VCAT Application

Members may be aware of an application by the Victoria Police Force to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ("VCAT") seeking an exemption under the Equal Opportunity Act to enable them to offer a particular leadership course to female members only.

After detailed discussions between the Association and Force representatives, it was agreed that the current hearing, listed for 5 August 2005 before VCAT, be adjourned.

This was agreed for two reasons; Firstly, to allow the Force and the Association to properly evaluate the current status of the application and second, to enable the parties to undertake a communication and education strategy. The Association will keep members updated on this issue.

Research on Stress and Resources

The Police Association is in the process of undertaking important research on the relationship between workplace stress among our members and the level of police resources.

This study, in partnership with the Police Association of South Australia, is being conducted under the stewardship of Associate Professor Maureen Dollard of the Work and Stress Research Group at the University of South Australia. We are pleased to announce THAT THE ASSOCIATION SOUGHT AND HAS BEEN GRANTED FUNDING through a linkage grant provided by the Australian Research Council, a federal Government body.

This funding will allow a longitudinal study, with a sample of members being surveyed over three years. Initial surveys were distributed to a sample of our members in late 2004.

In summary, the research is so far showing a link between distress, resources and the demands of policing. Other findings include;

Relative to other occupations, Victorian police show fairly high levels of psychological distress and low levels of job satisfaction

30% of Sergeants and 26% of Senior Sergeants report high levels of distress; enough to warrant the assistance of a health professional. The Australian norm is 11%. Further work will be undertaken to tease out the reasons as to why the figure is higher for Sergeants

Members working in 24-hour stations reported higher levels of distress and lower levels of morale than members in other stations

Sergeants and Senior Sergeants reported that they did not have enough resources to adequately meet any of their task demands

We will report further findings to members as the study progresses. In due course, the full report of the study will be available for members to access via the Association website.

PAUL MULLETT