2023 People Matter survey: ‘Troubling’ results for NT police, health, education

The NT government’s latest public sector survey has some concerning results for our frontline staff, with one union demanding urgent ‘change and accountability’.

The 2023 People Matter Survey has returned some 'troubling' results for Territory employees in education, health and emergency services.

A new worker survey has raised “deeply troubling” concerns according to the Territory’s police union, with similar results across both health and education.

The Territory government’s People Matter Survey showed while nine in 10 employees across all three sectors believed their work was “important”, other questions about burn out, safety, their ability to “speak up” about concerns and support from managers indicated far less positive sentiment.

Read how each sector responded.

Police, fire and emergency services

Response rate: 670/2398 (28 per cent)

More than half felt “burned out” at work as well as found their role “stressful” all or most of the time.

Support for senior managers was also weak, with only 35 per cent of respondents agreeing their executive provided “clear strategy and direction” and modelled behaviours expected of employees.

About 60 per cent of emergency service respondents said they had overall job satisfaction.

Almost two-thirds did not agree their organisation inspired them to do the best they could at work, while 39 per cent disagreed suitably-skilled people were being recruited.

Only 37 per cent of respondents recommended PFES as a “great place to work” – an improvement of just 3 per cent in two years.

The results also indicate only two in 10 frontline staff believed their workplace “fairly considered” suggestions from staff on how to improve things, while 52 per cent did not feel safe enough to “speak up and challenge” how things were done.

While 90 per cent believed their work was “important”, only 36 per cent said they received “adequate recognition” for their work.

Overall job satisfaction sat at 60 per cent of respondents, with 43 per cent satisfied with their employer.

NT Police Association president Nathan Finn said the results indicated a “lack of resources, inadequate staffing and a lack of support”.

“We are demanding the NT government and senior police management listen to the voice of its workforce and take immediate action to address the issues plaguing our police officers,” he said.

“It is time for genuine change and accountability.”

Only 55 per cent of NT Health staff said they felt strongly attached to their workplace. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Health

Response rate: 2159/8290 (26 per cent)

About half of responding health employees believed it was safe for them to “speak up” and challenge how things were done in their workplace, with about the same number believing their workplace “fairly considered” suggestions from staff on how to better operate.

Just over half said they would recommend their organisation as a “great” workplace, with about the same number believing their agency did a good job of promoting health and wellbeing.

About 46 per cent of respondents said they were confident if they reported improper conduct it would be thoroughly investigated – 7 per cent less than the survey two years prior.

Five out of 10 said their workplace “inspired” them to do their best work, with about 31 per cent neutral on this question. Only 55 per cent felt “strong personal attachment” to their workplace.

Almost 50 per cent felt burned out, while 86 per cent said they contributed to their workplace beyond their job description.

About 69 per cent agreed they had overall job satisfaction, with just 61 per cent satisfied with their organisation as an employer.

About 60 per cent of Territory teachers surveyed said they would recommend their workplace as being “great”. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Education

Response rate: 1235/4748 (26 per cent)

Only 45 per cent said they felt safe to vocally challenge how their workplace operated and believed their organisation fairly considered recommendations from staff on how to improve.

Just under 30 per cent had experienced violence and aggression at their workplace – with that question not asked of both health and emergency services – while three in 10 education staff did not believe there was an appropriate focus on safety in their workplace.

Nine in 10 respondents said they “contributed to their workplace” beyond their job description, and only 42 per cent believed their manager appropriately dealt with employees who performed poorly.

More than 60 per cent said they would recommend their organisation as a “great” workplace, with a slightly smaller number believing their workplace inspired them to do their best.

Less than half believed their agency did a good job of promoting health and wellbeing, with 81 per cent believing their managers thought employee wellbeing was important.

Satisfaction with their employer struck at 65 per cent of respondents, with a slightly higher mark for overall job satisfaction.

Public Employment Minister Paul Kirby has been contacted for comment.