Public Sector Review - December 2022

WELCOME

Welcome to this edition of the Public Sector Review – our first since this year’s State Election and the change in government.

The Malinauskas Government has made some commitments to ban privatisation and tackle the child protection crisis, which are promising. The honeymoon period is over, and it is now up to all union members and the wider community to hold this new government to account.

In this edition, we showcase the recent win we had within SAPOL, where our call centre consultant members achieved a much-deserved

reclassification, recognising the value of the work they do.

And thanks to solid campaigning by members, we were able to convince the new government to reinstate 30 TAFE courses slashed by the previous government.

We feature an interview with Nev Kitchin, our former General Secretary, who retired in March after 18 years with the PSA, including six leading our union.

We farewell two hard-working members of PSA Council and Worksite Representatives who have retired as School Services Officers.

And we show you how you can reduce the impact of cost of living rises and recoup your membership fees by simply using the range of discounts we offer.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition.

CALL TO ACTION

Reclassification win for SAPOL Call Centre members

PSA members have secured a reclassification for more than 100 SAPOL ASO2 call centre staff, following a campaign to have the real value of their work recognised. In addition, the reclassfication has been backdated to August 2021.

“This win has come about thanks to the advocacy and efforts of union members, who have long held the view that the classification of their role was grossly inadequate for the complexity of their duties,” said PSA General Secretary Natasha Brown.

HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR EMAIL?

The PSA provides information to members on industrial matters and other benefits by email. To ensure you receive the very latest information, please let us know if your email address changes.

Just send an email to: enquiries@psaofsa.asn.au with the details and your membership record will be updated.

PSA members, taking 131 444, Triple Zero and Crime Stoppers calls, are required to process information quickly, make timely decisions, manage demanding workloads and operate with a sense of urgency under high pressure situations within a team environment.

“They are expected to have a high level of interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills and an

ability to cope with extreme and sensitive situations,” Natasha Brown said.

“It is astonishing that this important, critical service to the community has been underclassified for so long.”

Under the changes, existing ASO2 Call Centre Consultants will be reclassified to ASO3 Call Centre Consultants.

The reclassification is an important achievement by our members, but there is still more work to do in SAPOL, as many unsworn staff, employed under ASO classifications, continue to feel undervalued.

“The PSA is receiving a record number of enquiries from union members in SAPOL and is working with those members to make sure they are being paid what their job is worth,” Natasha Brown said.

If you work in SAPOL and have concerns about your classification, please contact the PSA Member Rights Hotline on 8205 3227 or email enquiries@ psaofsa.asn.au.

Together we can make SAPOL a better place to work for unsworn members.

“ It is astonishing that this important, critical service to the community has been underclassified for so long. ”

COMMITTED TO HOLDING GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT

Although I have written plenty of columns for the Review as Assistant Secretary, this is my first column as PSA General Secretary and it is an absolute honour to do so. It is a great privilege to have been asked by our Council to lead our union now, at a time when the value and importance of public services has never been greater. Our challenge is to ensure the lessons of the pandemic are not ignored, and that it is public sector workers who shape the public sector of the future.

I thank former PSA General Secretary Nev Kitchin for his years of dedication to our union. On a personal note, I thank Nev for being an excellent running mate and mentor to me over the past six years, for his willingness to share his knowledge, and for supporting me to build on the skills and experience needed to effectively lead our union. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

I also congratulate former Vice President Christian Hagivassilis, who has been appointed Assistant General Secretary. I look forward to working with Christian and PSA President, Lillia Rozaklis, in advancing our vision for a society built on high-quality, accessible and equitable public services. I have great confidence in Lillia and Christian. We are certainly well-placed to take the PSA forward.

When my team and I were elected to our roles in our union, we outlined a

clear strategic direction and a strong plan to build power in our union, based on:

• listening to members and keeping the union focused on what matters to you

• strengthening and supporting our Worksite Representative network

• building community awareness of, and support for, the essential work our members do

• growing our membership and building power in workplaces

• staying strong and united.

Lillia, Christian and I are driven by these fundamental principles, and we are fiercely committed to keeping the PSA strong, effective and resilient into the future; representing the interests of all members; and campaigning to keep our public sector strong.

We have a vision for a well-resourced SA public sector, where PSA members are highly valued and respected with secure working conditions and entitlements, and we are dedicated to pursuing that vision.

This is an important time for public sector workers. We have a new state government, and with that, we have some new priorities and some new opportunities. We also have new commitments on which to hold the government to account.

In the lead-up to the state election the PSA intensely lobbied both sides of politics for commitments that would benefit PSA members and the public sector.

We initiated a number of union and community campaigns with a plan to get privatisation into the parliamentary process and to make it an election issue.

Last year, we received confirmation that a parliamentary inquiry would be established into the privatisation of public services in South Australia. The establishment of this inquiry was an important win for our union in our fight against privatisation here in South Australia.

This inquiry gave us the opportunity to highlight in detail both the direct and indirect problems privatisation has caused for our members and our community.

The final report of the inquiry adopted several of the PSA’s recommendations and strengthened our position that

“

This is an important time for public sector workers. We have a new state government, and with that, we have some new priorities and some new opportunities. We also have new commitments on which to hold the government to account. ”

by Natasha Brown

A message from the General Secretary

privatisation should be an important election issue, which was a significant positive for our campaign.

I wrote to Peter Malinauskas regularly throughout his time in Opposition, seeking specific, firm and unambiguous election commitments around privatisation and resourcing of our public sector. We also held regular meetings with the now Premier.

While this was happening, on the ground the PSA and our members were running a consistent and effective anti-privatisation campaign, including social media, letterboxing around specific issues, electorate office campaigning, public awareness and community campaigning. I know many of you were involved in those campaigns, and these actions further increased the pressure on the ALP to give us the commitments we sought.

On 21 January this year, we finally got our response from Mr Malinauskas.

In response to our question:

Will your party guarantee not to privatise, outsource or commercialise, or support the privatisation, outsourcing or commercialisation, in whole or in part, of any public sector assets or services?

