Below are some tips on understanding your offer and the conditions of engagement that you will be employed under.
Types of offers
The terms and conditions of employment for ACT Public Service employees are defined in enterprise agreements. If you are unsure which Enterprise Agreement applies to your role, please discuss with the contact officer or recruitment officer that issued your offer. The type of employment being offered will be one of the following:
- Permanent appointment and probation: A permanent role is called an appointment and you become a permanent officer, which may be conditional upon the satisfactory completion of a probation period. Your letter of offer will advise you if a probation period applies. The probation period may differ depending on the job, but is usually six months. Employees whose performance and/or behaviour do not reach the required standard during the probation period may have their probation extended or employment terminated. Upon successful completion of your probation your appointment will be confirmed, and the permanent role you are in becomes known as your nominal role.
- Promotion: A promotion occurs when an existing permanent officer is selected and appointed to a higher classification than the classification they hold before the promotion.
- Temporary transfer including higher duties: Temporary transfer occurs where an existing permanent officer is selected to perform the duties of a role at the same level or at a higher office for a defined period. This is called an acting role. Temporary transfers can be extended, and can also result in permanent appointment to the role at a later date if this was specified when the role was advertised. Transfers at level can occur without advertising, including permanent transfers at level.
- Temporary employment contract: A temporary employment contract will be issued for a defined period where the role is temporary or casual and the successful candidate does not already work in ACT Government as a permanent employee.
- Executive contract: An executive contract will be issued for a defined period. Executive contracts are short-term if they are issued for up to two years and long-term if they are issued for up to five years. Variations to contracts can also be made. Further information about executive employment is in the Executive Handbook.
Pre-Employment Integrity Checks
Offers of employment are made under the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and are made on the basis that you satisfy all relevant pre-employment checks.
All new ACTPS employees must complete a number of pre-employment checks before starting employment including proof of identity check comprised of proof of date of birth (copy of birth certificate or current passport), proof of Australian citizenship/residency/current working entitlements and proof of name change, e.g. Marriage Certificate or Change of Name by Deed Poll (if applicable).
Other pre-employment checks may include:
- mandatory qualifications and/or registration certificates (if applicable)
- national police check or security clearance;
- completion of a medical check or details of medical history;
- details of previous residential addresses or overseas travel history; and/or
- disclosure of private interests or conflict of interest declaration and acknowledgements of ACTPS workplace policies such as use of ICT.
Salary and allowances
Your starting salary will be advised in your letter of offer. Most successful applicants will be commenced at the base increment point of a classification, unless they are being transferred at level or have negotiated a higher increment. All staff are paid fortnightly and payslips are sent to your nominated email address. Salaries are paid into a bank account, credit union or building society accounts.
Timesheets are required to be submitted by casual staff and employees who perform shift work. Shift workers will be paid penalties, overtime and short term higher duties from information recorded on their timesheets a fortnight in arrears. All casual employees are also paid their wages fortnightly in arrears.
Superannuation
Superannuation employer contributions are payable in addition to salary and allowances. Employees who are currently members of either the Public Sector Superannuation (defined benefit) Scheme (PSSdb) or the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) may elect to continue to contribute to these superannuation funds.
For new employees who are not members of either the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme defined benefit or Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, the ACTPS offers a choice of superannuation funds ('Super Choice'). If you do not choose your own superannuation fund, your superannuation will be paid into the standard default fund of the ACT Government – Aware Super.
If you are a former member of the CSS and have a preserved benefit, it is strongly recommended that you seek advice from ComSuper before accepting this offer of employment. Please consider seeking financial advice if you need help making decisions about superannuation.
Salary packaging
The ACTPS provides salary packaging services for eligible ACTPS employees. Most permanent, temporary contract and executive staff are eligible other than independent contractors, judges and labour hire staff as set out in the salary packaging policy.
There are more than 20 items available to salary package, as set out in the ACTPS Salary Packaging Manual. If you have an existing salary package or wish to start salary packaging, phone Shared Services on (02) 6207 9000 or email HRSharedServices@act.gov.au. It is strongly recommended you seek independent financial advice if you plan to salary package.
Mobility and recognition of prior service
The ACT Public Service recognises most entitlements from the Australian Public Service. Mobility arrangements allow people who move from a permanent Australian Public Service position to a permanent ACT Public Service position to take their accrued leave and recognition of service entitlements with them. Please read the Prior Service information provided to you. To be eligible to access mobility arrangements a person moving from the APS to the ACTPS needs to resign from their permanent APS position at 8:30am on the same day they start their permanent ACTPS position.