DEECD NMR Transition Pushed Back to 2009

The transition of DEECD from co-locations in EMR has been delayed as the Department struggles with the task they have been given and CPSU is now told that transition will not be completed until January 2009.

Issues for DHS/DEECD

- The amalgamation of early childhood services with the education department made perfect political sense and lobbyists from across the State had pushed for this outcome for many years.
- It was designed to end some of the ‚Äö?Ñ??silo affects about services to children from birth to the end of secondary school and was a much applauded move. The amalgamation aimed to break down artificial barriers where program access for families with children was concerned.
- In coordinating services from different departments, it is hoped a more holistic approach to education and childhood services can be achieved. The question is, has it worked?

More Resources Needed.

Regions aren t ready to accommodate the new staff that will be delivering the wishes of the Ministers. The first metropolitan co location has had to be stalled, because of problems with shared IT platforms, accommodation issues, car access for staff, and dealing with management structures within the region.

CPSU has sought to bring members concerns to management. Members insist that these are dealt with before any co location takes place.

Cars that Ate DHS

DEECD is still not giving clear answers on the number of cars it has available for work come the co location with Glen Waverley.

DEECD must understand that employees are currently;

- Visiting families in crisis, children under protection orders,
- Helping children with disabilities and their families, offering services and therapy in natural settings (in the home), and at a central location and
- It can involve transporting clients, children with disabilities and their carer s to appointments. It means that visits to hundreds of Kindergartens must be made, and the contracts of carer s and aides serviced.

The car fleet at DHS was inadequate, barely meeting the needs of employees and serious juggling of resources was a daily occurrence.

Member Issues for DHS/DEECD

Members now employed by DEECD instead of DHS question arrangements made for them at DEECD.

"We have asked about the car situation, and no one has given us a straight answer‚Äö?Ñ?? said one member. ‚Äö?Ñ??We won t use our own cars for our work. The Minister and the Secretary assured us all that there would be no loss of conditions as a result of the move. We need work vehicles to be available so we can do our jobs.‚Äö?Ñ?? Another member states, ‚Äö?Ñ??My work covers the whole region, and isn t defined by school network areas. I visit people in their homes, and I can t have my private vehicle information on display as this could be a security risk. I choose clients very carefully before using my own vehicle‚Äö?Ñ??

One thing is clear; staff will not provide their own vehicles for DEECD s use.

"The reimbursement through the tax rebate is pathetic‚Äö?Ñ??, said one member. ‚Äö?Ñ??We couldn t possibly use our own cars. The depreciation alone would seriously disadvantage us and the risings costs of fuel and car maintenance would mean that we would be paying DEECD for the privilege of working‚Äö?Ñ?? Another member told CPSU, ‚Äö?Ñ??My family vehicle is just that. My job requirement was to have a current driver s licence, not a car. None of us are going to budge on this one. We are 100% behind the petition that asks that DEECD respond to our concerns by providing better information and proper resources‚Äö?Ñ??

Email Punishment? Better Process is Needed, say Staff.

In DHS, the allocation of space for emails is 165MB. If it is exceeded, then there is notification, and employees ‚Äö?Ñ??clean up their email inbox.

In DEECD the allocation is only 100MB. If it is exceeded there are a series of ‚Äö?Ñ??punishment warnings that ‚Äö?Ñ??encourage staff to fix the problem. This includes a slow down up to a freezing of emails, so that clients can t contact employees.

This is serious because staff are notified of emergencies via a client data base email notification system. The need for more email space must be put on the agenda so that staff can be assured they aren t abnegating their duty of care to their clients.

Professional Library Access.

After transition there must be access to DHS s library and the Clinicians Health Channel so they can continue to update knowledge and practice. This is essential for employees who now work for DEECD to complete their work to a professional standard.

Pay Slips.

The first pay slips to the new staff were a shock to workers who are use to the privacy of online pay slip notification.

Multiple pay slips arrived at offices in large envelopes, and were then put unfolded, into pigeon holes. They were easily viewed, and the information contained on them was sensitive.

"Anyone who wanted could have read my pay scale, my deductions, my total banking details including the BSB, and my card number. I felt that someone at DEECD had really dropped the ball. I was not happy, particularly as we hadn t been told that this was the method by which our pay information would be given to us. We thought they would at least put our pay slips in individual envelopes, or staple them closed‚Äö?Ñ??.

CPSU has been asked to approach management to do a bit better.

Some members fear that the amalgamation is a way of reducing staff.

"Just prior to amalgamation, Children s Services advertised positions to replace psychologists who had left the service. There used to be a higher EFT, and now, since the reorganisation started those positions seem to have disappeared in the new structure. This could be a workload problem, and the effect on the families and the children that we re supposed to help will be compromised if staff is reduced in this way‚Äö?Ñ??.

This is in direct contradiction to the assurances made by both DHS and DEECD that no loss of jobs or entitlement would be suffered.

At recent meeting with DEECD, CPSU and member representative put the above questions to management.

CPSU was told that there would be no separate change process, but that consultation with CPSU and staff would continue as negotiations for the car fleet, the DHS Library access, and all the other issues raised.

CPSU is taking advice on the best way forward to tackle all these problems arising from this political fix.

All feedback on issues regarding the amalgamation of DoE with DHS early childhood services, please email CPSU Organiser Geraldine Hughes at ghughes@cpsuvic.org or call on 03 9639 1822 or 1800 810 153 toll free.

TOGETHER WE DO BETTER

KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary