Access Arts Inc. defines a Member as any person who has filled out a membership form to join the organisation.

Staff are defined as persons engaged in Office, workshop/project or program, Volunteer or Student placement work at Access Arts Inc.

Definition:

This policy covers Staff in the following categories:

• Office

• Workshop/project or program workers

• Volunteers

• Student placement

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is about making the workforce free from discrimination and ensuring that all people have an equal opportunity to work in jobs that are appropriate to their abilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity is based on the principles that:

• selections are genuinely based on merit and not on stereotypes or discriminatory values

• resources and assistance are provided in a way that accommodates differences between individuals and groups; and

• there are opportunities for making claims of discrimination

(http://www.hreoc.gov.au/faqs/students.html#s7)

Purpose:

• To actively implement equal employment strategies within the organisation as part of Access Arts Inc.’s commitment to continuous improvement policy.

Aim:

• To seek and encourage applications from within our target groups.

All staff:

• will have a contract or an agreement.

• must have a Disability Services Queensland Police Check or apply within the first week of employment (new staff will be supervised until they receive their Blue Card or Police Check)

• must hold a Blue Card before commencing work with children

• are to follow the procedure as outlined in the Police Check and Blue Card Procedure.

• must undergo induction training in -

• policies

• procedures

• disability awareness

• cultural awareness

• must declare any conflicts of interest regarding an Access Arts Inc. funding application, agreement or a project/program

• will undergo a performance review every six months

• must have weekly supervision sessions with the appropriate supervising Staff member.

Staff Employment Procedure

(For Volunteers refer to the Volunteer Policy and for Student placements refer to the Student placement policy)

The Executive Director or appointed delegate will (in consultation with the Management Committee where appropriate):

1. Office:

• Locate or create a position description

• Design applicant criteria

• Advertise the position

• Send out position description to applicants

• Appoint interview panel (including one Staff member, one Management Committee member and the Executive Director or their delegate).

• Set interview times

• Base interview questions on position description criteria

• Conduct Interviews

• Inform unsuccessful applicants of decision (inform them that feedback is available on request)

• Offer successful applicant a contract

2. Workshop/project:

• Outline Workshop/project

• For short term projects (12 months or less) look initially at Access Arts Inc. Staff, Volunteers and Members for their capability to deliver the project, if not then advertise amongst relevant networks to find a suitable applicant.

• Set interview or consultation times

• Conduct Interviews

• Inform unsuccessful applicants of decision (inform them that feedback is available on request)

• Offer successful applicant a contract

All new Staff members are to receive an induction kit upon their appointment. This kit is to include:

• Constitution

• Annual report

• Organisational chart

• Business Plan

• Glossary of terms and acronyms

• List of meeting dates for the year

• List of Important Policies for Staff

• Management Committee and Advisory Committee contact list

• Access Arts information pack

• Management Committee Roles and Responsibilities

• Staff Referral Sheet (for Employees only)

• DSQ Criminal History Check and Blue Card forms

New Staff members will also be directed to the following documents in the Quality Assurance Manual which are to be read upon their induction:

• Staff Roles

• Mental Health Action Plan

• Membership Policy

• Internal Audit Plan

• Critical Incident Procedure

• Staff Employment Policy

• Staff Professional Development Policy

• Advocacy Policy

• Duty of Care and Risk Management Policy

• Grievance Policy

• Mental Health Policy

• Privacy/Confidentiality/Freedom of Information Policy

• Process for Workshop/Program Ideas