nsw department of commerce organisational ......people and organisation 62 nsw department of...

People & Organisation

NSW DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ORGANISATIONAL CHART (30 JUNE 2009)

Names in italics indicate a key function performed in the structure, they do not necessarily represent a business unit

Minister for Commerce

Office of Fair Trading

Office of NSW Procurement

Office of Public Works & Services

Government Chief Information Office

Finance & Shared Services

People Workplace & Planning

Legal & Governance

Audit & Risk Policy & Strategy

Compliance & Legal

Customer & Property Services

Home Building Service

Fair Trading Services

Consumer Trader & Tenancy Tribunal

Service Delivery

IR Analysis & Partnerships

eBusiness Solutions & Policy Support Services

Contracting Services

StateFleet

Facilities Management

Government Architect’s Office

Project Management

NSW Water Solutions

Finance & Commercial

Business

Corporate Finance

Corporate Procurement

Strategy

ServiceFirst Business Services

HR Policy & Performance

Employment Relation Services

Organisational Development

Workplace & Properties

Information Services

Corporate Planning

ERP Support

Corporate Information &

Systems

GCIO Office

Front Line Services

Infrastructure

ServiceFirst IT

State Records

Director General

Office of Industrial Relations

Strategic Communications

& Government Advertising

Minister for Industrial Relations

Minister for Fair Trading

Business Link

Emergency Management

Office of the Director General

61

People and organisation 62

NSW Department of Commerce Annual Report 2008/09 ISSN 1832-1232

Organisational change Several organisational change initiatives were completed in 2008/09 resulting in changes to Commerce’s structure:

the Government Chief Information Office established separate business units responsible for corporate information and systems, infrastructure, front line services and GCIO office administration

the Office of NSW Procurement business units of eBusiness Solutions and Policy Support Services were merged to better serve NSW Government agencies with their procurement solutions

the Legal Services and Governance area was renamed Legal and Governance and expanded to include Corporate Risk along with Legal Services and Audit Services

the Office of Public Works and Services was realigned with the establishment of a new Finance and Commercial Business unit to consolidate the varying activities in these functional areas

the Corporate Services and Review office was restructured and the functions associated with the corporate support areas for the strategic development and management of workplace and property, human resources policy and performance, employment relations, corporate planning, organisational development and information services for Commerce were integrated and established as a new unit called People Workplace and Planning

the Chief Finance Officer’s office was restructured to become Finance and Shared Services and includes Corporate Finance, the Commerce Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Resource Planning and the shared corporate service provider for business services and information technology, ServiceFirst.

Change management and restructuring programs In 2008/09, eleven change management and restructuring programs supported organisational streamlining in Commerce business units:

Compliance and Legal - Office of Fair Trading

Customer and Property Services - Office of Fair Trading (x2)

Home Building Service – Office of Fair Trading

Information Management and Technology - Corporate Services and Review

Central Corporate Shared Services - Corporate Services and Review

Business Infrastructure - Corporate Services and Review

Legal and Governance - Office of the Director General

Ministerial and Executive Services Unit - Office of the Director General

Government Chief Information Office

Strategic Communications and Government Advertising.

Change management programs were developed with support from employment relations staff and included:

the development of staff placement and recruitment strategies

communication plans

change management dialogue with senior managers within the business units to support the achievement of the outcomes identified within the change management plans

consultative process with staff and their unions to finalise these programs.

© NSW Department of Commerce 2009



National regulation reduction agenda In December 2007, the Council of Australian Government established the Business Competition and Regulation Working Group to accelerate, broaden and prioritise its regulation reduction agenda. In March 2008, the Group issued a regulatory reduction implementation plan which has subsequently become one of the main reform priorities across all levels of government.

Of twenty-eight national reform agenda projects identified in the BCRWG plan, seven have a direct impact on the Office of Fair Trading.

Commerce Executive at 30 June 2009

Brian Baker Acting Deputy Director General, Office of Public Works and Services (June - September 2008 and February - June 2009)

Brian Baker joined Commerce in April 2004. He has over 30 years experience in developing and delivering major infrastructure projects. A significant component of his career has related to the delivery of public infrastructure, including water supply, sewerage, bulk material export, transport, education and health. Brian also worked for six years for non-government entities, including a major engineering and construction company, and in various consulting engagements.

Lyn Baker Deputy Director General and Commissioner for Fair Trading

Lyn Baker was appointed Commissioner for Fair Trading in November 2005. Ms Baker has worked in the NSW public sector for nearly 25 years, including senior executive roles with the Attorney-General’s Department, the Department of Housing and the NSW Public Service Board. Lyn’s career focus has been on organisational development and customer service. With almost ten years at Fair Trading, including three years as Assistant Commissioner, Customer and Property Services, and held various senior strategic roles involving licensing, compliance and customer service.

Susan Bentley Acting General Counsel/Director, Legal and Governance

Susan Bentley joined Commerce in July 2004. Prior to joining Commerce, Ms Bentley worked with The Cabinet Office for over five years. She has acted in the position of General Counsel/Director Legal Services since December 2008 and has extensive experience in the processes involved in formulating policy and administration of legal areas. Ms Bentley graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Technology and was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in April 2005.

Paul Dexter Chief Financial Officer

Paul Dexter joined Commerce in January 2008. He has broad commercial experience providing strategic and financial advice and driving organisational performance management and change within large organisations. Mr Dexter has worked as CFO and consultant in private sector electricity, manufacturing and distribution markets in Australia and New Zealand. His recent public sector experience was as Chief Financial Officer for WorkCover NSW and Director Financial Services for Queensland Government Shared Services.




Graeme Head Director General, Department of Commerce

Graeme Head was appointed Director General of the NSW Department of Commerce on 1 December 2008.

Between 2007 and 2008 Graeme was the Deputy Director General (State Administration & Performance) with the Department of Premier and Cabinet – a role combining state administration services with the additional responsibility of reviewing the performance of government agencies and driving sector-wide service improvement initiatives.

Between 1990 and 2007, Graeme spent 17 years in senior roles in environment portfolio agencies, notably as Assistant Director General at the Environment Protection Authority, and six years as the Chief Executive/Managing Director of the Sydney Catchment Authority. He has extensive experience in policy development, regulatory reform, infrastructure development and the design and implementation of a wide range of environment protection measures.

Graeme Head began his professional life as a registered nurse, training in the late 1970s. He was one of the first health educators to work on the HIV-AIDS epidemic when it emerged in the early 1980s, and worked in a range of policy and program management roles dealing with HIV and drugs policy throughout the remainder of that decade.

