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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.