DRAFT 

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

STAFF CONSULATIVE GROUP

MINUTES OF MEETING OF 5 February 2008

Minutes of the meeting of the Staff Consultative Group held on 5 February 2008 at 9.30 am in the Senate Room, Level 3, Lincoln Building.

Present:

 Ms Laura Billington				G7			 Dr Peter Browne 					A10
Associate Professor Suzan Burton 		A2
Ms Leanne Cameron 				G8
Mr Edward Davies 				CPSU
Phoebe Dangerfield				G6
Ms Alana Freeburn 				NTEU
Ms Carolyn Kennett (Chair)			NTEU
Dr Rosalind Kitson					A4
Associate Professor Julian Leslie		A3
Associate Professor Catriona McKenzie	A7
Ms Catherine McMahon				G11
Ms Dianne Mitchell				CPSU
A/Professor Marea Mitchell			A5
Mr Lachlan Morgan	(Deputy Chair)	G4
Mr Rod Nurthen 					G12
Ms Cathy Rytmeister 				A1
Mr Vasantha Saparamadu 			NTEU
Ms Cathie Shanley					G13
Mr Greg Stark 					CPSU
			 Dr Iain Stewart					A6
Ms Sondra Wibberley 				CPSU
			 Ms Cathy Wright					G14

Apologies		Ms Sue Spinks					A9
			Ms Stephanie Grolimund				NTEU

The apologies as listed above were noted.				

Guests: 		Mr Tim Sprague Director, Human Resources

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Corrections noted and minutes accepted.

3.	BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

It was noted that Meredith Martinelli (G1) and Rod Nurthen (G12) had tendered their resignations from the SCG.

It was noted that Michael Marston has changed electorates to (G3) following a change in position. This electorate was vacated by Ryan Lawson in 2007.

It was noted that the merger of CFL and CPD together with the resignation of Robyn Clark in late 2007 would need to be considered. 

It was noted that SCG vacancies would need to be discussed with Human Resources.

Resolution 01/08 

The SCG wishes to formally acknowledge the contributions of Meredith Martinelli and Rod Nurthen  and to extend thanks for their valuable contributions.

Passed Unanimously.

A range of draft resolutions had been circulated amongst SCG members following the November meeting of the SCG as follows:

Performance Development and Review

Resolution 02/08

The SCG recommends that HR adopt the changes to the PDR documentation and process as recommended in bold throughout report of 29th November.

Moved:  Carolyn Kennett
Seconded: Catriona Mackenzie

Resolution passed by majority (1 against)

Resolution 03/08

The SCG believes that the proposed system of cascading objectives represents performance management as a top down task driven process. Our view is that this approach to performance management is not appropriate for much academic work. The SCG recommends that the management of the University creates a flexible PDR system that recognises the unique nature of the work done by staff in the higher education sector, reinforces the principles of freedom of inquiry, communication and encourages initiative.

Moved:  Carolyn Kennett
Seconded: Catriona Mackenzie

Resolution passed by majority (1 against)

Recruitment and Selection Policy

The SCG recommends that HR adopts the changes recommended by the working group for the recruitment and Selection Policy in their report on the policy to the SCG meeting held on the 29th November 2007 with the changes suggested below: 

Resolution 04/08

The SCG strongly recommends in the interests of transparency and equity that continuing positions or fixed term positions in excess of 12 months be generally notified internally by the University’s online recruitment service and other electronic dissemination mechanisms. Furthermore that the time limit associated with direct appointments be similarly reduced to 12 months.

Resolution 05/08

The SCG recommends that Human Resources develop and maintain a casual employment register for general staff positions across the university.  

Further, the SCG recommends that a register of general staff interested in secondments will be developed and maintained with expressions of interest for inclusion on this register being called for on an annual basis.

Finally, the SCG recommends that Departments/Divisions are encouraged to develop and maintain an employment register for casual academic staff positions within their areas of expertise.

