On 30 June 2018, 12 people worked with the agency at various grade levels, nine covering

full-time ongoing, non-ongoing and three temporary employment arrangements, all based in Sydney, NSW. The agency did not have staff who identified as Indigenous during the year, but will seek opportunities to address the Australian Government Indigenous employment policy in the 2018–19 year and beyond where recruitment is required.

Table 6: Agency staff during the 2017–18 year
Class Female Male   Permanent/Full time Non-ongoing APS Temp/Contract   Total
CEO   1   1       1
EL2 1 2   2   1   3
EL1 2 1   1 2     3
APS6                
APS5 2 0   1   1   2
APS4 1 2   1 1 1   3
Total 6 6   6 3 3   12

Learning and development

The agency provided learning and development opportunities for staff to support the functions

of the agency, with staff attending various conferences and training programs throughout the year to supplement already acquired skills and knowledge.

The goal of approved learning and development was to enhance the skills base of the existing staff to minimise the need for external assistance, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and operate with maximum efficiency as an independent agency.

Collective determination

Formal separation of the agency from the Department of Employment came into effect on

17 November 2014 upon approval by the Minister for Employment of a collective determination under section 24(1) of the PS Act, which was signed by the agency Chief Executive Officer

on 20 November 2017.

Performance pay

Agency staff do not receive performance bonuses or performance pay. Non-SES staff were covered by the s24(1) collective determination signed 10 November 2014 and the current s24(1) collective determination signed on 20 November 2017, which provided for pay increments as per the standard pay scale.

Work health and safety

The agency is committed to fostering a proactive and collaborative approach to the management of employee health, safety and wellbeing.

The agency had an elected health and safety representative who successfully completed the accredited training course, assuming the responsibilities of that position as set out in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

The agency also had a trained first aid officer with access to a first aid facility and a trained floor warden for emergency evacuation procedures.

Employee assistance program

During part of the year, the agency had access to the services provided by Davidson Trahaire Corpsych then Benestar , which included providing staff with confidential and personalised counselling for personal and vocational/professional matters.

Ethical standards

The agency maintained its commitment to high ethical standards by reinforcing the Australian Public Service (APS) values and APS code of conduct.

Induction programs highlighted the importance of APS values and the code of conduct as a vehicle for instilling a positive, collaborative and professional workplace culture with the aim of establishing the agency as a leading APS employer.

During the 2017–18 year, there were no formal cases involving alleged breaches of the APS values or the APS code of conduct.