a vote that went in favour of an Enterprise Agreement (EA) that included a wages and salaries cut. The proposed EA will see a Disability Support Worker’s hourly rate reduced by up to 10 per cent, a reduction in shift allowances, the working week extended from 35 to 38 hours, fewer meal allowances, less overtime and cuts to leave entitlements. The CPSU NSW alleges some casual staff were unable to vote.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 11 CORRECTIVES

PRISON OFFICERS WAIT 34 FOUR OF THE POVB’S FINEST YEARS FOR BRAVERY AWARD A quartet of Prison Officers A riot in 1986 prompted a bold and the example that they set: putting receive special honours. others before self and a willingness to THE POVB Awards, introduced in response from Prison Officers. help strangers, the vulnerable and those in 2020, recognise individual members danger in the most difficult of times.” for their dedicated service to their N OCTOBER 1986 violence colleagues and their union. erupts in the Metropolitan Delegate of the Year Vicki Liehr Remand Centre at Long Bay Gaol As the POVB Chairperson at Emu as 70 inmates riot. Armed with “WE CELEBRATE THEIR Plains Correctional Centre, Vicki was makeshift weapons, the inmates outstanding in her representation of turn on three Prison Officers, BRAVERY AND THE EXAMPLE POVB members during the consultation taking them hostage in a cell. THAT THEY SET: PUTTING on the centre’s repurposing. The Malabar Emergency Unit mobilises OTHERS BEFORE SELF” Special Achievement Geoff Kelty Ifor a dangerous mission, risking their own Last year Geoff and fellow Prison lives to save their colleagues. They confront Wayne Cole rowed from the rioters with tear gas, shields and batons Walgett to Bourke to raise $12,000 for while being subjected to vicious attacks the Black Dog Institute. and doused with boiling water. But the The recipients were: Wayne Francis Life Member Matt Bindley team keeps going, freeing the Officers and Carmady, Alan Gary Clarke, William Matt was first elected as a POVB regaining control of the prison. Dodson, Anthony Stefan D’Silva, David Delegate in 1998 at Parklea. More Thirty-four years later and the heroes Shane Farrell, David John Golledge, Garry than two decades later, Matt is still of that day have finally been awarded the William Lockhart, Kenneth Michael working for his fellow union members Australian Group Bravery Citation by Newberry, Domenic Pezzano, the late as Chairperson of the Metro Courts Governor-General . Mark Anthony Russo, and the late POVB sub-branch. “Australian Bravery Awards recognise Stephen John Wright. Life Member Tony Howen courage and sacrifice,” Hurley said. Tony paved the way for casuals to “Perhaps most importantly, they recognise Left to right: David Golledge, Stephen Wright (son of the late Stephen John Wright), Bill Dodson, Gary be represented by the PSA and was people who, in a moment of danger or Clarke, NSW Governor , Wayne at the forefront of the fight against threat, think of others ahead of their Carmady, Dorothea Russo (wife of the late Mark privatisation. own safety. We celebrate their bravery Russo), David Farrell, Domenic Pezzano.

12 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text DISABILITIES SCHOOLS

PREMIER AND CABINET

CUTTING INTO PROMISES Job losses at Premier and Cabinet prove the Government’s COVID employment campaigns were just hot air. n 2020 the State Government tried to sell its wage freeze with a claim that job cuts were off the cards in the era of COVID-19. However, PSA members at the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) have received sobering news. Premier and Cabinet Secretary Tim Reardon has confirmed the Government will continue its cuts to public sector jobs in the name of efficiency savings, emailing staff about voluntary redundancies in order to “implement the next round of necessary efficiency savings”. Following expressions of interest in voluntary redundancies, branches will be reviewed to determine whether further “operational efficiencies” – read job cuts – can be identified. If so, formal Irestructures supported by change management plans will occur. One thing is for sure, this process will result in fewer jobs. Despite the Government maintaining that saving and creating jobs is its No.1 priority, and that freezing public sector salaries would allow this, DPC has confirmed that these are just hollow words lacking any substance. DPC failed to consult with the PSA before announcing this major workforce transition, something the union brought up in the Industrial Relations Commission. “The PSA calls on the NSW Government to stop these mean and tricky job cuts,” said General Secretary Stewart Little.

Special Offer - First Home Buyers 2 Year Fixed Rate Home Loan

% % 1.89 p.a1 2.82p.a2 2 Year Fixed Interest Rate Comparison Rate

• No monthly or annual fees • Valuation fee waived (up to $500) • Establishment fee waived ($250) Why rent when you can • Family Support Option available3 • Minimum borrowing amount $100,000 buy your own place? • Advanced payments allowable up to $20,000 during the fixed period

All information is correct as at 9/02/2021 and subject to change. 1Special offer available for Owner Occupied loan applications received on or after 9/02/2021. New money only with a minimum borrowing amount of $100,000. At the end of the fixed period the rate reverts to the Owner Occupied Standard Variable rate. Offer available for a limited time only and may be withdrawn once portfolio is met. 2The comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over a term of 25 years. WARNING this comparison rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in different comparison rates. 3Family Support is available for borrowers, especially first home buyers with no deposit, who have an immediate family member that is willing and able to offer security, e.g. their own property, as Guarantor on the loan to secure a portion of the loan. The Guarantor’s financial position should be such that they are able to meet their obligations under the guarantee. Non-Resident guarantors are not eligible. Full details available on application. All applications are subject to Australian Mutual Bank Ltd normal lending criteria. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Sydney Mutual Bank and Endeavour Mutual Bank are divisions of Australian Mutual Bank Ltd ABN 93 087 650 726 Australian credit licence 236 476 AFSL 236 476.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 13 CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT Mr Hobbs was saved from a Cambodian restaurant and became popular with visitors to Taronga.

