Mr BAYLEY - To continue the line of questions on staffing, page 24 of the annual report has in-staffing information. I am trying to get a picture of staffing levels post COVID. The seasonal data is interesting. There was a marked decline in January, employment levels post-COVID, but June employment levels remain similar. New appointments also decreased after COVID struck. Can you give us a bit of an overview of how staffing levels have been affected by COVID more broadly?
Mr FLAMSTEED - Thank you for the question. I think something that is common that is being experienced by Port Arthur, PAHSMA and right across Australia is staffing issues post COVID. We are in the process of reviewing our workforce development and understanding how the organisation can best move forward through our strategic plan. Attracting people to the Tasman Peninsula and to Tasmania and/or employing within Tasmania has been challenging. Employment conditions have changed for many people in the workplace post COVID and expectations in that area have changed.
Mr BAYLEY - Do you expect things to return to pre-COVID levels this financial year or next? Or have you rationalised things so that you don’t need that level of staffing anymore?
Mr O'BRIEN - If you look at June 2019, our permanent and fixed terms were 149 and our casuals were 23. It was 139 in 2022. I would hate to look into the crystal ball. What we see is an improvement in operation of the organisation, and an improvement of satisfaction of our staff in our organisation as well.
Mr BAYLEY - When you say improvement, do you mean efficiency? Will you be able to operate the same services with fewer staff, or are you expecting to grow staffing levels over time?
Mr FLAMSTEED - I would hope that we would be consistent with our staffing levels over time, and that we would have the right people in the right seats, for want of a better word.
