Health and Community Services Union

"Meanwhile, the government has been forced to reassure its front-line employees in disability support will not be impacted by its austerity drive. The move comes after leaked emails from within the Department of Human Services appeared to show there was a virtual freeze on recruiting new permanent disability support workers and extending contracts, with any recruitment now requi...ring the approval of the departmental secretary." - "Public service staff told not to take leave", The Age,  Friday 13 January 2012.

Approximately 85 positions in Eastern Region were under threat (e.g their contracts would not be renewed and they'd have been converted to casual). Thanks to the efforts of HACSU, the DHS has been forced to backflip and confirm no frontline positions would be affected.

UPDATE (18/1/12): Letter by DHS to HACSU.