LESSONS FROM MR HOBBS

How PSA members are raising 1997 after being rescued from the illegal and southern China. The world’s wild sun awareness about the illegal wildlife trade in Cambodia. The bear’s bear population is under threat due to mother had been killed, robbing him habitat loss and the illegal trade in the wildlife trade. of the vital three years’ learning these animals for their meat and bile. SA MEMBER Lesley Small animals need to acquire life skills to Ms Small said the Taronga sun bear recently suffered a survive in the wild. exhibit helps teach people about the heartbreaking loss at work. Ms Small said that while Mr Hobbs animals’ plight and to avoid the illegal Ms Small is part of the ideally should have been raised by his wildlife trade while overseas. team caring for Taronga mother in the wild, she was happy the She will continue to work with other Zoo’s sun bear exhibit, zoo and its staff provided the bear with “a animals, including the zoo’s remaining sun which lost its most famous really beautiful life”. bear, Mary. In her spare time she runs a resident, Mr Hobbs, who was euthanised “We were lucky to have him,” she said. charity for sun bears called the Sumatran Pdue to a number of health complaints. Sun bears are the smallest bear species Sun Bear Team, which can be accessed at Mr Hobbs arrived at Taronga Zoo in and are found throughout southeast Asia sumatransunbearteam.org. NPWS CAN’T SEE THE JOBS FOR THE TREES ADDITIONAL funding for public services is always welcome, especially when it’s spent on the essential work PSA members do at the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). That’s why the PSA welcomed a $400 million stimulus package to help the parks agency aid the recovery in bushfire-affected areas. The three-year funding boost is for 750km of new and upgraded walking tracks, upgrades to 38 campgrounds and 61 new and improved picnic areas. The additional spending will be appreciated by fire-affected communities across the state. However, there is one problem. How does NPWS expect to deliver the new services and improvements without enough staff on the ground? NPWS is suffering from chronic staff shortages and an unacceptably high number of unfilled vacancies. Staff are managing unacceptable workloads now – a situation that will only get worse with additional projects. PSA Organiser Mr Kim de Govrik said the NSW Government knows additional staff are required but has only committed to an increase in “temporary roles”. “The stimulus package does not address the current vacant roles within NPWS,” he said. “They need to fill the vacant positions to ensure the announced maintenance program can be delivered. “NPWS cannot expect to deliver these projects when it proposes to recruit only one additional Ranger and no new Project Officers. It is only planning to recruit 12 Administration and Project Support Staff. More than half of the temporary positions are for lower-remunerated roles.”

14 RED TAPE April-June 2021 CUSTOMER SERVICE

NPWS FIREFIGHTER VICTOR NOT A WINNER WITH APOLOGY RECEIVES AUSTRALIA A Government Minister has been forced to apologise for ridiculing public servants. DAY HONOURS USTOMER SERVICE SAFEWORK NSW Minister Victor • 22,629 proactive and 11,821 reactive As fire threatened the Dominello gets very workplace visits excited when talking to ancient Wollemi Pines, PSA • 837 proactive workshops, presentations, the media. Speaking to members took action. seminars the Australian Financial • Increased worker protection against the umbering less Review, the Minister deadly lung disease silicosis than 100 mature described his plan to take 28 NSW • Finalised 230,901 licences, certificates trees, the Wollemi Cagencies and collapse them into one. and registrations Pines are the last “Crunch, crunch, crunch! Bring them • Exceeded national targets to reduce remnants of a all together. Get rid of SafeWork. Get fatalities and serious injuries. species that has rid of Fair Trading. Get rid of the Food lived on the Authority,” he said. Australian continent for 200 million But this “big vision”, he realised, was FAIR TRADING Nyears. They are so rare, their location • Helped with 377,987 enquiries for “too big” so he changed his mind. Instead is kept secret. And their fate now of crunching public servants “we will assistance rested with a team of National Parks corral them,” he said, by putting them all • Managed 42,824 customer and trader and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on one digital platform. complaints firefighters working with the Rural “They can all keep their little hats and • Answered 513,094 calls in the Fair Fire Service. fancy uniforms...,” he said belittlingly Trading’s Contact Centre The plan was a complex one. before calling NSW public servants • Inspected 67,660 products from 10,072 Helicopters flew a specialist team “mongrels”. traders into the deep gorge where they set Red Tape has been informed that • Undertook 2355 disciplinary actions. up an irrigation system while large the day after the article appeared, the air tankers released fire retardant in Minister met with Better Regulation staff FOOD AUTHORITY OF NSW the path of the oncoming fire and (none of whom were wearing little hats • Inspected/audited 45,987 food retailers helicopters water bombed the fire in or fancy uniforms) to apologise for his • Completed 2812 meat industry surrounding areas. comments, which he claimed were taken inspections NPWS officer Stephen Cathcart out of context. • Achieved a 30 per cent reduction target was the team’s Air Attack Supervisor, The PSA would like to remind Minister in food-borne salmonellosis coordinating the aerial response. As Dominello just how much NSW public • Investigated 2490 complaints the fires reached the ancient trees, servants did on behalf of the people of • Issued 202 improvement and 61 penalty parts of the irrigation system were NSW during the 2019/20 financial year: notices. burnt. Attached to a winch on a helicopter, Mr Cathcart was lowered to the forest floor and his repairs to Victor Dominello, one of the the irrigation system were enough to more than 8 million people in extinguish the fire in the gorge and NSW kept safe by PSA members save the trees. in regulatory positions. For his outstanding public service, particularly to the protection of the Wollemi Pines during the 2019-20 bushfires, Mr Cathcart received the Public Service Medal in this year’s Australia Day Honours. “I was privileged to be part of a great team of people who worked to protect the pines, and I am honoured to receive this award as recognition for the hard work and dedication shown by all NPWS firefighters in protecting lives, property and our incredible natural assets,” said Mr Cathcart.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 15 MEMBERSHIP

UNION HOPS IN TO HELP

New parents get help from the Member Support Centre. PSA MEMBER WINS HIS JOB BACK ach member who contacts the PSA/CPSU NSW PSA member has won Member Support Centre his legal battle against for advice or assistance his sacking by Taronga with pregnancy or Zoo. In a case brought parental leave-related on his behalf by the enquires will have a Bunny PSA, the NSW Book posted to their home address. Industrial Relations EBunny Books, put out by the Gidget Commission restored the member to Foundation, are storytime books that Ahis previous position on the same pay not only help parents and children bond and conditions, with back pay. through reading, but also help new PSA Manager Nathan Bradshaw said mothers and fathers to keep on top of the case shows the benefits of being in their mental health. the union. “Our member needed help, The Gidget Foundation provides so he picked up the phone and called support for new parents suffering his union. We were able to support him perinatal depression and anxiety. PSA/ by taking legal action to protect his CPSU NSW members are eligible for 10 rights at work,” he said. psychological support sessions every year from the foundation.

