This photo appeared in the Bulletin, December 2, 1991. The text was"

"University makes the running in Workplace Change Course

A 13-week course which has been successfully conducted four times at the University is now the only one of its type still running in Australia and is enthusiastically supported by industry in the region.

"The course, known as the Workplace Change Course is conducted by the Employment Studies Centre at the University under the directorship of Dr Duncan Macdonald, a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics and guided by Course Director, Mr Don Young, a veteran of 37 years experience in industry management.

"It has been designed to directly assist the industry restructuring process by training combined teams of management and employee representatives in the practical skills and up-to-date knowledge they need to successfully establish and manage projects for change and reform in their own enterprise.

The course is project-based and its focus is on co-operative, joint approach to change at the workplace.

Organisations which have taken part include Brambles Equipment, BHP High Carbon Wire Products, Commonwealth Steel Company Limited, Eraring Power Station,, the Hunter Water Board, MSB - Hunter Port Authority, Newcastle Buses, Tubemakers of Australia, Incitec Limited and Values Point Power Station.

Lecturing staff are drawn from the University, TAFW and private consultancies.

It has received endorsement from Trades Hall Council, the Chamber of Manufactures and the Metal Trades Industry Association.

Why the need for change? Dr Macdonald says the need for change stems from the increased competitive pressures on industry and the increased pressures on government bodies to improve they performance.

"This change can't happen without considerable education and training and that's where this course has been invaluable" he said.

During the 13-week period of the course, three one-week residential components interspaced with two four-to-six week on-the-job periods, ensure that participants are sufficiently removed from their workplace to absorb the information and work on their projects.

"All participants in the courses have been very enthusiastic about what they have learnt. Not all their projects have been implemented in the way that they were originally envisaged but all organisations that have been involved have been very pleased with the results of the course and with the new attitudes that both managers and shop floor workers have developed," Dr Macdonald said.

"In some case we have had feedback on figures and exact amounts of improvement as a result of the course. In other cases it hasn't been quite as easy to measure.

"And we've noticed that communication levels in the workplace have improved, most likely because of this new attitude.

"The projects have the endorsement of the unions as well as the employer and participants seek advice on them during the course. The project is extremely important as it gives focus and makes the course relevant to the peculiar needs of industry," he said.

Not only has the success of the course placed its organisers, but the involvement with local industry and the community is an important spin-off for the University.

"It makes people from the organisations more aware of what the University does," Dr Macdonald said.

The next course will be conducted during March, 1992. Enquires can be made to Dr Macdonald on 21 5023 or Mr Young on 21 5495.

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