The PSA imposed a work ban on members participating in the Department of Communities and Justice’s (DCJ’s) EVOLVE training package.

DCJ has introduced EVOLVE as a mandatory training package, ostensibly to focus on building leadership and mentorship skills. The Department claims the program was introduced following concerns about leadership capabilities amongst staff.

However, members, whilst partaking in the training, had expressed the clear “disconnect between the program’s message and the experience of staff”. In response to concerns raised by members, the PSA directed members to no longer participate in EVOLVE whilst the union seeks changes.

The EVOLVE training is “more about the Department’s imposition of ideology on the staff” according to the PSA Senior Organiser Belinda Tsirekas. The idea of change management is the central focus of the program rather than practical leadership development. She said there is a strong emphasis on embracing change and adapting to reform and fails to acknowledge “how to go through change management, how to lead a team along, it is just you who will deal with change”.

This has left numerous frontline workers to feel pressured to conform to a particular approach in their work for the Department, with the worry that the messaging risks being perceived as “do as I say, not as I do”. These concerns have contributed to growing frustrations from members, prompting the PSA to initiate a survey to seek further insights and feedback on the EVOLVE program.

Members participated in the PSA survey, which reported a high number of participants who felt that the program was not useful to their daily roles. And members indicated they did not feel valued as employees. With these results, a work ban was implemented.

The union has contacted the Department of Communities and Justice as well as the Deputy Secretary, outlining staff concerns and changes they wish to make to the program.

“The Department undertakes genuine consultation with staff and the PSA, the union that represents them, regarding the program’s content and purpose,” said Ms Tsirekas. “It must demonstrate how the program addresses the practical challenges faced by frontline workers.

“The Department must prioritise action on workload and under-staffing issues, and workplace wellbeing as essential foundations for sustainable reform.”