Graeme Head was appointed Director General of NSW Department of Services, Technology & Administration (formerly the NSW Department of Commerce) in July 2009, outside this reporting period.

Don Jones Executive Director, Office of Industrial Relations

Don Jones has been with the Office of Industrial Relations since 1987 and has over 22 years experience in the NSW public sector. He was appointed to the Executive Director position in February 2009. Mr Jones started his public sector career working as an Industrial Relations Officer with Wollongong City Council and his recent public sector experience includes senior roles relating to workplace reform, compliance and service delivery. He has a Masters of Public Policy, a Bachelor of Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce.

Dennis O’Keefe Acting Deputy Director General, Office of NSW Procurement (September – November 2008 & March to June 2009)

Dennis O’Keefe has 20 years experience in the public sector and joined the Department of Commerce in May 2008. His public sector experience includes senior roles relating to tendering and contracting, eBusiness solutions and policy support. Mr O’Keefe joined Commerce following his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer for Health Purchasing Victoria. He has an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management, an Advanced Diploma in Business Management, a Graduate Certificate in Effective Logistics Management and certificates in logistics management, material management and purchasing and supply.

Anthea Kerr Executive Director, Office of the Director General

Anthea Kerr joined Commerce on 23 January 2009. She has extensive high level policy experience within the NSW public sector, particularly in relation to inter-jurisdictional negotiations, and has worked within agencies including the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the former Department of Fair Trading.




Alun Probert Director, Strategic Communications and Government Advertising

Alun Probert has over 25 years experience in the media and marketing industry, both in Australia and overseas. After graduating with an Honours degree in Communications and post-graduate Diploma from the British Institute of Marketing, Mr Probert’s career started in radio then local newspapers before moving in to the world of publishing where he was responsible for the launch of a range of best selling magazines including FHM and OK in Australia. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce in 2005 as Group General Manager of Government Advertising, He spent a number of years establishing his own training and marketing consultancy with international clients in Dubai, Turkey, the UK and Australia and was appointed to his current role in February 2008. He is a member of the board of Ad School, the training arm of the Advertising Federation.

Emmanuel Rodriguez Government Chief Information Officer

Emmanuel Rodriguez was appointed to the position of Government Chief Information Officer in November 2007. Having demonstrated experience at the highest levels within the global financial services industry, he has led the significant modernisation and benefits achieved by the Chief Information Officer Executive Council since his appointment. Mr Rodriguez began his career as the Chief Information Officer of Société Générale investment bank in Tokyo. He went on become its global Chief Information Officer, a role in which he successfully implemented a single trading platform across 52 countries, rationalising Société Générale’s ICT systems in the Asia Pacific region. In 2002, he returned to the Asia Pacific region as the Asia Pacific Chief Information Officer of the Prudential group (UK). During his time with the Prudential group, he streamlined the wealth management ICT platform/services onto a centralised services hub while initiating the insurance businesses systems consolidations across 12 countries and 25 operations within two hubs in Malaysia and China.

Kirsten Watson Acting Director, People Workplace and Planning

Kirsten Watson has been acting in the position of Director since 17 November 2008. She joined the Department of Commerce in December 2003 and has held a number of senior roles in the private and public sectors with responsibility for leading organisational change and delivering corporate services including human resources, corporate real estate, information services and corporate planning. Ms Watson has a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma in Change Management, and is currently undertaking an Executive Masters in Public Administration.

Changes to Executive in 2008/09

Appointments

Graeme Head Position: Director General

Appointed: 1/12/2008

Don Jones Position: Executive Director, Office of Industrial Relations





Roy Wakelin-King Position: Deputy Director General, Office of Public Works and Services


Dennis O’Keefe Position : Acting/Deputy Director General, Office of NSW Procurement

Appointed: 19/03/09

Anthea Kerr Position : Executive Director, Office of the Director General

Appointed: 23/01/09

Secondments

David Callahan Position: Deputy Director General, NSW Procurement

Seconded to: Sydney Ferries

Secondment period: 18/03/2009 – 31/12/2009

Transfers

John Lee Position: Director General

Level: SES 8

Remuneration: $385,060

Transferred to: Department of Premier and Cabinet

Last Day of Service: 24/10/2008

Roy Wakelin-King Position: Deputy Director General, Office of Public Works and Services

Level: SES 6


Transferred to: Redfern Waterloo Authority


Separations

Marcia Doheny Position: Director, Legal and Governance






Pat Manser Position: Deputy Director General, Office of Industrial Relations



Glenn Smith Position: Director, Corporate Services and Review



Senior Executive Service remuneration

For SES 5 and above

Brian Baker Position: A/Deputy Director General, Office of Public Works & Services

Level: SES 6


During 2008/09, Brian Baker acted in this role from 1/07/2008 to 6/07/2008, from 21/07/2008 to 12/09/2008, from 05/01/2009 to 16/01/2009 and from 06/02/2009 to 30/06/2009. Brian Baker’s substantive position is as Group General Manager, Project Management, Office of Public Works and Services (see below).

2008/09 highlights

Contributed to the development of the Office of Public Works and Services as a centre of excellence for capital assets design, delivery and maintenance

Helped develop and maintain public infrastructure by assisting agencies to plan, design and deliver building and engineering projects to the value of approximately $1 billion while achieving an on time delivery rate of 93 per cent and 87 per cent of projects on budget

Continuation of the graduate development program and cadetships to maintain government expertise in areas of skill shortage including asset management, engineering and architecture

Minimised the risk for government on Commerce managed projects by achieving a loss time injury frequency ratio 20 per cent better than the industry average

Provided commercial services to government agencies to help them maximise value, minimise the cost and manage the risks in the services they provide to the community achieving a client satisfaction rating of 85 per cent for service delivery.




Lyn Baker Position: Commissioner, Office of Fair Trading

Level: SES 6


Lyn Baker received a performance-related incentive payment of $7,950 per annum that was paid as salary, effective from 1 July 2008.

2008/09 highlights

Oversaw the establishment of the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS®), which provides interest-free loans for individuals or families on low incomes. The scheme is community based and enables people to access fair, safe and equitable credit for the purchase of goods and services.