The now Premier responded:

“Labor will take a tough stance on privatisation by banning new privatisations of public services in South Australia. Labor supported the ongoing Parliamentary inquiry into privatisation and, if elected, will establish a Parliamentary Committee to undertake in-depth reviews of contracts for existing outsourced and privatised services.”

This is the strongest commitment against privatisation our union has ever received from either major party. It is an achievement that we should all congratulate ourselves on, and be immensely proud of the work we all undertook in getting Labor to come to this position.

And it is already paying off. We have already welcomed the news that the previous government’s proposal to privatise the Education Department’s Family Day Care service has been scrapped. This is an excellent win for our union, and it could not have been achieved without the campaigning efforts and resolve of our members and Worksite Representatives.

Together, we withstood the challenges thrown up by the previous government: their hostile approach to slashing your conditions of employment; their dismissive approach to the importance of the public sector, and their cavalier attitude to integrity in public administration.

We do however need to remember that we will always have challenges to overcome regardless of which party is in power. The further efficiency dividends announced in the 2022-23 State Budget are evidence of that.

As we move forward to overcome the challenges ahead, I am very conscious of ensuring that our union remains well positioned to maintain our capabilities to support our members and get the wins that we all need. We are already in a strong position in relation to that capability, but we can always be stronger.

I have a clear plan, with the support of the PSA Council, to continue to grow power in our union, to achieve wins on the issues that matter for members, and ultimately to strengthen public services for our community. Our Worksite Representatives and the broader membership are an integral part of that plan.

Building and maintaining membership – centred around specific industrial and safety issues in our worksites –have long been the keys to sustained membership strength and growth. We cannot do this without your commitment and membership engagement.

The PSA is built on a proud history of members like you, building relationships, and proudly promoting the crucial role our union plays in the workplace, and the broader community.

I look forward to working with all members to improve the growth of our union – you are best placed to have that conversation with your workmates about the importance of the PSA, and the importance of being a union member.

Under my leadership, the PSA will continue to focus on the growth of our union and the continued development of our Worksite Representatives to give us the power in the workplace to achieve positive change on the issues that matter to PSA members.

As I said at the beginning of this column, it is a great privilege to be appointed to lead our union at this time when our community’s needs and expectations for high-quality public services have never been greater.

My vision is for a strong wellresourced public sector where PSA members are respected and valued in providing accessible and high-quality public services for our families and communities.

I am committed to holding the incoming government to account on the commitments they have made, including banning privatisation and improving public services. As General Secretary, I look forward to working with our new Assistant General Secretary Christian Hagivassilis, the PSA Council and Executive, and most importantly all PSA members, in pursuit of that commitment and vision.

NOTE TO GOVERNMENTS: DON’T TAKE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS FOR GRANTED

As we near the end of 2022, it’s worth noting the immense contribution public sector workers have made to South Australia this year.

Public sector workers have again shown resilience, flexibility and resourcefulness to ensure that essential services are delivered across the state. As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, these attributes will ably equip us to tackle future challenges.

The government has benefited from having such an incredible workforce during the past two and half years. Public servants have proven time and time again their value and their worth. But this can never be taken for granted.

We saw that in a time of crisis, the government relied on a state-owned pathology operation to lead COVID testing activities and provide an efficient and timely service to meet the public’s needs and help inform pandemic policy. Just months before, the same government was talking about privatising SA Pathology.

by Lillia Rozaklis

By contrast, we have continued to see the privately operated Adelaide Remand Centre constantly in the news for all the wrong reasons, proving our position that privatisation of government services just doesn’t work.

We hope that this is a lesson to all future governments.

On behalf of the PSA Council, I would like to say a special thank you to our members for your continued support. Union membership may be seen as a discretionary expense, or even a luxury by some as the cost of living continues to rise, but for those who have benefited from PSA support, the value cannot be overstated.

I also want to acknowledge the many dedicated Worksite Representatives who support our union. You are the eyes and ears on the ground, who help the PSA hold your employer to account.

The newly elected Malinauskas government has made some positive statements around banning further privatisation on its watch, and we look forward to seeing those election promises come to fruition, and for the PSA to continue to play an integral role in the public debate.

Every year, we have many wins that would not be possible without your passion, activism and innate desire to get a fair deal for your fellow workers. This is at the heart of being a union and why collective action still matters and can make a difference.

OUR VISION OUR MISSION

A South Australian Public Sector in which PSA members are highly valued and well-resourced, with fair and secure working conditions and entitlements.

To grow, engage and empower our membership by working collectively to effectively represent, protect and actively advance PSA members’ interests.

“ We look forward to seeing those election promises come to fruition, and for the PSA to continue to play an integral role in the public debate. ”

I am proud to present this column as the PSA’s recently appointed Assistant General Secretary.

During my years of PSA membership, I have been a Worksite Representative, a Councillor and more recently a Vice President. As an elder millennial with one foot in Gen X, I started my working life with the (then) Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in the early 2000s. I have since worked for more than a decade in the SA public sector as an analyst with SA Police and more recently, the Environment Protection Authority.

Like so many PSA members, I chose to be part of our union when I saw injustice at work that could only be corrected through collective power. In my case, it was an unlawful clause in an employment contract at SAPOL – and the response from local management when I raised the issue. They were sympathetic but responded with a phrase I would never forget: “You’ll never change SAPOL.” I joined the union right then. We got that contract changed. Then we helped two more people get their contracts changed. We corrected the issue together.

Once I had made the choice to join the PSA, it quickly became a defining feature of my life. The first PSA rally I attended was part of the massive action to roll back the Rann Government’s attack on our long service leave. I was

A message from the Assistant General Secretary

STANDING TOGETHER IN UNION

inspired by the power of hundreds of union members acting collectively. Subsequent rallies fanned the sense of camaraderie I felt standing with other determined, hopeful and dedicated PSA members. I realised our union has an enormous capacity to create change –as long as we are willing to act together.

When my colleagues and I were facing a restructure within SAPOL, I decided to become a Worksite Representative, to grow collective power within my work area and help us find our voice. That led to me working with members across SAPOL and set me on the road to becoming a Councillor, a Vice President and now, Assistant General Secretary.

