The purpose of this circular is to advise of the agreement reached with the Public Service Association on improving workers compensation performance across the NSW public sector.

You will recall that part of the settlement to enable the further increase of 2% from July 1998 for staff covered by the Crown Employees (Public Sector - Salaries June 1997) Award was that the Association would enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Employment Office on workers compensation. This Memorandum provides for a number of sector-wide and agency level strategies to achieve savings in workers compensation. Specific focus will be on those agencies that have been identified with the greatest potential to achieve savings in this area. This includes consultation with the Association at the local level. A copy of this Memorandum is included for information.

This Memorandum is part of the 3 year sector-wide Occupational Health, Safety and Injury Management Improvement Initiative to facilitate economic, social and financial savings. The Initiative has broad-based support across the sector and has been achieved through consultation with agencies, the Treasury and the NSW Treasury Managed Fund.

This Memorandum provides the agreed basis for central agency co-ordination, and the Association to work together with agencies to facilitate improvements in workers compensation and occupational health, safety and injury management.

To assist agencies to achieve improved performance a savings team comprising of the Executive Director, Corporate Services Reform project, Premiers Department and the NSW Treasury Managed Fund has been formed.

If your agency requires assistance in this Initiative please contact Dr Elizabeth Coombs, Executive Director of the Corporate Services Reform team on telephone number (02) 9228 3096.

Further information concerning the Memorandum may be directed to Wendy Barrett on (02) 9228 3530.

C. Gellatly
Director-General

Issued by: Premiers Department
Contact: Wendy Barrett / Elizabeth Coombs
Telephone: 9228 3530 / 9228 3096
Date: 15 September 1998