DRAFT 

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

STAFF CONSULATIVE GROUP

MINUTES OF MEETING OF 2 April 2008

Minutes of the meeting of the Staff Consultative Group held on 2 April 2008 at 9.30 am in the Mollie Thomson Meeting Room, Library, Level 5.

Present:

 Dr Peter Browne 					A10
Associate Professor Suzan Burton 		A2
Ms Leanne Cameron 				G8
Mr Edward Davies 				CPSU
Ms Alana Freeburn 				NTEU
Ms Carolyn Kennett (Chair)			NTEU
Dr Rosalind Kitson					A4
Ms Catherine McMahon				G11
Ms Dianne Mitchell				CPSU
Mr Lachlan Morgan	(Deputy Chair)	G4
Mr Rod Nurthen 					G12
Ms Cathy Rytmeister 				A1
Mr Vasantha Saparamadu 			NTEU
Ms Cathie Shanley					G13
			 Dr Iain Stewart					A6
 Ms Sue Spinks					A9
			 Ms Stephanie Grolimund				NTEU

Apologies		Ms Laura Billington					G7
Phoebe Dangerfield					G6
Mr Greg Stark 					CPSU
 			A/Professor Marea Mitchell			A5
			Associate Professor Julian Leslie			A3
			Ms Sondra Wibberley 				CPSU
			Ms Cathy Wright					G14
Associate Professor Catriona McKenzie		A7

Vacant Electorates	General Staff VC					G2
			General Staff Humanities				G9
			Academic Staff ELS					A8
			General Staff HR, ITS, OFS			G5
			General Staff Library				G1
			General Staff ELS					G12
			General Staff Law					G10

The apologies as listed above were noted.				

Guests: 		Mr Tim Sprague Director, Human Resources

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

It was noted that Dr Peter Browne should be listed as an apology for the meeting of 5 February 2008.

Corrections were noted and minutes accepted.

3.	BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

It was noted that David Hackett (G9) has tendered his resignation from the SCG.

It was recommended that in future the details of vacant electorates be noted in the minutes.

It was noted that the high number of resignations and apologies from the SCG appear to be driven by workload demands.

It was agreed that the SCG Chair and the Director Human Resources would work on a joint letter of support to go to the manager of staff representatives on the SCG identifying the importance of allowing release time for the work of the SCG.

There was discussion of Committee work and other University contribution not directly related to the staff members work  and how this work fitted within the PDRP. 

It was also noted that the work of staff on the SCG was acknowledged as a part of the PDRP for some academic staff but not for General Staff.

The Director Human Resources identified that one of the difficulties with including these contributions in the PDRP is the inability of the supervisor to 
measure these contributions.

Resolution 13/08 

The SCG requests that HR look at mechanisms to acknowledge and support staff members contributions and service to the University community including those contributions that may not be directly related to their work. 

Moved: Carolyn Kennett
Seconded:	Cathy Rytmeister

Passed Unanimously.

Performance Development and Review

There was further discussion with respect to the implementation of the SCG recommendation that 360 degree feedback be incorporated into the PDRP process. The Director Human Resources identified that the roll out of this process would be significant and needs to be managed effectively. 

The SCG has requested that the Director Human Resources commit to a time frame for the roll out of this aspect of the PDRP process. 

Recruitment and Selection Policy

There was further discussion of the SCG report with respect to the Recruitment and Selection policy with a particular focus on :

a)	The requirement for positions to undergo a competitive selection at 24 months. The SCG recommendation has been that this should occur at 12 months.
b)	The criteria for direct appointment
c)	The guidelines with respect to the composition of Selection Committees

The SCG has requested that these issues be given further consideration by Human Resources.

It was noted that Human Resources is yet to provide a response to the Working Party reports for the Annual Leave and Long Service Leave policies.

4.	REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES

Policy Central

The Director Human Resources identified that a Central Policy Register had been established and that Human Resources would be working to have all HR policies revisited to ensure consistency with the new policy template by September 2008. 

Human Resources is also currently liaising with the Manager Accessibility, Sharon Kerr with respect to the Accessibility compliance of the policy template and Website. Ms Kerr has indicated her availability to present to the June SCG meeting on this issue.

Code of Conduct

Human Resources is currently working on a review of the Code of Conduct and will seek input from the SCG once a draft of this document has been prepared. 

Grievance Handling Project

Human Resources has commenced a review project with respect to the University’s current Grievance Handling process. This will include a review of the role of contact officers. 

     Automation of HR Processes

Over recent months Human Resources has been working on the roll out of the Leave Online project which allows for online booking of annual and long service leave. The next phase of this project will be to roll out Personal leave which will focus accountability for sign off with the supervisor and manager.

Delegations Document

Human Resources is currently working on the finalisation of a HR delegations document which will be referred to the SCG for feedback in the short term.  

5.	REPORTS FROM SUB COMMITTEES

Implementation Review Sub Committee 

The report of the Implementation Review Sub Committee was circulated to SCG members 1 April 2008.

Resolution 14/08 

The SCG endorses the recommendations of the IRSC.

Carried Unanimously 

6.	REPORTS FROM WORKING PARTIES

Flexible Working Arrangements

Suzan Burton reported that a meeting of the Flexible Working Arrangements Working Party had taken place with Nick Crowley and that this meeting had been constructive. This policy remains under consultation. 

7.	Space Policy

Resolution 15/08

The SCG notes that a new Space Policy is being applied in the allocation of offices in Y3A. The SCG requests that HR remind senior management that all policies affecting staff must be brought to the SCG for consultation before implementation.

Passed unanimously

Other Business

It was noted that the Senate Room was available for the meeting of 5 June but not for the remaining SCG meetings for 2008. It was agreed that the Mollie Thompson meeting room was a suitable alternate venue.

Meeting closed 11:50 am

Next Meeting 5 June 9:30 am Senate Room