The proposed couriers’ agreement applying to Dorevitch Pathology and Gippsland Pathology which was voted on in April 2010 has been withdrawn by Symbion Health. This follows a hearing in Fair Work Australia (FWA) last week.

In that hearing Commissioner Gooley raised a number of questions about the Agreement with the company. The Union also put detailed submissions in relation to defects in both the agreement itself and in the process of voting on the agreement. The agreement would have cut redundancy pay, long service leave, sick leave and bereavement leave entitlements, among other reductions in current terms and conditions of couriers.

As previously advised, the Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) has introduced new standards for professional indemnity insurance for psychologists which will apply from 1 July 2010. Financial members of the VPA are covered by the VPA’s group policy up to 30 June 2010.

In our opinion the VPA group policy does not meet the new Board’s requirements. Members should take out their own PI policy from 1 July 2010.

We will not be including psychologists in the Union group policy after 1 July 2010.

Members who do not have a private practice have asked us whether or not their employer would cover them for malpractice or alleged malpractice. Even though employers have a vicarious liability in relation to the actions of employees, we are not confident that employer PI policies will comply with the requirements of the Board.

An individual policy will cover you for representation at the Psychologists Board, should a complaint be made against you. It will also provide independent representation for Coroner’s Court matters or complaints to the Health Services Commissioner. An employer group policy even if it was otherwise compliant with the Board’s requirements, would not provide you with your own representation in these circumstances – or any representation in relation to complaints to the Board.

We therefore advise employed members with no private practice income to take out their own individual PI policy from 1 July 2010. Clearly members with private practice income need to do so.

We have negotiated attractive premiums for VPA members with the IH Group. You can  find further information on the VPA Inc website at www.vicpsych.org.au – go to the IH Group button on the right hand side. Note that the Board does not mandate any minimum level of cover. www.psychologyboard.gov.au

The Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) has introduced new requirements for psychologists’ professional development. Registered psychologists will be required to undertake a minimum of 30 hours PD activities annually, of which 10 hours must be supervision. The Board recommendation is that at least 10 hours must be active PD. The VPA runs PD Seminars for members which meet the requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia.

The next VPA PD activity will be held at the Treacy Conference Centre Parkville on Thursday 16 September 2010.

If you work in the public sector you are entitled to paid Professional Development leave to attend – apply for leave now so that you can attend. Most members employed under private sector enterprise agreements are also entitled to paid professional development leave. Please contact us if you are having difficulty getting your application for PD leave approved.

Following discussions with the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and the Department of Health under the auspices of Fair Work Australia we have reached ‘in principle’ agreement around the definitions for the classification structures for pharmacists and dietitians. The involvement of pharmacist and dietitian members in these discussions has been invaluable, as has the work that members have put in, in drafting the definitions in the first place.

Once the definitions have been finally settled we will advise members. The new definitions will then be available on the website.