Changes to code of conduct and employment outside SAAS’
On 1 February 2010 a new Public Sector Act 2009 commenced. This replaced the old Public Sector Management Act 1995 (PSM Act).
What does this mean for SAAS?
For the most part, the PSM Act did not apply to SAAS employees (only Part 2 did) whereas the Public Sector Act does. (Only Part 7 of the new Act does not apply to SAAS employees)
Anything you need to know?
To support the new Act, the Commissioner of Public Sector Employment has issued a new Code of Ethics (the South Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics) for all public sector employees.
This new Code of Ethics overrides the SAAS Code of Conduct. Essentially they are very similar, but there are two key changes that you need to be aware of:
1. The Code of Ethics applies to all public sector employees (this includes SAAS) all of the time; not just when ‘at work’ (as was the case with the SAAS Code of Conduct).
2. There have been some minor changes to conditions for undertaking employment outside SAAS.
Both of these changes have been discussed with the AEA.
Changes to outside employment
If you are a full-time SAAS employee engaged in other paid employment outside the public sector you MUST seek written permission from me as SAAS’s Chief Executive Officer.
When the Health Care Act 2008 was introduced, all new employees have been bound to seek this permission (from their relevant CEO); however, existing employees already in outside employment were not bound to seek permission. The latter has now changed!
Important to note:
• Paid employment includes any employment (including self-employment), work or service for which payment is received by way of pay, salary, honorarium, commission, fee, allowance or other reward.
• You do not need permission for voluntary or unpaid activities or paid recreational activities such as sport or coaching sport unless there is an actual or potential conflict of interest between these activities and your duties and/or role as a SAAS employee.
What’s the point?
It’s essentially to ensure that any employment that you are involved in outside the public sector does not conflict or have the potential to conflict with your role at SAAS. And, that it does not bring SAAS into disrepute.
12 March 2010
What do you need to do?
If you are currently engaged in outside paid employment and have not sought permission about this, please write to me directly seeking permission. Please make sure you include all relevant details including:
• your employer
• the type of work you perform
• what hours you work.
Once I receive your request, I will respond and a copy of both letters will be placed in your personnel file.
Please note that as this is going in your personnel file, it does need to be a signed letter. Letters can be addressed to:
Ray Creen
Chief Executive Officer
SA Ambulance Service
GPO Box 3
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Or DX 718
We realise that this change in Government Policy has implications for some of you engaged in outside employment. So, we are requesting that all letters seeking permission are received by me by 1 July 2010.
What next?
We are in the midst of compiling a new code for SAAS staff. This will include:
• the Government Code of Ethics
• special conditions for SAAS employees (mainly related to patient care and ethics etc)
• special considerations for volunteers who are not covered by the Government Code.
Thanks in advance for your understanding and support.
Ray Creen
Chief Executive Officer
