Mass redundancies will sweep through Service NSW in a major restructure at the government agency.
Service NSW CEO Greg Wells told staff this week that jobs across most divisions would be slashed by up to 60 per cent, an employee who wished to remain anonymous told 7NEWS.com.au.
“How are we supposed to do our job properly when we hang by a thread?” the employee said.
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The government has publicly stated it is aiming to cut 25 per cent of Service NSW staff.
A consolidation of functions in the customer support division was outlined in a company summary of the impacts on each division, obtained by 7NEWS.com.au.
The company update revealed that eligibility assessments and fraud control would have “minimum viable resourcing”, and that “scaling up will be required for any large-impact crisis and disaster events”.
The disaster preparation and recovery division would also maintain minimal viable resourcing with the ability to scale up in a crisis.
There is also a potential for the disaster preparation and recovery division to increase lead times for grant and support program deployment.
For the Service NSW Business Bureau, a “tiered customer care model” will allow for “self-service, guided assistance and tailored advice across business, disaster and individual support”.
In the digital service division, some products, such as Service Finder, will be axed.
And for the cybersecurity division, it said there would be “minimal reductions of this function to align with budget and a reduced pipeline”.
The disgruntled employee told 7NEWS.com.au that Service NSW was “sacrificing the little people” and that “each division will keep its own director and executive director”.
Minister responds
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib, confirmed that “Service NSW is developing a revised organisational structure following several years of significant short-term growth, largely to support the COVID-19 pandemic response”.
While there have been rumours that Service NSW sites are also set to be reduced, Dib said there would be no decrease in the current number of sites.
“An additional centre (is) opening in Tallawong this year to provide an extra option for people living in Sydney’s north-west,” he said.
The job cuts were a re-set of staff numbers, after more employees had been taken on because of increased demand during the pandemic and natural disasters, Dib indicated.
“The Service NSW changes will predominantly impact contractors, temporary employees and staff through natural attrition, including those brought on to help with COVID-19 stimulus programs which are now completed,” he said.
“Many of the programs developed in response to the pandemic and natural disasters no longer require this intensive crisis support.
“Service NSW was operating with around 4,950 staff as at June 2024, compared with pre-pandemic levels of about 2860 at June 2019.
“This is not sustainable.
“The reduction in staff will include senior executives, in line with the NSW Government election commitment.
“Final numbers will be determined in consultation with staff and unions.”
Redundant staff will be provided access to the Workforce Mobility Program, which helps them find jobs elsewhere in the public sector.