The provisions relating to Designated Work Groups are contained in Part 7 Divisions 1-3 (1985 Section 29) of the new Act.

Under the current Act, any workplace can establish a Designated Work Group. This is not mandatory but it has to happen if it is requested. Any school can decide to establish a DWG. In most cases there will be one DWG for the school, but in multi campus schools, it may be appropriate to have one DWG for each site.

A DWG is the first step in the process of ensuring that there is proper representation for all staff on Health and Safety issues. In order for staff to have a voice to ensure that their concerns and views are recognised within a proper legal framework, staff should establish one or more DWG in their school and elect one representative for each DWG to represent their interests in discussions with those who hold management responsibility for health and safety in the school.

Members of the Designated Work Group are entitled to elect one of their members to be their Health and Safety Representative. If there is only one nomination, there doesn't have to be a ballot, that person is deemed to be the HSR. Nominations can be invited either at a staff meeting where all staff are entitled to be present, or by posting the nomination form on the notice board and inviting nominations. If there is only one person willing to stand, then the Principal or Manager simply needs to be informed in writing who that person is.

The composition of the DWG is for negotiation between the employer and the employees but normally all staff would be part of the DWG, not just teaching staff.

Under the new Act, the principle of representation through a DWG remains and in some respects is strengthened through greater flexibility, for example by including the provision of Deputy HSRs and including employees of other employers eg independent contractors.

For a copy of the HSR Recruitment Kit containing an FAQ sheet on Designated Work Groups, please call the MSU on 03 9417 2822.

Adequate Representation for all Members of the Designated Work Group

One of the principles enshrined in the new Act is about the ease of access for members of Designated Work Groups to their elected representatives. This may be a good time for your DWG to review its composition to decide whether you feel that it currently allows for all members to have easy access to their elected representatives (HSRs).

If you have a relatively small number of DWG members working on a single site, you may feel very happy with current arrangements. If you have a very large DWG, operate from more than one site or have other issues about access to the HSR, you may want to consider whether additional HSRs or Deputy HSRs would improve representation for members.

You should then discuss proposals for changes through your existing consultative arrangements.