Answers to Questions

Human Services Department

466 Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (29 November 2018). Referring to Budget Paper 4.3, page 91, Workforce Summary, the estimated FTE Human Services workforce for 2017-18 is estimated to be 3668.9FTE but is forecast to drop by 606.4 FTE positions to a total of 3062.5 FTE over the coming 12 months.

(a) Can the minister explain this sudden drop in FTE equivalency when compared to the estimated 2017-18 levels?

(b) From which line areas in the Department for Human Services are these staff cuts expected to come from?

(c) Have staff already been identified for severance purposes?

(d) What consultation did the minister undertake with her chief executive before cutting over 600 positions from the Department for Human Services?

(e) How many positions are currently unfilled within the Department for Human Services?

(f) Is this staff reduction expected to effect executive level officers?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General): The Minister for Human Services has provided the following advice:

(a) This decrease is primarily due to the transition of Domiciliary Care Services to RDNS, the net impact of the NDIS Transition and Service Reform initiatives, a reduction of the additional FTEs provided in 2017-18 for Concessions and the Electricity Discount Offer and the net impact of savings measures imposed on the department.

(b) Refer to the program summary, Budget Paper 4.3.

(c) The transfer of Domiciliary Care Services to RDNS and Child and Youth Services to an Employee Mutual have been completed, and where applicable the Concessions, Electricity Discount Offer and other short-term funded positions were end dated contract positions.

(d) Refer to the response for part a.

(e) The September monitoring to DTF reported a net favourable variance of 106 FTEs, against the September 2018 FTE cap.

(f) Yes, as applicable, savings measures and NDIS Transition and Service Reform outcomes will impact on executive level officers.