XN000022-1976-12-22 — Page 15

14

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1976

+1 ALSO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF THE PROVISION OF A STUDENTS UNION FOR EACH COLLEGE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE COLLEGE STUDENTS UNION WILL GIVE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS IN SMALLER GROUPS AND IN THEIR OWN COLLEGE, SHE SAID.

+MODERN SOCIETY SHOULD FOSTER THE SMALL COMPACT INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS THE BROADER, LARGER ORGANISATIONS, SHE ADDED. BOTH ARE IMPORTANT IN THE TRAINING OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.+

THE BILL RECEIVED ITS THIRD READING AND BECAME LAW.

IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR CLERICAL STAFF

******

ALL CLERICAL STAFF ON JOINING THE CIVIL SERVICE TAKE PART IN AN INDUCTION COURSE AND LEARN COURTESY TO THE PUBLIC, HUMAN RELATIONS AND TELEPHONE MANNERS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

AND FROM APRIL THIS YEAR, HE ADDED, FOLLOW-UP TRAINING IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN THE EARLY PART OF THEIR CAREERS TEACHING THEM HOW TO INTERVIEW CALLERS AND COMPLETE FORMS FOR THE PUBLIC, RECORD SEARCHING AND COUNTER WORK.

MR. SCOTT WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT WHO WANTED TO KNOW IF ALL CLERICAL STAFF IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, WHO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE ILLITERATE, POOR AND NEEDY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, WILL HAVE APPROPRIATE IN-SERVICE TRAINING TO BE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE MORE THOROUGH AND HELPFUL ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

MR. SCOTT SAID A BOOKLET +HOW TO BE A MORE CIVIL SERVANT+ IS GIVEN TO THE STAFF DURING THE INDUCTION AND THE DUTY OF ALL CIVIL SERVANTS TO BE COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL IS EMPHASISED THROUGHOUT THE TRAINING COURSES.

HE EXPLAINED THAT CLERICAL STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT DO NOT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BUT IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ABOUT 400 OF THEM ARE IN DIRECT DAILY CONTACT WITH THEM.

HE ADDED THAT AN INFORMATION OFFICER WAS SHORTLY TO BE POSTED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR DUTIES INCLUDING ADVISING ON HOW TO PROVIDE MORE THOROUGH AND HELPFUL ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

/15