16 RED TAPE April-June 2021 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER A quick call to the MSC keeps a member in the picture. GIVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP HEN PSA member Ben A HEALTH CHECK was unsure about his leave Make sure your details are correct with your union. entitlements, he made a DOES YOUR union have your current workplace? New mobile phone quick call to number? Are your contact details up to date? Perhaps you are working the union’s Member Support Centre at a new worksite or you have a new job in a whole new department. (MSC).W He is glad he did. By keeping your details up to date with the PSA/CPSU NSW, you can Ben, a long term employee of NSW get the most from your membership. Police, had suffered a non-work related Go to psa.asn.au or cpsunsw.org.au, log in to the members’ area – you injury requiring surgery and post- will have to set up an account using your membership number the first surgery treatment. This would put him time you enter here – and update your membership details. out of action for at least three months. For example, members in Justice or the Prison Officers Vocational He called the MSC to see what Branch are eligible for a legal fund that protects them for an additional entitlements he could use while $2 a week. If you have increased or decreased your working hours, gone recovering, as he had exhausted most on Leave Without Pay or taken Parental Leave for more than three of his sick leave. months, this may affect your union fees. The MSC informed him about Other details you can change include the frequency of your special sick leave, which did not deductions and the way you receive Red Tape. involve him having to first exhaust his own recreational or long service leave. MORE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP He made a written application with the assistance of Member • Do you have a will or does it need updating? Support Officers Jessica and Amira The PSA/CPSU NSW has a free will service. and was granted this leave. • Do you need some legal advice? Members are The MSC followed up with Ben to eligible for free initial advice for any non-work- see how this application was going. related matter. His reply says it all. “Can I just say • Do you need financial advice? You can get free that without the assistance of the initial advice with Bridges Finance through PSA I would never have known about Sydney Mutual Bank. this entitlement,” he said. “This is something my HR department should have known about and through their lack of knowledge, made life difficult for me. This difficulty has now been alleviated thanks to you.” KEEP THE FAITH Leaving work doesn’t mean leaving your union. HE PSA/CPSU NSW unionists and senior Australians,” said Retired Associates Group David McKeough, who coordinates the keeps members involved group. “It is also a good way to keep in in their union, even after touch with old friends and colleagues.” their retirement. “We’re The PSA/CPSU NSW Retired always looking for new Associates meet six times a year at PSA members to join us and House. Go to psa.asn.au/member- Tpush for issues important to both services/retired-associates to join. April-June 2021 RED TAPE 17 FEATURE

Quiet times: CPSU NSW Delegate Shelley Odewahn at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus.

18 RED TAPE April-June 2021 WHERE TO NOW FOR OUR UNIVERSITIES? Last year was a fight for survival during a pandemic. This year universities will confront another threat – on the industrial front.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 19 FEATURE

JOY AND LOSS AS A NEW came back on 1 February, a month before the entry of any foreign nationals who had students arrived. Her employer wanted been in mainland China. Iran, South Korea SEMESTER BEGINS them back a month earlier but the union and Italy followed before Australia closed For many staff there was joy in returning to knew the university wasn’t ready. its borders to all non-residents and non- the university campuses for the first time in “Without any notice or consultation the Australian citizens on March 20, 2020. a year. There was the familiarity of an office university sent an email in the week before The sector had relied heavily on or a well-loved desk. Or finding a favourite Christmas stating the return date would be international students for a decade book you missed while working from home. 2 January. No-one had childcare booked. but numbers exploded after the For others, the overriding emotion was They hadn’t prepared for social distancing Commonwealth Government capped a sense of loss. The sight of empty chairs spaces shared by staff and students. There funding for universities at 2017 levels. where respected colleagues once worked. wasn’t sufficient PPE,” she said. No new funding meant no new university Desks and workplaces rearranged to cater The CPSU NSW met with the university places unless money could be found for 1.5 metres of physical distancing. and the start date was put back to February. elsewhere. Smaller staff meetings a poignant reminder This gave the Professional Staff one So universities wishing to grow looked of how many friends had left the industry. month to prepare for the arrival of to foreign students. Australian universities Everyone knew returning to the campus students. Many things had changed. Live found a welcoming market for their at the start of the new academic year lectures were out and everything was services overseas and the sale of university would be different this time. Different, as going to be delivered online. Collaborative places became a big business. well as difficult. teaching would be in small groups, the In the year before the COVID-19 “It was a shock to see so few colleagues size dependent on the level of social pandemic, international education grew by at the university after all the restructures distancing available in each room. and the redundancies,” said Shelley “It is the Professional Staff who provide Odewahn, a member of the CPSU NSW’s support for the students,” Ms Odewahn Higher Education Representative Council said. “We had to get the campus ready GOVERNMENT PUNTS (HERC) and a Disability Advisor at for them. This is when the challenge of Southern Cross University. “Regional having fewer staff became an issue. The UNIVERSITIES WITH campuses like mine at Lismore are large story is similar across many universities. JOBKEEPER SNUB sprawling places anyway but you notice The redundancies have been so significant, A new book by noted Economist just how little activity there is. With nearly that some work units have just one or two Ross Garnaut points out the 12 per cent of staff gone, and many still employees left.” absurdity of denying JobKeeper to transitioning back from working at home, The Professional Staff in NSW university staff. it can feel quite deserted.” universities did what they have always In his book Reset: Restoring As a CPSU NSW Delegate, Ms Odewahn done -– they put the needs of students Australia after the Pandemic Recession, has been helping universities get staff back first. Despite the increased workloads, Mr Garnaut said universities, to campus safely. She and her colleagues the universities were ready to welcome which will perform a vital role in students at the beginning of March. Every the country’s reconstruction, were effort was made to make campus life as denied JobKeeper for staff. This is rewarding and enjoyable as it had been, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES compared with casinos, which can be but too much had changed for it to ever characterised as socially destructive, ARE PROFESSIONAL STAFF? be the way it was. that were able to apply for the “We are all feeling excited to be around Charles Sturt University 59% benefit. each other but universities are now a really The book points out that not difficult place to work. Everybody fears 56% only is the decision destructive for more job cuts. Everybody understands the universities, it also hits the industries Southern Cross University 63% financial position of universities is dire,” dependent on their graduates and said Ms Odewahn. The University of Newcastle 53% research. Without a return of international “We can only imagine that The University of Sydney 53% students, and with the Commonwealth JobKeeper, available for everything Government refusing to fund and support University of 54% from casino workers to dog walkers, them properly, Australian universities would have saved some of the up to remain close to financial collapse. University of Technology Sydney 54% 6000 jobs at risk in our universities,” said Troy Wright, State Branch University of 57% 2020 – HOW DID WE GET HERE? Assistant Secretary of the CPSU Exactly a year earlier to the day Ms Western Sydney University 61% NSW. Odewahn returned to her Lismore campus, TOTAL 56% Prime Minister banned

