Workforce Planning Toolkit

Documents relating to Workforce Planning are listed below. These documents provide information to support agencies to plan ahead in relation to their workforce requirements.

Workforce Planning and Diversity tools

A Workforce Planning and Diversity Advice and Consultation Service was launched by the Public Sector Commission on 21 February 2011. Tools have been developed to assist agencies with workforce planning and diversity. Use of these tools is voluntary and they can be customised to meet the unique needs of your agency.

The documents and tools include:

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Workforce Planning

  • Strategic Directions for the Public Sector Workforce 2009-2014
    Public Sector Commission
    This document contains 38 initiatives that will be implemented over 5 years to ensure the ongoing viability of the Western Australian public sector workforce. It identifies the responsibilities of central and line agencies.
  • Forward Thinking (An environmental scan)
    Public Sector Commission
    This document contains a summary of the current and emerging issues affecting the Western Australian public sector workforce which were identified through research and consultation with public sector agencies.
  • Workforce Planning Framework
    Public Sector Commission
    This document outlines the over-arching workforce planning framework that the Public Sector Commission (PSC) has adopted, including ‘Principles', ‘Central and Line Agency responsibilities' and ‘Deliverables'. The Framework has been developed following consultation with agency representatives from PSC's Workforce Planning Consultative Group.
  • Examples of good practice
    The Public Sector Commission has identified the following agencies as having either integrated Workforce and Diversity Plans or independent Workforce Plans that showcase good practice:
  • Program of Works
    Public Sector Commission
    This document outlines the key workforce planning initiatives that the Public Sector Commission (PSC) will progress in 2010 and 2011, following consultation with agency representatives from PSC's Workforce Planning Consultative Group.
  • Workforce and diversity plan 2012-14
    Public Sector Commission 
  • Our Sector - Our People
    Public Sector Commission
    This guide outlines a disciplined approach to decision-making about people. It will assist agencies to improve performance through the development of targets and benchmarks to measure human capital.
  • Workforce Plan Process Pack
    Department of Mines and Petroleum
    These documents have been produced by the Department of Mines and Petroleum as a framework for developing a workforce plan that engages the whole organisation. They include steps in the process, clarification of responsibilities and diagnostic templates.
  • Workforce Plan 2010-2014
    Department of the Premier and Cabinet
  • Workforce Planning Framework
    Disability Services Commission
    This framework aims to create a systemic workforce planning process to assist the DSC to align people planning with business outcomes.
  • Workforce Planning Guide
    Disability Services Commission
    This document is designed to assist management to obtain a greater understanding of their workforce, enhance ability to better allocate resources and assist to successfully assess and manage current and future workforce issues.
  • Workforce Plan 2008-2010
    Central Institute of Technology
    This plan identifies the key workforce priorities and initiatives that Central Institute of Technology committed to in 2008-2010.
  • People Plan 2009-2011
    WorkCover WA
    This plan outlines Workcover WA's workforce outcomes, values, strategic goals, indicators and measures.
  • Workforce Planning Profiles Questionnaire
    Main Roads
    This questionnaire can be used by management to identify opportunities and risks in a range of workforce-related areas.
  • State Priority Occupation List 2012-13
    Department of Training and Workforce Development
    The State priority occupation list is an annually produced list of jobs that are in high demand or considered industry-critical in Western Australia.
  • Training Councils
    State Training Board
    The State Training Board produces industry specific Environmental Scans, Workforce Development Plans and Workforce Gauges identifying key workforce trends and responses in various sectors, such as the Community Services, Health & Education Industry.
  • Women's Interests Strategic Directions 2011-2014
    Department for Communities
    This document outlines four priority areas which will guide the Department for Communities Women’s Interests activities over the next three years: health and wellbeing, safety and justice, economic independence and women in leadership.
Presentation videos: A Road Map to Developing a Workforce Plan

Environmental Scanning (Stage 1: Scan and Understand)

Stage 1 & 2: Scan and Understand, Analyse and Interpret

Stage 2: Develop and Implement

Stage 4: Monitor and Evaluate

Presentation videos: Workforce & Service Design

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Recruitment, Selection, Appointment

  • Graduate programs – a guide for agencies
    Provides a framework for agencies to develop tailored graduate programs to meet business and workforce needs.
  • Recruitment Calculator
    Public Sector Commission
    This tool assists users to calculate the full cost of recruiting a new employee, including all direct and indirect expenses. The tool has been designed to automatically ‘self-calculate' the recruitment cost as information is entered by the user.
  • Strategic Recruitment Plan 2009-2011
    Disability Services Commission
    This document aims to build an effective recruitment and selection strategy to enable the agency to select the right people to the right positions.
  • Shape Your Career and Revealing a More Rewarding Career
    Disability Services Commission
    Promotional recruitment brochures outlining career options available in the Disability Services Commission.
  • Citizenship’s Skills Select
    Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  • Guide for agencies
    Government traineeship guide for agencies in the regions