Worked to obtain additional funding for NILS® amounting to $900,000 and $1.6m for financial counselling services for the next financial year

Achieved significant progress on several national reform agenda projects, including the development of a national generic consumer law and new national product safety and credit regimes

Applied further enhancements to the Home Warranty Insurance Scheme, such as the increase in the level of cover from $200,000 to $300,000 with insurers now accepting a letter from Fair Trading stating that the home owners believe their builder has disappeared, and giving consumers greater access to the Scheme when a builder’s licence is suspended for failure to comply with a tribunal or court

Implemented budget saving strategies during the financial year, resulting in a satisfactory outcome with budgetary surplus maintained despite a reduction in revenue and challenges of recurrent expenditure savings targets

Provided advice about financial literacy strategies to Aboriginal Communities across NSW through the theatre production ‘Deadly Dollars’ which has been delivered to nearly 5,000 people across NSW.

Paul Dexter Position: Chief Financial Officer

Level: SES 5


2008/09 highlights

Implemented a rolling resource planning system to support productivity savings

Optimised the capital program expenditure by supporting mini-budget savings and managing year-end expenditure to 98 per cent of target

Developed a ServiceFirst Blueprint to engage with stakeholders in supporting shared services reform

Developed a standard Government SAP system supporting standard solutions and processes for shared services

Led ongoing improvements to the financial and operational dashboard to ensure achievement of targets.




Graeme Head Position: Director General

Level: SES 8


2008/09 highlights

Provided expert advice to the Minister for Commerce and the Minister for Fair Trading on a range of issues across areas within the responsibility of the Department of Commerce.

Implemented strategic changes to Commerce’s operations and leadership team and lead the senior executive in the implementation of cultural reform across the Department.

Delivered significant reforms to the composition of the State Contracts Control Board that will improve state procurement.

Chaired the NSW National Broadband Network (NBN) Taskforce which includes government representatives and industry and independent experts to best position NSW for the NBN rollout.

Peter Mould Position: Government Architect and General Manager, Government Architect’s

Office

Level: SES 5


2008/09 highlights

Influenced and supported architectural issues through representation on NSW and Heritage Approvals and Opera House Conservation committees and the Architects’ Registration Board of NSW

Provided expert advice to levels of government on city planning and architecture through representation on Sydney Olympic Park and Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation design review panels and the City of Sydney design advisory panel

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved efficiency of electricity use through energy management advice and monitoring for government agencies

Applied environmentally sustainable design principles to government buildings and assisted in the management of designs for major capital works for schools, police stations and courthouses.

Dennis O’Keefe Position: A/Deputy Director General, Office of NSW Procurement

Level: SES 5


During 2008/09, Dennis O’Keefe acted in this role from 29/09/2008 to 19/12/2008 and from 19/01/2009 to 30/6/2009. His substantive position is as Group General Manger, e-Business and Policy Support Services, Office of NSW Procurement.

2008/09 highlights

Led NSW Procurement through a period of extensive government reforms




Implemented a client focused business model to promote the access and use of NSW Procurement products and services by agencies. This resulted in a spend through the State Contracts Control Board contracts in 2008/09 of $3.58 billion

Increased the use of electronic responses to tenders by suppliers through the NSW eTendering electronic system by 59 per cent over the previous year

Oversighted the use of NSW eTendering by 42 agencies as their eSourcing solution of choice

Improved the eTendering system through improved contract disclosure functions, an enhanced set of searching/browsing/reporting features and streamlined online tender management processes

Led the increase in the value of through smartbuy® from $360 million in 2007/08 to $445 million in 2008/09. In 2008/09, 109,398 purchase orders were placed through the system, compared to 67,879 in 2007/08

Launched the online ICT Service Portal which is a simplified accreditation process that enables small to medium enterprises to access government business. It provides project managers with ready access to information about vendor capability, performance and project experience.

Patrick Richards Position: Managing Director, NSW Businesslink

Level: SES 5


2008/09 highlights

The Minister has authorised the Chair of the Board of Businesslink to conduct the performance review of the Managing Director, Pat Richards. The Chair, Jan McClelland, has indicated her satisfaction with Mr Richards’ performance through the year, having successfully met his objectives and achieved the outcomes required:

Achieved price containment for the third consecutive year

All financial targets have been achieved

Service delivery and product delivery achieved

Completed business cases that will enable Businesslink to own and manage IT assets that will lower the total cost of ownership

Business continuity enhanced through the selection and migration of equipment to a new data centre site

Environmental framework established

Customer satisfaction survey conducted with greater than five per cent improvement

Maintained and improving standard of audit results plus risk management and OH&S awareness.




Emmanuel Rodriguez Position: Government Chief Information Officer

Level: SES 6

Remuneration: $278,288 and recruitment allowance of $28,500 a year

2008/09 highlights

Initiated and delivered programs to simplify and streamline the day to day operations of individual agencies through the implementation of the NSW Government's ICT Strategy, People First

Supported agencies’ business case submissions to Treasury through the Chief Information Officers' Executive Council and its relevant program boards

Led, coached and developed GCIO staff to ensure the effective operation and delivery of People First objectives. When required, lead and coached chief information officers from other agencies to help them gain a higher profile within their organisation and obtain due recognition when their objectives are met

Established a strategic/visionary small group of chief information officers aimed at initiating and driving major ICT initiatives benefiting NSW

Led the NSW CIO Executive Council to be an efficient and relevant decision making board

Facilitated and led several whole-of-government initiatives that will generate efficiencies and savings to NSW government agencies

Instigated an industry development initiative that will generate wealth for the State

Negotiated and delivered cost-effective whole-of-government contracts

Progressed the delivery of GCIO’s strategic programs.

Rodney Stowe Position: Deputy Commissioner, Office of Fair Trading

Level: SES 5


2008/09 highlights

Successfully managed all aspects of Policy & Strategy Division responsibilities and role of Deputy Commissioner for Fair Trading - in particular:

Performance agreement criterion: Simplify service provision for consumers and traders

Oversaw development and distribution of a range of innovative, educational resources for key target groups eg Master of the Mall – an interactive game for high school students, and a migrant teaching resource on consumer issues

New legislation reduced the administrative burden on incorporated associations, particularly voluntary bodies in the not-for-profit sector.

Performance agreement criterion: Achieve fair marketplace regulation with minimal red tape

Successfully managed the implementation of the Fair Trading portfolio legislative program, including major amendments to Retirement Villages Act and Associations Incorporation Act

Managed the urgent introduction of amendments to the Home Building Act and the Residential Tenancy Act

Developed a package of residential tenancy law reforms approved by Government for consultation




Participated in the Standing Committee of Officials of Consumer Affairs Steering Committee on Australian Consumer Law, which has secured agreement on terms of the Inter Governmental Agreement and various provisions of the new Fair Trading Act

Successfully engaged with the Better Regulation Office to deregulate four Fair Trading licence categories, as well as reforms for gas and plumbing regulation, which will result in new regulatory responsibilities for Fair Trading.