My work with the PSA has given me the opportunity to meet and hear from members from across the public sector. I hear similar stories time and again. Stories of departments exploiting the dedication of their workers. Stories of people who have been kept on temporary or casual contracts for years. Stories of exhausted members under incredible workload pressures determined to maintain service delivery. Stories of union members stepping into the breach when cuts have left workplaces with barely skeleton staffing and workloads piling high. Stories of members standing together to push back against cuts and privatisations. Stories of

members standing up for public services – and for the public we serve. These stories – your stories – drive me now as I do my work in assisting Natasha lead our union into the future.

Listening to members is where our work begins. Safeguarding members and protecting members’ rights takes more. This is why we have a focus on growing our membership; on strengthening and supporting our network of Worksite Representatives; on raising community awareness of issues impacting members – and impacting services; on building power – and on doing it together.

If there is one central lesson I have learned in the years since I refused to accept that “you’ll never change SAPOL” and signed that membership form, it is the unstoppable power of people standing together for a just cause. As a public servant, it has been a privilege to serve the community. As the new PSA Assistant General Secretary working alongside General Secretary Natasha Brown, it is an honour to now devote my working life to growing our union’s power, bringing members together and safeguarding members’ conditions now and into the future. We have a lot of work to do. Standing together in union is how we will get it done. And I look forward to doing this work alongside each and every one of you.

“

Like so many PSA members, I chose to be part of our union when I saw injustice at work that could only be corrected through collective power ” IS HOW WE WILL GET IT DONE

by Christian Hagivassilis

NEV CALLS TIME ON REWARDING CAREER

Respected for his unwavering commitment to PSA members, savvy negotiating skills and genuine compassion, retired PSA General Secretary

Nev Kitchin has been a passionate fighter for workers’ rights during a long career in the union movement. The Public Sector Review spoke with Nev about his time at the helm of the PSA.

You’ve had wide and varied experiences in your working life, can you tell readers a bit about your background and how you came to be PSA General Secretary?

My working life started in the building industry as a builder’s labourer for a pair of brickies. When my father died unexpectedly, I went back to school into a Year 12 adult education class and then applied for Teachers College.

It turned out there was an oversupply of teachers, so I decided to apply to South Australia Police (SAPOL), simply because my grandfather had been in the force. I served for four years in the metropolitan area and then transferred to Port Augusta where I worked for another three years. In that era you could not stay in a country location for any extended period. I wanted to settle and build our own home in Wilmington, so I had to leave SAPOL.

Subsequently, I was fortunate to gain experience working in corrections, child protection, private security, public and consumer affairs, the State Government Insurance Commission and the South Australian Housing Trust (SAHT).

It was during my time with the SAHT that, with the encouragement of PSA stalwarts like Margaret Warner, I became a PSA Worksite Representative and later a member of PSA Council. A little later I applied for a secondment to the PSA as an Industrial Officer, which really cemented my passion for representing fellow members.

In these early years I was fortunate to receive mentoring from Jan McMahon, Peter Christopher, Lindsay Oxlad, and a number of very knowledgeable Industrial Officers at the PSA. When an opportunity arose to stand for a full-time elected position I took it, and was eventually elected as PSA General

Secretary. Eighteen years on and I’ve now handed over to my very able and committed successors.

What do you admire most about the public sector and the people who work in it?

I have great admiration for public sector workers who get on with the job of delivering services to our community regardless of which political party is in power and despite the never ending changes in premiers, CEOs and managers, the constant restructures, so-called “efficiency dividends” and of course putting up with the myriad buzz words. They do an incredible job for South Australians and often in very difficult circumstances.

What are some of your proudest moments during your time in the PSA leadership?

I think some of the most satisfying times have been when our team negotiated a strengthened salaried Enterprise

Agreement (EA), which achieved many wins that members told us were important to them.

Working with a supportive Council, dedicated PSA employees and passionate members is inspiring, and I would particularly like to acknowledge the specialist EBA team at the PSA, led by Austin White, for their professionalism, attention to detail and perseverance in EB negotiations.

During my tenure at the PSA, my proudest moments revolved around the daily successes of my three key teams, the Organising team, Industrial team, and our Finance and Administration team. Watching people work collectively under very challenging circumstances is very inspiring and the knowledge, commitment and focus of all these staff on serving our members, is formidable.

What are the biggest challenges you see for the PSA and the broader union movement into the future?

The union movement is indeed facing significant challenges. Attacks from anti-

worker governments and organisations aside, the apathy of some workers in not joining their unions is a significant hurdle to overcome. In some ways, unions have been so successful in achieving good working entitlements and conditions that some workers think they don’t need to do any more. As interest rates and inflation continue to rise, those who are yet to join their union will hopefully come on board to help share the load – it looks like being quite a difficult economic time ahead, and we know workers are always expected to bear the brunt.

If you were to highlight one characteristic or personal quality you think is most important as a leader, what would that be and why?

I think a good leadership quality is to trust your employees and wherever possible give them the reins to get on with the job. Don’t be afraid of temporary setbacks, the sooner something fails, the sooner you can try another way forward. Kindness and business should go hand in hand whilst recognising that decisions have to be made in the best interests of the members we serve.

From the PSA

Leading an organisation of any kind can impact significantly on one’s family life, and this also applies to trade unions. We acknowledge the commitment Nev has made to the PSA and recognise the personal sacrifices both he and his family have made during his long and

The PSA leadership, Council and staff wish Nev all the best in his retirement and thank him for his outstanding commitment to PSA members over many years. Good luck Nev! We will miss your daily puns and “dad jokes” around the

How are you feeling about retirement?

I have been fortunate to retire at a time of my own making, having never lost an election, having the same passion to support members, and knowing that our union is in very capable and committed hands with Natasha, Christian and elected councillors.

Natasha has forged her own path, achieved great outcomes heading up the PSA anti-privatisation campaign, and is more than capable of managing the complex rules and regulations that govern a trade union and multi-million dollar organisation. I wish the new team every success into the future.

Now that you’ve passed the baton and retired, what will you do with your free time?

