In this newsletter

Dear HR Community,

In this edition of the HR ComPrac newsletter, we share some of the achievements of the HR community over 2022. The programs and initiatives these teams have implemented showcase excellent work across the sector. We invite you to learn more about what your peers have been doing and join us in celebrating their success.

To guide you to find the right resource or information, we have tagged newsletter items against their corresponding human resource capabilities.

Also in this newsletter you’ll find an invitation to attend the next HR ComPrac event on 28 February 2023. The HR Advisory Board feel it is important to acknowledge the hard work HR professionals have put into guiding their organisations and people through the last few challenging years. We have designed an inspiring and interactive event that focuses on supporting your own wellbeing and each other. If you can’t attend the upcoming ComPrac event I encourage you to stay connected with the HR community and reach out to your network for guidance and support.

The HR Advisory Board and I wish you all the best as we head into a successful year.

Sally-Anne Lyster
Chair of HR Community of Practice, CPO of NSW Treasury

Sector HR News and Resources

People Manager Uplift program 2023 – invitation to a HR briefing session

HR teams are invited to a briefing session on 21 February to learn more about the PSC’s People Manager Capability Uplift program of work for 2023.

The initiative is open to people managers across NSW Government and includes the People Manager Masterclass series and the People Manager Group Mentoring program. You'll receive a communications pack to help promote the programs in your agency.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the PSC Capability Design team.

Tags: talent management

Career Development Workshop for Deaf NSW Public Service Employees

While all employees can find career growth challenging, people who are Deaf may face additional barriers.

Deaf public sector employees are invited to a free, 1-day workshop to be held on 15 March in Parramatta. The aim of day is to develop participant knowledge and confidence to identify and apply for career growth opportunities within the sector. The workshop will be delievered entirely in Auslan by Sweeney Interpreting.

Please share this opportunity with your colleagues. Participants must register for the workshop before 22 February.

Tags: talent management; organisational culture

Australian HR Institute (AHRI) recognises Department of Planning and Environment initiatives

Excellence in Aboriginal employment
The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) won the 2022 AHRI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Employment Award which recognises DPE’s excellence across multiple programs including mentoring, internships and cultural capability training.

Amanda McCarthy, Director Aboriginal People and Cultural Affairs, is thrilled to see the team recognised and “committed to embedding the perspectives and advancing the aspirations of Aboriginal people at DPE”.

DPE’s Aboriginal People and Culture team. Casey Miller and Amanda McCarthy (4th and 5th from R), collect the 2022 AHRI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Employment Award alongside their D&I colleagues.

Inclusive Workplace Award
AHRI also recognised DPE with the Inclusive Workplace Award for their work in influencing workplace culture through:

Establishing an intersectional employee group for consultation
Inclusive leadership communication
Support programs for parents
Employment programs for refugees and people with disability
A workplace adjustment passport
Inclusion strategies and action plans

For more information about these initiatives please contact Michael Rolik or Adam Giles.

Tags: talent management; organisational culture

Department of Customer Service initiatives - leading with inclusion to grow care and belonging

AHRI’s CEO Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award
Em Hogan, Secretary Department of Customer Service (DCS), won AHRI’s CEO Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award in December 2022.

The award recognises Em as a true champion of diversity and inclusion and acknowledges how her leadership has embedded a unique culture of care at DCS - one that enables people to bring their authentic selves to work.

DCS Secretary's Awards 2022. L-R Genevieve O’Neil, Kirsty Gaal, Mary Elia, Amber Chandler, Jody Grima, Anne-Marie Holubinskyj, The Hon. Minister Victor Dominello MP and Josh Faulkner

2022 AHRI Awards. L-R Lauryn Bae Brokate, Carlie Bitz, Em Hogan and Josh Faulkner

The Secretary’s Award for Making Inclusion Happen
DCS’s annual Secretary’s Awards recognise the incredible work done every single day at DCS, and how everyone is bringing a culture of care and belonging to life.