Performance agreement criterion: Win and maintain respect as a credible, efficient and effective organisation

Effectively engaged with key stakeholders on a broad range of issues and worked to maintain positive relationships with Fair Trading

Promoted positive Fair Trading and consumer protection messages through weekly radio segments on high rating commercial Sydney radio programs (2GB/2UE).

Graham Watt Position: A/Group General Manager, Project Management

Level: SES 5


During 2008/09, Graham Watt acted in this role from 21/7/2008 to 12/9/2008, from 29/09/2008 to 06/10/2008 and from 22/06/2009 to 30/6/2009. His substantive position is as Manager, Project Services, Office of Public Works and Services.




Employment statistics

Table A – Full time equivalent Category At 30 June

20051At 30 June

20061At 30 June

20071At 30 June

20081At 30 June

20091

Archivist 32.15 33.61 32.31

Chairpersons 6 6 6 4 1

Clerical Assistant 2 2 2 2 2

Clerical Officer 43 45.60 142.47 124.15 6.2

Clerk 2,613 2,517.03 3,029.13 3,071.70 3253.05

Conservator 0 0 2.40 2.82 2

Legal Officer 24 24.30 26.30 24.90 28.6

Professional 232 244.83 243.55 239.54 256.74

Project 7 4 2 2 2

Senior Executive Service 55 44.80 48.8 51.60 33.9

Senior Management 62 50 46 41.60 23.6

Senior Officer 69 86.10 154.3 174.30 198

Technical 29 24.80 19.80 19.20 13.2

Wages 153 131 136 136 137

Librarian/Library Technicians

0 3.00 0

Other General Division

10.37 11.50 11.57

Total 3,2894 3,174.464 3,895.274 3,937.922,3,4 4001.164,5

Notes Table A 1. Full time equivalent staff (excludes casuals, contractor/agency staff, statutory appointments,

trustees, council committee members, staff on secondment to other agencies and staff on long term leave with out pay)

2. 125.92 of total are made up of Corporate Shared Services figures

3. 582 of total made up of NSW BusinessLink

4. Total does not include chairpersons

5. 613 of total made up of Businesslink




Table B – Headcount

Senior Executive Service positions by level

At 30 June 2006

At 30 June 2007

At 30 June 2008

At 30 June 2009

8 1 0 1 1

7 0 0 0 0

6 2 2 3 2

5 8 7 7 6

4 5 11 10 10

3 15 17 13 11

2 10 9 9 2

1 4 3 3 0

Total 46 49 46 34

Positions filled by women 12 11 10 3

Unattached staff 1 0 0 0

Employment relations policies and practices Commerce continued to apply a proactive and tailored formal and informal program of consultation with unions and other stakeholders during 2008/09.

During the year, eight formal organisational-wide peak consultative meetings were held. Additionally, a similar number of local consultative forums were convened in:

the Office of Fair Trading

the Office of Industrial Relations

the State Records Authority, and

for the Ministerial day labour staff employed in the Heritage and Building Services Group in the Office of Public Works and Services.

Of the significant number of issues and matters discussed as part of the formal consultative processes, only six formal disputes went to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in 2008/09. All were resolved via conciliation.

No matters were lodged by unions or staff members under the relevant provision in the Commerce and related public sector awards pursuant to the disputes avoidance clauses.

The parties to the current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on consultative processes for Commerce have agreed to revisit the document following its operation for four years. It is anticipated that a new MoU will be finalised by agreement in the first part of 2009/10.

Consultative programs and organisational wide initiatives The NSW Government recognises the importance of flexible working arrangements for the successful performance of public agencies and encourages work practices which give greater recognition to employees’ lifestyle and family responsibilities.

Commerce recognises the importance of employees in running a productive and successful organisation and meeting the needs of our customers through flexible work arrangements.




In both the 2007 and 2008 performance reports to Parliament, the Auditor-General of NSW made reference to the issues associated with the balance of accumulated flexible working hours across Commerce and, as a consequence, the number of Commerce staff with excess recreation leave.

In response to these comments, Commerce embarked on a negotiation program during 2008 to achieve a more appropriate basis for operating its flexible working hours schemes.

Following several months of negotiation, Commerce surveyed staff to identify their preferences for a common flexible working hours scheme and in July 2008 agreement was reached with the salaried unions for a local arrangement under clause 10 of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2006. This agreement was subsequently ratified by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The agreement saw the consolidation of approximately 95 per cent of Commerce staff under one agreement, which provides one of the basic building blocks for the operation of an effective and flexible organisation. Negotiations are under way to bring the remaining staff onto the agreement.

An outcome of the agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department and unions for the management of accumulated working hours or exceptional circumstances leave under the several disparate schemes in place before July 2008.

Implementation of the MoU provided significant challenges to some business units, however managers and staff, with support from the Employee Relations team cleared the overwhelming majority of accumulated hours in accordance with its terms.

Additionally, a program was introduced to manage excess recreation leave balances (defined as greater than forty days accumulated recreation leave). Employment Relations staff assisted Commerce managers to develop management plans to reduce the number of staff with excess recreation leave. By 30 June 2009, only 5.3 per cent staff had excess recreation leave balances and the focus on reducing excess recreation leave balances will continue in 2009/10.

Redeployment of displaced officers Significant efforts and resources were devoted to the management of officers who have been declared excess as a result of the major restructuring programs in Commerce.

Commerce has in place a structured program of individual career coaching, case management support and training to prepare and assist excess staff to apply for vacancies in the public and private sector in accordance with the new policy for managing excess employees.

During 2008/09, 11 excess officers were redeployed into permanent positions. At 30 June 2009, there were 20 excess officers within Commerce. Of these 80 per cent were performing meaningful and valuable work for Commerce or other NSW government agencies. The remaining officers were actively job seeking and undertaking career coaching.

Engaged and capable people Our people are the hearts and minds of the work that we do. Their knowledge, skills and attitudes determine how effectively Commerce can provide commercial services to its clients and customers, so that they can maximise value and manage risks for the services they provide for the NSW community.

