DRAFT 

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

STAFF CONSULATIVE GROUP

MINUTES OF MEETING OF 24 July 2007

Minutes of the meeting of the Staff Consultative Group held on 24 July 2007 at 9.00
am in the Senate Room, Level 3, Lincoln Building.

Present:

Mr John Andrews 				G7
Dr Peter Browne 				A10
Assoc Professor Suzan Burton 		A2
Ms Leanne Cameron 			G8
Ms Robyn Clarke 				G2
Ms Phoebe Dangerfield 			G6
Mr Edward Davies 				CPSU
Ms Alana Freeburn 				NTEU
Ms Stephanie Grolimund 			NTEU
Mr David Hackett 				G9
Assoc Professor Ritchie Howitt 		A8
Ms Carolyn Kennett (Chair)		NTEU
Assoc Professor Julian Leslie 		A3
Mr Ryan Lawson 				G3
Assoc Professor Catriona MacKenzie 	A7
Mr Michael Marston 			G5
Ms Dianne Mitchell 				CPSU
Mr Lachlan Morgan 	(Deputy Chair)	G4
Mr Rod Nurthen 				G12
Ms Cathy Rytmeister 			A1
Mr Vasantha Saparamadu 			NTEU
Ms Sue Spinks 				A9
Mr Greg Stark 				CPSU
Dr Iain Stewart 				A6
Ms Cathy Wright 				G14
Ros Kitson 					A4
			  Sondra Whibberley 			CPSU

Guests:

Mr Tim Sprague Human Resources

1. APOLOGIES

Di Mitchell					CPSU 
Pheobe Dangerfield				G6

The apologies as listed above were noted.

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Noted that Sondra Wibberley had extended her apologies for the meeting of 10 May 2007.

Corrections noted and minutes accepted.

3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

a.	Filling of Vacancies

There was discussion of the revised SCG policy and the need for the election process for the SCG vacancies to be progressed. 

Associate Professor Ritchie Howitt tendered his resignation from the SCG due to workload commitments.  The Chair thanked A/Prof Howitt for his valuable contribution to the group.

b.	SCG Website

5.	It was noted that a new SCG website had been relocated to the staff webpage 

6.	Resolution 07/25 

That the SCG policy be finalized within the next month and that Human Resources facilitate the election process for the vacant SCG electorates.

Once elected members can participate in working groups.

4.   INVITED PRESENTATIONS FROM SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Job Evaluation Project Report

The Director Human Resources spoke briefly on the Job Evaluation project report which had been circulated to SCG members and this report was noted. 
7.	Selection process for University Secretary
8.	
9.	The Director Human Resources identified that the Selection process for the University Secretary was underway and that interviews were likely to be conducted in the next couple of weeks. It was identified that a centralized policy register would form part of this portfolio.

The Director Human Resources identified that the release of the new HR website and finalisation of policies for the 31 August 2007 HEWRR’s deadline continued to be key priorities for Human Resources. It was identified that policies would include details of the status of the consultation process and version control.

10.	REPORT FROM THE CHAIR

11.	SCG Chair – time release

It was noted that issues related to time release for the SCG Chair had been satisfactorily resolved. (resolution 07/14 refers)

It was noted that Ryan Lawson has resigned from the University.

12.	REPORTS FROM SUB COMMITTEES

       Implementation & Review Sub Committee

The report of the IRSC identified a need for the University to take a more constructive approach to engagement with the requirements under the Enterprise Agreement. 

The Director Human Resources requested that tangible examples be provided of instances where this had not occurred. It was identified by the Chair that the SCG meeting was perhaps not the most appropriate forum for this to occur.   

A range of privacy issues concerning the personal leave policy were identified. The Director Human Resources advised that some of these issues may be minimized as a consequence of the introduction of on line leave from October 2007.

The Director Human Resources also identified that the Flexible working arrangements policy under development would go some way to allowing flexibility to accommodate ad hoc appointments.

13.	Staff Development Sub Committee 

The report identified a range of recommendation related to the Staff development policy and funding for Staff Development.

The Director Human Resources acknowledged that funding for Staff Development needs to be included as a part of the budget cycle discussions.

Issues around the types of staff development that is funded at the local level vs centrally still needs to be resolved.

14.	
15.	Agenda & Process Sub Committee

It was identified that this Sub Committee would look at guidelines for working party report.

REPORTS FROM WORKING PARTIES

The reports from the various policy working parties and the response from the Director Human Resources related to the feedback received from the SCG were discussed in brief. 

There was further discussion related to the timeframe for the submission of reports following completion of OSP (this has been changed from 6 mnths to 1 month). 

It was identified that the Staff Awards & Staff Development Grant system needs to be reviewed by the Staff Development Sub Committee.

It was identified that a meeting would be established between the Reward & Recognition working group and Human Resources to finalise this policy.

Resolution 07/26

It was identified that the language concerning unapproved leave was too strong. Rather than the policy reading that the supervisor will “instruct” Human Resources to suspend payment it is suggested that this should be altered to “recommend”.

OTHER BUSINESS

Associate Professor Catriona Mackenzie provided an update with respect to the University’s Ethics Framework Project.

The report also identified a range of recommendations seeking the support of the SCG.

Resolution 07/27

The recommendations received the majority support of the SCG (1 member abstained)

Working parties fo rnewly released policies to be established via email.

     12:25 pm Meeting close