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Autumn 2006

Government to outsource residential services

In late 2005, the then Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Human Services announced the transfer of Departmental run Group Homes to the non-government sector.

The decision was made following the presentation of a report, prepared by the firm KPMG, which made a number of recommendations including the transfer of the government run facilities. The report indicated a number of systemic, training and resource issues as being among the reasons for the decision.

For a number of years, members together with HACSU Officials have been calling for additional resources, funding and training in order to bolster the service. Although the calls have fallen on deaf ears, the KPMG report has in part vindicated the concerns of members - as it raises many of the issues which have troubled members for some time.

However, as an outcome of the report the State Government has taken the decision to outsource residential services rather than address the fundamental issues raised by members nor their own independent review.

In November 2005, a meeting of HACSU and ANF members was held at the Hilltop Tavern at Granton to discuss the outsourcing. In excess of ninety angry members turned out for the meeting.

Members were quick to criticise both the Government and Senior Management for ignoring inadequacies and systemic issues that had been identified. Further, members were livid they were being made the scapegoats for the apparent failure of others.

It was decided at the meeting to form two groups, one would be a campaign committee to liaise with members regarding potential industrial action and the other a letter writing committee to address issues that had been raised in the media that members felt had painted disability service workers in a bad light.

A second membership meeting was held in January 2006 at the same venue.

While the Government has agreed to redeploy all existing staff, that is, they have guaranteed no job losses, members' anxiety levels increased when Deputy Secretary Alison Jacob recently announced the first site to be transferred to the non-government sector.

Jacob announced that it is the government's intention to transfer the disability group home in Lenah Valley by the end of the financial year, with all group homes privatised by 2009.

With their future uncertain, members have expressed a number of urgent concerns; primarily adequately funded retraining, redeployment to meaningful jobs, salary maintenance - particularly shift penalties - and a meaningful guarantee of job security.

Additionally, members wishing to take up employment within the non-government sector want to know what will happen to their existing entitlements including superannuation.

HACSU have recommended that members consider staying within the state sector both to safeguard existing entitlements and to dodge John Howard's new industrial legislative changes, which currently do not affect State service employees.

If you are interested in joining the campaign committee please contact Robbie Moore on 6231 2253.