In my retirement I am working with several volunteer organisations, spending more time with family, and supporting my partner through some health issues.

Nev Kitchin took a trip down memory lane, riding the same Honda CT 70 motorcycle on his last day of work at the PSA in March as he had done some 50 years earlier at the start of his working life.

WORKSITE REPS FORUM FOCUSES ON HEALTH AND SAFETY

This year’s PSA Worksite Representatives Forum was held on Thursday, May 19 at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation headquarters at Ridleyton.

Nearly 100 Worksite Representatives attended the forum, which was also a great opportunity for reps to network in person - for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

But the impact of COVID wasn’t far away, laying low a couple of the presenters, necessitating some last minute changes to the schedule.

Nevertheless, it was a chance to thank our reps in person for all the work they do, share some of the inspirational wins we’ve had over the past 12 months and take a deep dive into health and safety and the rights of workers to take action to ensure they have a safe workplace. We look forward to meeting again in 2023.

If you are interested in becoming a PSA Worksite Representative, call our Members’ Rights Hotline on 8205 3227 or email enquiries@psaofsa.asn.au to find out more. PSA Worksite Representatives receive training to equip them to drive campaigns and support fellow members.

STATE LIBRARY SLASHES EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Library was earlier this year caught out trying to pass off a doctored report as independent advice, with arguments in favour of retaining the program erased from the final version of the report.

The PSA referred the matter to the South Australian Employment Tribunal, arguing that consultation with its members had not been undertaken in good faith, with the Commission ruling that the Library would have to re-commence consultation.

The Library is now blaming this year’s State Budget for axing of the community learning programs, which provide an important introduction to the library and its role as a lifelong learning resource to school children.

Before the State Government came into power, it made a commitment that budget cuts would not cause reductions in service and would be aimed primarily at the top end of the public service and in non-staffing areas.

The axed programs, aimed at children from kindergarten to year 10 levels, include:

• Explore - a - story

• My History

• Our changing environment

• The opposite of bored

• Pop ups and moveable books

• The great air race

• Colonial SA •

The value of the programs, which have been adopted by other states, was confirmed in the original draft of a report commissioned by the Library and written by independent education consultant Mandi Dimitriadi.

However, the report was heavily edited by Library executives before being released for consultation.

“This action severely compromised any consultation with our members — it smacked of being very tricky, trying to pass off a doctored report as independent advice,” PSA General Secretary Natasha Brown said.

“The State Library is now looking for another excuse to justify the outcome it always wanted.”

Meanwhile, the Library continues to spend money on lavish overseas travel for senior management and has reclassified middle management employees to senior management level.

Natasha Brown said the cuts to the education programs meant South Australia would be the only state in Australia not to have a program that introduces the wonders of learning and what a library can offer through an interactive face-to-face experience.

“We believe this is very short-sighted and they have their priorities all wrong,” she said.

“The frontline, public facing staff of the Library and the programs they provide are one of the Library’s greatest assets.”

The axing of these education programs will see the loss of three public sector jobs.

“Our members affected by these proposed changes were invited to provide feedback to Ms Dimitriadi to inform her report, but the ‘final’ report did not reflect the feedback they had contributed as part of the review process,” Natasha said.

The cost-cutting measures would also see the library’s weekday opening hours reduced. Proposed opening times would be pushed back from 8am to 9am with a standard closing time of 5pm Monday to Friday. Currently, the library is open until 7pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.

“This severely affects accessibility to this vital community service to all but those who live or work in the city, and again ignores the importance of promoting our cultural precinct as an essential public service for all South Australians,” Natasha said.

PSA Worksite Representatives and members across the cultural precinct are committed to saving these important services. Keep and eye out for further developments of our campaign.

The PSA has been campaigning against the State Library of South Australia’s intention to slash a suite of nationally recognised education programs, delivered to thousands of South Australian school children annually, this time blaming blow-outs in health and emergency services spending by the new Labor Government for its decision.

We believe this is very short-sighted and they have their priorities all wrong.

- Natasha Brown, PSA General Secretary

REINSTATEMENT OF TAFE COURSES A WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY

As a result of union campaigning, the new state government has abandoned Marshall-era cuts to more than 30 TAFE courses.

In April, newly elected Premier Peter Malinauskas announced that funding for 20 metropolitan TAFE courses, cut by the previous Marshall Liberal Government, would be reinstated, with classes to reopen to students for the second semester. The Premier also announced his government would abandon the former government’s plan to axe another 14 courses.

This is a wonderful outcome for TAFE SA staff and the community following a joint campaign by the Public Service Association (PSA) and the Australian Education Union (AEU).

In 2020, the Marshall government axed 20 courses in the metropolitan

area, meaning that people interested in undertaking these courses would instead be forced to seek them out in the private sector. These courses included essential social and community services such as aged care, disability, and child care.

The position, clearly and loudly voiced by PSA members, was that the former government should not be privatising these courses, but should keep them in public hands to ensure a high standard of course delivery that is affordable and accessible to all.

Spokespeople for a number of industries publicly raised concerns about the cuts and the impact on training quality.

Responding to those concerns TAFE chief executive David Coltman said: “The policy position of the government is to grow vocational education and training access and choice through the development of a contestable market.”

In other words, the former government planned to further undermine public vocational training by providing more funding to the private sector and less for publicly-run TAFE. It is no secret that the growth of contestable funding for vocational education and training, both here and interstate, has resulted not only in questionable private RTOs looking to cash in at TAFE’s expense, but also the loss of public sector accountability.

“ PSA and AEU members undertook a joint campaign around this critical issue. ”

PSA BENEFITS MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES

For information on PSA Member Benefits, Holiday Homes, and for all of your membership enquiries, contact the PSA between 8:30am Monday to Friday.

Phone: (08) 8205 3200

E: enquiries@psaofsa.asn.au

www.psaofsa.asn.au

PSA and AEU members campaigned together around this critical issue, which included letterboxing 7,000 postcards in their local areas and in the former Premier’s electorate. Our aim was to highlight the appalling plans to cut the courses, encourage members of the community to sign and return the postcards in support of the campaign. PSA members also distributed posters and encouraged other TAFE SA colleagues, students, family and friends to sign an online petition.

