Friday 19th February 2021
This week, from Monday 15 - Thursday 18 February, the Office of the Public Service Commissioner delivered the first Public Service Induction Training for 2021. There were twenty-four Public Servants from Agencies as diverse as Te Marae Ora, Ministries of Agriculture, Finance and Economic Management, Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Education and Seabed Mineral Authority who participated.
Training Facilitator Teresa Tararo said “…it has taken approximately two years to break down the barriers of resistance to attend the training”. Ms Tararo further noted that “When our Public Servants introduce themselves, they all say that they have no idea why they were made to attend the training, because they have been in the Public Service for a long time that they didn’t realized such a programme existed”. At the end of each training session, Ms Tararo is now hearing positive comments such as “Aue, mari uake teia apii, ei apii mai i to tatou history”.
One participant said ‘identifying signs of bullying in the workplace has been valuable because of personal experience and also seeing the negative impact work place bullying has had on others. Another said that, “the training is a must for all in the Public Sector because it equips you and others with knowledge, skills and values of the public service”. While another has said, “the training helps employees to know their rights. We need to identify bullying situations in our workplace, and put a stop to it. Stop the unhappiness in our workplace”.
The new Public Service Commissioner, Carl Hunter in his first official role on the job, welcomed each cohort and stressed upon the participants that “…as Public Servants, we must be transparent in everything we do and we must be held accountable for our actions. Furthermore, we must act without fear or favour because as Public Servants we are here to provide a service to our community”. Mr Hunter concluded that “it has been encouraging to hear that our Public Servants see the value in the training and coupled with the fun and interactive mode of delivery, is being promoted and marketed by participants”.
For many participants, they have gained a better understanding and appreciation of the Cook Islands history, and voyage to Self-Governance, the Cook Islands Government Leave Policy, Code of Conduct, and process for complaints, and parts of the Constitution.
End.
Enquiries regarding this media release can be directed to Teresa Tura, Corporate Services Manager, at Teresa.tura@cookislands.gov.ck or call 29 421 during Office hours.