THE public service union has slammed a “half-baked” attempt to address morale and cultural issues with the Australian Border Force, after staff were ordered to arrange quarterly team-building activities to be paid for out of their own pocket.

In a memo sent to regional officers of the ABF College and Workforce Capability Branch earlier this month, staff were told “several projects were identified in the recent branch staff survey” and ABF leadership was “keen to see them implemented”.

“One of these projects to be implemented is a quarterly social activity per state, to be arranged by local staff,” the memo said. “[The] acting chief superintendent ... has asked that I touch base with all the regional co-ordinators and lock in a three-monthly social event for college staff.



“Please understand these activities are expected to be conducted in the officers’ own time (morning tea, lunch, after work) and will not be funded by the department. Where branch staff are in the same location as college staff, both are to be integrated. If this is not the case, college staff only.”

The memo offered suggestions including, “but not limited to” a “morning tea to celebrate birthdays of the month”, “BBQ lunch once a month/quarterly”, “Christmas drinks in December, lunch or dinner out”, “Easter morning tea”, “quarterly lunch”, “Pizza Fridays” and “fitness activities as a unit”.

“I understand this involves some organisation and will take time to implement and become routine,” the memo said. “Could each of you please delegate and/or implement the first one and email me with dates and chosen activity.”

In a statement, Community and Public Sector Union acting deputy secretary Brooke Muscat-Bentley said the plan “unfortunately appears to be a half-baked response to the morale and cultural issues within the Australian Border Force, problems that have been confirmed by surveys both by the CPSU and the agency itself”.

“It’s a complete overstretch for Border Force to be issuing a directive pushing officers to meet up in their own time and even pay for it out of their own pockets,” she said. “That’s really not the way to rebuild trust between frontline officers and their bosses.

“The intense and high-pressure work of our members in Border Force means they have close working relationships with their colleagues. That often extends to social events, so they certainly don’t need a directive from their bosses.”

In a statement, a Border Force spokeswoman said “media reports regarding staff initiatives were misleading”.

“There is no requirement within the department, or the ABF, that staff attend social functions outside of work hours,” she said. “The initiatives outlined were a summary of suggestions put forward by staff within the ABF. They are not mandatory.”

frank.chung@news.com.au