20 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

15 per cent and contributed $37.6 billion while the Commonwealth Government Australian universities are bracing for an to the Australian economy, employing imposed strict limits on the number of extended period of reduced international 240,000 people. international arrivals each week. As the student numbers, especially enrolments Australia’s international education new academic year started, there was still of Chinese students. There are growing sector was more diversified than many no timeline for bringing these student visa reports that tertiary education is the next realised. China contributed about a holders back to Australia. battleground in the ongoing trade tensions third of students, the rest coming from Adding to the financial pressure on between Canberra and Beijing. numerous countries including India, universities was the Morrison Government’s Chinese student enrolments have collapsed Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brazil and decision to deny universities access to by 23 per cent compared to a year ago Indonesia. JobKeeper. The Government changed the following statements by Chinese authorities Education became Australia’s third- eligibility rules to ensure universities could questioning the safety of Australia as an largest export earner, behind iron ore and not get access to Australia’s largest wage education destination. After trade restrictions coal. Education out-earned Australia’s subsidy scheme. on barley, lamb, beef, coal, lobster, timber other major services industry – travel and “There was clearly an over-reliance on and coal, Chinese authorities now appear tourism – by more than 50 per cent. international students,” said Troy Wright, to be intervening in the education sector by There seemed like nothing could derail State Branch Assistant Secretary of the discouraging their students from choosing the international education money train. CPSU NSW. “But the heart of the problem Australian universities. Then something did. was a lack of public funding from the Universities Australia, which represents With national borders shut, nearly Commonwealth Government. the nation’s 39 universities, believes the 165,000 international students were “The university sector is in crisis now loss of international students will impact stranded overseas, unable to return but the problem started long before its members for years. It calculates to Australia. They were added to COVID-19. A lack of proper investment Australian universities shed at least more than 40,000 Australian citizens made the sector fragmented and reliant on 17,300 jobs in 2020. NSW job losses could attempting to return to Australia international students.” be as high as 6000.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 21 FEATURE CPSU NSW READY TO BARGAIN With the financial uncertainty and potentially more job losses down the track, the next 12 months offer little in the way of relief to Professional Staff. DDING to the complexity of the current year, nine of the 11 universities in NSW (see box right) will have their Enterprise Agreements expire in the second half Aof the year. “Professional Staff deserve a fully funded pay increase above the nominal rate of inflation and we aim to achieve this through collective bargaining,” the CPSU NSW’s Troy Wright said. “We have fought hard for many years to secure competitive pay increases well above the cost of living. And we intend to preserve these pay and conditions despite COVID-19 and the university funding crisis.” Mr Wright pointed to job security as another major issue the CPSU NSW would tackle during the bargaining negotiations. “The crisis caused by COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of job security. There must be limits on fixed-term employment and limitations on outsourcing. We also want casual conversion clauses in all the university Revenues were also down $1.8 billion but few understand the important roles Enterprise Agreements. This is compared to 2019, with a further $2 billion of Professional Staff in these institutions. to ensure as much job security as predicted to be lost this year. They include architects, auditors, data and possible for Professional Staff.” “When compared with universities’ pre- digital experts, human resource managers, Southern Cross University’s Shelley pandemic budgeted revenue for 2020, this gardeners, disability advisors, media Odewahn said the CPSU NSW’s loss is more than $3 billion, which is in line technologists and any number of other Higher Education Representative with the sector’s estimates made in April occupations. Council wanted Enterprise last year. The brutal reality of COVID-19 Professional Staff are the majority of Agreements to recognise that has made 2021 even more challenging,” employees in universities – about 55 per COVID-19 has permanently changed said Universities Australia Chief Executive cent in NSW (see box on previous page). the way Professional Staff work. Catriona Jackson. So any proposal for more job cuts and “The pandemic has shown many “Continuing border closures mean redundancies will have a disproportionate occupations can be performed universities face the double whammy of impact on these employees. remotely and in some cases better fewer returning students in 2020 and Ms Odewahn says the prospect of further than they can be on campus,” she said. reduced numbers in 2021. The cumulative job losses is not only a concern to her but “This shift needs to be recognised impact won’t be felt just in 2020 and 2021, also to her whole community. “Regional and provisions put into the Enterprise but for years to come. No sector can absorb universities are different. We are usually the Agreement so that employees can revenue declines this large without staff biggest employers in town. So if there are continue to work from home and losses.” jobs cuts in the university’s staff, it has a enjoy the many physical and mental Most people understand the role of ripple effect right through the entire local health benefits this provides.” academics and researchers in universities, economy,” she said.

22 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT END DATES

ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT END DATE University of Sydney Enterprise Agreement 2018-21 30 June 2021 Western Sydney University Professional Staff Agreement 2017 30 June 2021 Australian Catholic University Enterprise Agreement 2017-21 30 June 2021 University of Technology Sydney Professional Staff Agreement 2018 30 June 2021 Southern Cross University Enterprise Agreement 2018 30 June 2021 Charles Sturt University Enterprise Agreement 2018-21 30 Sept 2021 The University of Newcastle Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement 2018 30 Sept 2021 Macquarie University Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement 2018 31 Dec 2021 University of NSW Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement 2018 31 Dec 2021 University of New England Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement 2019-20 30 June 2022 Professional Services Employees Enterprise Agreement 2019 30 June 2022

