The Government is committed to accommodating the needs of a culturally diverse public sector workforce.

Chief Executives are asked to distribute the attached list - Days of Religious Significance for Multicultural NSW for 2009, provided by the Community Relations Commission.

The attached list is not a comprehensive list of all days of religious observance, but a guide to assist managers in accommodating the needs of employees. Supervisors have the flexibility to approve an employee's request for leave for religious reasons irrespective of whether the date is listed or not.

Chief Executives are asked to remind managers and supervisors to be sensitive in accommodating the needs of employees requiring access to their leave entitlements and flexible work hours for the purpose of observing religious duties. Further details are contained in Chapter 6, Section 13 of the Personnel Handbook, http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/publications/personnel_handbook.

To access leave for religious reasons, employees are required to seek the agreement of the relevant Manager.

This applies to all public sector agencies. This includes all agencies and employees in the Government Service (Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Divisions and Special Employment Divisions), the Teaching Service, NSW Police and the NSW Health Service. State Owned Corporations are encouraged to adopt provisions consistent with this circular.

John Lee
Director General

This circular supersedes Circular No. 2008-03