Indigo Mayor Jenny O’Connor has disputed staff weren’t told about changes to home and community care provision, as reported by The Border Mail. 

Ms O’Connor said a working group was formed with the Australian Services Union and staff representatives, which met in September, October and November. 

“The Union was involved with creating the terms of reference for this group including investigating the option of Council continuing to provide the service,” she said. 

“The working group including the Union and staff representatives explored many elements of the service delivery including financial information, rostering efficiencies and private sector options.

“The group recognised that the council’s community care unit was a lean service with ‘little fat to cut’ in their delivery of home care, unlike some other Councils.

“They also acknowledged that staff work extremely hard to operate effectively and efficiently while maintaining a high standard of care.

“Meetings with affected staff were also held a number of times over this period.”

Earlier:

Staff who provide home support and community care will campaign for Indigo Council to reverse its decision to transfer the services to another provider.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the recommendation that council discontinue their involvement in provision from July 2018 was passed.

An expression of interest has been conducted with five potential providers and a confidential summary of that process was endorsed during a closed session.

While council has been planning for a 2020 transition for more than a year due to nationwide reforms, for many of the 40 staff Tuesday was the first time they were made aware of the changes.

A meeting was held with council representatives, staff and the Australian Services Union on Wednesday, and it was decided petitions would be circulated within the community.

ASU home and community care researcher Kath Tuari said when some other councils went down the same path, services for the elderly and disabled were reduced when private organisations took over.

“Council do it so well – these staff go above and beyond – that’s not going to happen in a private enterprise because it’s going to be about money,” she said.

“When it came to providing services to the people with a package, they were unable to do it because they didn’t have the staff; this is happening right across Victoria in rural areas.

“We want to try and find out who council have consulted with in the community because we don’t believe they have.”

Tenielle Evans, a member of council’s access committee, said none of her group were consulted.

“My family uses home and community care; it is our only form of support, the NDIS is in town apparently but no one has had a planning meeting,” she said.

“For Towong and Alpine shires, they got out of it, where is there evidence the private sector stepped up?

“Wodonga did their transition within six weeks and they have a major population base with private sector and NGOs literally on the same street – we don’t have that here.”

Council has employed a transition officer and assures there is strong commitment from the interested providers that current staff will be offered positions.