Description
Keypoints
- Central agency heads, in consultation with the Public Service Commissioner and Cluster Directors General, have agreed on responsibilities for key functions at the centre of government.
- A new set of principles and strategies to guide how central agencies will work each other, clusters, line agencies and external stakeholders.
- Ensuring effective interactions between central agencies, clusters and agencies, will improve the delivery of Government policy and service delivery outcomes in an appropriate, efficient and effective way.
Detailed Outline
Keypoints
- Central agency heads, in consultation with the Public Service Commissioner and Cluster Directors General, have agreed on responsibilities for key functions at the centre of government.
- A new set of principles and strategies to guide how central agencies will work each other, clusters, line agencies and external stakeholders.
- Ensuring effective interactions between central agencies, clusters and agencies, will improve the delivery of Government policy and service delivery outcomes in an appropriate, efficient and effective way.
Attachment: Towards a Strategic Centre – New Ways of Working
The Strategic Centre Initiative focuses on areas of intersection between the central agencies: Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), NSW Treasury and the Department of Finance and Services (DFS). In addition, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has key central functions, with its independence enshrined in legislation.
This initiative has involved clarifying functions, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of each central agency. It will also change the way central agencies work with each other, clusters and external stakeholders. To provide greater coherence, key areas of responsibility have been identified:
- DPC – focuses on performance & priorities including policies, initiatives and events
- NSW Treasury – focuses on effective financial and economic management
- DFS – focuses on policy reform of, and delivers, enabling functions to support clusters
- PSC – focuses on people management, capability and workforce development.
Together these agencies have a key coordination role in working with clusters to deliver the Government's policies and services priorities for the community, as outlined in NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW Number One.
A shared vision has been agreed: Central agencies will add value to policy and service outcomes for the residents of NSW by working effectively with each other, clusters, line agencies and external stakeholders.
Further, lead and support responsibilities for 25 key functions have also been agreed. The role of each agency is outlined in the attached brochure: 'Towards a Strategic Centre – New Ways of Working' together with a set of principles and strategies. A Key Functions-Responsibility Matrix is also attached.Further details about the Strategic Centre Initiative are available at www.nsw.gov.au/strategic-centre.
Getting the institutional relationships right and demonstrating effective interactions between agencies at the centre of Government, clusters and stakeholders external to Government, is crucial. In turn, this enables the NSW Public Sector to deliver the Government's policy and service delivery outcomes in an appropriate, efficient and effective way.
Chris Eccles
Director General
Which agencies does this Circular apply to?
All public sector agencies other than State Owned Corporations. 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.
Who needs to know about this Circular?
Directors General, Chief Executive Officers, Senior Executive Service staff, Senior Officers and staff with regular interactions with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, NSW Treasury, Department of Finance and Services and the Public Service Commission.
Further information.
Mr Peter Connelly, Executive Director, Performance and Management Branch, Department of Premier and Cabinet, 02 9228 5575, [email protected]
Dr Caralee McLiesh, Deputy Secretary, Human and Social Services, NSW Treasury, 02 9228 5372, [email protected]
Mr Anthony Lean, Deputy Director-General, Policy and Executive Services, Department of Finance and Services, 02 9372 8877, [email protected],
Mr Peter McIlwain, Executive Director, Public Sector Values, Public Service Commission, 02 9272 6039, [email protected].
Overview
Compliance
- Not Mandatory
AR Details
- Date Issued
- Oct 23, 2012
- Review Date
- Jun 13, 2024
- Replaces
-
- Replaced By
-
Contacts
- Contact
- Contact us
- Phone
- 02 9228 5555
- Publishing Entity
- Department of Premier and Cabinet
- Issuing Entity
- Department of Premier and Cabinet