People Strategy The principle objective outlined in the Department’s People Strategy (2006-2010) is to have a workforce of engaged and capable people. People Workplace and Planning provides a comprehensive range of policies and practices to attract, retain and develop an outstanding group of public sector administrators and professionals.




In 2008/09, People Workplace and Planning continued to develop systems, policies and practices that support the capability of our people and our organisation, including:

building leadership capabilities through tailored programs across the organisational hierarchy

implementing a range of learning events to improve business and public administration capabilities

maximising individual potential with networks to foster relationships across technical expertise and hierarchical boundaries

consolidating our recruitment and selection strategies to attract the appropriate people to relevant jobs

improving how we manage employment equity and diversity

aligning our corporate planning, performance management and staff development processes

reviewing our human resource policies and procedures

developing an integrated industrial relations/employee relations strategic plan, due to be finalised in 2009/10

providing expert strategic advice and support to each office on a range corporate functions, including human resources policies and procedures and employment relations issues, by establishing account teams for each office. Each account team is supported by a dedicated human resources business consultant and organisational development consultant.

Develop the capability of our people

Building leadership capabilities Commerce has retained its commitment to building the leadership capabilities of its senior people and fostering increased leadership and management capabilities. During 2008/09, the Leadership Development Program provided a comprehensive range of programs including:

new managers program – 36 people attended two programs

business managers program – 36 people attended two programs

senior managers programs – 54 people attended five programs

executive program – 26 people attended three programs

leadership learning events – 303 people attended 26 programs

mentoring program – 17 mentor/mentoree pairs.

In addition to Commerce’s in-house program Commerce has supported senior leadership participation in the following Public Sector programs during 2008/09:

Public Sector Management Program – 11 participants

Executive Development Program – three participants

ANZSOG Executive Master in Public Administration – three participants

Graduate Diploma in Public Administration – four participants

Fellows Program – one participant.

A further 96 leaders are scheduled to participate in the Leadership Development Program during 2009/10.




Improving business and public administration capabilities In 2008/09, Commerce has continued to invest in the development of its people by offering skills development training courses provided in the following areas:

business skills – 530 people attended 58 courses

administration – 799 people attended 69 courses

Learning Bites – 709 people attended 32 seminars.

Commerce staff are also supported to attend non-Commerce (external) training with 60 staff declaring their attendance at a range of external training courses this year.

Maximising individual potential with networks Commerce has a diverse workforce with a broad range of skills, knowledge and experience. The inherent value in this community contributes directly to Commerce’s service delivery and business effectiveness. Networks and working groups were established in 2008/09 to provide greater access to the diverse knowledge and skills of these staff and to provide access to career development opportunities:

Aboriginal Staff Network – 65 members

Young Professionals Network – 86 members

Develop the capability of our organisation In 2008/09, Commerce continued its participation in interagency working groups and public sector programs to keep abreast of major public sector initiatives. The Department also consolidated its policies, strategies and processes in a range of areas including:

Recruitment and selection strategies university careers fairs

accounting skills working group

engineering skills working group

e-recruitment pilot working group

NSW Public Sector Fast Track graduate program

NSW Jumpstart Cadet program

NSW Public Sector Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

Employment equity and diversity management Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Program

Aboriginal Cadetship Program

NSW Public Sector Women’s Employment and Development Plan

Australian Breastfeeding Association Accreditation

NSW Public Sector Indigenous working group

NSW Public Sector Disability Action Plan

Community Language Assistance Scheme

Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement.

Corporate planning, performance management and staff development NSW Public Sector Capability Framework working group




NSW Public Sector Workforce advisory committee

Corporate and business planning working groups

Commerce Performance Development Program.

The People Strategy will be reviewed in 2009/10 following the NSW Government’s announcement of the creation of new administrative units across the NSW public sector.

Equity and diversity Commerce is diverse in every sense, from the services it delivers to the people who provide them. Its diverse workforce, with its broad range of skills, knowledge and experience, contributes directly to its service delivery and business effectiveness. Commerce believes these differences are valuable assets that give it a unique capability to deliver services to the community and to support the needs of the NSW Government.

This year Commerce made an active contribution towards achieving access and equity outcomes for staff and the community it serves. Over the coming year, Commerce will continue to place greater emphasis on ensuring that equity and diversity principles are integrated into the way that it plans for the services it delivers and for the needs of its current and future workforce.

Employment equity In 2008/09, Commerce continued to develop strategies that maximised opportunities for all Commerce staff and enhanced its standing as an employer of choice.

The Department was successful in improving its employees’ knowledge and appreciation of equity and diversity principles.

This was achieved through code of conduct training, raising awareness of diversity and equity of staff with customer service responsibilities, providing information on policies and initiatives to staff with carer responsibilities, and implementing a range of strategies to improve equity outcomes for staff.

Commerce acknowledges that to address its future workforce needs as well as meet employment equity targets it has to draw on a wider talent pool which includes members of equity groups. As such, its goals for the coming year will be to address gaps in how it attracts and retains talent from this section of the workforce.

To enable staff to progress in their careers, opportunities in the form of higher duties and secondments were provided and supported by Commerce.

Achievements for the year included:

maintaining the representation of women at 45 per cent

Aboriginal employees represent 2.4% of our workforce, exceeding the sector benchmark of two per cent

flexible work practices to enable staff to balance life’s priorities

supporting staff with work and personal life issues. Commerce continued its contract with Families at Work, a work/life consultancy that provides information on childcare, vacation care, dependent and elder care

co-ordinating the provision of reasonable adjustments for people with a disability

enabling current and former employees’ views to be heard on Commerce’s diversity and equity practices through a number of survey instruments

96 staff participating in the Community Language Allowance Scheme and providing translation and assistance to the community in 31 languages.




Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statistics

Table A - Trends in the representation of EEO groups1

% of total staff2

EEO group Benchmark 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09

Women 50 41 42 44 45 45

Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders 2 2 2 2.3 2.6 2.4

People whose first language was not English 20 24 25 25 25 25

People with a disability 12 10 10 10 9 8

People with a disability requiring work-related adjustment 7 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.1 3.3




Table B – Trends in the distribution of EEO groups1

Distribution index 3

EEO group Benchmark 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09

Women 100 87 87 88 88 89

Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders 100 73 76 79 76 78

People whose first language was not English 100 94 95 96 96 97

People with a disability 100 97 96 94 96 97

People with a disability requiring work-related adjustment 100 91 91 87 89 88

Notes 1. Staff numbers are at 30 June 2009

2. Excludes casual staff

3. The distribution index measures the extent to which the distribution of EEO groups across salary levels is equivalent to that of other staff. Values less than 100 mean that the EEO group tends to be concentrated at lower salary levels than is the case for other staff. The more pronounced this tendency is, the lower the index will be. In some cases the index may be more than 100, indicating that EEO group is less concentrated at lower salary levels. This Distribution Index is automatically calculated by the software provided by the Department of Premier and Cabinet

4. The distribution index is not calculated where EEO group or non-EEO group members are less than 20

Workforce planning Workforce Planning provides an overall strategy for meeting workforce needs now and into the future. The Workforce Profiles generated via this process provide an increasingly useful tool for tracking changes to workforce characteristics and identifying trends. A significant challenge for the organisation is that 58 per cent per cent of the workforce is over 45 years old and 25 per cent are predicted to retire in the next five years.

