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Circulars and advices
The Australian Public Service Commission issues advices and circulars to agencies outlining changes in APS people and performance management. The following advices and circulars are current under the Public Service Act 1999 unless otherwise indicated. This includes advices issued with the release of the Public Service Act 1999.
Inquiries
Inquiries of a general nature including policy or conditions should be directed to your agency's HR or corporate area. APS agencies' senior managers and HR/corporate areas can contact the Commission's Employment Policy Adviceline on phone (02) 6202 3859 or email employmentadvice@apsc.gov.au if they require further assistance or information.
Employment policy
The information in individual advices/circulars may have been amended or updated by subsequent publications or circulars. A list of current operative publications and circulars - listed by subject heading - can be found on our employment policy page.
Archive
Non-current advices and circulars are available on our Archive page. These should be used for reference purposes only. (Index of circulars and memorandas - 1974 to 1999)
| 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
2012
Circular2012/1: REVISIONS TO THE COMMISSION’S GUIDANCE ON MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT AND PARTICIPATING ONLINE
This circular is to advise agencies of revised guidance on making public comment and participating online, and that the guidance set out in Circular 2009/6 is no longer current and the circular has been withdrawn.
2011
Circular2011/5: Electronic publication for Advice to agencies on providing procedural fairness in whistleblower investigations
This circular provides agencies with advice on aspects of the Australian Public Service (APS) whistleblower framework established under section 16 of the Public Service Act 1999 and Division 2.2 of the Public Service Regulations 1999.
Circular2011/4: Electronic publication of the APS Employment Database Specifications Manual (Version 4.1)
The Circular is to advise agencies of a minor revision to the APS Employment Database (APSED) Specifications Manual (Version 4.1).
Circular2011/3: Additional Advice to Agencies on Facilitating Access to Employee Representatives
The Circular is to provide additional advice in response to frequently asked questions from APS agencies.
Circular 2011/2: Salary Threshold Advice Relating to Part 2.1 of the Australian Public Service Bargaining Framework and Supporting Guidance
The APSBF Supporting Guidance states that the APSC will publish and advise agencies of the salary threshold for each APS and EL classification from time to time.
Circular 2011/1: Introduction of the Australian Public Service Bargaining Framework
The Circular informs agencies of the introduction of the APS Bargaining Framework which takes effect as of 31 January 2011.
2010
Circulars
Circular 2010/4: Revision of Special Measures and Identified Positions/Criteria provisions
The circular provides agencies with updated information about the Special Measures provision for recruiting Indigenous employees. It also provides guidance on the application of the Identified Positions/Criteria provision for recruiting Indigenous and/or non-Indigenous staff with specialist knowledge and understanding for roles with a strong involvement in work relating to Indigenous Australians and/or communities.
Circular 2010/3: Changes to timeframes for lodging Review of Actions
The Public Service Act 1999 provides that an APS employee is entitled to review of any APS action relating to his or her employment, subject to the Public Service Regulations 1999. Under the Regulations an action may not be reviewable if the application for review is made outside the time limit established for review.
A series of related FAQs are also available
Circular 2010/2:
Engagement of people with disability through disability employment service providers
This circular advises that the Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 1999 have been amended to provide greater flexibility for APS agencies to employ people with disability.
Circular 2010/1: Engagement of redundancy benefit recipients
This circular relates to certain restrictions on the employment in the APS of persons who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or from the Australian Parliamentary Service.
Workplace Relations advices
Workplace Relations Advice 4 of 2010: Agreement Making During a Caretaker Period
From 1 July 2010 responsibility for Australian Government policies for public sector
agreement-making, classification structures, APS pay and employment conditions, work
level standards and workplace relations advice, has been transferred from the
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to the
Commission.
Workplace Relations Advice 3 of 2010: Interpretation of the Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework from 1 July 2010
During the caretaker period, the business of government continues and ordinary matters
of administration still need to be addressed. However, successive governments have
followed a series of practices, known as the 'caretaker conventions', which aim to
ensure that their actions do not bind an incoming government and limit its freedom of
action.