UNIVERSITIES STACKED WITH CORPORATE HEAVYWEIGHTS Universities are big business. Qantas, ANZ, Westpac, Thales, Westfield, Sydney University, was Secretary of the Suncorp, BHP and Macquarie Bank. Department of the Prime Minister and In 2019, a year unaffected by This explains why NSW universities Cabinet, the nation’s most senior public COVID-19, NSW universities are increasingly run like a business, servant for five years. generated $11.4 billion in by business leaders for the benefit of The other is Dr Martin Parkinson, business owners. Chancellor of Macquarie University, revenue. Only two Chancellors break the mould who served as Secretary and NCREASINGLY the focus of – and both are public servants. Professor the head of the Department of Prime universities is on providing a Peter Shergold, Chancellor of Western Minister and Cabinet. workforce for corporations and their never-ending quest for increased profits. For example, the UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR BACKGROUND Jobs-Ready Graduate Package CHARLES STURT Michele Allan Amcor, Meat and Livestock Australia does not aim to promote the sharing of knowledge, but to deliver more MACQUARIE Martin Parkinson Australian Public Service Igraduates in disciplines that “help drive the James Harris Grazier, Forster of Abington nation’s economic recovery”. NEW ENGLAND You would expect Chancellors to NEWCASTLE Paul Jeans BHP, Fosters rail against this commercialisation of their institutions. After all, they are the NSW David Gonski ANZ, Westfield champions of the university’s values and SOUTHERN CROSS Nicholas Burton Taylor PWC, Delta Agribusiness defenders of its educational purpose. But these top university jobs have been SYDNEY Belinda Hutchinson Thales, Qantas stacked by big business appointments by Catherine Livingstone PWC, Macquarie the NSW Government. UTS Eight of 10 NSW university Chancellors WESTERN SYDNEY Peter Shergold Australian Public Service have backgrounds in big corporations. Their CVs list giants such as PWC, KPMG, WOLLONGONG Christine McLoughlin Suncorp, Cochlear

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 23 WHS

NOT ALL WOUNDS BLEED 24 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

We need to talk about Post sexual assault, war or torture, or disasters does not usually start until about two weeks Traumatic Stress Disorder. such as bushfires or floods. As a result, the after a traumatic experience. person experiences feelings of intense fear, PTSD treatments usually involve hen a friend helplessness or horror.” psychological treatment (called talking noticed Police Beyond Blue states symptoms can therapy) but medication can also be Radio Dispatcher include: prescribed. John Hughes was Reliving the traumatic event The Anyone can be affected by PTSD at not engaging at person relives the event through unwanted work, yet there are sections of the PSA/ social events and and recurring memories, often in the form CPSU NSW membership particularly at would disappear of vivid images and nightmares. There may risk, including Police staff, Prison Officers, whenever visitors arrived, she thought be intense emotional or physical reactions, Child Protection Workers and Emergency Wsomething was wrong. Worried, she such as sweating, heart palpitations or Service workers in areas such as the Rural recommended he go see his doctor. It was panic when reminded of the event. Fire Service and the State Emergency only then, with his GP’s expert advice, that Being overly alert or wound up The Service and those working in frontline Mr Hughes realised he had Post person experiences sleeping difficulties, roles in National Parks and State Forests. Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). irritability and lack of concentration, PSA/CPSU NSW WHS Officer “I was the Radio Dispatcher involved becoming easily startled and constantly Suzanne Mann said employers have a in a domestic triple homicide which the on the lookout for signs of danger. police came across,” said Mr Hughes. Avoiding reminders of the event The “The police came across the incident still person deliberately avoids activities, occurring. Being a Dispatcher, we are not places, people, thoughts or feelings physically there which requires the Police associated with the event because they Officers to explain what was happening bring back painful memories. WARNING over the radio so I could coordinate Feeling emotionally numb The person assistance. loses interest in day-to-day activities, feels “To understand how graphic this was, cut off and detached from friends and SIGNS the attending Police who were explaining family or feels emotionally flat and numb. the situation on the radio were still It is common for people with PTSD to attempting to disarm the offender, which experience other mental health issues at PSA CPSU NSW WHS required them to use their firearms.” the same time. Officer Suzanne Mann Mr Hughes said he does not go into “It is such an emotional state, that can says members can look out details about the event as “it still affects be so depressing,” said Mr Hughes. “It me today”. is hard to pinpoint it and often victims for symptoms of PTSD in don’t even understand they have PTSD. colleagues. Even after I was diagnosed, I still think “This is far from an exhaustive list,” ‘what is wrong with me?’ and ‘why am I so she warns. emotional?’ and ‘this should be over’. “EMPLOYERS NEED TO • Conflict with team members and “I was getting emotional on anything managers REALISE IT IS A LONG PATH that came up in any conversation or it • Feelings of frustration or irritability could be something on TV that would TO RECOVERY, SOMETIMES • Emotional outbursts relate to any domestic homicide or police • Inability to concentrate OVER MANY YEARS” shooting. Interesting to note, I could • Increased errors or accidents watch a fictional drama on TV and it had • A surge in unplanned absences no effect on me as it was not real. But if • Excessive tiredness or even “At the time, and for some months I watch a TV story about a real domestic debilitating fatigue afterwards, I did not feel ‘unwell’ or affected homicide, I would automatically think of • Reduced reaction times by the incident,” he said. “I attended the the event I was involved in. • Mood swings Police debrief conducted by that local “One of the issues that I have is the • Physical ill health command a few weeks after the event and feeling of guilt. Did I do enough for the • Unusually untidy appearance I was able to speak to the Officers involved situation? Could I have tried to do my job • Alcohol or drug abuse face-to-face. I still did not feel like a victim better to avoid the situation? Did those • Increased impulsive and risk-taking but I felt I needed to be there to support people have to die? I know no matter if I behaviour the Police who had to attend the incident.” was there or not, the outcomes would not • Negative self-talk According to mental health lobby group have changed as being on the other end of • Speaking about suicide Beyond Blue, “PTSD is a particular set the radio I feel like an outsider.” • Getting things in order (either work of reactions that can develop in people According to Beyond Blue, PTSD or home) if planning suicide (not who have been through a traumatic event symptoms often appear in the first couple wanting to burden those remaining which threatened their life or safety, or of weeks after a traumatic event and some with additional work) that of others around them. This could be people recover on their own or with the help • Loss of interest in life. a car or other serious accident, physical or of family and friends. Therefore, treatment

