Part of the settlement of the public sector agreement last year was an undertaking that our classification structures will be reviewed this year, and new classification structures will be introduced. This will be done through the establishment of a working party with representatives of the Union, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA).

The review will work through the classification matters in the following order:

• Audiologists (insertion of Grade 4)
• Perfusionists (insertion of Grade 4)
• Dietitians (Grade 4B at Northern, St Vincent’s and Melbourne Health)
• Dietitians in Community Health (new classification structure)
• Psychologists (including insertion of Grade 5 and Director classifications)
• Scientists’ classification structure (including Quality Officer. IT, Clinical Trials Coordinator and Laboratory Manager classifications; principal scientists positions in all disciplines at all health services)
• Pharmacists’ classification structure (including review of hospital groupings and removal of anomalies in rates of pay)