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Psychologists Seek Urgent Meeting with DHHS Management

HACSU recently conducted Statewide meetings to discuss concerns regarding Psychology career structures across the Department of Health and Human Services. HACSU was directed by members to seek an urgent meeting with DHHS management to discuss members concerns.

Major concerns expressed by HACSU psychologist members at the meetings were:

That no formal advice has been provided to members with regard to the filling of the Statewide Senior Psychologist position;

That management has advised in recent correspondence to HACSU that a new proposed structure for psychology exists however, no consultation nor advice regarding this structure has occurred with HACSU members;

In the most recent correspondence to HACSU from Ms Tabor she advises that consultation occurred with the Oakrise team prior to determining that the L4 Senior Psychologist (North) position be reclassified and advertised as a generic L3 allied health position. HACSU believes that this decision clearly undermines the role the position had as providing high level advice and support to psychologists across the region and also undermines any concept of an agency wide psychology structure;

HACSU has been advised that the Oakrise team made a decision to fill the L4 psychologist position as a generic allied health position based upon an urgent need to address workload issues.

HACSU is also aware that the Team recognises that the L4 psychologist position should be filled as a matter of urgency. The Team Leader position should also be filled as a matter of priority in order to address workload issues as it was recognised that the L4 psychologist may not be physically sited at Oakrise in the future, and;

Concerns exist regarding the loss of clinical hours previously attached to the L4 psychologist position in the north and also in the south should the Statewide L4 appointment be made in either the north west or northern region.

Members have expressed considerable concern with regard to the current situation surrounding psychology career structures and have resolved to meet again in the week commencing 23 September 2002. Dates, times and venues for meetings are listed below.

HACSU has requested that with the exception of the appointment of the Statewide L4 Psychologist, which may be imminent, management take no further action to implement changes to the current psychology structure until HACSU's concerns are satisfactorily addressed.

Meeting Dates

South:

2.00pm
23 September 2002
Main Meeting Room - Wyadra
Clare St New Town.

North West:

11am
25 September 2002
Child and Adolescents centre
Bourke Street - Burnie.

North:

10am
26 September 2002
Level 2 - Meeting Room
Drug & Alcohol Services
13 Mulgrave Street - Launceston.

Should members require further information with regard to this matter, please contact Tim Jacobson on 6231 2253.

All Psychology staff are invited to attend this meeting.