SA Museum anticipates 27 job cuts as staff told of controversial restructure during a PowerPoint presentation

At least 27 staff at the SA Museum are set to lose their jobs as part of a controversial proposed restructure of the institution.

At least 27 staff are set to be let go from the South Australian Museum as the troubled institution proposes a controversial restructure. Picture: Tom Huntley

At least 27 staff from the SA Museum learned through a PowerPoint presentation that their jobs would be cut in a restructure proposed by the institution’s leadership, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

On Monday, the inquiry also heard that the institution had not received any new or increased government funding in the past three years, because SA Museum leadership had not applied for it.

The inquiry heard from Chair of SA Museum, Kim Cheater and CEO, Dr David Gaimster, who told the Statutory Authorities Review Committee, co-led by Greens MLC Tammy Franks, that there were no assurances of funding increases from the state government – which Ms Franks argued was not true.

South Australian Greens member Tammy Franks is co-leading a parliamentary inquiry into the museum. Picture: Supplied

“I don’t know if you have noticed, but, just lately, this (arts) minister is now finding all sorts of things to fund, but none of them have been the museum,” she said.

Mr Cheater said he regretted not advocating for more funding since he took on the position more than 3 years ago, but argued that it was a part of a new direction.

“The very focus was a new strategic vision,” he said.

“You need the right people in place to be able to identify that new strategy, to then be able to actually undertake that change.”

A rally to save the SA Museum from funding cuts at Adelaide’s Parliament House in April this year. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The new “strategic vision”, or ‘Reimagining the Museum’, proposed 27 job losses in the research and collections team, which would be replaced with 22 mostly lower-level positions.

In a submission from the Public Service Association of SA, a spokesperson on behalf of SA Museum staff revealed how they were told through a PowerPoint presentation in February that their jobs were not part of the proposed restructure.

“To be told by a PowerPoint presentation that their jobs no longer had a place in the new structure was extremely disrespectful,” the submission read.

Mr Cheater said it was the “appropriate” way to inform staff at the same time.

“The most appropriate mechanism to be able to communicate that to people at the same time is for them to be in a room and to have that information provided to them at the same time,” he said.

“To attempt to work that through individually one by one over a long period of time creates other communication information flows and challenges that go with that.”

CEO of SA Museum, David Gaimster said the proposed restructure was a “moment to reset” and “future-proof” the institution.

CEO of the South Australian Museum, Dr David Gaimster. Picture: Supplied

“It’s really about thinking very carefully about the operational model and making sure that we get best value for South Australians, so that was the thinking and that was the ambition and it still is.

“Our eyeline is very clear, and there will have to be some organisational reforms to make sure that we are well positioned to deliver those outcomes for South Australians.”

The proposed restructure is currently under a government-led review by Premier Peter Malinauskas, with recommendations on the future of the institution expected later in the year.