A local council is set solidify its workforce as it converts dozens of casual staff to permanent positions.
Noosa Council will see an increase in 24 permanent staff members, after an extensive review into Council’s long-term and temporary casuals was tabled at the October 24 General Committee meeting.
The move will see a range of job opportunities converted to permanent roles across various departments in the organisation.
As part of the structural changes, the Council has also agreed to convert 20 casual positions to permanent roles in council facilities, such as the Noosa Aquatic Centre, Noosa Leisure Centre and Noosa Community Support.
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CEO Scott Waters said the move will help retain quality staff in a highly competitive labour market, improve efficiencies and meet industrial relation laws.
“We have an obligation to meet our industrial relations requirements, give our casual staff certainty, and continually consider operational efficiency and effectiveness to serve our community,” Mr Waters said.
“There is no cost to the current bottom line as these funds are already budgeted for and these changes give us the ability to provide certainty to our staff and continue optimum service delivery.”
The review forms part of the CEO’s Noosa 2.0 Project, endorsed in June this year, which focuses on delivering a customer-centric, agile organisation to the service the community.
It also comes at the Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Australia report for September 2022 revealed an increase in full-time employment.
“In seasonally adjusted terms, in September 2022, full-time employment increased by 13,300 to 9,478,400 people, and part-time employment decreased by 12,400 to 4,112,400 people,” the report read.
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the current workforce market was vastly different from several years ago.
“We have worked through significant challenges over the past four years and it’s important to continue to review and adjust to get the best outcomes for the organisation and community,” she said.
“As all councillors rightfully pointed out during our discussion in chambers, this is a reality check and clearly demonstrates that the organisation is walking the talk about valuing its staff, and meeting its obligations under industrial relations laws.”
The report was unanimously endorsed at the General Committee and goes before the Ordinary Meeting on Thursday, October 27 for formal adoption.
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