I refer to Premier's Circular 99-43 dated 21 July 1999 concerning service delivery plans and staff reassignment for the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Games).

On Wednesday 15 September 1999 an advertisement will appear in the centre pages of the Public Service Notices. A copy is attached for your information.

The advertisement invites staff to apply for reassignment during the Games either to the Olympic Roads and Transport Authority (ORTA), or to the Olympic Security Command Centre (OSCC) of the NSW Police Service. Also included with the advertisement are Expression of Interest forms from these agencies.

You will note that all enquires are to be directed to either ORTA or OSCC. However, to ensure that the staff are able to be released for reassignment by your agency, the applications are to be signed off by the applicant's supervisor and submitted to the agency's "Human Resources Manager". These applications are then to be passed directly on to ORTA or OSCC by your agency.

The decision to release your employees will be determined by your agency's service delivery plan. This will include their availability to attend the necessary training involved with their reassignment role. Details of training programs are available from ORTA and OSCC.

Because of the number of people required by ORTA and OSCC, training for the various roles has already commenced. It is therefore essential that your agency provide the completed Expression of Interest forms to ORTA or OSCC as soon as possible to enable scheduling of reassigned staff into these training programs.

Also attached are the summaries of position descriptions for the roles to be undertaken in ORTA and OSCC. Note that OSCC has only one role available. While these documents are to be made available to interested staff, it is important that they be encouraged to contact either ORTA or OSCC for more complete information.

The Premier's Department will shortly be meeting with Labor Council and public sector unions to discuss the arrangements to apply to reassigned staff. Information regarding the outcome of these discussions will be provided when available.

Staff from areas outside the Sydney area who are interested in reassignment are to be made aware that they will be required to make their own accommodation and travel arrangements to Sydney. However, transport to and from their rostered work location while in Sydney will be provided free as part of their reassignment.

Enquiries may also come from staff who have applied to be a SOCOG Volunteer. It is important that these staff understand that for practical purposes they could be selected for only one of these opportunities, ie as a SOCOG Volunteer, or reassignment to ORTA or OSCC. The decision to remain a SOCOG Volunteer or to nominate for staff reassignment rests with the individual.

The above information has also been forwarded to the contact officer for Olympic related matters nominated by your agency.

Should you require further advice or assistance on these matters please telephone David Clark on 9228 3531 or Lucy Brotherton on 9228 3157.

Yours sincerely

C Gellatly
Director-General