* Corporate Members Deadline Feb 28th,2023.
Staff cuts and the casualisation of Centrelink's workforce is dragging out waiting times, increasing customer complaints and causing significant public anger, a union report finds.
The Community and Public Sector Union published a report on the state of Centrelink call centre services, which found customers were routinely waiting between 60 to 90 minutes to have their call answered.
It found understaffing and a ''deteriorating workforce'' were having a dramatic impact on experiences of customers. The union found staffing levels had remained constant since 2002, despite the number of calls increasing by 63 per cent.
It now takes staff 12 minutes on average to answer a call, up from 1.8 minutes in mid-2002.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said the federal government's efficiency dividend and a shift to temporary, contract-based workers were hurting the agency.
''It is not acceptable that thousands of vulnerable Australians who rely on Centrelink payments to survive are being forced to use an overstretched and under-funded service,'' she said.
''There is an urgent need to lift permanent staffing levels in Centrelink call centres to address its staffing crisis.''
Human Services Minister Kim Carr said he would meet with the union to discuss issues at Centrelink. ''We acknowledge that there has been an increase in waiting times due to unprecedented levels of demand, and we are committed to working with the unions to improve services for the public,'' he said.
The government provided supplementary funding over four years to maintain 600 positions in the call centre.
About Centrelink:
Centrelink is a government agency delivering a range of Commonwealth services to the Australian community. Centrelink is a statutory authority responsible, through its Board, to the Minister for Family and Community Services. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has responsibility for Centrelink’’s day-to-day operations. Centrelink operates under the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Act 1997 which formally came into effect on 1 July 1997.
Published: Thursday, March 26, 2015
LOGIN WITH YOUR CONTACTCENTERWORLD.COM ACCOUNT
I am checking out all the amazing and daily updated content on ContactCenterWorld.com and networking with professionals worldwide
Send To Friends Post On My Wall