ACT Public Sector Classification Review Project
In 2010 the Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate (then known as the Chief Minister's Department) and unions covering
clerical, professional, technical and general staff reached an agreement to conduct a review of ACTPS classification
structures and salaries.
The aims of the Review are:
a) Achieve greater consistency across the ACT Public Service (ACTPS) in classifying positions and to improve wage
equity between positions having equivalent work level standards and work value requirements;
b) Facilitate recruitment to the ACTPS by making the competencies, qualifications and remuneration levels for ACTPS
vacancies more accessible, and intelligible, to potential applicants;
c) Improve mobility within the ACTPS by removing structural barriers;
d) Accommodate the changing needs of a modern public sector workforce, including the consideration of the most
effective way of moving to a single salary spine; and
e) Rationalise and simplify the classification structure for the ACTPS, which currently includes 236 classifications, in
order to improve administrative efficiency.
Consistent with the agreement with the unions, the work of the project will initially focus on trades,
technical/professional, and health professional and legal professional fields. However the full scope of the project
extends to cover other key employment groups, including Administrative Services Officers, Information Technology
Officers, Correctional Officers, Public Affairs Officers, and Disability Services Officers, and many others as well.
The following classifications are excluded from the review:
• Statutory Office Holders, Directors-General, Executives, Bus Drivers, Transport Officers, Teachers, Ambulance
Officers, Fire Brigade Officers, Medical Officers and Nursing Staff.
There are five elements of the Review which will be completed in the order listed.
• Element 1 - Recommend the most effective way of creating a new vocational stream structure
• Element 2 - Recommend appropriate market based salary levels for each proposed vocational stream
• Element 3 - Consider the most effective way of moving to a single salary spine for the ACTPS
• Element 4 - Simplify and reduce current classifications wherever possible
• Element 5 - Recommend an implementation process and related transitional arrangements
Independent consultants have been engaged to carry forward major aspects of the project.
Tim O’Shea and Ann Smith of Black Circle Pty Ltd started full-time work on the project on 27 April 2011.
The consultants’ Interim Report on Element 1 was finalised on 20 July 2011.
A copy of the Interim Report can be downloaded at the link below.
Element 1 of the ACT Public Service Classification Review 2011 - Interim Report [
PDF 892KB]