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 25 YOUR UNION

role in reducing the risk of PTSD in the workplace. “Education can be provided, from the top FEDERAL down, on prevention, recognising signs, early intervention, pre-emptive action post-incident EDUCATION & HEALTH and acknowledgment of the cumulative effect of numerous exposures over time to JUSTICE traumatic events,” she said. “Employers also need to make reasonable adjustments for WOMEN AT WORK those attempting to return to work. “It can be a good idea to rotate workers FEATURE through roles, if possible, to reduce risk of exposure to more traumatic events.” Mr Hughes said workplaces need to EVENTS “keep staffing levels at a decent level to ensure persons are not being exposed to OPINION the risk at high levels”. Getting workers’ compensation for WHS PTSD can be a greater challenge than proving a case with physical injuries. TEA BREAK “As with all psychological cases, proving SES ANSWERS THE CALL you have PTSD can be hard,” said PSA/ from organisations such as the Black Dog TRAINING CPSU NSW Industrial Manager Shay Help is at hand thanks to a Deguara. “Plus there are added issues cash injection. Institute and Beyond Blue, as well as the Government’s Emergency Services First ELECTIONS regarding proving a particular incident caused the condition. EARCHING FOR missing Responders Health and Wellbeing Strategy. “And Section 11A of the Workers children (as pictured above) She said the training will give staff DISABILITIES Compensation Act is often used to or dealing with the aftermath the confidence to look out for signs decline liability due to the reasonable of road accidents and natural workmates may be suffering and to know HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES management actions.” disasters can take a toll on when “to step in” and offer assistance. If a worker has been diagnosed with the staff and volunteers at the Commissioner York said while the YOUR UNION PTSD, Mr Deguara said their employers State Emergency Service program will aim to eventually reduce the should not rush the rehabilitation process. (SES). However, a large injection of funds number of workers’ compensation claims, Swill help in the fight against mental health she would “not be surprised if workers’ MEMBERSHIP “The employers need to realise it is a long path to recovery, sometimes over issues. compensation claims initially went up, The Government has granted the as I want to give people the confidence SCHOOLS & SPORT many years, so they need to remain supportive even with relapses,” he said. SES $36 million over five years to help that they can come forward and seek employees’ and volunteers’ mental health. assistance. INDUSTRY, PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT “Employers must make reasonable adjustments for those attempting return The PSA will work alongside “But my aim is to step in before we get to work,” added Ms Mann. management to keep members mentally to a workers’ compensation claim.” MISCELLANEOUS Mr Hughes is happy his employer, NSW healthy in the workplace. The strategy is not only aimed at Police, takes PTSD victims seriously and With 39 years at NSW Police behind addressing workplace mental trauma, “they are prepared to help extensively”. her, SES Commissioner Carlene York but the signs of stress from outside the knows the toll mental health can take on SES, such as substance abuse or stressful frontline staff. Add the SES’s formidable domestic situations. Police Radio Dispatcher army of volunteers and that is a lot of Commissioner York said she intends to John Hughes people’s mental health to look out for. consult extensively with the PSA to ensure Commissioner York is hoping the SES the program’s success. will ensure mental health strategies are “Your communication to PSA members more than “just the response” and will is vitally important,” she said. “Not all implement more preventative measures. members will listen to the hierarchal “We had a desire to ensure not only structure of an organisation but their support services, but prevention strategies peers and your union’s leadership for both volunteers and our staff,” skills can promote being a part of the says Commissioner York. “We’ve got a program.” substantial amount of money in the first PSA General Secretary Stewart Little 12 months to identify the strategies and said programs such as that being do the plan. rolled out to the SES shows the State “There will be ongoing money to Government is listening to its workers and support the provision of strategies.” their unions and taking workplace mental The strategies will use information health seriously.

26 RED TAPE April-June 2021 ABORIGINAL COUNCIL

THE FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS: ABORIGINAL VALE COUNCIL PUSHES FOR POLICY CHANGES THE PSA’s Aboriginal Advisory Council is stepping up its fight for fairness, pushing for improvements to the employment policies that impact indigenous workers in the NSW public sector.

he Council advises the and strategies for indigenous employment, union on how to advance the reality experienced by PSA members Aboriginal and Torres falls far short of the Government’s rhetoric. Straits Islander members’ “We need a consistent approach to interests. As the NSW recognising Aboriginality,” Mr Bremer Government is the largest said. “Currently you need to present employer of indigenous documents, references from your local Australians in Australia, there are many Aboriginal Land Council with its seal Tissues on the Council’s agenda this year. as well as a statutory declaration to be Indigenous employment in the NSW accepted as an Aboriginal person. But if public sector is estimated at 3.3 per you move to another role you can be asked cent of the workforce, or more than to prove your Aboriginality all over again,” AUNTY BETTY 13,000 employers. However, most are he said. employed in lower-grade positions. The Another issue on the Council’s agenda The PSA is saddened to hear NSW Government is falling well short is the need for more identified positions of the loss of Betty Cragg, of its target of three per cent Aboriginal rather than just targeted positions if who held much pride in her employment in Grades 5 through to 12 the NSW Government is to achieve its and its pledge to double the number of indigenous employment goals. working career in the Child senior Aboriginal leaders by 2025. Identified Aboriginal positions are Protection sector. Mr Sean Bremer, Chair of the when Aboriginal cultural knowledge or unty Betty was a 15-member Council (pictured below), connections are an essential aspect of strong, proud says changes to employment policies are the role. These roles work directly with Wiradjuri woman, needed to remove the discrimination Aboriginal peoples or are involved in who will always be preventing more indigenous employees developing and delivering services to remembered for her from reaching higher-graded positions. Aboriginal communities. wealth of knowledge, “The Council is developing an In contrast, you don’t have to be commitment, Aboriginal Employment Policy to take to Aboriginal to be offered a targeted straight talking and humour. the NSW Government. This will show the Aboriginal position if you can show AAunty’s career in Child Protection way forward on issues such as recognising you have worked closely with, and have began in 1984 when she commenced Aboriginality, and how to improve the knowledge of, a particular local Aboriginal at the Wagga Riverina Youth Centre. quality of employment of indigenous community. Priority is usually given to a She was one of the first Aboriginal people,” Mr Bremer said. suitable candidate if they can prove their employees in the Murrumbidgee While the NSW Government has targets Aboriginality. area. In 1986-87, Aunty Betty commenced her journey as a District Officer in the Child Protection Sector where she remained for a further 34 years. Aunty was one of the founding members of the State Aboriginal Reference Group, where she advocated to employ more Aboriginal staff. In 2015, Aunty settled in her final role in the Cultural Connections Team where she continued to be a strong advocate for her people, promoting culturally safe practices across the Western Region.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 27 WOMEN AT WORK

