We’re right in the middle of Health and Safety Month, when there is a greater focus on workplace health and safety along with the rights and powers of Health and Safety Reps (HSRs).

Overview
CPSU members and public sector workers generally are still disproportionately affected by psychological injuries and disappointingly we are still awaiting the release of Victoria's psychological health regulations and compliance code.

The commitment to refer the bullying head of power to the commonwealth by the Victorian Treasurer and Industrial Relations Minister will be an important step in providing public sector employees with access the Fair Work Commission for independent resolution of bullying grievances.

CPSU provides support and advice to HSRs who face the complexities of issue resolution, including the issuing or provisional improvement notices to government departments and agencies. HSRs can find their role very challenging particularly in dealing with management and therefore having union support is critical in achieving positive OH&S outcomes. 

Our union continues to provide public sector specific HSR Initial OHS training courses for HSRs and Deputies and the delivery of the WorkSafe developed HSR refresher OHS training course on work-related violence.

This is an issue that is increasing in all our areas of representation, and we must ensure that employers are complying with their duties to provide a healthy and safe workplace.

Empowering HSRs and Deputies by educating them in how their employer should be controlling this risk in the workplace is vital in making sure these workplaces are as safe as possible for CPSU members.

Betrayal of workers highlighted on World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day provided an opportunity to remind Victorians that the government has stripped WorkCover from people who sustain mental injury at work. 

In some public service workplaces, because of the nature of the work or the lack of people to do the work, the things that stay with you can be negative, stressful, traumatising. 

Stress and trauma can have a severe impact on a person, causing psychological injury. 

Work-related injuries that are not visible need to be treated in the same way as physical work-related injuries. In fact, union members campaigned for over two decades to have the risk of psychological harm to be accepted as a no-fault injury the same as physical injury is. 

Rather than create a no-fault system for mental injury the government introduced harsh legislation from March 30th, 2024, attempting to make it harder to claim mental injury. Government call it modernisation, CPSU call it a betrayal of Victorian Workers.

Any member intending to put in a mental injury claim should contact CPSU WorkCover Services Geoff Lewin on 0435 911 700.

Congratulations to our HSR of the Year & Gayle Smith Award Winners
This year we received the most nominations since the commencement of this award in 2004.

The assessment of this year’s Gayle Smith Award nominees was challenging as all HSRs nominated have made significant contributions within their workplaces. 

CPSU congratulates both Katrina Kiernan-Walker and Cameron Phillips as joint winners of the 2024 Gayle Smith Commemorative Award, for their outstanding contributions in representing and strongly advocating for members on OH&S matters at the Victoria Electoral Commission and SERCO Traffic Camera Operations.

The Award recognizes the outstanding work both Katrina and Cameron have done representing their designated work groups, in dealing with significant health and safety concerns and strong advocacy in difficult and sensitive circumstances for the benefit of the members of their work groups.

Certificates of Appreciation will be presented to Christopher George (DJCS), Nathan Southwell (DFFH), Matthew Welsh (DJCS), Emma Maguire (DFFH) and Greg Taylor (SERCO TCO) in acknowledgement of the significant OHS contributions they’ve made in their workplaces. 

HSR Conference 2024
More than 80 CPSU Vic Health and Safety Reps are attending the VTHC annual HSR Conference on Tuesday 22nd October, and our OHS team is presenting a couple of sessions at this important event.