Workplace Relations Advice 2 of 2010: Natural disaster warnings and agency leave arrangements
The purpose of this advice is to ensure a consistent approach across Australian Government employment for leave arrangements where an official warning or alert has been issued regarding a ‘catastrophic’ or ‘code red’ bushfire emergency, or other serious natural disaster.
Workplace Relations Advice 1 of 2010: Responsibilities and obligations of workplace delegates
The purpose of this Advice is to remind agencies and non-APS Commonwealth Authorities subject to the Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework of the requirement to implement a protocol in consultation with unions, which sets out the rights of workplace delegates.
2009
Circulars
Circular 2009/6: Protocols for online media participation - is no longer current and the circular has been withdrawn.
Circular 2009/5: Service for redundancy pay purposes – Employees with prior service with the ACT Public Service
The Australian Capital Territory’s Commissioner for Public Administration has advised that recent amendments to the ACT Public Sector Management Standards 2006 will impact on the calculation of redundancy benefits for certain APS employees who have prior service with the ACTPS.
Circular 2009/4: Disclosure of official information
This circular reminds agencies of the responsibilities and rights of APS employees in relation to the disclosure of official information, particularly when dealing with non-Government members of the Parliament
Circular 2009/3: Reintegration of statutory office holders into the APS
Where a person resumes duties as an ongoing APS employee following a period as a statutory office holder in an APS agency, there is now scope for an Agency Head to promote the person without the normal advertising and selection process
Circular 2009/1: Revised edition of Merit and Transparency policy and guidelines
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies that a revised edition of the policy and guidelines Merit and Transparency: Merit-based selection of APS agency heads and APS statutory office holders is now available on the Commission’s website
Workplace relations advices
Workplace Relations Advice 10 of 2009 - Fair Work Information Statement
This Advice is to inform Australian Government employers of their obligations in relation to the Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS).
Workplace Relations Advice 09 of 2009 - Interaction between retention or redeployment periods and the National Employment Standards
The purpose of this Advice is to inform agencies and authorities of amendments to the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2009 (the Transitional Regulations).
Workplace Relations Advice 08 of 2009 - Executive Vehicle Scheme
The purpose of this advice is to inform Australian Public Service (APS) agencies of an update to the Executive Vehicle Scheme (EVS) Guidelines.
Workplace Relations Advice 07 of 2009 - Long Service Leave
This Advice reminds agencies of the long standing Government policy regarding the taking of leave under the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976 (LSL Act).
Workplace Relations Advice 06 of 2009 - Termination of Individual Agreement-Based Transitional Instruments (Australian Workplace Agreements)
The purpose of this Advice is to provide agencies and authorities with information about the termination and conditional termination of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs); and parties to an AWA with forms/templates they may wish to use when terminating an AWA.
Workplace Relations Advice 05 of 2009 - Legal Advice relating to the Fair Work Act 2009 and other workplace relations legislation - Legal Services Directions
This advice reminds agencies of their obligations when seeking legal advice concerning the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act), and other workplace relations legislation such as the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (FW Transitional Act) and the preserved aspects of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (WR Act).
Workplace Relations Advice 04 of 2009 - National Employment Standards
This Advice is to provide agencies and authorities with key information about the National Employment Standards (NES) and how they will interact with enterprise agreements and other workplace arrangements
Workplace Relations Advice 03 of 2009 - Revisions to the Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework and Supporting Guidance
The purpose of this Advice is to inform Australian Public Service (APS) agencies and non-APS Commonwealth Authorities who are subject to the Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework (AGEBF) of revisions to the AGEBF which take effect as of 1 September 2009.
Workplace Relations Advice 02 of 2009 - Transition to the Fair Work Act 2009
This advice is to inform Agencies and Authorities of transitional arrangements in the lead up to the commencement of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) on 1 July 2009.
