Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management
The Commissioner establishes minimum standards (the Standards) of merit, equity and probity to be complied with in the public sector (s.21 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 [the Act]).
The Standards relate to a number of human resource activities and are collectively referred to as the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management. In establishing these Standards the Commissioner has regard for the principles set out in sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Act.
The Standards are principles-based rather than comprising of rules.
The current Standards are:
Employment (applies when filling a vacancy by way of recruitment, selection, secondment, transfer and temporary deployment [acting])
The Standards apply to all public sector bodies and their employees.
The Standards do not apply to entities listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, including:
elected officials, for example, members of Parliament and local government council representatives
local government authorities
sworn members of the Western Australian Police (police officers)
universities
any court or tribunal established under a written law
some corporatised bodies such as Port Authorities and the Water Corporation.
Responsibilities of public sector bodies
All public sector bodies and their employees must comply with the Standards.
Public sector bodies are responsible for developing and implementing human resource policies, procedures and practices that are consistent with the Standards.
Public sector bodies can assist their compliance with the Standards by:
ensuring human resource policies, procedures and practices are consistent with the Standards; and
raising employee awareness of the Standards.
Monitoring and Reporting
Public sector bodies report on their compliance with the Standards to the Commissioner annually (s.31 of the Act). The Commissioner monitors the public sector's compliance with the Standards and reports to Parliament annually (s.21 and s.22D of the Act). For more information about the Commissioner's monitoring and reporting role, see the Oversight page.
Breaches of the Standards
Breach of Standard claims may be made for all Standards other than the Discipline Standard. Timeframes apply to the lodgment of claims. For more information, see Breach of Standard Claims page.
Assistance
For further information about the Standards or their application, contact the Public Sector Commission's Advisory Line on 6552 8888. Public Sector bodies may choose to request (via the advisory line 6552 8888) a consultant to visit their workplace to deliver an awareness-raising session to their human resource practitioners.
Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management
The Commissioner establishes minimum standards (the Standards) of merit, equity and probity to be complied with in the public sector (s.21 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 [the Act]).
The Standards relate to a number of human resource activities and are collectively referred to as the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management. In establishing these Standards the Commissioner has regard for the principles set out in sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Act.
The Standards are principles-based rather than comprising of rules.
The current Standards are:
Application
The Standards apply to all public sector bodies and their employees.
The Standards do not apply to entities listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, including:
Responsibilities of public sector bodies
All public sector bodies and their employees must comply with the Standards.
Public sector bodies are responsible for developing and implementing human resource policies, procedures and practices that are consistent with the Standards.
Public sector bodies can assist their compliance with the Standards by:
Monitoring and Reporting
Public sector bodies report on their compliance with the Standards to the Commissioner annually (s.31 of the Act). The Commissioner monitors the public sector's compliance with the Standards and reports to Parliament annually (s.21 and s.22D of the Act). For more information about the Commissioner's monitoring and reporting role, see the Oversight page.
Breaches of the Standards
Breach of Standard claims may be made for all Standards other than the Discipline Standard. Timeframes apply to the lodgment of claims. For more information, see Breach of Standard Claims page.
Assistance
For further information about the Standards or their application, contact the Public Sector Commission's Advisory Line on 6552 8888. Public Sector bodies may choose to request (via the advisory line 6552 8888) a consultant to visit their workplace to deliver an awareness-raising session to their human resource practitioners.
Page last updated 25 September 2012