Subsequently, in February this year, the former state government flagged a further 14 courses for closure, including dental assisting, health

administration, food processing, building and construction, and education support.

The PSA continued to lobby at every opportunity with a clear message –that South Australia needed a wellresourced, highquality and accessible TAFE SA that supported the South Australian community and met its social obligations.

The announcement by Premier Malinauskas to keep the courses in public hands and be delivered by TAFE has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff and students and those in our community who recognise the important role TAFE plays in delivering

high-quality education and training across the state.

Congratulations to all PSA members who participated in this campaign. When we act together we win!

UNION WINS

PSA General Secretary Natasha Brown, who is also an SA Unions Vice President, was closely involved in the unions’ efforts, saying the government must keep its election promises.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION RIGHTS PRESERVED

In response to union pressure, the state government removed its proposed Return to Work legislation earlier this year.

The bill would have stripped seriously injured workers of the right to have all injuries from the same cause considered together when being assessed for treatment and compensation.

This followed concerted efforts from South Australian union members and union leaders.

Union members across South Australia sent emails to every state ALP politician calling on them to abandon their proposed legislation and to commit to improved consultation with unions on matters that impact the livelihoods of workers.

An alternative bill that better protects the rights of seriously injured workers was passed by Parliament in July.

This achievement highlights the power and influence of our movement when we act collectively.

UNION CAMPAIGN MEANS HOWARD HOUSE STAYS PUT

On Friday, 21 March, after a concerted campaign from PSA members and their colleagues from other unions, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) management confirmed that their proposal to move and “decant” the Forensic Mental Health Service, currently located at Oakden, to a number of other facilities is no longer on the table.

The relocation of Howard House, which was on the cards since the site was sold

to developers, was being rushed through by NALHN without proper consideration of the contingencies required to ensure the service could operate safely in an appropriate facility.

Following action from union members, NAHLN committed to extending the time of the relocation to 20 June 2022 and that appropriate and genuine consultation would occur with staff and their unions when proposals were provided.

“The Labor government’s election platform included a strong commitment to work more closely with unions to ensure workers’ rights are upheld. This is an example of where consultation should have taken place but didn’t. The PSA will continue to make sure the government sticks to its promises,” she said.

The PSA thanks and congratulates all members who emailed our politicians expressing their concerns about this matter.

While the proposed bill has been removed, the PSA – together with SA Unions and all unions – will continue to work hard to protect members’ interests in the workers’ compensation system.

The PSA congratulates all involved in this win, which could not have been achieved without our members standing in solidarity with members from SASMOA and the ANMF.

To not stand by and accept substandard, unsafe and unacceptable accommodation and clinical spaces for them, their clients and the community, is testament to the compassion and commitment of the PSA members involved.

SA DENTAL MEMBERS SHOW TEETH TO WIN LEAVE PROVISIONS

Congratulations to PSA Worksite Representatives and members at SA Dental.

With the backing of thousands of members, at the start of the pandemic, the PSA fought for and won COVID Special Leave with Pay, and members have since defended their right to access this leave.

PSA members at SA Dental took action after a number of staff were denied access to this leave, despite being directed to quarantine by the employer after becoming close contacts.

With the support of their PSA organiser, members ensured access to COVID Special Leave with Pay in accordance with the supplementary provisions for COVID-19 in Commissioner’s Determination 3.1.

As a result of this action, the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) is undertaking a review to ensure that no other employees in SA Dental have been similarly impacted.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FLEXITIME, OVERTIME AND TOIL

The PSA often receives enquiries from members about how flexitime, overtime and time off in lieu (TOIL) should be managed.

Members report different approaches — sometimes within the same agency — but there are some very clear rules and entitlements that apply when you work in excess of your standard hours.

Flexitime

Flexitime is a flexible arrangement of working time, which allows employees to negotiate how, and when hours will be worked within agreed limits and conditions. Flexitime arrangements apply where agreed between an employee and their employer at the workplace.

Flexitime arrangements do not increase or reduce the total number of ordinary hours that must be worked by an employee. An employee cannot be required to work more than 7.5 hours in any one day without being offered overtime. You cannot be directed to ‘work’ flexitime.

Flexitime is separate from overtime and Time Off in Lieu of payment for overtime (TOIL). Overtime can be worked and TOIL therefore can be accrued within a flexitime bandwidth (e.g. 8:00am – 6:00pm) for time worked in excess of 7.5 hours.

Overtime

Those required, or who have prior approval, to work more than 8 hours in one day or 38 hours in one week are entitled to be paid overtime for those additional hours above the ordinary hours of duty. Payment on a week day is time and a half for the first three hours and then double time for extra time worked greater than three hours.

TOIL

An employee can request to accrue TOIL. Accrual of TOIL, instead of receiving payment for overtime, is solely at the employee’s discretion. You cannot be directed to accrue TOIL instead of being paid for the overtime.

TOIL accrued can be taken at a later date, but remember that TOIL is accrued on an hour-for-hour basis and when taken is paid at the normal rate of pay. In some circumstances, if an employer has denied access to take accrued TOIL, it can be converted to payment at the overtime rate.

TWO DEDICATED SCHOOL SERVICES OFFICERS RETIRE

Long-time SSO Worksite Representative and PSA Council member Marg Tonkin might have retired but her contribution to community will continue.

Twenty-four years after being asked to fill in as a receptionist at her sons’ former primary school, Marg Tonkin has retired from her role as a School Services Officer at the Department for Education.

Over the course of her career, which culminated in a long stint at Christies Beach High School (CBHS), Marg’s work has involved classroom support in junior primary and years 7 and 8, working in the Disability Unit, Home Economics faculty, instructing in the Quicksmart intervention support program and, more recently, in the school’s Targeted Learning Centre (TLC), helping students requiring extra support with their learning and wellbeing.

Marg says she enjoyed working in the Disability Unit, helping children gain skills for later in life. In home economics, which she first feared wouldn’t be particularly interesting, Marg discovered she had autonomy to implement some of her own ideas and felt the teachers really valued her work and faculty input.