In 2022, the Healthy Hybrid Habits program team won the Secretary’s Award for Making Inclusion Happen. Developed through a huge collaborative effort across People and Culture and other teams, the sector-leading approach encompasses practices, behaviours, and mindsets that we all need for our new world of working.

Explore the Healthy Hybrid Habits resource kit online today.

International Critical Communication Award
The Telco Authority was recognised at the International Critical Communication Awards (ICCA) for its commitment to putting people and inclusion at the heart of what they do, winning the Champion for equality, diversity, and inclusion Award. Visit the ICCA website for a full list of award recipients.

Tags: organisational culture; workforce strategy

One Treasury recognition program

NSW Treasury’s ‘One Treasury’ program recognises and celebrates individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional performance across a range of award categories.

Head of Talent Acquisition, Ken Boots, won the Corporate Support Award for outstanding support of talent acquisition endeavours and Rhys Cull, Talent Officer, won the Inclusivity Award for successfully leading Treasury’s Disability Confident Recruiter certification. Congratulations Ken and Rhys on your fantastic achievements.

Contact Jean Li at Treasury to find out more about the awards.

Tags: organisational culture; workforce strategy

International Women’s Day: Innovating for a gender equal future

All NSW public sector employees are invited to an online event to hear female senior leaders discuss how innovation can accelerate progress towards a gender equal future. Speakers include STEM journalist Rae Johnston and a panel of female leaders from the public sector and academia.

The virtual event will be held on 2 March from 10am – 11am. Please share this event with your colleagues and ask them to register using their work email address.

Tags: organisational culture

Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Disability Employment and Inclusion initiatives

In August 2022, Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) created a Disability and Inclusion Officer role that manages, coordinates, and champions disability recruitment and inclusion initiatives and that supports managers to become disability confident recruiters.

Complementing this initiative is DPC’s partnership with Jigsaw, a social enterprise that trains and transitions people with disability into employment. To learn about the benefits of this partnership, watch this video of Britt Lloyd’s successful placement into DPC.

Please contact Elizabeth Zammit to find out more about these initiatives.

Tags: organisational culture; workforce strategy

2023 state election caretaker period

The caretaker period runs from 3 March until either the election result is clear (if the current Government is returned) or the new Premier is commissioned to form Government (if there is a change of Government).

Please read the Premier’s Memorandum for more information on the caretaker period and conventions.

Tags: general HR

Upcoming events

HR ComPrac event: Prioritising wellbeing for HR professionals

The upcoming HR ComPrac event on 28 February is a chance for our community to connect face-to-face, to reflect on our achievements and challenges in recent years, and to learn techniques to manage our own wellbeing so we can continue our best work.

You will hear from Sue Langley, Founder and CEO of the Langley Group and a global leader in Neuroscience, Emotional Intelligence and Positive Psychology, on evidence-based wellbeing tools and how HR professionals can apply them.

This interactive event is relevant for all HR public sector professionals. It is important that you reserve your place as this is a limited ticket event.

Tags: organisational culture

Your learning and development opportunities

NSW Government Strategic Workforce Planning Masterclass

Are you responsible for implementing strategic workforce planning initiatives or are you interested in getting started?

build your confidence and capability in strategic workforce planning
connect and learn from your peers across the sector
learn from Alex Hagen, CEO of Kienco, who helps governments and global organisations build their future workforces

Register for the March/April course via the IPAA NSW website.

Tags: workforce strategy

The Spark Masterclass 3: Adapting to the changing role of HR

The Spark Masterclass 3, facilitated by Tanya Hammond CEO of Tailored HR Solutions, explores the changing role of HR in the NSW public sector, the drivers of change and the role of HR as a strategic driver and advisor of the business and sector.

Listen to the recording to find out more.

Tags: general HR

Joining the HR ComPrac ensures that you are up-to-date with sector-wide news and development opportunities. If you have colleagues who are not part of the community or if you have new team members, please encourage them to sign up.

Does your organisation have resources or cases studies relevant to the work we do as HR professionals? Please contact CoHRP@comprac.nsw.gov.au if you would like to share your great work with the sector and contribute to the development of others.