The Department’s workforce planning strategies are being developed to improve how the Department delivers services to the community and create a workforce that is representative of the community diversity of NSW by:

Diversity and Equity Plan

Women’s Development Plan

Aboriginal Employment Strategy

Disability Action Plan




Graduate Program

Young Professional Network and mentoring program

becoming an ‘employer of choice’

attracting and recruiting young people to our workforce

managing an ageing workforce

capability development strategies

learning and development programs

knowledge sharing and talent management.

Women Commerce’s Women Employment and Development Plan 2008-2012, focuses on strategies to attract, retain and develop women and was developed to support the NSW Government Making the Public Sector Work Better for Women Plan 2008-2012.

During 2008/09, the following activities were undertaken as part of the Women’s Employment and Development Plan:

the Department of Commerce Workplace Breastfeeding Policy was developed and launched – recognising the important physical and psychological benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers and the range of benefits to be achieved by supporting a women’s choice to combine work and breastfeeding, including retaining valued employees and improving the quality of their working life

one of the first NSW agencies to be accredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace by the Australian Breastfeeding Association

conducting gender specific mentoring and professional development programs for women

celebrating International Women’s Day with events held across Commerce

supporting attendance at conferences and networking events.

Workplace opportunities for women The Office of Industrial Relations (the OIR) participated in 26 community seminars and events throughout the year, including the Workplace Opportunities for Women program. The sessions, assisting women wishing to return to the workforce, provided information on workplace rights and entitlements, how to find out where to go for help if they were not being treated fairly, outlined the services of the OIR and explained the changes to the industrial relations system in NSW.

People with a disability Commerce has a strong commitment to creating an inclusive working environment in which people with a disability share fully in organisational life. The Department continues to support staff with a disability by facilitating Disability Network meetings for these staff and staff with an interest in disability issues.

Commerce recognised the International Day of People with a Disability by hosting morning teas in Sydney and Parramatta as part of the Don’t DisMyAbility Campaign.

Commerce’s Disability Action Plan 2006-2008 assisted staff and customers with a disability in key areas such as access, learning and development, information about services, and employment. See Appendix 8 for the full text of the Disability Action Plan




Achievements included:

providing reasonable adjustments to employees with a disability through work and job redesign, provision of equipment and the job support

purchasing specialised software through the Department of Education Technical Equipment Program

providing sign language interpreters at meetings for staff who are deaf or hearing impaired

making a central source of funding available through the Commerce Reasonable Adjustment Corporate Fund to provide financial assistance to staff with a disability

sponsoring the “Don't DIS My Ability” campaign to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability in December 2007

consulting on the draft Disability Action Planning Guidelines with members of the Commerce Disability Network.

Reaching Out program for people with a disability Fair Trading works with regional carers and community workers to deliver consumer protection messages to the disabled. During the year Fair Trading conducted presentations about rights and obligations to clients, staff and carers at Yallambee (which provides a supported accommodation and employment service in the Deniliquin district), Yumaro (a supported employment agency in Moruya), and Workability Personnel, (an employment service in Batemans Bay assisting people with disabilities).

People with special needs With the assistance of the Deaf Society of NSW, the OIR has developed basic workplace information to be communicated online in Auslan (Australian sign language). Auslan is a visual, spatial language with its own unique syntax and grammar and has no written form. Approximately 10,000 people in Australia use Auslan as their principal means of communication. The OIR is recognised as the first NSW government agency to provide information in this visual format.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Commerce recognises the diverse community in which we live today and the many cultures that that make up our society. While it is crucial to recognise and respect the cultures that make up Australian society, it is also important to acknowledge that Aboriginal people and culture are central to Australian history. With this in mind, Commerce remains committed to increasing employment and participation of Aboriginal people in everything it does.

Aboriginal Employment Strategy The Commerce Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2009-2012 was developed in early 2009, to increase the representation of Aboriginal people across Commerce workforce to three per cent. It focuses on providing career development opportunities to Aboriginal staff and strengthening support mechanisms that will assist in retaining staff and becoming an employer of choice for Aboriginal people.

Aboriginal staff participated in a strategic planning workshop that focused on the development of the Commerce Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2009-2012. This provided staff with the opportunity to be involved in setting the strategic direction for increased participation and employment of Aboriginal people in Commerce.

Indigenous Cadetship Program Commerce continued to support six cadets through their full time study during 2008/09. Two of these cadets successfully completed their degree qualification and moved into fulltime employment with the Department.




Employment programs Commerce participated in the Structured Training Employment Project with the Australian Government’s Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations to employ ten Aboriginal people in various positions including apprenticeships and traineeships.

Participation in the 2008 Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Program supported establishment of:

an Indigenous Project Officer in OPWS to focus on improving service delivery to Indigenous communities in relation to construction projects

an Industrial Inspector/Investigator within OIR to promote compliance with NSW industrial relation through various workplace, industry and community strategies

an investigator (Building) officer within OFT involved in law enforcement and the education of building contractors in relation to the requirements of the Home Building Act and other relevant fair trading legislation.

Mentoring Commerce provided opportunity for Aboriginal staff to participate in the pilot Aboriginal Mentoring Program developed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet providing a whole-of-government approach to mentoring for Aboriginal people with cross agency participation.

Aboriginal cultural education Three Aboriginal cultural education courses were offered to managers and supervisors of Aboriginal staff with 41 staff in total attending these accredited TAFE NSW courses.

Indigenous Engineering Summer School Commerce sponsorship of the 2008 Indigenous Engineering Summer School supported the participation of 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from years 11 and 12. The summer school gives students an overview of what it would be like to study engineering at university.

