QAS INSIGHT | Summer 2017-18 edition

Briefs

QAS Certified Agreement 2017

In 2017, through the Remuneration Inquiry and the enterprise bargaining negotiations, there has been a lot of reflection and discussion about where the Service has been to where it is now. It has been over 12 years since the last opportunity for officers to vote on an Agreement and the recent ballot saw an unprecedented participation rate of over 84% of eligible voters with an overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote of 98.4%. An aspect of the Agreement which will have a significant impact for

The wage rates will bring QAS officers back into alignment with their peers from around the country and the classification structure recognises experience, recognises differences in responsibility and complexity and provides greater flexibility to meet the challenges of service delivery and demand into the future. Executive Director, Corporate Services Michael Metcalfe asm recognised the positive outcome and what it delivers for the Service and officers. “This is a fantastic result for our employees and for the QAS. We now have a contemporary classification structure that will support our move to professional registration in 2018,’’ he said.

"It will also allow the QAS to develop service delivery solutions that help us meet demand pressures into the coming decade. “I applaud the approach of our employee representatives during the negotiation and information stages of the enterprise bargaining process, and the interest and engagement of the broader employee group throughout the past 18 months.”

officers and the Service is the new classification structure and associated wages.

White Ribbon Accreditation

Over the past 12 months the QAS has been undertaking the White Ribbon Accreditation Program which accredits workplaces that are taking active steps to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence, with a particular emphasis on violence against women. On November 23, the QAS received its report from White Ribbon Australia advising our successful completion of the program. As such, the QAS is now proudly a White Ribbon accredited workplace. The results of our White Ribbon follow-up survey highlighted that staff within the QAS are now better able to recognise and identify different forms of domestic and family violence and feel better equipped to respond to staff members who may be affected.

We also saw considerable increases in people’s confidence in calling out inappropriate behaviour such as sexist language and jokes in the QAS. Our work in addressing domestic and family violence does not stop now that we are an accredited organisation. We have outlined our three-year plan to White Ribbon Australia for continuing our efforts in addressing domestic and family violence. Our White Ribbon Operational Plan has been designed to ensure that we continue to build on the positive work we have undertaken and commits us to these actions over the next three years. This will ensure that we continue to take these positive steps towards the creation of a future free from Domestic and Family Violence.

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Summer 2017–18