Australian public service commissioner stephen sedgwick

2014 aps bargaining round

Policy work to develop arrangements for the 2014 APS bargaining round is underway and the Commission has been consulting APS agencies and unions.

modernisation of australian government employment awards

In accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has been tasked with modernising the federal system of awards. The aim is to ensure, among other things, that there is a simple, easy to understand, stable and sustainable modern award system which, together with the National Employment Standards, provides a fair and relevant minimum safety net of terms and conditions.

To date the FWC has developed industry and occupational awards but has not yet considered those awards in the federal system which govern specific enterprises. Award coverage in the Australian Government employment sector is provided by a series of enterprise awards.

Applications to modernise an enterprise award must be lodged with the FWC by 31 December 2013; otherwise, the preserved enterprise award will cease to operate.

The Commission is progressing award modernisation for Australian Government employment. There is one primary enterprise award which covers APS employees (the Australian Public Service Award 1998) and some 50 awards, mainly at individual agency level, covering non-APS employees.

aps award

The Commission has been undertaking preparatory work to modernise the APS Award 1998, including preparation of a draft modern award.

This work has been in consultation with APS agencies through a reference group made up of representatives from a broad range of agencies and interested APS unions.

non-aps agencies

Award coverage in non-APS employment is more complex than in the APS, with non-APS agencies having varying degrees of award coverage. The Commission is providing support to these agencies as they prepare to modernise awards applicable to their employees.

aps remuneration survey

A remuneration survey of APS employees is conducted annually. The survey provides participating agencies with agency-specific and APS-wide data that informs their remuneration practices.

In 2011–12, the Commission brought the survey and preparation of the report in-house as part of a memorandum of understanding with agencies.

The APS Remuneration Report 2012 provides remuneration information including base salary and other remuneration-related benefits and payments in the 2012 calendar year. The report is an annual snapshot of remuneration across the APS as at 31 December each year. It provides information on remuneration by classification level as well as changes in remuneration compared to the previous year.

education programs

The Commission has a central role in providing support and advice to agencies in regard to employment policy and workplace relations matters. In recent years, the nature and quantum of enquiries of this nature received from human resource (HR) areas in APS agencies (and individuals) suggested that agencies would benefit from a training solution that would help enhance their knowledge and expertise in HR operational matters.

The Commission conducted a three-month pilot of an HR operations training program. The pilot, which concluded in June 2013, was designed to test the effectiveness and viability of a training program aimed at enhancing the knowledge and expertise of HR practitioners in APS agencies.

The pilot included the delivery of one-day face-to-face training courses on the topics of recognition of prior service, maternity and parental leave, long service leave and calculating final entitlements. In addition, four e-guides were published to a GovDex community page for agencies to access free of charge.

Thirty agencies participated in the pilot, which delivered 21 face-to-face courses to a total of 239 participants. Overall, feedback from course participants indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the usefulness and relevance of course material and the quality of course delivery.

The Commission is currently evaluating the pilot to determine whether it should be implemented on an ongoing basis, and if so, in what format.

workplace relations policy advice and support

The Commission provides advice and support to Australian Government employers on a wide range of workplace relations matters, including the application of the Fair Work Act 2009, the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976, the Maternity Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1973 and the paid parental leave scheme.

In 2012–13, the Commission supported the implementation of the APS telework trial. There are seven agencies participating in the trial. The employees involved are using the National Broadband Network or equivalent to telework from their homes. The evaluation of the trial will use qualitative and quantitative information gathered from the participating staff, their managers and subordinates. The trial will inform policy development regarding teleworking in the APS.

The Commission also released circulars providing advice to agencies on:

• the benefits of workplace giving programs and advice on how to implement these programs

• changes to the Fair Work Act in relation to parental leave and agencies’ obligations to employees on their return to work

• supporting Australian Government employees affected by domestic or family violence. These circulars are available on the Commission’s website.

The Commission continued to maintain the Allowance Subscriptions Service, which since its inception in 1999 has been provided on a cost-recovery basis to Commonwealth agencies. The service provides updates to a range of allowances such as travel, motor vehicle and temporary accommodation.

The Commission also continued its role representing the interests of the Commonwealth in the advancement of salary and allowance matters for members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). These matters are advanced in a manner consistent with the policies of the government relating to workplace relations and remuneration standards.

The Commission works collaboratively with the ADF, including the Defence Force Advocate, to review and develop cases referred to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal. In 2012–13, this included completing phase one of the review of salary–related allowances which attribute to more than $800 million annually in entitlements payable to ADF members for the restrictions and hardships associated with military service.