Salary increases

EA2004 provides a 3.5 per cent increase in salary from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after July 1, 2005. The salaries below will apply:

Maternity leave

The Full Bench of the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission handed down a decision on May 5, 2005, awarding 12 weeks’ paid maternity/adoption leave for members of the SA public sector.

This decision improves the standard for public servants from four weeks to 12 weeks. Government policy before this decision was for eight weeks – currently contained in the SA Police enterprise agreement 2004.

The new standard does not automatically flow on to other government employees. No entitlement exists now for police to access 12 weeks instead of eight weeks.

However, the government can adopt the new standard of 12 weeks as policy and apply it to all government employees if it so chooses.

The Police Association has written to the government to enquire as to the position it intends to take.

Select Committee – “Assessment and treatment services for people with mental health disorders”

The Legislative Council is investigating the range of assessment and treatment services for people with mental health disorders in South Australia. Below are the terms of reference.

To investigate and report upon the range of assessment and treatment services for people with mental health disorders in South Australia with particular regard to –
I. the adequacy of funding and staffing of mental health, particularly in community and accommodation services;
II. best practice in the treatment services for people with complex needs who have contact with the mental health, forensic and/or corrections system;
III. the incidence and management of mental health in the prison population;
IV. the impact of legal and illegal drugs on the mental health of both the general public and prison population;
V. the efficacy of diversion programs upon rates of recidivism;
VI. the criteria for the release of mental health patients who are potentially dangerous;
VII. the adequacy of supervision of offenders after release from those institutions including those on parole;
VIII. the adequacy of offender discharge plans;
IX. the identification of offenders’ mental health difficulties; and
X. the definition of mental health insofar as the corrections system is concerned.

The association intends to provide a submission to the select committee. It (the submission) will particularly highlight mental health resource issues which over-burden police, and force them to play an inappropriately major role with the mentally ill.

Any member who wishes to provide information to the association to assist in the preparation of the submission can contact me directly.

markcarroll@pasa.asn.au

Members step up
to the delegate plate

Enthusiasm continues to abound among Police Association members when it comes to taking on roles as delegates.

Just as members take up exciting opportunities to transfer to different locations in policing, keen new members act quickly to fill the resulting vacant delegate positions.

Many of the new delegates take experience into the role, while others accept the job as first-timers.

Some of the changes of the past 12 months have taken place at:

• Parks	Mark Kirk replaced Robert Stewart.
• Henley Beach	Adrian Johnston replaced Michael Quinton.
• Tea Tree Gully	Gary Simpson replaced Peter Kennedy.
• Salisbury	David Wright replaced John Simper.
• Peterborough	David Kuchenmeister replaced Michael Sard.
• Kadina	Guy McKenzie replaced James Fauser.
• Coober Pedy	Jeffrey Page replaced Glen Pink.
• South Coast CIB	Steven Atkinson replaced David Roy.
• Elizabeth CIB	Kym Wilson replaced Rick Fielder.
• South Coast	Peter Harvey replaced Grant Pyatt.
• Adelaide	David Bowman replaced Andrew Smith.
• STAR Group	Darren Cornell replaced Phil Johnson.
• Transit	Anthony Crowley replaced Tony Forde.
• ACB	David Huddy replaced David Kuchenmeister.
• Murray Bridge	Michael Towie replaced Christopher Cowdrey.
• Berri	Andrew Jaunay replaced Geoff Carson.
• Waikerie	Peter Santella replaced Mark Roberts.
• Naracoorte	Gregory Kemp replaced Brett Carpenter.

Clearly, the constant replacement of delegates is significant, as 30-plus per cent of those who occupy the positions changes annually.

Each Police Association member enjoys the representation of a delegate in his or her workplace. The association branch structure provides for 60 positions across the state, including 17 in country locations.

Delegates are grouped into the branches listed below:

• Metro North.
• Metro South.
• Country North.
• Country South.
• Crime Command.
• Officers.
• Women’s.
• ATSI.

Despite the tyranny of distance, delegates in remote locations provide extra personal reassurance that industrial representation is close at hand.

Throughout each year, the association provides training in order to help delegates fulfil their roles. And that training is constantly re-evaluated so as to keep their knowledge and skills up to the highest standard.

Training is scheduled for June and July and will include modules on:

• Structure and services of PASA.
• Role of delegate.
• Industrial Relations Act.
• Police Officers Award.
• Enterprise agreements.
• Legal.
• Occupational health safety and welfare.
• Equity and diversity.
• Meetings, including workplace consultative committee meetings.

Some of the duties that delegates perform include, but are not limited to:

• Representing members and PASA in the workplace and at workplace consultative committee meetings.
• Liaison with OHS&W representatives.
• Informing PASA on matters occurring in their workgroup and vice versa.
• Resolving workplace grievances.
• Attending branch meetings, delegates’ meetings, training sessions and the annual delegates’ conference.

The present structure, as provided by the rules of the association constitution, is sound and strong.

The association’s committee of management and delegates, and its 99.6 per cent participation rate, have continued to bring significant industrial outcomes.

It is vital that all members support their delegates in the crucial roles they play.

thomasscheffler@pasa.asn.au