Workplace Relations Advice 01 of 2009 - Executive Vehicle Scheme
This Advice is to remind Australian Public Service (APS) agencies of the requirements of the Executive Vehicle Scheme (EVS) and to update the associated Guidelines
2008
Circular 2008/7: Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff
This circular provides information on the Government’s Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff and how it will operate
Circular 2008/6: Revised edition of Handling Misconduct publication
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies that a revised edition of the publication Handling Misconduct – a human resources practitioner’s guide to the reporting and handling of suspected and determined breaches of the APS Code of Conduct is now available on the Commission’s website and, for the first time, in hard copy
Circular No 2008/5: Electronic publication of the APS Employment Database Manual 2008
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies that the revised APS Employment Database (APSED) manual 2008 is now available on the Commission's website.
Circular No 2008/4: Requirements relating to the Lobbying Code of Conduct and post separation contact with Government
The circular follows the release of the Government's Lobbying Code of Conduct, which requires all professional lobbyists who approach Government representatives to be registered with the The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to provide details of who they represent and to maintain particular standards of integrity in their lobbying work.
Circular No 2008/3: Providing information on Code of Conduct investigation outcomes to complainants
This circular provides guidance about what information Australian Public Service (APS) agencies can or should give complainants about the outcome of their complaints.
Circular No 2008/2: APSjobs website enhancements
The www.APSjobs.gov.au website, launched in August 2007, provides a single entry point for Australian Public Service employment opportunities. The website now has a number of new features and enhancements. Attached is a summary of all features now available.
Circular No. 2008/1: Amendments to the Public Service Commissioner's Directions 1999 — Engagement of non-ongoing Senior Executive Service employees
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies of a change that has been made to the Public Service Commissioner's Directions 1999. The change clarifies the capacity of APS agencies to engage a Senior Executive Service (SES) employee on a non-ongoing basis for no more than 12 months without the employment opportunity needing to be notified.
2007
Circular No 2007/5: Involvement of public servants in public information and awareness initiatives
This circular provides new APS-wide policy guidelines on the participation of public servants in public information and awareness initiatives.
Circular No 2007/4: APSjobs website and the Australian Public Service Gazette
There have been recent changes to the presentation of the Australian Public Service Gazette (APS Gazette) with the release of a new website, www.APSjobs.gov.au.
Circular No 2007/3: Post Separation Employment: Policy Guidelines
The Commission has issued revised policy guidelines on the management of possible conflicts of interest and other probity issues when employees leave the APS to take up employment in fields that are aligned to their APS responsibilities.
Circular No 2007/2: The Privacy Act and employee information concerning Code of Conduct matters
This circular clarifies the circumstances in which information can be provided concerning Code of Conduct matters when APS employees move from one APS agency to another. The circular takes into account the Privacy Act 1988.
Circular No 2007/1: Declarations of personal Interests: Revised Policy Guidelines
This circular advises changes to APS-wide policy on the requirement for some APS employees to submit written declarations of their financial and other personal interests.
2006
Circular No 2006/7: Planning for influenza pandemic issues – APS employment issues
This circular provides information to agencies on the range of powers available to them under the Public Service Act 1999 which may be of assistance in preparing for and responding to possible scenarios arising in the lead up to and during an influenza pandemic.
Circular 2006/6: Use of special measures to fill employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability
This circular outlines the measures that can be used by agencies in recruitment exercises to increase the representation of people with disability in the APS.
Circular No 2006/4: APS staff selection exercises – Use of external providers
This circular provides additional advice to agencies in respect of staff
selection exercises.
Circular No 2006/3: Amendment to the Public Service Regulations 1999
This Circular provides advice on the amendment to the Public Service Regulations 1999 (the Regulations) concerning the disclosure of information.
