Premier's Memorandum 96-16 advised Ministers and Chief Executive Officers of the requirement to develop and implement quality planning processes in all aspects of their management and operations. The process was intended to assist in realising the Government's goal of achieving a world class public sector which delivers value for money, quality services to its customers and the community.

Most agencies have now undertaken an organisational self-assessment against the Australian Quality Awards' criteria for defining sustainable organisational excellence. A small number of agencies have used alternative systems.

Guidelines have been developed to help agencies progress from self-assessment through the process of developing strategies and actions for improvement in their corporate and business plans.

The guidelines define what is meant by quality in the NSW Public Sector, how implementation is being pursued and articulate how agencies can take the outputs and outcomes from their self-assessment and link these to their planning cycle. The guidelines have been developed with the assistance of an agencies reference group and input from the Chief Executives Standing Committee on Quality.

C. Gellatly
Director-General