Marg also remembers fondly the years she spent working with the TLC students whom she subsequently supported through to their SACE completion.

“It was recognised I was building good rapport with those students who were considered high risk and disengaged. I am proud to have left knowing that I have helped make a real difference in their lives,” she says.

Throughout her time as an SSO, Marg has been a dedicated and active PSA member, contributing greatly to successful outcomes for members through her work on PSA Council and as a long-time Worksite Representative.

Marg was re-elected to PSA Council on a number of occasions and says she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity it gave her to support her colleagues.

“Being on Council provided me with opportunities to represent SSOs alongside PSA leadership at various meetings with the Education Department, enterprise bargaining meetings, as an SSO witness in the Industrial Relations Commission during arbitration, and meetings with other government officials.”

In her retirement, along with spending time with her two new great-grandchildren, Marg plans to get involved in volunteer work in her community and has already begun volunteering back at Christies Beach High School.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the PSA for their support and the opportunities they gave me, which enabled me to support my fellow SSO colleagues throughout SA,” Marg says. “I am proud to have played a part in seeing improvements in workplace conditions.

“The SSO team at CBHS are amazing and I have also met many wonderful SSOs from other schools. I especially enjoyed my involvement with the SSO Week conferences at the PSA. I will miss you all. Take care of yourselves and your colleagues.”

The PSA leadership, Council and staff express our deep appreciation to Marg and Tony for their strong commitment to public education, to their union and, of course, to the colleagues for whom they have passionately advocated throughout their careers. We wish them all the best.

Are you an SSO and yet to join the PSA?

The PSA is the only union in public education solely dedicated to representing the interests of ancillary staff such as SSOs. We don’t represent teachers or leaders – we’re just here for you.

With negotiations on your wages and conditions about to start, being a part of our union is more important than ever – we can’t improve things on our own but together we can achieve great outcomes.

SSO and PSA Worsksite Representative and Councillor Tony Wright calls it a day

How long have you been an SSO and how did you get into the role?

26 years. I fell into the role – I started out as the after-hours caretaker at a school and things developed from there.

What were your main duties?

Intervention and Support, IT, Facilities, Special Education, Behaviour Management, Learning Support Manager.

What did you enjoy most about being an SSO?

Intervention and Support, Learning Support manager and Special Education were my favourite roles – I really loved working with the kids.

Why did you join the PSA?

I’ve been a member of an appropriate trade union all my working life. I learned early in life that you need to be in a union. Apart from the industrial support, there are many other support mechanisms such as training, insurance

cover travelling to work, legal support, and the list goes on. Looking out for my work mates is why I became a PSA Worksite Representative a member of PSA Council.

What plans do you have for retirement?

After working out where I want to live, I intend to do a Diploma in Clinical Aromatherapy – it’s something I’ve wanted to do for many years. I’ve developed a love for, and recognise the importance of, life-long learning. To learn is to grow and growth is living, in fact, it is life itself – no different to sustenance, sleeping and breathing.

PSA School Services Officer members successfully lobbied for a paid public holiday following the announcement by the Federal Government that Thursday, 22 September would be a national day of mourning to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Unlike for other public holidays throughout the year, the SSOs were not required to make up the hours to cover this day.

Congratulations to members, who used their voices to raise this matter and push for this positive outcome.

Without working together to show the government how this impacts you, we wouldn’t be able to achieve wins like this.

Let’s keep this conversation going as we move into bargaining for the new Enterprise Agreement.

The Public Sector Review spoke with Tony about his work and union involvement.

SSOs get special public holiday ... like the rest of us

CLIMATE CHANGE A WORKPLACE ISSUE FOR NEPALESE

Nepal is not a large emitter of greenhouse gases, however, it is ranked fourth in the world in terms of vulnerability to climate change. Working people are badly impacted by the extreme weather conditions, which are getting more severe every year. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is working with trade unions to address climate change as a workplace risk for workers in Nepal.

Climate disasters like heavy rains, landslides, floods, snowstorms, avalanches, and dust storms have become more frequent in the Himalayan nation of Nepal. Tourism workers in trekking and mountaineering centres such as Pokhara watch as glaciers melt before their eyes as a changing climate wreaks havoc on their industry.

Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Recent studies by the Asian Development Bank suggest Nepal faces losing 2.2% of its annual GDP due to climate change by 2050. The country is at high risk due to its fragile topography, the climatesensitive livelihoods of the population, and their limited adaptive capacity.

Official government records indicate that between 1971 and 2007, 27,000 people have been killed in Nepal due to natural disasters and five million people are impacted.

Who is most impacted by climate change in Nepal?

While Nepal’s greenhouse gas emissions are lower than other countries in the region, it bears the brunt of the climate crisis disproportionately. A study done by Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s partner organisation in Nepal, the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS), shows that there are seven sectors which are most vulnerable.

The workers in these sectors include tourism and mountaineering workers, city waste collectors and cleaners, health care workers, rural agriculture workers, hydro power and energy sector workers, migrant workers, construction, and transport workers. The report notes that informal work, which is mostly done by women, including street vendors and daily wage earners, is most impacted by rain, heat, and fossil fuel pollution. The change in temperature and weather patterns has resulted in increased workplace hazards, injuries and deaths.

Secondary impacts such as the rising cost of food and the spread of diseases

are making life more difficult for many workers. For example, diseases have spread to areas which have previously not been impacted. This means dengue fever and malaria can be found at higher altitudes due to the rise in temperatures. Street vendors and outdoor workers are most vulnerable to these diseases.

Trade unions campaign for climate action

CLASS Nepal consulted trade unions, governments, workers, businesses, and academics on their understanding of the climate change impact in their workplaces.

The study found that every workplace will be impacted – from street vendors to white-collar workers – due to the increase in temperatures and other climateinduced disasters.

A roundtable discussion prioritised climate change as a workplace issue and addressed it as a workplace risk.

Trade unions are also taking up climate change as a campaign issue in the upcoming national election on 20 November this year.

