Australia Day Substitution (09 Jan 2024)
Dear Colleagues
I am pleased to inform you that in delivering our program of long-term industrial reform commitments, Australia Day holiday with pay substitution is being introduced for 2024 to enable choice for eligible employees and officers. As one of the largest employers in Tasmania, it is critical that the Tasmanian State Service (TSS) strives to be a culturally respectful and professional workplace for all its employees and officers.
The TSS Aboriginal Employee Network facilitated by Louise Adams, SSMO’s Senior Consultant, Aboriginal Employment Strategy have been key to guiding the change. We also communicated with agencies and gained their overall support. Australia Day substitution enables employees to make a choice to access the holiday with pay on an alternative date. An employee may choose to substitute the Australia Day holiday with pay for another normal working day with pay to be taken within a four-week period from 26 January, as agreed between the employee and their manager.
This change supports TSS employees employed on the following awards to make a choice as to whether they would like to work on Australia Day, as agreed between the employee and their manager:
- Tasmanian State Service Award.
- Facility Attendants (Tasmanian State Service) Award.
- Health and Human Services (Tasmanian State Service) Award.
- Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Award.
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority Award.
- AWU (Tasmanian State Sector) Award.
- Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Award.
- Teaching Service (Tasmanian Public Sector) Award
To support implementation, a comprehensive Australia Day with Pay Substitution Guide has been provided to agencies and is available on the SSMO website.
Best wishes
Jenny Gale
Head of the State Service
Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
09 Jan 2024