About the Tasmanian State Service
Tasmania's largest employer
The Tasmanian State Service is the largest employer in Tasmania. More than 30,000 employees deliver services and implement government priorities to the Tasmanian community.
The State Service is made up of 18 agencies, consisting of nine departments and nine state authorities.
State Service employees work across a wide range of professions and occupations. They support government through policy development, service delivery, regulation, research, education and frontline services.
Head of the State Service
The Head of the State Service provides leadership and stewardship across the State Service.
The role supports a consistent whole-of-service approach to workforce management, leadership, capability and employment frameworks across agencies.
The Head of the State Service also has responsibilities under the State Service Act, including:
- issuing practices, procedures and standards
- promoting and upholding the State Service Principles
- overseeing whole-of-service workforce and capability initiatives.
Legislation and employment framework
The State Service operates within a legislative and employment framework that supports effective public administration, workforce management and service delivery.
This framework includes:
- the State Service Act
- the State Service Principles
- the State Service Code of Conduct
- the State Service Regulations
- Employment Directions
- awards and agreements.
Further information about the framework
State Service Act
The State Service Act 2000 is the primary legislation governing employment and administration in the State Service. It provides the foundation for a contemporary, professional and impartial public sector.
The Act sets out:
- the structure of the State Service
- roles and responsibilities
- the State Service Principles
- the State Service Code of Conduct
- employment and workforce management arrangements.
State Service Principles
The State Service Principles outline the values and standards that guide employment, conduct and workplace practices across the State Service.
The principles support:
- fair, transparent and merit-based employment practices
- effective and responsible workplace management
- high stands of service to government and the community
- collaboration, accountability and professionalism.
All State Service employees, officers and heads of agency must uphold the principles. Heads of agency are also responsible for promoting them.
State Service Code of Conduct
The State Service Code of Conduct sets the behavioural standards expected of all employees, officers and heads of agency.
The code supports integrity, professionalism and public trust across the State Service and outlines the expectations for ethical and respectful behaviour in the workplace.
Alleged breaches of the code of conduct by employees and officers must be managed in accordance with Employment Direction Number 5 (ED5).
State Service Regulations
The State Service Regulations 2021 support the operation of the State Service Act.
The Regulations provide more detail about employment and administrative matters, including processes relating to:
- employment conditions
- allowances
- leave
- termination and review mechanisms.
Employment Directions
Employment Directions support the administration of employment and workforce management across the State Service.
They provide consistent guidance on matters including:
- recruitment
- performance management
- conduct
- leave
- workplace responsibilities and obligations.
Employment Directions are issued under the State Service Act.
Awards and agreements
The Tasmanian Government is currently negotiating a number of agreements with unions. Find out more at the Tasmanian State Service negotiations website.
Awards and agreements set the employment conditions for State Service employees.
An agreement is a legal document that has tailored conditions for specific groups of employees. They have a nominal expiry date and a period for the parties to start a new round of bargaining for a new agreement.
Agreement negotiations in the State Service take place between the minister administering the State Service Act and the relevant unions party to the agreement.
An agreement is supported by another legal document (called an award) that sets out minimum employment conditions for a particular industry or occupation. An agreement may contain information that overrides or expands on clauses in an award or sets up a separate entitlement. Therefore, if an award and an agreement are both in force for a group of employees, they must be read together.
All agreements and awards covering State Service employees are approved and registered by the Tasmanian Industrial Commission. Find out more at the Tasmanian Industrial Commission website.
If you have any questions about which award or agreement applies to you, contact your agency's human resources team.
New and approved standard conditions in the State Service from 2022 negotiations
The Tasmanian Industrial Commission approved new and improved State Service standard conditions in May 2023. These conditions now form part of the relevant awards for Tasmanian State Service employees. Find more information on standard conditions.
Reports and data
Annual reports
State Service workforce reporting
We publish a report twice a year with information about the Tasmanian State Service workforce.
Workforce reports
Employee survey
State Service employees are regularly surveyed about their work and work environment.
A sustainable State Service
To support the Tasmanian Government’s fiscal strategy and ensure the right-sized State Service, a recruitment freeze of all non-essential roles within the State Service has been in place since March 2025.
The frequently asked questions provide answers on how the recruitment freeze is being implemented, including what it means for agencies, employees and recruitment processes.
State Service Management Office
The State Service Management Office assists the Premier, as the employer and minister administering the State Service Act, to develop contemporary employment policy and support workforce capability across the State Service.
It also supports the Head of the State Service to carry out employer functions, powers and responsibilities, ensuring the State Service is purpose-driven, modern and able to meet Tasmania’s current and future needs.
The office represents the employer in workplace management and employment matters. It provides advice, guidance and policy on the State Service Act, Employment Directions, awards and agreements.
As the state’s largest employer, the office works with agencies across government to make the State Service a better place to work.