SECURING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE WITH SALARY SACRIFICING

At Super SA, our purpose is to champion your financial wellbeing. For 120 years we’ve been helping members secure their future and live their best life. Our experience means you can be sure that your future is in trusted hands.

One way to help create the life you want to live in retirement is to give your super an extra boost each year.

There are a few ways you can do this, including contributing an additional amount from your before-tax salary, called salary sacrificing.

Salary sacrificing may also reduce your taxable income and could help save you tax.

But what you may not know is that unlike most other funds, Super SA’s default fund Triple S has no annual concessional cap* on the amount you can salary sacrifice.

Christine is boosting her super so she can live her best life in retirement**

Christine is 55 and works in healthcare. She earns $75,000 per year, has $120,000 in her Triple S account and is planning to retire at 67. She has started making salary sacrifice contributions of $153 per fortnight. Because this is a before-tax contribution it only reduces her take home salary by $100 each fortnight.

By salary sacrificing Christine reduces her income tax by $1,374 per year and is on track to have an extra $44,286 in her super to spend when she retires in 12 years.

See the difference salary sacrificing can make to your Triple S super balance with our Contributions Calculator, available on our website. Scan the code to try the calculator.

And if you’d like to get started, one form is all it takes. To join a free webinar or start salary sacrificing, visit supersa.sa.gov.au or call Super SA on 1300 369 315.

**How we calculated Christine’s future super balance

The ‘extra in super at age 67’ is for illustrative purposes only and has been calculated based on the following assumptions:

• Employer super contributions of 10.5% up to 12% by 1 July 2025

• Investment rate of return of 5% per annum net of investment and operational risk reserve costs

• Price inflation rate of 2% per annum and salary inflation rate of 3.2% per annum

• Insurance premiums of $300 per annum

• Administration fees have been calculated at $70.20 per annum plus 0.05% of the account balance (capped at $325 per annum).

Disclaimer:

Information is correct as at November 2022.

Individual outcomes may materially differ from the outcome shown. It is not intended to be relied on for the purposes of making an investment decision in relation to the superannuation schemes administered by Super SA. This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, situations or needs. You should assess your own financial situation before making any investment decisions based on this information. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The superannuation schemes administered by Super SA are exempt public sector superannuation schemes and are not regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Super SA is not required to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence to provide general advice about a Super SA product. Super SA recommends that before making any decisions about its products you consider the appropriateness of this information in the context of your own objectives, financial situation and needs, read the Triple S Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available at supersa.sa.gov.au and seek financial advice from a licensed financial adviser in relation to your financial position and requirements.

*Triple S has a lifetime untaxed plan cap of $1.65m in 202223. However, if you also receive concessional contributions in a taxed fund, any employer and salary sacrifice contributions you receive in Triple S will be counted towards your annual concessional contributions cap ($27,500 in 2022-23).

Christine’s salary breakdown Without salary sacrifice With salary sacrifice

CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM POT PIE RECIPE

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 tablespoon plain flour

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 brown onion, thinly sliced

2 celery stalks, thinly sliced

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

8 thyme sprigs

400g mixed mushrooms, thinly sliced (eg. Button, Portobello, Oyster)

200mL reduced-salt chicken stock

200mL thickened cream

2 cups baby spinach

1 tablespoon seeded mustard

8 filo pastry sheets

1 tablespoon white sesame seeds

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (fan-forced).

2. Combine chicken, flour and salt in a medium bowl and toss until evenly coated. Heat oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan.

3. Return pan to medium heat. Cook onion, celery, garlic and thyme for 3-4 minutes or until soft and translucent. Increase heat to medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until tender and golden brown. Pour in chicken stock and cream, and return chicken to the pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened and reduced. Stir through baby spinach and mustard.

4. Discard thyme sprigs and transfer mixture to a 6-cup capacity baking dish. Gently scrunch filo pastry sheets and arrange on top until pan is covered. Spray generously with cooking oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until filo is golden and crispy.

Nutrition Tip:

Mushrooms, like humans, generate vitamin D when left in the sun. Place mushrooms in the sun for at least 15 minutes and then store in a brown paper bag in the fridge where they’ll maintain their vitamin D content until eaten.

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WHERE THERE’S A WILL …

This article deals with challenging a Will.

If you feel disgruntled or unfairly treated in respect to your entitlement (or lack of) from a deceased estate, there are a number of ways that the distribution of the Will can be challenged and altered. Depending on the circumstances, a person may challenge the integrity of a deceased’s Will or contest an estate on the basis that it was unfair.

Depending on the circumstances, a person may challenge the integrity of a deceased’s Will on grounds such as lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud or suspicious circumstances, or contesting an estate.

If a person is successful in challenging a Will, then the Will is deemed invalid and it cannot be admitted to probate – the judicial process of proving in a court of law that the Will is a valid document and represents the true last testament of the deceased.

Capacity

A Will can be challenged on the basis that the person who has made the Will did not have sufficient capacity to do so. The party disputing the Will’s validity must establish this.

Mental capacity to make a Will is not a medical test, but a legal one. The court will need to consider whether the person who

made the Will had:

• Awareness and appreciated the significance of the act

Awareness of the nature, extent and value of the estate

Comprehension and appreciation of who might reasonably be thought to have a claim on their estate

• No delusions when making the Will.

Courts view challenges regarding a person’s mental capacity with caution. Many Wills are made by people of advanced years, who may exhibit slowness, illness or feebleness.

These are not sufficient grounds to challenge the validity of the Will, nor are claims of “partial unsoundness” on the part of the person making the Will. The courts have also noted that mental illness can change over time.

Undue influence

This means that a person was coerced into making a Will that he or she did not want to make. Examples of undue influence include violence (or threats of violence) or succumbing to continual pressure to include certain content in a Will.

Fraud

Fraud is very similar to undue influence, however, it requires misleading and deceptive conduct to have occurred.

Suspicious circumstances

A Will prepared by a beneficiary or an associate will arouse suspicion by the court and call for a careful examination of the evidence of the deceased’s understanding and approval of the contents of the Will.