WHAT WOMEN CANBERRA RAPE CASE HIGHLIGHTS WANT: REAL PARLIAMENTARY DANGERS Every worker deserves a safe criminal offences and we encourage anyone subjected to this behaviour to call WORKPLACE workplace, regardless of where the police,” said Mr Little. “All employees they are employed. should be able to feel safe at work and all legislators, state and federal, must ensure REVELATIONS a parliamentary staffer FLEXIBILITY the parliaments that establish our laws set was raped in the Federal Parliament the highest possible workplace standards. House, with the incident hushed up, This must begin with enforcing existing A rigid workplace is in no- has highlighted the dangers faced by laws for all parliamentary staff and parliamentary and electoral staff. one’s interests. Members of Parliament.” “The PSA condemns all forms of sexual AST YEAR’S What In the PSA/CPSU NSW’s What Women violence as unacceptable and is deeply Women Want survey of Want survey last year, sexual harassment, concerned at reports emerging from the workplace found when combined with workplace bullying, our Federal Parliament,” said General overwhelming support remains one of the top-six issues women Secretary Stewart Little. for a truly flexible want focussed on at work. The PSA represents staff employed workplace. More than The role of a political staffer is made in State Parliament and those working 80 per cent of more vulnerable because of the limitation in state electorate offices. In the past, respondents wanted the ability to access of the enforced temporary nature of the union has had to support members Lleave when needed and access flexible staffer employment and the limited experiencing bullying and harassment work hours. The ability to work from appeal jurisdiction available to them. issues whilst working for MPs from all home or off site during normal work Political staffers have less employment political parties. hours is also a significant issue, with protection than other workers. “Sexual assault and harassment are 52.79 per cent of survey respondents marking this as important.

MORE THAN 80 PER CENT OF RESPONDENTS WANTED THE ABILITY TO ACCESS LEAVE WHEN NEEDED AND ACCESS FLEXIBLE WORK HOURS

Of those surveyed, 56.39 per cent had requested access to flexible working arrangements of some kind. Of these, 87.44 per cent had their request agreed to. However, this means 12.56 per cent of women’s requests for flexible work are being refused. The PSA/CPSU NSW plans to identify hotspots. Women we surveyed also told the union that male colleagues have their requests refused frequently. This is an area where PSA/CPSU NSW will benefit from the Department and workplace data being broken down. The union is commencing the data work on that.

28 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

Yvonne Weldon, Chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, SEXUAL addresses the rally. HARASSMENT IN SAFE WORK’S SIGHTS New resources help prevent workplace sexual harassment, violence, aggression and domestic violence. AFE WORK Australia has developed new national work health and safety guidance to help employers prevent workplace sexual harassment, violence, aggression and domestic violence. SUnder Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, employers must proactively manage risks to health and safety arising from work. This includes physical and mental health alike. The new information provides guidance to anyone who has a WHS DAY OF PROTEST AND CELEBRATION duty to protect the health and safety of workers. UNBOWED BY A PANDEMIC The Australian Human Rights Commission’s report on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces There was no march through highlighted how prevalent sexual the city but the PSA CPSU NSW harassment is and the harm it is causing. still celebrated International “INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S But there is a lot that employers can DAY GIVES US A CHANCE do beyond responding to complaints. Women’s Day with a variety of WHS duties require employers COVID-safe activities. TO CELEBRATE OUR WINS do everything they reasonably can to prevent sexual harassment from THE UNION pieced together online AND PROTEST EXISTING occurring at work, just like other risks presentations featuring Women’s Council INJUSTICES” to health and safety. Chair Trish O’Brien and the launch of The new guide, Preventing the What Women Want survey results, workplace sexual harassment, is letting members mark the day in their the first comprehensive WHS own workplaces or homes, away from the guidance in Australia to focus on risk of COVID-19 transmission. Several chance to celebrate our wins and protest preventing sexual harassment. The workplaces and PSA House had morning existing injustices.” guidance supports businesses and teas to celebrate. Unions NSW also organised a rally in organisations to meet their WHS “In a time when sexual harassment and The Domain, in the Sydney CBD, which duties with practical steps to identify violence in the workforce is front and was limited to 500 people due to the risks and prevent sexual harassment centre in the news, it is vital that we still pandemic. in the workplace. mark this important day,” said Ms O’Brien. Dating back to 1909, International “International Women’s Day gives us a Women’s Day is marked worldwide.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 29 YOUR UNION

WHO NEEDS BALI?

With borders closed, our members get out and about in NSW. Top: The winning photo from Mount Kaputar National Park, east of Narrabri was taken by the AST ISSUE we invited members to submit their pics of their holidays in Environment Protection Authority’s Molly Zarb. the NSW National Parks and State Forests so professionally cared for by Above left: Our second-placed photo, taken in Myall Lakes National Park, was taken by Robert Oxford. PSA/CPSU NSW members. Above: Our third-placegetter, Michael Petersen from And the results are in. We’d like to congratulate Molly Zarb, who works Correctives, photographed these horses strolling at the Environment Protection Authority, for her Christmas Day snap near Barrington Tops National Park. at Mount Kaputar National Park (picture above top). Ms Zarb wins a Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera, with some films thrown in. Thanks to all our members (and one PSA Manager) for submitting photos that prove Lour state has some wonderful National Parks and State Forests. And thanks to the PSA/ CPSU NSW members who work hard to make them places worth visiting.

30 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text TEA BREAK

CROSSWORD

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. ACROSS DOWN 1. Enterprise ______(10) 1. Fish you may catch in the 6.  South African currency (4) Top End (10) A A I R R 7. Small child (3) 2. A bottle of this gave Barry 8. Before noon (2) O’Farrell more than a 6. 7. 10. Concur (5) hangover (6) A R 13. In an excessively forced 3. World’s second-most manner of friendliness (5) populous nation (5) N N I N I 16.  Abbreviation of who may 4. The blue and black football

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. administer your COVID team from Milan (5) N B vaccine (2) 5. Sweden’s second city (10) 17.  Shortened name of 9. Academic level after your 13. 14. 15. 16. Southeast Asian country (3) BA (2) I I 18. Local authority in 11. Willoughby’s not-so-finest Northwest Sydney (4) (6) I B O B B 19.  Getting bigger (10) 12. Elizabeth’s initials (2)

17. 18. 14. Tennis player who may O O have learned to shampoo and condition during isolation (5) A O O O O 15. South Australian 19. peninsula (5)

Last issue’s solution

B U S H F I R E S I

U S A A I I E R R S

N E A R I I D R R T

D N N R U E N D U I

A L L I N I P I S N

B O B S B G U L A G

E L K B A I L B B I

R A D P O O P A L E

G A D A O O I O A S

O P E R R O T T E T

DID YOU KNOW? THE TEAM STRIVING FOR FAIRER WORK Last year the The National team TAFE system, disability Relations Commission PSA CPSU NSW’s looks out for members support, power generation and presents its own challenges. fleet of vehicles a number of smaller, non- or “The team’s Industrial covered by Federal drove more than quasi-government fields such Officers, Organisers and industrial laws. as Water NSW, Forestry Corp, Administrative staff do 270,000km to Parklea Gaol and the state’s exemplary work looking after reach members PSA/CPSU NSW members Aboriginal Land Council. a diverse group of members,” working under the Fair Work Industrial Manager National said Mr Pearce. “This means – or Sydney to system are represented by the Thane Pearce says working in we deal with a number of Cooktown and union’s National team. This a different industrial sphere employers, rather than just the back five times. team represents members to most of the membership State Government.” working in universities, the covered by the NSW Industrial

