Hi everyone

Yesterday in Parliament, the Premier tabled the Tasmanian State Service Annual Report 2024-25.

This is my second report as Head of the State Service, and I am proud of the momentum and meaningful progress we have made together in building a high-performing, values-driven public sector for the people of Tasmania.

The report reflects the breadth of work underway to strengthen culture, employment practices, workforce management and workplace relations across the State Service. It highlights the progress on key reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and demonstrates how we are embedding cultural change, integrity and accountability across our agencies.

Some highlights within the report include:

  • In response to the CoI, we continued implementation of reforms with a strong focus on culture, integrity and accountability.
  • We remain focused on ensuring our workforce is sustainable in size and shape, in the right places, and equipped with the tools and resources needed to deliver vital services to the Tasmanian community.
  • Collaboratively, we worked across agencies to deliver targeted recruitment campaigns to attract the right people to fill important roles, particularly for our youth employment programs, our frontline health and educational sectors. This collaborative effort successfully resonated with ‘off island’ audiences and helped fill many important positions.
  • Over the 2024-25 period, a suite of workplace relations reforms advanced with a focus on improved disciplinary processes, greater transparency and long-term cultural change.
  • Investment in professional development continued through agency offerings, the Tasmanian Training Consortium and ongoing management and leadership programs to support growth at all levels.
  • Government agencies advanced inclusion and diversity initiatives to remove barriers and expand opportunities for underrepresented groups.

The report features a range of agency case studies that showcase the practical impact of our reforms and the great work that happens every day across our State Service. These case studies highlight examples such as targeted youth employment, team capability building, leadership development initiatives, improving psychological safety in the workplace and services redesigns to better meet community needs.

Across the State Service we are committed to a culture grounded in integrity, safety, accountability and collaboration. Priority areas include:

  • putting children at the centre of our decision making
  • valuing inclusion and embracing diversity
  • supporting culturally safe ways of working
  • creating a respectful, safe and supportive workplace for all employees.

These reforms and investments are not an end in themselves. They make our workplaces safer, more respectful and more inclusive, and they improve our ability to deliver responsive, high-quality services to Tasmanians. Better systems, clearer processes and stronger capability mean we can be more accountable and better protect children and other vulnerable people in our care.

As Head of the State Service, I am personally committed to leading and supporting how we work together across government to develop a culture that is inclusive and respectful of our diverse workforce and the greater Tasmanian community.

Please take the time to read this year’s Annual Report to reflect on our achievements and to better understand the priorities and commitments. Consider how your role connects to these reforms and how you can contribute to a trusted, capable and inclusive State Service.

Thank you to all of you who bring our values to life every day, serving the people of Tasmania with dedication and professionalism.

Kind regards,