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Entry and Exit Tools

Presentation videos: Retaining Valued Employees - Creating an Exit Survey and Process

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Equity and Diversity

  • Diversity surveying
    Public sector agencies, public authorities and universities are required to provide workforce diversity data to the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment on an annual basis. 
  • Template diversity questionnaire
  • Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment annual reports
  • The Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2011−2015
  • Aboriginal Economic Participation Strategy 2012−2016 
    A whole-of-government strategy developed to increase the potential for Aboriginal people to play a greater part in the Western Australian economy. The strategy will be led by the Aboriginal Affairs Coordinating Committee comprising Directors General from the following agencies: Department of Indigenous Affairs, Department for Child Protection, Department of Corrective Services, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Housing, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Department of Regional Development and Lands, Department of Training and Workforce Development, Department of Treasury and WA Police.
  • How does your agency compare? report
    Public Sector Commission
    These reports are prepared for all agencies with over 100 employees to provide information on the diversity of an agency's workforce in comparison to other public sector agencies.
  • Department for Communities: Women in Leadership: Strategies for Change (external PDF 1.6MB, opens in a new window)
    This Department for Communities publication provides a comprehensive examination of the current workforce leadership culture and offers a range of tools and resources to increase the representation of women in leadership positions. PSC is appreciative of the Department for Communities and The Maureen Bickley Centre for Women in Leadership, Curtin University for this useful resource.
  • 2012 Women’s Report Card
    Department for Communities
    The 2012 Women’s Report Card details the statistical status of Western Australian women across a range of key indicators in areas such as health, wellbeing, safety, work and education. The Women's Report Cards provide an evidence base to inform government and private sector policies, services and programs, as well as giving a snapshot of Western Australian women's lives.
  • Western Australian Youth Mentoring Reform Strategic Framework
    Department for Communities
    The Strategic Framework is the cornerstone of the four year Youth Mentoring Reform Project which seeks to significantly reform the way that government and the youth mentoring sector work together to improve outcomes for young West Australians by giving more young Western Australians the opportunity to benefit from having a mentor in their lives.
  • Pay Equity Toolkit
    Department of Commerce
    The Department of Commerce has produced a Pay Equity Audit Tool to help agencies analyse their payroll data.
  • Sections 50(d) and 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984
    Public Sector Commission
    If your agency has identified that service provision to people of a particular race is best provided by a person of the same race, s. 50(d) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 is a useful tool to apply.
  • Indigenous Employment Strategies
    Polytechnic West
  • WA Health Aboriginal Cultural Learning Framework
    The Department of Health, Aboriginal Health, has produced the WA Health Aboriginal Cultural Learning Framework which includes strategies to attract and up skill Aboriginal employees, foster an inclusive workplace through cultural learning and identify/develop the leadership qualities of Aboriginal employees. 
  • Diverse WA Cultural Competency Training Package
    Diverse WA is a training package for public sector staff to assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It will help the Government achieve its vision of an inclusive WA.
  • Multicultural Health Website 
    The Department of Health has developed a  helpful website with tools, policies and training aimed at fostering inclusive workplaces and services.
  • State Government EEO Management Plan Template
  • State Government EEO Management Plan Template under 100
  • Local Government EEO Management Plan Template
  • EEO Management Plan Evaluation Tool
    The evaluation tool that the Public Sector Commission Senior Consultants use when evaluating EEO Management Plans against sections 145(2)(a)–(h) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984. This tool will guide you in what to include in your EEO Management Plan.

The Public Sector Commission has identified the following agencies as having an EEO Management Plan that showcase good practice:

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Capability Development

Presentation videos: Leadership and Workforce Planning in the Public Sector

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Workforce Flexibility

Presentation videos: Workforce Flexibility - Moving from Traditional to Contemporary
Presentation videos: Workforce Planning: Workforce and Service Design - Adapting to a changing environment

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Succession Planning

  • Succession Framework
    WorkCover WA
    A strategic and systematic approach to ensure that employees are developed or recruited to fill key roles.
  • Succession Planning Template and Review Memo Template
    Insurance Commission of Western Australia
    These plans may be used as a risk management strategy to identify potential candidates for immediate replacements, succession and long-term development.

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Managing an Ageing Workforce

These surveys will assist agencies to identify the likely impact of an ageing workforce:

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Knowledge Management

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Workforce Reporting


Page last updated 30 April 2013