32 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

BOOK Reviews COVID-19 RISKS RESTARTING ASBESTOS TRADE Hundreds of billions of dollars are flowing into health and infrastructure projects as governments try to stimulate economies badly damaged by the COVID-19 crisis. THE NEW CLIMATE WAR: N countries that still THE FIGHT TO TAKE BACK permit asbestos, there are hospitals, clinics, OUR PLANET schools, houses and The campaign is aimed at that use the deadly material. Michael E. Mann transport projects the World Bank Group and The majority of the world’s the Asian Development asbestos is now consumed in Scribe Publications being built with the Bank, both of which receive Asia. Asbestos fibres are easily $35 cancer-causing material, leaving a deadly funding from the Australian inhaled, increasing the risk of As US President Joseph Biden Ilegacy for future generations. Government. lung, ovary and larynx cancer shifts up his country’s fight Union Aid Abroad – Ms Kate Lee, Executive as well as mesothelioma, a against climate change, the APHEDA has launched a Officer of APHEDA, said the cancer of the lining of the risks campaign to ban the use of Australian Government has lung. These cancers can being seen as an international asbestos in projects receiving a responsibility to ensure no develop decades after exposure outlier. Perhaps the Prime COVID-19 stimulus funding. Australian funds go to projects to asbestos. Minister needs to brush up with this book by Climate Scientist Michael E Mann. The New Climate War looks at HOW TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE the disinformation campaign from the 100 companies IN A WAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE responsible for an astonishing 70 per cent of the world’s Rebecca Huntley apocalypse can be better global emissions, and how Murdoch Books delivered to not only win people can counter this wave of $32.99 over deniers, but those who what Professor Mann calls the feel overwhelmed by the Watching children at a “powerful Ds: disinformation, crisis at hand. climate change rally on deceit, divisiveness, deflection, In her research for the television, social researcher delay, despair-mongering and book, Ms Huntley talks to Rebecca Huntley suddenly doomism”. a variety of people trying realised that when the Of course, all of this is to get the message across, protesters demanded people amplified by slick PR firms, from scientists to evangelical take action, she was in a sections of the media such Christians. They talk about place to do so. She then as Fox News in the US and offering hope and accept of our environment and embarked on a two-year Australia’s own homegrown that some people will never society may seem too much to project to sell climate change coal-pushers such as former be won over (although she bear. But Ms Huntley’s easy- action to a planet in peril. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, notes that with one public to-digest, conversational tone Taking cues from the who destroyed one of the best argument, one activist did will give the reader hope – Kübler-Ross model of ways to cut pollution, a price on manage to convince a sceptic’s and maybe some ammunition dealing with grief, How to carbon emissions. two sons to join her at a rally). the next time they encounter Talk About Climate Change The New Climate War Coming after the simply a climate sceptic at a discusses how the message examines ways to fight the awful 2020, reading 250 pages barbecue. about an impending carbon lobby and work for a about the impending collapse sustainable future.

April-June 2021 RED TAPE 33 TRAINING

AHEAD OF THE GAME Your union’s training unit can get you ready for members’ workplace issues. nion Delegates are usually the first to hear of workplace difficulties faced by members. The PSA/CPSU NSW Training Unit has devised a course to ensure Delegates Uhave the skills required when a member comes to them. solving model, a resolution-planning Dealing With Member Issues is a one- model and a legislative-understanding day course, delivered online or in class, model. TRAINING TIPS devised to give Delegates the tools to be “We talk about the Delegate’s role · Training is free to all PSA/CPSU an efficient first port of call for a member as a support person and also discuss NSW members having problems in the workplace. dispute resolution and natural justice. · Nearly all PSA/CPSU NSW “The course completes a trilogy; coming And we have a practical component members can access Union after Introduction to the Union and the so participants can practice handling Training Leave, so no need to Role of the Delegate,” said PSA/CPSU common issues. dip into your holiday time NSW Educator John Sandow (pictured). “We like seeing people gain the · Courses are delivered online, “The great thing about this course is it confidence to deal with members’ problems at PSA House in Sydney or in focuses on individual issues members and be effective Delegates. regional centres bring to the Delegate. This is a high part “We always keep in mind Delegates are · You can read more at psa.asn.au/ of their workload. still supported by the union’s industrial training-you “We introduce models for Delegates to staff. Delegates don’t have to go it alone, deal with this work. We have a problem- no matter how well trained they are.”

Did you know you can receive Red Tape digitally? You can read every edition as a PDF sent directly to your inbox!

J APRIL- JUNE To receive Red Tape as a PDF or to update your details, 2021 email [email protected]

IN YOUR INBOX

34 RED TAPE April-June 2021 please cut text

A NEW HEALTH FUND THAT’S BACKED BY ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST TRUSTED FUNDS. WE’RE ALL FOR IT.

If you’re a union member, you deserve a health fund that strives for fair. One that looks after its members. One you can trust to protect your health long into the future.

One like Union Health.

Union Health is here to serve all union members. And it’s brought to you by TUH Health Fund, which was ranked first by members for trustworthiness, satisfaction, loyalty and likelihood to recommend in the latest nationwide Ipsos survey of health funds.

ARE YOU FOR A FAIRER HEALTH FUND?

Join today and get your second month free!*

Visit unionhealth.com.au to find out more.

Brought to you by TUH, the health fund members trust.

*Terms and conditions apply SSN S W N

These are testing times for universities Revenue cuts are putting job, pay and conditions at risk You have never needed your union more www.cpsunsw.org.au/join The CPSU NSW is the ONLY union dedicated to Professional Staff in our universities Join the CPSU NSW today

www.cpsunsw.org,au/join EVERY JOB COUNTS

160 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 3365, Sydney NSW 2001 1300 772 679 [email protected] www.cpsunsw.org.au @cpsunsw

Authorised by Stewart Little, State Branch Secretary, Community and Public Sector Union (SPSF Group) NSW Branch, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney