PUBLIC HOSPITALS LIBRARY STAFF (STATE) AWARD 2024

 

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

 

Application by Health Secretary, NSW Ministry of Health

 

(No. IRC 242943 of 2024)

 

AWARD

 

Arrangement

 

Clause No.        Subject Matter

 

1.                  Title

2.                   

3.                  Conditions of Employment

4.                   

5.                  Salaries

6.                   

7.                  Definitions

8.                   

9.                  Descriptors

10.               

11.              Commencing rates of Pay

12.               

13.              Grading Committee

14.               

15.              No Extra Claims

16.               

17.              Area, Incidence and Duration

 

1.  Title

 

This Award shall be known as the Public Hospitals Library Staff (State) Award 2024.

 

2.  Conditions of Employment

 

The conditions of employment for employees covered by this Award shall be as prescribed by the Public Hospitals (Professional and Associated Staff) Conditions of Employment (State) Award 2024, as varied or replaced from time to time.

 

3.  Salaries

 

Full time Library Staff employees shall be paid the salaries as set out in the Health Professionals Salaries (State) Award 2024, as varied or replaced from time to time.

 

The classifications of library staff shall be as follows:

 

Librarian

 

Library Technician

 

Library Assistant

 

4.  Definitions

 

“Employer” means the Secretary of the Ministry of Health exercising employer functions on behalf of the Government of New South Wales.

 

“Hospital” means a public hospital as defined under section 15 of the Health Services Act 1997, as amended or varied from time to time.

“Librarian” means an employee appointed as such who possesses qualifications acceptable for professional membership of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) or other combination of qualifications and experience deemed by the employer to be equivalent, that meets the minimum standard of skill and knowledge inherent in the ALIA standard.

 

“Library Technician” means an employee appointed as such who possesses qualifications acceptable for library technician membership of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) or other combination of qualifications and experience deemed by the employer to be equivalent that meets the minimum standard of skill and knowledge inherent in the ALIA standard.

 

“Library Assistant” means an employee appointed as such who is eligible for enrolment in a course of study that leads to a qualification acceptable for either professional or library technician membership of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

 

“Local Health District” means a Local Health District constituted pursuant to section 17 of the Health Services Act 1997, as amended or varied from time to time.

 

“Union” means the Health Services Union NSW.

 

“Weekly Rates” will be ascertained by dividing the annual amount by 52.17857 or a weekly rate can be multiplied by 52.17857 to obtain an annual amount.

 

5.  Descriptors

 

Library Assistant

 

A practitioner at this level:

 

(a)       Performs routine activities to gain practical experience required for the operation of information systems and services to clients.

 

(b)       Requires ability to develop skills in, and knowledge of library and information standards, procedures, practices and operations, and specific library collections obtained from formal course work and/or workplace training.

 

(c)       Exercises judgment, where a choice of action is available within the application of clearly established standards, practices and procedures.

 

(d)       Works under direct supervision of a senior paraprofessional or a professional, but exercises increasing autonomy in prioritising and completing tasks. This may involve working co-operatively in the organisation of work.

 

(e)       The outcome of work undertaken is usually of direct, but short-term effect on clients, collections and co- workers.

 

Library Technician

 

Grade 1 - A para-professional practitioner at this level:

 

(a)       Performs and/or assists in co-ordinating activities required for the operation and maintenance of library and information services and systems.

 

(b)       Requires sound knowledge and skill and the ability to develop expertise in library and information management concepts necessary to undertake a varied range of tasks in library procedures and operations.

 

(c)       Exercises judgment in dealing with a range of general or specialist tasks and problems, with reference to established standards, practices and procedures. Some adaptation of systems, standards or practices may be undertaken.

(d)       Works under general supervision of a senior paraprofessional or a professional or manager. Works either individually or co-operatively as a member of a team, or as the leader of a small non-hierarchical team.

 

(e)       The outcome of work is usually direct or short-term to intermediate but may be long term in its effect on clients, collections and co-workers. Work may assist in the formulation of procedures or policies.

 

Librarian

 

Grade 1 - A professional practitioner at this level:

 

(a)       Provides professional library and information services and/or assists in the development of library and information services and systems. May co-ordinate discrete library and information management projects or assist in the operations and systems of a unit, team or library service.

 

(b)       Requires sound knowledge of library and information service concepts, principles and theory, and a sound understanding of library systems, practices and procedures.

 

(c)       Exercises judgment in dealing with a range of operational and/or conceptual tasks and problems with reference to established standards, practices and procedures. Is able to adapt systems, standards or priorities and deviate to a limited extent from precedent. With experience may solve non-routine problems by applying principle and theory with reference to precedent.

 

(d)       Works under general supervision of a senior professional or manager. Works either individually or co- operatively as a member of a team or as the leader of a small non-hierarchical team.

 

(e)       The outcome of work is usually direct or short-term to intermediate but may be long term in its effect on clients, collections and co-workers. Work may assist in the formulation of procedures or policies and contribute to the body of professional knowledge.

 

Grade 2 - An experienced professional practitioner and/or developing specialist at this level:

 

(a)       Provides complex or specialist library and information services. May co-ordinate/supervise a discrete library and information management project, or the operations and systems of a unit, team or library service. This is the first level at which a Librarian may be responsible for managing a budget.

 

(b)       Requires a well-developed knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory, and well-developed skills in the application of library and information systems, collections, services or subject knowledge.

 

(c)       Exercises judgment and initiative in dealing with a wide range of complex tasks and problems, with reference to established standards, practices and procedures. Is able to adapt systems, standards or priorities and deviate substantially from precedent.

 

(d)       Works under general direction of a senior professional or manager. Works either individually as a specialist or co-operatively as a member of a non-hierarchical team, or as a leader or supervisor of a team or discrete project.

 

(e)       The outcome of work including decisions is direct but may be long term in its effect on clients, collections and co-workers. May assist in the formulation of policy and advice to senior management. Work often contributes to the body of professional knowledge.

 

Grade 3 - A senior professional practitioner, manager and/or specialist at this level:

 

(a)       Manages and/or provides complex or specialist library and information services. May manage substantial library and information management projects, or the operations and systems of a unit, team or library service.

 

(b)       Requires substantial knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory. Has a high-level of proficiency and expertise in specific systems, collections, services or subject knowledge. Requires either management expertise or standing as a recognised internal authority in an area of the discipline of significance to the organisation.

 

(c)       Exercises judgment and initiative in dealing with a range of complex and detailed operational or conceptual problems and tasks that may extend beyond the immediate work area. May develop and/or introduce enhancements to practices, systems and procedures with limited reference to precedent. Demonstrates a sound understanding and ability to interpret professional standards, practices and theory.

 

(d)       Works under guidance of a senior professional or manager. Work may be reviewed periodically or at key stages for soundness of judgment and adherence to organisational objectives and policies.

 

(e)       The outcome of work including decisions is usually intermediate to long term and may have considerable effect and impact on the objectives and performance of service delivery for clients, collections and co- workers within the legal, library and information management context. May formulate policy and advice to senior management. Work often contributes to the body of professional, subject or policy area of knowledge.

 

Grade 4 - A principal professional practitioner and/or senior manager and/or senior specialist at this level:

 

(a)       Leads and manages significant organisational service/s, project/s or program/s, and/or provides authoritative highly specialised advice to senior management, the organisation as a whole, or external parties. May initiate and implement a major library and information management project or program or, oversee the operations and systems of a significant unit, team or library service, or may contribute towards the research activities at a tertiary teaching hospital.

 

(b)       Requires and applies significant knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory extending across multiple aspects of the profession. Also requires either significant management expertise or standing as a recognised internal or external authority on systems, collections, services or subject knowledge, or an area of the discipline of significance to the organisation, industry or profession.

 

(c)       Exercises independent or interpretive judgment and initiative in dealing with a range of highly complex and detailed operational or conceptual problems and tasks. Is able to create new systems, standards or approaches and interprets information where there is little or no precedent. Demonstrates an extensive understanding of professional standards and multiple aspects of library and information services that may require new or unique solutions.

 

(d)       Works with occasional managerial or professional review or independently as a recognised specialist. Work is primarily reviewed for effectiveness and progress towards agreed organisational objectives.

 

(e)       The outcome of work including decisions has significant long-term effect, and usually contributes substantially to organisational performance, and/or to the body of professional or subject knowledge. Work is expected to have significant policy, legal or service delivery implications at the organisational level and may also have an impact at the State or National level.

 

6.  Commencing Rates of Pay

 

(a)       An employee appointed as a Librarian who has a qualification acceptable for appointment that required three years full-time study (or equivalent for part-time) shall have a commencing salary of the rate prescribed for the first year of service as set out in the Health Professional Salaries (State) Award 2024, as varied or replaced from time to time.

 

(b)       An employee appointed as a Librarian who has a qualification acceptable for appointment that required a minimum of four years full-time study (or equivalent for part-time) shall have a commencing salary of the rate prescribed for the second year of service as set out in the Health Professional Salaries (State) Award 2024, as varied or replaced from time to time.

7.  Grading Committee

 

A committee consisting of two representatives of the employer and two representatives of the Union shall be constituted to consider and recommend to the employer upon application by the Union or a hospital/Local Health District:

 

(a)       The grading of any new position or variation of grading of a position as the result of substantial change in the duties and/or responsibilities or any grading anomaly; and

 

(b)       The date of the effect of the grading recommended.

 

Provided that –

 

(i)        an employee shall, whilst the grading of the position is under consideration, be ineligible to be a member of the committee;

 

(ii)       the committee shall not, without sufficient reason, recommend the retrospective operation of any grading or remuneration; and

 

(iii)     where a retrospective date of effect is recommended such date shall not be earlier than a date six months prior to the date on which the matter was referred to the committee.

 

8.  No Extra Claims

 

The Commission makes this Award on the basis that the parties have provided the following undertaking: Other than as provided for in the Industrial Relations Act 1996, there shall be no further claims/demands or proceedings instituted before the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales for extra or reduced wages, salaries, rates of pay, allowances or conditions of employment with respect to the employees covered by the Award that take effect prior to 30 June 2025 by a party to this Award.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties may, during the term of this Award, discuss additional opportunities for system improvements and, if agreed, a further pay increase may be provided to recognise the contribution of employees to those system improvements.

 

9.  Area, Incidence and Duration

 

(a)       This Award takes effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2024 and shall remain in force for a period of one year.

 

(b)       This Award rescinds and replaces the Public Hospitals Library Staff (State) Award 2023 published 19  September 2023 (395 I.G. 206) and all variations thereof.

 

(c)       This Award shall apply to persons employed in classifications contained herein employed in the New South Wales Health Service under s115(1) of the Health Services Act 1997, or their successors, assignees or transmittees, excluding the County of Yancowinna.

 

 

 

I. Taylor  J, President.

 

 

____________________

 

 

Printed by the authority of the Industrial Registrar.