New Psychologists Award

The Industrial Relations Commission has now made the new Crown Employees (Psychologists) Award covering Public Service Departments, including Corrective Services, DoCS, DADHC and Juvenile Justice. Psychologists working in other Public Service departments are also comprehended in the Award as well as those working in the Police Service.

The Full Bench of the IRC handed down its decision on 9 October 2006. However there was disagreement between the PSA and the Director of Public Employment (DPE) about transitional arrangements for existing employees and the absorption of the increase awarded to some employees (this will be explained more fully later in the Newsletter).

On making the Award Justice Boland made a Statement to the effect that the Full Bench accepted the submissions of the DPE in relation to the issues in dispute between the parties. The Statement reads in part:

• A disagreement arose between the parties over transitional arrangements and the absorption of the five per cent increase referred to at [69] and [114](7) of the Full Bench decision. I conciliated the matter but unsuccessfully so.
• The parties subsequently provided detailed submissions about their respective interpretations of the decision relating to the issues in dispute and these were referred to the Full Bench for its consideration.
• The Full Bench accepted the submissions of the DPE and I was delegated the task of informing the parties of that decision, which I did on 14 December 2006.

PAY INCREASES

The new award is on the PSA website at:

http://www.psa.labor.net.au/publications/1170377496 20651.html

The new salary rates from 9/10/2006 and the salary rates which include the 4% from the PSA Public Sector Salaries Award, payable from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2007 are shown at TABLE 1, SALARY RATES, on page 14 of the Award. Transitional arrangements showing to which classification existing employees will transfer are at CLAUSE 6 TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS on page 9 of the Award

SPECIAL TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

It is strongly recommended that Psychologists Steps 10 to 13 and Neuro Psychologists on Step 6 of the previous Clinical Psychologists scale apply for reclassification under the provisions of the new Award. On reclassification the 5% increase and its absorption no longer apply.

NEW CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE AWARD

The Award also provides for enhanced conditions of employment for psychologists. In particular:

• An environment allowance of $2,143 per annum is payable to psychologists working in Juvenile Justice Centres, who have regular, direct and substantial contact with offenders/clients. The allowance can be paid on a pro rata basis if contact is not on a full time basis. Psychologists working in Correctional Centres operated by the Department of Corrective Services also retain this allowance (Clause 8.2, page 11 of the Award)
• Provision of professional supervision for all classification of psychologists
• Provision of appropriate interview and materials of work
• Access to professional development and training.

The conditions of employment are at Clause 7 (page 10) of the Award. Other conditions of employment are as provided by the Public Service Conditions of Employment Award and the Public Sector Employment and Management Act. The inclusion of conditions of employment specific to psychologists in the Award reinforces psychologists' entitlement to those provisions.

CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE

Appointment to Senior Psychologist, Specialist Psychologist or Senior Specialist Psychologist is, under the Award, subject to occurrence of a vacancy (merit selection) or a reclassification process. Under the previous arrangements psychologists could not be promoted unless a vacancy arose.

Applications for reclassification will be tested against the relevant classification characteristics in Clause 3 of the Award. Clause 4 (Page 8) sets out details of the requirements for reclassification. In particular it should be noted:

1. An applicant for reclassification to Senior Psychologist must have completed one year at the 9th year of service of the Psychologists scale.
2. An applicant for reclassification to Senior Specialist Psychologist must have completed a minimum of one year at the 5th year of the Specialist (or Clinical) Psychologist scale.
3. For a limited period (until 30 June 2008) applications for reclassification to Specialist Psychologist may be made by psychologists who do not possess a Masters Degree (deeming provision). Applicants without Masters Degrees must have completed either one year on the 9th year of service on the Psychologists scale or the 3rd year of service on the Senior Psychologist scale.

The above restrictions do not apply to a psychologist applying for a vacant promotional position which is subject to a merit selection process.

The PSA is currently negotiating detailed guidelines for Classification Committees.

Authorised by Steve Turner, A/General Secretary, Public Service Association of NSW 160 Clarence Street, Sydney

Contact Details
Fran Collins, Principal Industrial Officer
Ph:  02 9220 0976

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