Your union, the PSA, has recently begun consultation regarding the upcoming Save Our Species (SOS) restructure. Below are a list of items that the É«ÀÇÉçÇøand members have requested from the department:
- The É«ÀÇÉçÇøhas formally requested that consultation be extended for one week. The Department has since offered for consultation to end on 4 August. The É«ÀÇÉçÇøhas stated this is not an adequate timeframe given multiple role descriptions are still to be provided.
- The É«ÀÇÉçÇøhas developed and forwarded questions raised by membership, including further information on how roles will be filled in the event of there being excess applicants for any particular role.
- What support will be provided for unsuccessful applicants?
- A request has been made for role descriptions for the Koala Strategy program to be provided to staff before the end of consultation.
- In cases where staff have worked for more than four years and would have been eligible for conversion to ongoing employment but have not been due to their role being abolished, will they have an opportunity to be matched into the Koala Strategy program?
- The É«ÀÇÉçÇøraised concerns around the new koala role being skewed towards higher-grades roles, making the transition more difficult for junior staff currently employed in the SOS program. Also these has been no Koala Strategy programs roles allocated to the Port Stephens area, even though this an area with a high koala population.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwill continue to represent members as we undergo consultation. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact É«ÀÇÉçÇøEnvironment, Energy and Science Delegate Catherine Ellis on .
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøhas requested a meeting with SOS management to discuss your concerns and provide feedback to our members.
Please encourage your non-union colleagues to join the É«ÀÇÉçÇøto ensure they are represented by industrial experts during this difficult time. Non-members can join at .