Aboriginal Health Workers' (State) Award 2022
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Application by Ministry of Health.
(Case No. 192551 of 2022)
Before Chief Commissioner Constant
|
13 July 2022
|
AWARD
PART A
Arrangement
Clause No. Subject Matter
1. Definitions
2. Wages
3. Conditions
of Service
4. Progression
and Appointment
5. Anti-Discrimination
6. No Extra Claims
7. Area,
Incidence and Duration
1. Definitions
"Aboriginal Health Practitioner" means a person
who is appointed as such and holds a Certificate IV in Aboriginal Primary
Health Care (Practice),and is registered with the
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Aboriginal Health
Practitioners perform a range of clinical practice and primary healthcare
duties for the community in which they work under direct or indirect
supervision at more experienced years.
"Aboriginal Health Worker" means a person who is
appointed as such and is a provider of flexible, holistic and culturally
sensitive health services to the Aboriginal community, and
holds or aspires to hold a minimum Certificate III qualification in Aboriginal
Primary Health Care or a minimum Certificate III health qualification in the
area of care in which the Aboriginal Health Worker works. Aboriginal Health Workers perform a range of
primary health care duties for the community in which they work under direct or
indirect supervision at more experienced years.
"Employer" means the Secretary of the Ministry of
Health exercising employer functions on behalf of the Government of New South
Wales.
"Principal Aboriginal Health Worker" means a
person who has applied for an advertised Principal Aboriginal Health Worker
role and has been selected on merit. Principal Aboriginal Health Workers
develop, implement and review Aboriginal primary
health care strategy and policies and may be responsible for the supervision
and training of Aboriginal Health Workers. Principal Aboriginal Health Workers
hold a relevant degree qualification.
"Senior Aboriginal Health Worker" means a person
who has applied for an advertised Senior Aboriginal Health Worker role and has
been selected on merit. Senior Aboriginal Health Workers manage resources for
the delivery of individual health services or health programs,
and may be responsible for the supervision and training of Aboriginal
Health Workers.
"Union" means the Health Services Union New South
Wales.
2. Wages
2.1 Full time
employees shall be paid the salaries as set out in the Health Professional
Medical Salaries (State) Award 2022, as varied or replaced from time to time.
3. Conditions. of Service
3.1 The Public
Hospitals (Professional & Associated Staff) Conditions of Employment
(State) Award 2021, as varied from time to time, shall apply to all classifications
of employees as defined in clause 1 of this Award.
4. Progression and
Appointment
4.1 Progression for
Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners is incremental
upon the completion of 12 months full time satisfactory service.
4.2 Aboriginal
Health Workers who hold a minimum Certificate III qualification in Aboriginal
Primary Health Care or a minimum Certificate III health qualification in the area of care in which the Aboriginal Health Worker
works may commence at Year 2.
4.3 Senior
Aboriginal Health Workers are appointed on merit. Incremental progression
occurs once upon the completion of the first 12 months full time satisfactory
service.
4.4 Principal
Aboriginal Health Workers are appointed on merit. Incremental progression
occurs once upon the completion of the first 12 months full time satisfactory
service.
5. Anti-Discrimination
5.1 It is the
intention of the parties bound by this Award to seek to achieve the object of
section 3(f) if the Industrial Relations Act 1996 to prevent and
eliminate discrimination in the workplace. This includes discrimination on the
grounds of race, sex, marital status, disability, homosexuality, transgender identity and age.
5.2 It follows that
in fulfilling their obligations under the dispute resolution procedure
prescribed by this Award the parties have obligations to take all reasonable
steps to ensure that the operation of the provisions of this award are not
directly or indirectly discriminatory effects. It will be consistent with the
fulfilment of these obligations for the parties to make an application to vary
any provisions of the award which, by its terms or operation, has a direct or
indirect discriminatory effect.
5.3 Under the Anti-Discrimination
Act 1977, it is unlawful to victimise an employee because the employee has
made or may make or has been involved in a complaint of unlawful discrimination
or harassment.
5.4 Nothing in this
clause is to be taken to affect:
(i) Any
conduct or act which is specifically exempt from anti-discrimination
legislation.
(ii) Offering or
providing junior rates to a person under 21 years of age.
(iii) Any act or
practice of a body established to propagate religion which is exempted under
Section 56(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.
(iv) A party to this
award from pursuing matters of unlawful discrimination in a State or federal
jurisdiction.
5.5 This clause does
not create legal rights or obligations in addition to those imposed upon the
parties by the legislation referred to in this clause.
Notes:
(a) Employers and
employees may also be subject to Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation.
(b) Section 56(d) of
the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 provides: ‘Nothing in this Act affects
any other act or practice of a body established to propagate religion that
conforms to the doctrines of that religion or is necessary to avoid injury to
the religious susceptibilities of the adherents of that religion’.
6. No Extra Claims
6.1 Other than as
provided for in the Industrial Relations Act 1996 and the Industrial
Relations (Public Sector Conditions of Employment) Regulation 2014(or its
successor however described), there shall be no further claims/demands or
proceedings instituted before the Industrial Relations Commission of New South
Wales for extra or reduced wages, salaries, rates of pay, allowances or
conditions of employment with respect to the employees covered by the Award
that take effect prior to 30 June 2023 by a party to this award.
7. Area, Incidence and
Duration
7.1 This Award shall apply to employees
of the classifications in clause 1, Definitions who are employed in the New
South Wales Health service under Section 115(1) of the Health Services Act
1997, or their successors, assignees or transmittees.
7.2 The Award shall
take effect on and from 01 July 2022 and shall remain in force for a period of
one year. This Award rescinds and replaces the NSW Health Aboriginal Health
Workers (State) Award 2015 published 3 December 2021 (391 I.G. 169) and all
variations thereof.
N. CONSTANT, Chief Commissioner
____________________
Printed by
the authority of the Industrial Registrar.