Driving safety leadership
Workplace and Industrial Relations
Although Council has an ongoing priority to safety, a significant
challenge for the organisation is the development of safety
leadership, particularly within our group of small team supervisors.
This has been addressed by the introduction of a day-long safety
training program for work crew supervisors, with safety leadership
as a feature. This program has been well received and will continue
to be refined and delivered. Additionally, Council delivers regular,
day-long tailored training for our Health and Safety Representatives
(HSRs) in recognition of their commitment to safety as our safety
champions.
The Workplace and Industrial Relations Team
continues to provide advice, guidance and
support to management, supervisors and staff
in relation to human resource and industrial
relations matters. This includes advice on the
interpretation of awards, certified agreements
and other employment-related legislation,
performance management, resolution of conflict
and grievances, workplace investigations and
workplace bullying and harassment.
Investing in our employee’s health
During 2015-16, the Workplace Relations team
implemented proactive strategies to manage
complex workplace relations and human
resource matters. These strategies included:
Council is committed to fostering an organisational culture that
encourages staff to make choices that support a healthy lifestyle,
enabling a high level of service delivery for our community. To
maintain a healthy, energetic and sustainable workforce, we
continue to invest in our people by retaining our successful health
programs and introducing a range of new health and wellness
initiatives. In 2015-16 we provided the following initiatives to our staff:
• Free general health and fitness checks
• Subsidised skin cancer checks
• Free influenza vaccinations
• ‘Smoke-Free TRC’ joint venture with Queensland Health offering
free counselling and nicotine replacement therapy
• Prostate awareness campaign in conjunction with Man Up!
Australia
• Mental health awareness
• Free mental health support through our employee counselling
service
Supporting workers’ rehabilitation
Council has increased their commitment to supporting injured
workers through the implementation of a number of initiatives.
Activities include: information road shows, meeting injured workers
at medical facilities to assist them with completing their workers’
compensation documentation and frequent contact and support
during their rehabilitation and return to work phases. These activities
have enabled a continuing trend of improvements to our workers’
compensation record.
• Identifying trends in cases managed and
providing targeted training and coaching
programs to supervisors and staff
• Reviewing and promoting the Contact
Officer Network
• Establishment of ‘Communication
Champions’ to assist with dissemination of
information particularly during the award
modernisation process and upcoming
negotiations of a new certified agreement
• Development and implementation of the
Domestic Violence Policy allowing staff to
access paid leave.
This approach resulted in a significant
decrease in active workplace relations cases.
The Workplace and Industrial Relations
team continues to work closely to support
management and staff to address people
management issues, promote Council’s core
values and behaviours and foster a positive
employment relationship.
Key achievements over the last year are highlighted below:
A reduction
in workers'
compensation
claims of 13%
A reduction
in lost time injury
claims of 17%
Lowest workers'
compensation
premiums of all
Queensland Councils
with wages over
$50 million
Lost time injury
frequency rate
down 22%
to 9.8%
50
A reduction
in workers'
compensation
costs of $83,000
(down 17%)
A saving of
$598,000 in workers'
compensation
premiums compared
to the average
premiums paid by
Councils
CHAPTER 3 Our organisation
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Annual Report 2015 - 2016