The Department of Human Services, Disability Services, Disability Accommodation Services, Victoria, has, from time immemorial, had major systemic problems with many of their direct care staff, in their isolated, in the community, group homes, rorting their work hours. This is generally referred to as “Ghost Shifts”!

What do ghost shifts mean to the government? Not much! The money is already allocated!

What do ghost shifts mean to the residents? Ghost shifts mean loss of potential quality of life care – PCAS/PBS. In some cases, loss of basic care.

Departmental management have been in denial of the rorting of work hours for years! They have, however, finally been shamed into taking some action.

In late 2009, this government department started trialling electronic staff attendance recording machines. Yet in 2011, they are not in use! This is mainly as a result of the staff union opposing their overall introduction on many grounds. Whilst the staff have rights, the residents have none or few!