The PSAQ is pleased to announce the appointment of a Field Officer, to service the region from Mackay north to Port Douglas.
For some time now, it has been apparent to both the PSAQ and the Real Estate Employers' Association (REEA - www.reea.org.au) that there was a need for on-the-ground assistance with Award-compliance within the real estate industry.
Following the successful 12-month trial of a Field Officer role on the Sunshine Coast (where Award-compliance is now the highest of any region in the State), a Field Officer has now been appointed to service North Queensland.
Mel Smith's role is to assist employees and their employers in establishing employment agreements for registration with the PSAQ, as required by the real estate industrial awards.
Mel already visits North Queensland three times per year in another capacity, and has had ongoing contact with both the PSAQ and REEA for many years.
Mel has a long history of involvement in the Real Estate Industry, commencing in 1965. He operated a number of offices as Principal, was employed between 1975 and 1988 as a commission-only sales person, and held a real estate agent's licence since 1968.
Mel recently offered to provide a service to Queensland's Real Estate Industry on behalf of both the employer and employee Associations. The PSAQ has accepted Mel's proposal, and REEA has been invited to participate and is expected to support the initiative.
Mel will visit real estate offices throughout North Queensland assisting employers and, where necessary, employees, to comply with the Property Management Award and the Property Sales Award.
He is not a representative of either the PSAQ or REEA, and is not authorised to resolve disputes between employers and employees. Such matters should be referred to the respective Associations.
Mel can and will give advice and assistance to enable the parties to ensure that employment agreement requirements are understood and complied with, in order that the parties are properly protected by the registration process required under the Awards.
The service will be provided free of charge to the real estate offices visited. Mel will be available by telephone, and will carry out follow up action where requested.
The PSAQ would request that Mel be accepted as an assistant to the offices he visits, and we are confident that his services will be of long term benefit to those offices accepting his assistance.
Mel's next visit to North Queensland commences in Cairns on Monday, 31 March 2003.
If any employees or employers between Port Douglas and Mackay would like to arrange face-to-face assistance with Award-compliance matters, please contact Mel on 0418 733 472.
