Since last September we have repeatedly sought a commitment from DHS to meet with us to initiate the classification review and investigation of models for private practice rights for psychologists, to no avail. These two issues form part of the Heads of Agreement reached with the Department and public hospitals last year in settlement of our enterprise bargaining dispute. The agreed classification review will cover the following classifications:

• Dietitian Grade 4B at Northern Health, Melbourne Health and St Vincent’s Health ;
• Audiologist Grade 4 and the classification definitions that pertain to Audiologists;
• Quality Officer, IT Officer and Clinical Trial Coordinator positions at health services where they are implemented;
• The classification arrangements for Dietitian positions in health services/hospitals and Community Health Centres;
• The classification arrangements for Medical Scientists including Principal Scientist and Laboratory Manager positions;
• The classification arrangements for Pharmacist positions including Clinical Specialist, Director and Deputy Director positions
• The classification definitions pertaining to Psychologists, including possible insertion of a Grade 5 level;
• The classification definitions that pertain to Perfusionists.

Negotiations are due to conclude by 30 June 2009 which leaves only five months if the review were to start immediately. We have written to DHS again stressing the urgency of the situation and seeking agreement that any reclassifications which result from the review will be dated from 1 July 2009.