After 12 month of intense negotiations with the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA), we have finally reached agreement in relation to new classification structures and definitions for:

• Psychologists
• Dietitians
• Audiologists
• Medical Scientists
• Clinical Perfusionists
• Pharmacists

The new classification structures are available in the member-only pages of the Union website. (Documents -> Campaigns -> EB2007 – login first)

The next step is for the implementation of the new structures to be costed. Depending on the costings, we may have to prioritise the implementation.

How long will the costing exercise take? Now that agreement has been reached on the new structures, information will be sent out to health services. Health services will need to provide information to the Department of Health about the costs of translating staff into the new structures. The Department will do the costing, and all information will be provided to the Union for checking. We do not expect this exercise to be completed quickly.

When will the new classification structures be implemented? Implementation will not occur until the costing exercise has been completed, and any necessary prioritisation of the implementation has been decided.

At this stage we do not expect implementation to occur until on or after 1 January 2011.