The SCG recommends that the guidelines for selection panels shall include information on setting probation periods and requirements.

Moved: Cathy Rytmeister
Seconded: Suzan Burton

Passed unanimously

Reporting of Incidents and Accidents

Resolution 06/08

The SCG recommends that HR make the changes to the policy recommended in the report of the working party for Incident and Accident Reporting distributed for the SCG meeting on the 29th November 2007.

Moved: Vasantha Saparamadu
Seconded: Phoebe Dangerfield

Passed unanimously

Probation and Incremental Progression

Resolution 07/08

The SCG recommends that the changes suggested by the working party for the Incremental Progression and Probation policies, and outlined in their electronic report to the SCG meeting of the 29th November 2007, be adopted by HR.

Moved: Cathy Wright
Seconded: Carolyn Kennett

Passed unanimously

Casual Employment

Resolution 08/08

The SCG recommends that the changes and additions suggested by the working party to the Casual Employment policy, and outlined in their report to the SCG meeting of the 29th November 2007, be adopted by HR.

Moved: Cathy Wright
Seconded: Carolyn Kennett

Passed unanimously

Flexible Working Arrangements

Resolution 09/08

The SCG supports the recommendations made by the working party for Flexible Working Arrangements and recommends that the working group for Flexible Working Arrangements meet with HR representatives to work through the problems in the policy identified by the working group.

Moved: Suzan Burton
Seconded: Greg Stark

Passed unanimously

Personal Leave

Resolution 10/08

The SCG recommends that the changes suggested by the working party to the Personal Leave policy with the substitution of accommodation and adjustment, and outlined in their report to the SCG meeting of the 29th November 2007, be adopted by HR.  The SCG also requests that the working group revise the policy in light of implementation issues that have been raised by the university community.

Moved: Julian Leslie
Seconded: Suzan Burton

Passed unanimously

OSP Allowances

Resolution 11/08

The SCG recommends that, in line with other universities, the financial support of staff on OSP include a component for living expenses.  We suggest that the amounts of $1000 per month be allocated for staff on an overseas OSP trip and $750 per month for an OSP taken outside NSW.  

The policy should also include a stated minimum period of time to be spent away from Sydney in order for a staff member to be eligible for the funding. The SCG recommends that a minimum period of one month would be appropriate.

Moved: Carolyn Kennett
Seconded: Catriona Mackenzie

Passed unanimously

Outside Work

Dr Iain Stewart tabled a paper on privacy issues related to the Outside Work policy currently under consideration.

5.	REPORTS FROM SUB COMMITTEES

Implementation Review Sub Committee 

The report of the Implementation Review Sub Committee was tabled.

Resolution 12/08 

The SCG endorses the recommendations of the IRSC.

Carried Unanimously 

Other Business

Election of Chair & Deputy Chair

At the 29 November meeting of the SCG it was determined that nominations for the Chair and Deputy Chair SCG would need to be provided to Andrea Lerche as Returning Officer by close of business 29 January 2008.

At the close of business 29 January 2008 1 nomination had been received for the role of Chair.

Carolyn Kennett nominated by Vasantha Saparamadu

No nominations had been received for the role of Deputy Chair.

Carolyn Kennett was confirmed in the role of SCG Chair for a further term unopposed.

Given that no nominations had been received for the role of Deputy Chair. The Chair called for nominations from the floor. No new nominations were advanced. As a consequence the Chair invited Mr Lachlan Morgan to continue in his role as Deputy Chair. 

Mr Lachlan Morgan was appointed as Deputy Chair for a further term.

Meeting dates for 2008

The following meeting dates were proposed for 2008

2 April 2008
5 June 2008
8 August 2008
13 October 2008

Revised Induction Process

Charlotte Simon, Manager Staffing and Workforce Planning tabled the site map for the revised Induction program for feedback.

Meeting closed 11:50 am