Office of Fair Trading Fair Trading has run a successful Aboriginal Action Plan for ten years to protect the interests of the Aboriginal community in New South Wales. A major strategy of the program is the employment of 11 Aboriginal staff whose main role is to provide culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal communities, particularly in areas of tenancy. Through awareness and training, Fair Trading seeks to improve the two-way exchange of skills and to build trust with the Aboriginal community.

The Aboriginal Fair Go Partnership Program actively promotes consumer rights issues through partnership with the Aboriginal media, community organisations and other service providers. It is based on Fair Trading's successful Think Smart partnership program for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Deadly Dollars is an interactive and educational Aboriginal theatre performance about money management, which is supported by a resource manual and training for Aboriginal community workers. Fair Trading Aboriginal customer service officers delivered 30 Deadly Dollars - Lets Talk Money workshops to community groups with 315 participants during 2008/09. In late 2008, the Deadly Dollars Theatre Group travelled to 36 Aboriginal communities throughout NSW over a six week period and performed to 2,591 participants. A further 28 performances were given in May 2009.

Fair Trading funded four Aboriginal Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Services which assist indigenous people experiencing tenancy problems, or who may need assistance/representation when attending the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal. Fair Trading actively partners with Aboriginal housing providers and key agencies to develop options to support and sustain tenancies and maintain home ownership.




Indigenous employment The OIR provides advice and information on employment matters to employers, employees and land councils through community forums. During 2008/09, the OIR Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unit presented 20 workshops and provided regular updates to community groups through its employment manual, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Information Kit.

In addition, the unit worked with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Education Consultative Group to support indigenous people working in childcare, participating in organised visits to pre-school and kindergarten centres in regional areas of NSW. The joint approach resulted in the OIR being able to provide on-the-spot and relevant workplace information to these organisations. This assistance has increased by more than 250 per cent in the last three years, with around 50 requests for employment information from ATSI kindergartens and pre-schools in 2008/09.

Rural, remote, and regional The OIR continues to provide a state-wide program of workshops to assist employers to understand how the current industrial relations legislation affects their business and understand their workplace responsibilities. In 2008/09, 104 workshops were conducted across regional NSW, assisting employers in these areas to develop and implement strategies to manage staff, develop workplace policies and retain skilled employees.

The OIR piloted its Out In the Regions campaign in Armidale, Broken Hill and Orange delivering a co-ordinated compliance and education program which provided an opportunity for local employers and employees to discuss workplace issues or problems with a workplace inspector. The program also included a hosted information stand at local shopping centres, access to workshops for employers and TAFE presentations on workplace rights and responsibilities for young workers.

Youth

Youth Forum The Youth Forum, held at the Justice and Police Museum on 17 November 2008, provided a key opportunity for Fair Trading to showcase its current youth initiatives and to foster relationships with youth stakeholders, including educators, youth advisory group members, youth service providers and young people themselves. It was attended by approximately 140 guests. Many were young people who had participated in the Money Stuff Challenge 2008. The Minister for Fair Trading awarded a number of prizes and trophies on the day.

Money Stuff The Money Stuff Challenge, Fair Trading’s annual competition for high schools, asks students to research consumer issues and develop messages for young people that can be communicated in a creative way. Approximately 800 students participated in the Challenge. The winning entries included an innovative website for young drivers, a presentation featuring colourful anime-style cartoon characters to pass on useful tips about buying a mobile phone, and a short film warning young people about internet scams. A new edition of the Money Stuff magazine will be distributed to NSW high schools in July 2009. It features a range of consumer articles relevant to young people, plus short interviews with young people on consumer topics. Some of the articles were drawn from material submitted as entries to the 2008 Money Stuff Challenge.

Master of the Mall In November, Fair Trading introduced an innovative new educational game for young people called “Master of the Mall”. It is set in a virtual shopping mall, where players interact with other characters to complete missions, answer quizzes, and play mini-games that test their skills




and knowledge. “Master of the Mall” covers a broad range of employment, consumer and financial literacy topics from the syllabus for Years 7-10.

The “Master of the Mall” is accompanied by a 120-page teachers’ manual featuring case studies, scenarios and classroom activities linked to the outcomes of the Commerce syllabus. It can be used in conjunction with the game or as a lesson planner in its own right. The resource was developed with the Curriculum K-12 Directorate of the NSW Department of Education and Training, the Office of Industrial Relations, and WorkCover NSW. The game and teachers’ manual was distributed to all NSW high schools in February 2009.

RYDA program The Rotary Young Drivers Awareness (RYDA) program is designed to give Year 11 students more knowledge about the reality of driving. Fair Trading's participation in this program increased significantly in 2008/09. The information Fair Trading provides includes the financial and legal ramifications of buying a car, finance, warranties and insurance, how to inspect a vehicle and information about REVS (the Register of Encumbered Vehicles service). Thousands of students across the State attended RYDA presentations throughout the year.

"Get Equipped" pilot youth information program A 15-week information program for disadvantaged youth was piloted with the Inner West Skills Centre at Auburn. The program ran from April to June 2009, and aimed at providing youth in the area with information about the complete range of Fair Trading services, including information about contracts, shoppers’ rights, scam awareness, tenancy, financial literacy, buying a car and also introduced them to the Master of the Mall interactive online game. At the end of the first 15 weeks all parties involved reviewed the outcomes of the program and, consequently, it will be run at least twice more in the 2009/10 period.

“Know the Deal” The OIR conducted its “Know the Deal” video competition through NSW high schools to help students learn about their rights when starting their first job and encourage them to have fun and be creative in the learning process. Students produced a video, no longer than two minutes in length, which highlighted an important message about workplace rights and promoted the OIR’s young people at work website (www.youngpeopleatwork.nsw.gov.au)

The successful prize winners of the inaugural competition were James Fallon High School (Albury) and MLC College (Burwood). The winners were announced in October 2008 and the winning entries are displayed on the Young People at Work website. The 2009 competition was announced in March 2009.

The OIR also maintained its commitment to young apprentices and students through the delivery of 150 presentations to over 3,200 students at TAFE colleges and high schools around the state. These presentations provide information on starting work, workplace rights and responsibilities and rates of pay.

Young people are an identified vulnerable workplace group. The OIR’s workplace inspection program regularly checks on employers across NSW to ensure they were meeting their workplace obligations to their young workers. During 2008/09 inspections of 590 employers were undertaken to enforce the Industrial Relations (Child Employment) Amendment Act. These inspections covered more than 5,000 young workers, and identified 650 breaches of NSW industrial relations laws.




Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement – Future strategies Commerce continued to implement initiatives set out in its three-year Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement Plan, which comprises strategies to improve outcomes for people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and to work towards achieving these goals.

Over the coming year Commerce will:

continue to implement appropriate education, community awareness, consultation, liaison and communication strategies

continue to provide appropriate language assistance

investigate a data collection process to measure use of services by people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds

review procedures and guidelines for advisory boards and committees, tendering procedures and funded or contract services.

Culturally and linguistically diverse communities Fair Trading’s annual Customer Profile Survey assessed the extent to which people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities are using its services. The result indicated the proportion of Fair Trading CALD clients exceeds their representation in the NSW population – indicating the services are needed by these communities and that there are no systemic barriers to accessing them.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Target*

A&TSI 2.0% 2.7% 2.3% 2.6% 2.6% ≥ 2.1%

CALD 29% 31% 32.1% 27.8% 29.4% ≥ 26%

* Population representation in 2006 Census

Think Smart The Think Smart education program delivers information and education directly to CALD groups through a network of community organisations and multilingual media partners. It raises awareness of fair trading issues and services using a variety of information resources, public relations events and grass roots community activities. Currently there are 38 Think Smart partners, consisting of 30 community organisations and eight multilingual media outlets. Four new partners were signed up during the year: the Chinese Migrant Welfare Association, the Migrant and Refugee Services of Anglicare, the NSW Adult Migrant English Service and Sydney Multicultural Community Services.

Fair Trading’s website was redesigned to make translations of information more accessible to users. Selected information is now available in 28 community languages for traders and consumers (including in languages for new and emerging communities).

Renting, Shopping, Money In 2008, Fair Trading produced a practical, teaching resource in collaboration with the ACL Adult Migrant English Program Consortium. Consisting of a 124-page workbook and audio CD, Renting, Shopping, Money assists teachers to develop the skills of newly-arrived migrants and refugees in NSW to deal with consumer issues. The resource also provides advice on accessing Fair Trading services while developing English language competence. Over 2,000 copies of the teaching resource were distributed to various community organisations and Government agencies that provide educational services to newly-arrived migrants and refugees.




Community relations program The OIR community relations program provides information on workplace rights and responsibilities to culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The range of initiatives are aimed at building relationships with communities and cover participation in a range of community events and meetings and the ongoing development of translated resources and educational materials in key languages. The OIR continues to enforce the Ethical Clothing Trades Extended Responsibility Scheme by providing retailers' with information on their obligations in relation to outworkers across NSW.

Starting work program for English language students The OIR worked in collaboration with the largest provider of English language teaching in Australia, to develop and introduce the Starting Work resource for use with their students. Some 3,000 newly arrived migrants and refugees will learn English through the ACL/AMEP Consortium in the coming year and will use this resource to learn about their workplace rights and responsibilities. The Starting Work classroom resource is an ideal fit with the aims of the program that teaches English language skills to help with settlement and to improve students’ chances of finding a job in Australia.

Chat with an OIR adviser initiative As part of its initiative to help people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to access workplace information, the OIR commenced a pilot information service conducted through Migrant Resource Centres. Experienced workplace inspectors and advisors visited the St George and Auburn Migrant Resource Centres regularly offering practical assistance and support to members of the local communities seeking information or advice about a workplace matter.



NSW Department of Commerce Annual Report 2008/09 ISSN 1832-1232 © NSW Department of Commerce 2009

Occupational Health Safety and Injury Management Commerce is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all employees and workplace visitors, including customers and agency staff as required by NSW Occupational Health and Safety and Injury Management legislation.

The following initiatives were undertaken or commenced in 2008/09:

launched the Commerce OHS Management System in November 2008, providing one streamlined framework to manage OHS

3,172 staff participated in mandatory online training to support the introduction of the OHS Management System

addressed strategic OHS and Injury Management policy issues via the Commerce Senior Management OHS Advisory Committee

supported a network of OHS committees and OHS representatives in order to improve OHS consultation arrangements throughout the Department and to assist in addressing OHS issues

provided manual handling training for managers and employees within the Office of Fair Trading with further training planned for other high risk areas

conducted workstation/ergonomics training and assessments for several offices including all Fair Trading Information Centres and regional Office of Industrial Relations offices, to assist in creating a safe workplace for staff

50 senior managers from across Commerce attended seminars about managing occupational stress to better understand potential triggers and symptoms

provided OHS specialist input to the Commerce Business Continuity Plan and pandemic preparedness plans, the Dignity and Respect in the Workplace Charter and the Commerce Disability Action Plan.

Staff welfare initiatives The following initiatives were also implemented in 2008/09 as part of the Department’s commitment to staff welfare:

provided all staff with access to free flu vaccination through the Annual Influenza Vaccination Program – over 1,000 staff from across NSW minimised their risk of contracting the influenza virus by participating in the program

continued Commerce’s participation in the Global Corporate Challenge (GGC), a “Live Life Well’ initiative that encouraged employees to become more active to improve their health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In 2008/09, Commerce staff walked, ran and cycled 286,812 kilometres and the Department expects to travel even further in 2009/10 with staff participation increasing by 13 per cent

hosted a series Health and Wellbeing seminars for staff with presentations by Nutrition Australia, Diabetes Australia and the Asthma Foundation NSW.


Table A – Workers Compensation Claims

Office 2005/061 2006/071 2007/081 2008/09

Number of injuries resulting

in claims


in claims


in claims


in claims

Number of claims resulting in time

lost

Total time lost due to injuries (in

days)4

Average time lost per injury (in

days)

Office of Fair Trading 39 53 47 37 22 228.28 10.38

Office of Industrial Relations 5 6 11 12 8 103.85 12.98

Office of NSW Procurement 1 1 2 4 3 145.14 48.38

Service First2 10 8 13 12 8 106.43 13.30

Commerce3 56 76 51 43 18 223.85 18.85

Total 111 144 124 108 59 807.56 13.69

Notes 1. Data from previous reporting periods has been updated to reflect more accurate data available due to improved recording and reporting of claims data

2. Service First includes the former Corporate Services and Review office

3. Commerce includes all other offices within the Department not specifically itemised in this table

4. Due to reporting changes Total Time Lost Due to Injuries (days) may appear lower this year than in previous years. Previously, total days lost was used to calculate total time lost, this year the Department has moved to using the more accurate total hours lost to report the Total Time Lost Due to Injuries (in days).



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