Johnston Withers Lawyers

Johnston Withers Lawyers has been helping South Australian families, individuals, businesses and communities for more than 75 years. Sometimes life is complicated, and that’s when experience matters. If you’d like advice or direction from a lawyer on challenging a Will or on how to contest a Will, please contact Caitlin Walkington on (08) 8231 1110, or get in touch online at www.johnstonwithers.com.au/contact-us.

Don’t forget, PSA members are eligible for discounted fees on Will preparation with Johnston Withers.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

PSA HOLIDAY HOME: GLENELG

ARE YOU PLANNING A HOLIDAY?

Make the most of a great PSA member benefit by staying at one of our holiday homes.

If you’re looking for a beach getaway in the heart of Adelaide’s metropolitan area, the PSA’s holiday homes at Glenelg could be just the thing during the warm summer months.

Whether you are travelling from regional South Australia looking for a city vacation or from another part of the metropolitan area just after change of scenery, this accommodation is a stone’s throw from the beach and an ideal place to unwind and enjoy all that this premier coastal region has to offer.

We have two foreshore units located on the Broadway at Glenelg.

These units both sleep six people and have a queen size bed in the master bedroom.

One unit has two bunk beds in the second bedroom, while the other has a bunk bed in the second bedroom and a double bed with bunk above in the third bedroom.

For more information on PSA Holiday Homes, check out www.psaofsa.asn.au/psaholiday-homes or contact the PSA at holidayhomes@psaofsa.asn.au to make a booking.

The PSA has a number of holiday homes and units available at budget rates for members to rent on either a weekly or nightly basis. They are located at Glenelg, Goolwa, Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln, Robe, Port Vincent and Wirrina. Please visit our website psaofsa.asn.au/ psa-holiday-homes for full pricing details and booking conditions or call our friendly Member Benefits Team on 8205 3200.

PSA members can also take advantage of stays at New Zealand holiday homes through our partnership with the PSA of NZ. Members can contact NZ PSA directly via holidayhomes@psa.org. nz for details.

BOOK YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY TODAY

PSA DISCOUNTED CARDS

Don’t forget, as a PSA member, you are entitled to year-round discounts of 5% off Coles, Foodland, and Drakes

gift cards, 4% off Woolworths gift cards, and 10% off Harris Scarfe gift cards.

By taking advantage of these member benefits, you can make substantial financial savings.

MEMBERS SAVE ON SHOPPING, FUEL AND MORE!

Everywhere we turn, we are hearing about cost of living increases: inflation, mortgage rates on the rise, petrol at unprecedented highs – even lettuce was a luxury for a minute there!

When it comes to the household budget being stretched, we all start looking for ways to save a dollar where we can.

This is where your union membership can work for you in ways you perhaps didn’t realise.

Through PSA Member Benefits, including the PSA Plus Ambassador Card Program, members can save so much that their membership pays for itself.

Here’s how to save

From the first full pay period in August this year, the highest monthly fees at the PSA for a full-time worker is $80.65. Our membership fees are determined by your income, so those of us who don’t work full-time or who are on lower classifications (lower than ASO5 tier 4) will pay less than this.

The average family spends $250.00 per week on groceries (maybe more when lettuces go up!). Members can access up to 5 per cent discount on various shopping gift cards, including Woolworths (and participating

Caltex petrol stations), Coles, Foodland, and Drakes through our Member Benefits Centre by purchasing either in person or by placing an order over the phone. This could save the average household $50 per month! Savings are also available on homewares with our Harris Scarfe shopping vouchers, and unrestricted $12 movie vouchers from Palace Nova cinemas.

But wait, that’s not all!

If you can’t make it to our Member Benefits Centre and don’t want to wait for your shopping gift cards to be posted, simply log in to the “Members” section of our website, psaofsa.asn.au/member-login to access the PSA Plus Ambassador program. Here, you can purchase various gift cards and have them sent straight to your digital wallet – Woolworths and Coles eGift cards are available at 4 per cent discount.

The PSA Plus Ambassador program also offers a huge range of eGift cards for other stores and services, with discounts ranging from 5 to 10 per cent at businesses including Kmart, Endota Spa The Good Guys, Rebel Sport, BCF, Priceline Pharmacy, Myer, Webjet, Dymocks, EB Games, JB Hi-Fi, Amart Furniture, and plenty more. Discounts at various restaurants and cafes are also available.

The current cost of fuel is one of the big concerns for most people. The PSA Plus Ambassador Card Program includes access to discounted fuel cards, including 5% off AMPOL eGift cards and United Gift Cards.

With the average household spending $90 per week on fuel, PSA membership unlocks real savings on fuel costs, around $18 per month. For members who shop at Woolworths, the AMPOL eGift Card can be used with the Woolworths discounted fuel vouchers (currently 4 cents per litre) which gives an additional saving on top of around $8 per month.

So just by planning ahead and purchasing discounted gift cards for your grocery shopping and petrol, you could save around $76.00 per month! Catch public transport, make purchases at the pharmacy, BWS stores, buy gifts for loved ones, or grab some new clothes at Kmart or Target and you will be well on your way to recovering the last $5 of the maximum PSA monthly fee.

Some members can even wind up making money, by paying less and saving more. And don’t forget, union membership fees are tax deductible. Most importantly, through your PSA membership you can have peace of mind knowing that your rights at work are being protected – and that’s priceless.

You could be recovering your union fees every month – or even making money – through PSA member benefits.

A BIG WIN FOR ALL SOUTH AUSTRALIANS

For decades, the PSA has campaigned against privatisation of the State’s public assets and services.

We have strongly argued that SA is not for sale.

Prior to the March 2022 State Election, we secured a commitment from South Australian Labor to end the disaster of privatisation.

SA NOT FOR SALE

This is what the now Labor Government has committed to:

“Labor will take a tough stance on privatisation by banning new privatisations of public services in South Australia. Labor supported the ongoing Parliamentary inquiry into privatisation and, if elected, will establish a Parliamentary Committee to undertake in-depth reviews of contracts for existing outsourced and privatised services.”

Public Service Association of SA –Fighting to keep public services in public hands