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Recommendations

The following recommendations seek to maintain agency flexibility to structure the workforce in the most effective way to deliver outcomes for government within a framework that supports a cohesive APS.

These recommendations have regard to the APSC's responsibility for classification matters.

  1. The APSC, in consultation with agencies, to establish a common set of principles for classification management across the APS that includes:
    • classification decisions are based on work value; and
    • classification management supports the APS workforce priorities around diversity.
  2. Update the Public Service Classification Rules 2000 (the Classification Rules) by:
    • removing classifications that are no longer in use; and
    • where requested by agencies, remove agency specific structures.
    • Agencies can choose to adopt the APS-wide WLS or calibrate their own WLS with the APS-wide set, as part of the next agreement making cycle commencing in 2014.
    • Agencies to regard as good practice the assessment of work value requirements against WLS for newly established roles or when significantly change which may result in re-classification.
  3. The APSC, in consultation with agencies, to develop APS-wide work level standards (WLS) that will accommodate the diverse roles across the APS and highlight the key differences between classification levels.
  4. The APSC to develop a role evaluation methodology to support the WLS (similar to the work already undertaken for the SES) and a role evaluation tool which is simple to use and assists managers, practitioners and delegates to apply the WLS consistently.
  5. The APSC to develop a ‘user friendly’ online classification guide to replace the 1992 publication, Handbook of Australian Public Service Classification Management. The guide to include better practice examples of classification management and practice.
  6. The APSC, in consultation with agencies, to develop improved policy guidance on the operation of broadbands including:
    • advice on establishing and managing broadbanding arrangements; and
    • when establishing new broadbands consideration to be given to:
      • maintaining at least two breaks that require open selection between APS 1 and APS 6;
      • restricting broadbanding Executive Level (EL) classifications;
      • restricting agency-wide broadbands (e.g. small and medium sized agencies only); and
      • mandatory minimum requirements for broadbanding progression including a work availability test and an individual capability assessment.
  7. The APSC to produce improved guidance associated with using training classifications which provides:
    • support for the benefits of entry-level training programs to the APS;
    • the distinction between programs covered by the approved training classifications in the Classification Rules and those that are not; and
    • the application of WLS to training classifications, including the assignment of classification following the completion of training.
  8. The APSC to articulate the different methods available to agencies in identifying and managing specialist occupations such as using local job titles and assigning roles to job families.