Foreword by the Head of the State Service

The last 12 months have seen State Service employees tested by a number of significant events, such as the response to and recovery from flooding, and bushfires. While such times have been challenging, they have highlighted the resilience of our employees, and their commitment to delivering services to the Tasmanian community. I have been proud to lead the Service during the period, and it has firmed my commitment to ensuring that we, as an Employer, provide inclusive and supportive workplaces that support our employees to be their best.

Some of the ways that we have worked to improve our workforce management over the last year are detailed in this report, and there is much to celebrate. For example, there has been progress in a number of large State Service workforce projects, such as the Empower Integration and Automation Project, and the launch of the new Tasmanian Government Jobs Website and the associated e-recruitment system after a three-year build up. The new e-recruitment system promises to not only bring efficiencies to recruitment management, but also will provide a better service to jobseekers looking to work in the State Service.

I am proud of the work agencies have done to eliminate family violence. Three of our agencies worked actively to become accredited by White Ribbon and more will join them during this coming year. In addition to reporting on the progress of workforce priorities, this Report also includes information on reform measures such as Managing Positions in the State Service and reports the employment matters required by the State Service Act 2000, such as Code of Conduct and Grievance matters, and workplace behaviour. The appendices include a profile of the workforce, and a summary of the People Matter Survey 2016 results.

This Report also highlights a number of initiatives and improvements being progressed by specific agencies. All have the aim of providing the right workforce management framework to ensure that the State Service is a highly professional service that delivers quality services to the Tasmanian community.

Priorities for the coming year will include progressing the examination of our Employment Framework; finalising the Diversity and Inclusion Framework and beginning implementation; releasing and implementing the Gender Diversity in the State Service commitment and continuing to support State Service priorities, such as the Population Strategy and the Safe Home, Safe Communities: Family Violence Action Plan.

Greg Johannes 
Head of the State Service