HP Appeals Process - Answers to your FAQs

Our HP Team and Membership Services Centre (MSC) have been inundated with calls from members who have unfortunately been given the incorrect advice about the 21 day intent to appeal process for the HP Phase 2 evaluations.

There have also been significant issues with the inability to access the necessary form from the Queensland Health website.

To ensure all members have the appropriate advice at this important time our HP Team have compiled a list of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and provided appropriate response for each.

We ask that all members please read each FAQ and answer before contacting our MSC or HP Team.

If however you have a question that has not been answered below then please don't hesitate to call and speak to an Industrial Officer or email the HP Team.

1. What do I have to DO in the first 21 days?

You only have to lodge your "intent to appeal" within the 21 day timeframe.

2. When does the 21 day period start?

The 21 days start from the day you receive your notification letter.

3. Intent to appeal  vs. the actual appeal

The "intent to appeal" is not the actual appeal itself.

The appeals process is still being negotiated. 

Once the process has been agreed to by the parties this will be communicated in full to staff so they can prepare whatever information necessary and submit their appeal.

The communication of the appeals process will identify what information you will require to include.

• When lodging your "intent to appeal" you will need to explain your rationale for appealing which should be based on the work level statements - there will be a specified space available on the form for you to write this explanation.

If you feel that your application was rejected because of the supervisory anomaly then this should also be explained.

You will receive an acknowledgement of your intent to appeal once you have submitted it via the proper process.

4. I tried to lodge my intent to appeal but the link didn't work and/or the form wasn't available on the Queensland Health website where it should have been.

QPSU representatives have already raised this directly with Queensland Health and they have confirmed the form will be available from the website by Monday morning.

If this is not the case please email the Queensland Health HP Team directly via the contact details provided to you in your letter.

5. The appeals process

First - lodge "intent to appeal" within 21 days of receiving notification letter.

Then - people will be advised in detail of the appeals process so they can then prepare and then submit their appeal according to the process.

The actual appeals process is still being negotiated - so we CANNOT advise members what they have to do and this means we also cannot detail to you what support you can expect for the appeals process.  We will advise all members of the support delegates will be able to provide after the appeals process is finalised.

Only employees of Queensland Health in the HP stream, or part of a translation to the HP stream as of 28 May 2008, are entitled to appeal a Phase 2 evaluation.

Each employee is only allowed to appeal one position.

6. I was told I have to lodge my whole appeal in 21 days

You have been given the WRONG advice.

You do NOT have to lodge your whole appeal within the 21 days.

You ONLY have to lodge your "intent to appeal" within the 21 days.

For more info on the 21 days and "intent to appeal" please see questions 1-4.

7. Accessing information to support my appeal

Details of what information you need to provide for your appeal will be outlined to you in a Health Umail from our Health Team once the process for appeals is agreed and communicated to staff.

8. Oral Health and Dental Health Therapists & Medical Education Officers

The Phase 2 evaluation process for Oral Health and Dental Health Therapists and Medical Education Officers has NOT been finalised.

Some staff will have received letters confirming a reclassification.  These are only interim reclassifications, with the whole area to be completed by March 2010. 

Obviously as the process has not been completed the these groups you do not have to lodge an intent to appeal within the next 21 days.

Once their evaluation process has been completed members will have the ability to appeal  and we will communicate this to them at the appropriate time.

9. Mater Hospital

Members at Mater hospital will have the same process i.e. 21 day to lodge their "intent to appeal" from the date of the receipt of their letters.

The dissemination of letters to HPs from the Mater has been delayed due to the funding arrangements between health and Mater hospital being finalized. 

Members are not being disadvantaged by this - they will still be eligible for the same process when their letters are sent and received.

10. There is an error with the level outlined in my letter - it's not what I was "told" I was going to get

If you believe there is a mistake with the level you have received in your letter you should speak to your Manager who can compare the data in the letter with the data they have been provided.

If your manager confirms that the letter and the data they have shows different results then you and your Manager should report this via the Qld Health HP Team / Human Resources (now known as People and Culture).

11.The letter I received doesn't state which pay point I have been appointed to with my new HP level.

For example - I'm an HP 2.7 or HP2.8 and have upgraded to an HP3. 

Will I be appointed to an HP3.1?  No.  You will be appointed the pay point in HP3 that is immediately higher than your current HP2 pay point.  (E.G. HP2.7 will go to an HP3.4 and and HP2.8 will go to HP3.5.)

12. I haven't got my letter

If members have not received letters and they feel they should, members should check with their local People and Culture departments (HR)

If you started in a position that already existed but was vacant (not a new position or a redesign) after 28 May 2008 you may not have received a letter. There will be a separate review process for these positions. Employees who as a consequence of this review are entitled to a reclassification will be able to be directly appointed to the position unless the new level is HP 8. If the review determines that there is an entitlement to a reclassification it will apply from the date of appointment.  Any backpay will occur at the finalisation of this review.

13. I don't work for Qld Health anymore

If you have left Queensland Health employment it is your responsibility to contact your local People and Culture department (HR) from the area you previously worked and ensure your details are correct with them and follow this up personally.

14. Management has said they are going to appeal my outcome

Management cannot appeal any outcome.

15. Management has said that they are going to increase my duties to reflect my evaluated work level. 

The HP Phase 2 project was to evaluate what you were already doing; therefore there is no need to increase your duties.  These types of changes to duties would constitute a Job Redesign and for incumbents can only be undertaken under the organisation change policy of Queensland Health.

16. I am a temporary employee and I have been told I have no right to appeal

This is correct.  Temporary employees do not have access to the appeals process however if you were employed after the 30 May 2008 you may be eligible to be part of the review outlined under Question 10.