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Last updated: 9 January 1997
Circular 1996/19: Studies assistance
Please note: This document is for reference purposes only and is no longer considered by the APS Commission to be current. It may contain good practice advice and/or advice on the transitional arrangements between the 1922 and 1999 Public Service Acts.
I am writing to advise you about the changes that have taken place relating to the management of studies assistance in the APS. The major change is that agencies now have the responsibility for setting up their own studies assistance practices and guidelines. This is in line with the Government's aim of creating a legislative and industrial environment which will provide APS managers with a flexible employment framework, to better enable agencies to meet the objectives set for them by the Government. This means that agencies have the freedom to structure their studies assistance practices to meet their own particular corporate objectives.
The provisions relating to Study Leave for non-SES officers which were contained in Determination No. 39 of 1991 under the Public Service Act have been superseded by the APS General Employment Conditions Award 1995 (GECA), which was ratified on 14 December 1995.
Agencies now have the discretion to define their own needs and requirements relating to Study Leave, bearing in mind that the provisions outlined within GECA provide a base-level standard. The PSMPC will no longer be providing ongoing advice or a set of Service-wide guidelines relating to study leave. The PSC Personnel Management Guidelines Studybank Studies Assistance Guidelines published in 1991 have been revoked.
The Commission does, however, recognise that agencies may require some assistance in setting up their own set of guidelines and practices if they have not already done so. I have attached a set of good practice principles for managing study leave which may assist agencies in formulating their guidelines. These principles are also available through the Commission's home page on the Internet along with a copy of the relevant section of GECA.
A number of agencies have suggested that it would be useful for officers responsible for administering Study Leave within agencies to set up an information-sharing network. Pip Taylor, Studybank Officer at the Department of Defence, has agreed to co-ordinate this network. Agency practitioners interested in forming a network can contact Pip by Email through this PSMPC Studybank page.
Sample guidelines, from large and smaller agencies, are provided:
- Department of Workplace Relations & Small Business (pdf document)
- Department of Defence
This circular has been cleared by the Department of Workplace Relations & Small Business and copies have been forwarded to the relevant unions.
Yours sincerely
Dominic Downie
Team Leader
Strategic People Management Team
29 November 1996
