Page 4502 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 19 November 1991

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7. The purpose of the Work Redesign program is to create a

better work environment and increase productivity. This is

done by multiskilling of clerical staff to enable them to

advance their careers, and to receive job satisfaction from

varied as opposed to repetitive tasks. Each Health Centre

produced their own reports, Melba, Kippax, Belconnen, City,

Phillip, Narrabundah, Weston Creek and Kambah. Each report

contained a list of recommendations relating to the

individual health centre, and therefore they were all

different. These recommendations have been discussed with

management and wherever possible the recommendations have

been implemented.

8. All Health Centres except for Kippax now have Personal

Computers with word processing packages installed. We are

awaiting installation of a new computer system for the

Health Centres which will include additional hardware and

software packages.

9. A number of Health Centre clerical staff have been trained

in basic computer training and wordprocessing. Priority

for training is given to staff who have good keyboard

skills and whose duty statements specify typing or work

processing duties. It is desirable that each Health Centre

should have a pool of proficient wordprocessors who may

then assist in training those who are less proficient.

10. The budget allocated to training is 2.270 of the salaries budget in the Community Health Branch. Approvals for training for individual staff members are given on a needs basis. Every effort is taken to ensure junior administrative staff have access to the appropriate training.

11. The review of community health centres announced last year by the Alliance Government appeared to die a lingering death. We heard nothing but rumours of closure of various health centres. The long awaited options paper never materialised. The Labor Government is examining the full range of health services in the ACT with a view to delivering the highest quality of health care in the most effective way. This does not necessarily mean closure of health centres. Minor adjustments to the way in which health professionals are deployed can sharpen the focus of service to better meet changing client needs. Recurrent funding for health centres by area for 1990/91 was:

(a) North Canberra $ 713,000 (b) Belconnen $1,793,000 (c) South Canberra $ 722,000

(d) Woden $ 487,000 (e) Weston Creek $ 204,000 (f) Tuggeranong $ 467 ,000

4502


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