2005
Circular No 2005/5: Amendments to the Prime Minister's Public Service directions 1999 – Leave without pay
The purpose of this circular is to advise of an amendment to the arrangements set out in the Prime Minister’s Public Service Directions 1999 dealing with mandatory leave without pay for APS employees to take up a full time statutory appointment.
Circular No 2005/2: Advice to agencies on the continuation of allocating AGS numbers
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies about the use of Australian Government Staff Numbers (AGSNs) with regards to the introduction of ComSuper’s new Public Sector Superannuation Scheme Accumulation Plan (PSSAP).
2004
Circular No 2004/3: Amendments to the Public Service Regulations 1999 and the Public Service Commissioner's Directions 1999 — Election Candidates And Other Technical Amendments
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies of a number of changes that have been made to the Public Service Regulations 1999 (the Regulations) and the Public Service Commissioner's Directions 1999 (the Directions).
Circular No 2004/1: Amendments to the Public Service Regulations 1999 and to the Public Service Commissioner's Directions 1999-(A) mobility between the Australian Public Service and the Parliamentary Service and (B) judgement debts
The purpose of this circular is to advise agencies of changes to the Public Service Regulations 1999 (the Regulations) and to the Public Service Commissioner's Directions 1999 (the Directions) dealing with the mobility arrangements between the Australian Public Service (APS) and the Parliamentary Service, and minor changes to the Regulations relating to judgement debts.
2002
Circular 2002/10: Attachment of salaries to satisfy a judgment debt
This Circular advises agencies of the amendment to the Public Service Regulations which took effect on 12 September 2002 regarding the satisfaction of judgment debts
Circular 2002/5: Breaches of the Code of Conduct - reduction in salary for a specified period
This Circular clarifies the position in relation to a sanction of reduction in salary for a specified period
2001
Circular 2001/6: Mobility arrangements between the Australian Public Service and the Parliamentary Service
The purpose of this circular is to advise of the changes recently made to the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 which ensure mobility between the APS and the Parliamentary Service.
Circular 2001/5: Electronic Transactions Act 1999
The purpose of this circular is to provide an update on the implication of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 for communication arising as a consequence of action under various provisions of the Public Service Act 1999.
Circular 2001/4: Whistleblowers' reports
The purpose of this Circular is to clarify the interaction of an agency's investigation of whistleblowers' reports and procedures to determine whether misconduct has occurred; the role of the the Commissioners when a whistleblower's report is made to them; and the extent of an agency's obligation to inform a person making a whistleblower's report about any misconduct action that may arise.
Circular 2001/3: Supplementary information for APS employees contesting elections
This Circular has two purposes: to provide supplementary information for APS employees who wish to contest an election in the Australian Capital Territory or South Australia; and to highlight the importance of the APS Values in these circumstances.
Circular 2001/2: Requirements for APS employees seeking to contest an election
This Circular reminds agencies of the requirements of the Constitution and of the Public Service legislation regarding APS employees who wish to contest a federal, state or territory election.
Circular 2001/1: Cooperative arrangements between the Commonwealth and the states
This circular advises agencies of the implications of the High Court's decision in R V Hughes (2000 171 ALR 155) on the conferral of State powers on Commonwealth officials. Includes form.
2000
Circular 2000/7: Amendments to the Public Service Commissioner's Directions
This circular advises agencies of changes to the Public Service Commissioner's Directions, made under the Public Service Act 1999
Circular 2000/6: Public Service Amendment Regulations 2000 (No 1)
This circular advises agencies of changes to the Public Service Regulations, made under the Public Service Act 1999
Circular 2000/5: Termination of employment under paragraph 29(3)(d) of the Public Service Act 1999 - inability to perform duties because of physical or mental incapacity
Concerns the use of the Public Service Act 1999 to terminate the employment of an APS employee because of incapacity where the employee is not eligible for invalidity benefits under superannuation legislation
Circular 2000/4: Resignation and failure to return to duty
Explains how resignation under the Public Service Act 1999 is different in some respects from resignation under the old PS Act
