Commander of Education and Training, Assistant Commissioner Anthony Crandell has responded to Labor candidate for Hume, Dr Ursula Stephens’ claims about job losses at the NSW Police Academy.

On Monday he issued the following statement.

“There are no plans to move the NSW Police Academy from its Goulburn campus. The NSW Police Force will continue to remain a significant employer within Goulburn and this will not change. 

“We are moving to a system of taking the training to the people and using technology to improve service delivery.

“This means our training will reach more operational police and public servants, providing them with greater access to training and the capacity to return to their regular duties sooner. 

“As we move to that strategy we have identified six roles within the Learning Systems and Support Unit that are no longer required as we evolve to a new operating model.   

“As Commander, I have spoken individually with the six affected employees about reasons for change. 

In addition to individual conversations, I have also spoken with the entire Learning Systems and Support team about our future operating model.” 

Sunday, May 27, 11:30am

Labor candidate for Goulburn Ursula Stephens claims 22 jobs are set to be cut from the Police Academy as part of a “re-engineering process.”

Six of these, in the e-learning business unit, would be cut as of June 22, she said.

Dr Stephens met with employees at a Goulburn District Unions meeting on Thursday night. She told The Post that workers contacted her after finding their jobs were either to be cut or were under threat.

“This is a very stressful situation for the workers and their families. It came completely out of the blue and workers are in shock,” she said.

But Police Academy principal, Superintendent Rod Smith, has branded many of her claims as either “false or misleading.”

Dr Stephens said reports were also swirling that the Academy would be relocated from Goulburn to outer Sydney. It’s a claim the principal has vehemently rejected.

An employee told Thursday’s meeting that all 22 jobs were in the e-learning unit that developed online resources for police officers following graduation. Dr Stephens said six of these were to be cut by June 22. She had been informed that another 10 police officers were also called to one-on-one meetings with head of education and training, Assistant Commissioner Anthony Crandell last Wednesday and told to look for other jobs in the Police Force within the next six to 12 months.

A further six workers, all public servants, did not know their fate, she said. Dr Stephens maintained the employees had been told their work would eventually be contracted out.

“That unit will disappear from Goulburn and the Parramatta e-learning unit will pick up those jobs,” Dr Stephens said.

“...These guys have been devastated. Several have not long bought property here and now don’t think they can keep their homes. It is real, there’s no doubt about that.

“This is a story about jobs for NSW. Let’s look and see how many jobs in the region have been contracted out. The fact this unit is moving to Parramatta is the biggest joke of all.”

Dr Stephens said it made a mockery of decentralisation.

Superintendent Smith acknowledged the “rumours and speculation” about the job losses.

Superintendent Smith said no staff attached to the Academy’s recruit training were affected.

“Those affected include a small number of civilian staff from learning support and development who are not directly attached to the NSW Police Academy,” he said in a statement.

“I can also confirm that speculation around relocation of the NSW Police Academy is also incorrect and misleading.

“There are no plans to relocate the Academy and it will remain in Goulburn. Furthermore, I can confirm that there are no plans to replace library or security staff with private contractors. Much of the information being circulated is untrue and/or misleading.

“The NSW Police Academy is firmly entrenched at Goulburn and will remain so. There are currently in excess of 500 students on campus preparing for a policing career.”

Police Media did not respond to detailed questions about Dr Stephens’ claims, including the number of employees impacted. The e-learning unit falls under Assistant Commisioner Crandell’s responsibility and not Superintendent Smith’s. It’s understood the former was not available for comment on Friday.

Goulburn Chamber of Commerce president Mark Bradbury attended Thursday’s meeting at the unions’ invitation. He told The Post he listened firsthand to workers’ concerns and had no doubt about the numbers affected. They were due not only to e-learning cutbacks but other changes affecting that division.

“Obviously the Chamber is concerned when it learns of any job losses,” he said.

“It’s not necessarily just the job of the affected worker but often the partner in work and children in school. If they are unable to find suitable employment and have to move, it’s a hit on the whole Goulburn economy.”

Mr Bradbury said one worker was uncertain whether they could retain their home due to the resultant “mortgage stress.”

With 800 building blocks in the pipeline at Marys Mount, he argued the last thing Goulburn needed was a slowing up of development due to job losses.

Speaking more broadly, he highlighted Regional Development Australia Southern Inland’s (RDASI) recent skills audit, identifying shortages in several areas.

“With more job losses, the skills base will take a hit. It’s a disincentive for other employers to come to town,” he said.

Relocating the Academy would be disastrous for Goulburn, he told The Post.

Mr Bradbury will raise the job losses at the Chamber’s June 5 executive meeting and at the June 13 general meeting.

RDASI executive officer Mareeca Flannery also attended Thursday’s gathering.

Dr Stephens hit out at the government’s “relentless rationalisation” of public service jobs and its impact on Goulburn.

“They have presided over job cuts across the board, from Transport, Police, Education, Corrections, Ageing and Disability Services, FACS, NSW Ambulance, SES, Local Land Services and Services NSW, just to name a few,” she said.