After endorsement by the Government, careful development and consultation with agencies and major stakeholders, the first annual Workforce Profile collection will formally begin on Monday 19th July, 1999. This represents a significant milestone in the NSW Government's Corporate Service Reform agenda. All public sector agencies are required to participate, including State Owned Corporations and Government Trading Enterprises. The Treasurer has written to each of the non-budget sector agencies to advise of his support for the project and endorsing their participation.

In terms of the administrative matters underpinning this first collection, the Corporate Service Reform Team are undertaking the final briefing sessions to cover these matters in depth directly with agency representatives. The attached copy of the Workforce Profile Workbook sets out the data item list, definitions and format requirements for the first collection. Copies of this document are also being provided, together with additional information and assistance, to agency representatives attending the final round of briefing sessions.

Recent correspondence to all CEOs from the Executive Director, Corporate Services Reform, gave details of the survey findings from the whole-of-sector consultation and the consequent changes made to the proposed initial data set. CEOs were also requested to ensure that all employees are advised of the data collection exercise and the confidentiality arrangements, prior to forwarding data to the Corporate Services Reform Unit in Premier's Department. Please note that, from now on, all new permanent, temporary (other than employment agency staff) and casual employees will need to be advised when first employed that their data will be forwarded on an anonymous basis to the annual NSW Public Sector Workforce Profile collection.

The Privacy Code of Practice and companion Management Arrangements documents for the Workforce Profile will be distributed to all agencies for access by staff as required. The updated version of the Personnel Handbook, to be issued shortly by the Public Sector Management Office, has been amended to include appropriate references to the NSW Public Sector Workforce Profile. The first whole-of-sector report based upon the data collected is expected by the end of 1999. Agencies will receive back their own data analysed in the same terms, to enable comparison with the sector.

Corporate Services Reform Team, Premier's Department is investigating workforce planning tools and methodologies to assist with strategic human resources planning, drawing on the Workforce Profile data, at whole-of-sector and agency level. Advice on possible approaches will be provided to all agencies following the data collection phase.

I request your assistance in ensuring this first annual collection of the NSW Public Sector Workforce Profile is conducted as efficiently and cooperatively as possible. The collection period will conclude on Friday 20th August 1999 by which time all data returns from agencies will be required.

Enquiries regarding the Workforce Profile should be directed to Dr Liz Coombs, Executive Director, Corporate Services Reform, on (02) 9228 3096 or Ms Jo Grisard, Principal Project Director, on telephone (02) 9228 5130, emails to [email protected].

Col Gellatly
Director-General

Related to C2000-39, C2001-12, C2001-18