N A S N E O N I R O A L M O S A N T O T E V E O R D E N I

N S W G O V E R M N E N T G R A D U A T E P R O G

R A M O N E C H O I C E E N D L E S S O P P O R T

U N I T I E S N S W G O V E R M N E N T G R A D U

A T E P R O G R A M O N E C H O I C E E N D L E S

S O P P O R T U N I T I E S N S W G O V E R M N E

N T G R A D U A T E P R O G R A M O N E C H O I C

E E N D L E S S O P P O R T U N I T I E S N S W G

O V E R M N E N T G R A D U A T E P R O G R A M O

N E C H O I C E E N D L E S S O P P O R T U N I T

I E S N S W G O V E R M N E N T G R A D U A T E P

R O G R A M O N E C H O I C E E N D L E S S O P P

O R T U N I T I E S N S W G O V E R M N E N T G R

A D U A T E P R O G R A M O N E C H O I C E E N D

L E S S O P P O R T U N I T I E S N S W G O V E R

M N E N T G R A D U A T E P R O G R A M O N E C H

O I C E E N D L E S S O P P O R T U N I T I E S N

S W G O V E R M N E N T G R A D U A T E P R O G R

PROGRAMGUIDE

2021

2021 PROGRAM GUIDE 1

TABLE OF CONTENTSOverview ..........................................................................................................2

Program Snapshot .........................................................................................5

Employment ................................................................................................... 6

Operational Arrangements ..........................................................................8

Support .........................................................................................................10

Development................................................................................................. 12

Performance .................................................................................................. 15

Program Evaluation ..................................................................................... 16

Tab A: Success Criteria ............................................................................... 17

Tab B: Graduate Profile .............................................................................. 18

Resources .....................................................................................................20


OVERVIEWIntroductionThe NSW Government Graduate Program offers experience, exposure and development across a diverse range of government agencies strengthening the NSW Government’s employee value proposition as an employer of choice for graduates. The Program offers two streams: the Primary stream and an occupational specific Legal stream.

Primary streamFor the first time, the 2021 Program will include an Engineering functional area within the Primary stream. In this rotation, graduates will use their analytical and problem-solving skills, gaining exposure and contributing to high-profile initiatives that impact the citizens of NSW.

Graduates will rotate within the Primary stream gaining skills and experience in policy, project and other Program initiatives covering one or more of the following functional areas:

Legal streamThe Legal stream has been designed to attract and retain entry-level legal professionals to NSW Government. Graduates will rotate within the Legal stream and gain knowledge, skills and experience in such areas as policy, litigation or advice. This exposure has been designed to provide a career pathway for legal graduates to apply to be admitted as a solicitor in NSW Government. Roles in the Legal stream are currently only available in the Sydney Metropolitan area.

• Analytics

• Audit and Risk

• Communications and Marketing

• Digital Design

• Digital Development – Solutions Architecture

• Engineering

• Finance/Business/Economics

• HR (People)

• Policy

• Procurement

• Project Management

• Service Delivery


LocationsThe 2021 Program will build on NSW Government’s regional presence in the Hunter, Central West, New England and North Coast regions. Agencies are encouraged to consider placing graduates in Bathurst, Dubbo, Lithgow, Orange, Gosford, Maitland, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Armidale or Tamworth. Graduates who are placed in a regional area will only rotate across agencies within the same region (agencies are to manage this by exception).

Program benefits for agencies• Rigorous capability-based assessment approach

• High calibre talent

• Access to graduates from diverse backgrounds and disciplines

• Attraction and retention of local/regional talent

• Comprehensive advertising and marketing campaign, raising the profile of NSW Government as an employer of choice

• Targeted university visits including regional locations

• Regional workshop delivery


Program objectivesThe NSW Government Graduate Program is a structured employment and development program designed to attract and retain talented graduates to build public sector capability and develop a cohort of future leaders.

A key goal is to provide participants with accelerated exposure to the sector, its governing framework and principles, and its operations. Graduates will be equipped with transferable skills and a sound understanding of the workings of the public sector.

Underpinning principles• The Primary stream will target entry level graduates in disciplines relevant

to commonly found roles in the sector (not graduates in professional fields that are relevant to only one or two clusters).

• The Legal stream will target entry level graduates with a law degree.

• The number of graduate roles in the Program each year will be based on function and business needs, as determined by participating agencies.

• The Program is intended to build long term organisation capabilities and not to be used as a means of addressing short term vacancy pressures.

• The Program will provide participants with a structured and challenging experience intended to develop generic capabilities relevant to working in the public sector, as well as any skills relevant to the participant’s professional discipline and organisational needs.

Cost of the program Home agencies will fund graduate salaries (plus on-costs), Diploma of Government (Diploma) or Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (Graduate Diploma) fees (approx. $6,300) and mentoring fees (approx. $900) per graduate.


PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

Development• Primary stream - Diploma of

Government

• Legal stream - Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice

• Personal development plans

Employment• Primary stream: Clerk 3/4 or

equivalent, Year 1• Legal stream: Legal Officer

Grade 1, Year 3• 18 months temporary

employment with the home agency

• 3 x 6-month rotations• Commencing 8 Feb 2021

Performance• Performance plans and reviews

• Ongoing role (at level) on successful completion

Support• Program induction

• Agency coordinator

• Structured mentoring

• Executive sponsor

• Networking events

• Microsoft Teams platform

• LinkedIn graduate alumni group


EMPLOYMENT• 18 month program with 3 x 6-month

placements*.

• Primary stream: Generalist graduate role with salary at Clerk Grade 3/4 or equivalent.

• Legal stream: Legal Officer role with salary at Legal Officer Grade 1, Year 3.

• Agencies will meet the graduate’s salary and on-costs.

• Temporary employment for 18 months in the home agency.

• Graduates will be offered an ongoing role (at level) in the home agency, on successful completion of the Program in accordance with the GSE legislation (Success criteria at Tab A). Citizenship, residency and visa requirements will apply.

*Note: In some agencies graduates will rotate outside of the home agency for the second placement only.


Placement Start Date Finish Date

Placement 1 8 February 2021 8 August 2021

Placement 2 9 August 2021 6 February 2022

Placement 3 7 February 2022 5 August 2022

Placements• The first placement is in the home agency with the second and third

placements, wherever possible, based on agency requirements for specific qualifications and/or functional areas.

• Placement decisions will be coordinated by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in conjunction with Agency Coordinators.

• Secondment mechanism will be used for placements outside the home agency.

• Graduates will be paid by the home agency for the 18 month duration.


Working hours and leave arrangements• Leave entitlements generally (including recreation and sick leave) are as per the

home agency. The home agency’s Agency Coordinator will make arrangements with the graduate for managing leave while on placement.

• Flexible working hours are as per the placement agency’s flexible working hours agreement. However, where conditions of employment at the placement agency are significantly different to those applying in the Public Service (e.g. HealthShare NSW), then the home agency’s flexible working hours agreement applies. Accrued flexible working hours must be exhausted within the placement they are earned. This arrangement needs to be communicated to graduates at the commencement of each placement by the manager and both the home and placement Agency Coordinators.

• Parental leave will be granted in accordance with the home agency’s Award or Agreement. Graduates should discuss their parental leave entitlements with their home agency’s Agency Coordinator. Wherever possible, the Program will support requests for graduates who access parental leave to defer their Diploma or Graduate Diploma studies and continue in the Program.

• The Program is designed to provide graduates with diverse opportunities and experience in NSW Government. To remain in the Program, graduates will not be able to apply for at-level or higher graded roles or be temporarily assigned to other roles. Exceptions will only be considered where the proposed re-assignment is for a short duration of up to two weeks to backfill a role while someone is on leave.

• Interruptions to placements can disrupt the workplace and interfere with the graduate’s placement and ability to complete the Program including study towards the Diploma or Graduate Diploma.

• Study leave is not available to graduates to undertake the Diploma or Graduate Diploma course. Graduates attend workshops during working hours and, wherever possible, managers will allocate work, including within a team or on a work-based project that will assist the graduate to complete their studies.

• Leave without pay requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis but in general will not be available to graduates.

• If a graduate leaves the Program it will not generally be possible to backfill the role.

OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS


Marketing and recruitment• Advertising, marketing and recruitment

campaigns are managed by the PSC.

• Agencies are involved in the recruitment and selection process and issue letters of offer. The PSC will provide a template offer letter including all standard employment and Program specific conditions.

• The PSC arranges reference, criminal history, qualification, citizenship and visa checks.

• Agencies will arrange any additional pre-employment checks i.e. Working With Children checks.


Executive sponsor• The home agency will identify an executive sponsor (at the Senior

Executive level).

• The executive sponsor will act as a senior role model and assist the graduate to build networks and stay in touch with their home agency while on placement.

• An executive sponsor may be matched to one or more graduates.

SUPPORT

Program induction ‘Welcome Breakfast’• The Program’s ‘Welcome Breakfast’ is where graduates will learn more

about the structure of the Program, hear from key public sector leaders and meet their graduate cohort. This event is on the graduates’ first day of work, 8 February 2021.

• Agency Coordinators are invited to attend to meet and support their new graduates.

Mentoring• A structured mentoring program will be delivered by an external

provider.

• The home agency will identify a mentor (ideally at the Grade 11/12 level) located outside of the graduate’s work unit and not in a direct line of authority.

• As the mentor helps the graduate gain more confidence, clearer purpose and insight, it is considered that Grade 11/12 is the appropriate level as staff at this level will have the relevant insight and experience to invest in the growth and development of the graduate.

• Agencies will pay for the delivery of the mentoring program and will be invoiced directly by the service provider.


Governance• Governance of the Program is

managed through a Steering Committee chaired by the PSC with a representative from each participating agency (i.e. Agency Coordinators).

• Agency Coordinators play a significant role in the experience of the graduate. They are the graduate’s first point of contact and provide ongoing support throughout the Program.

• Agency Coordinators arrange a Mentor and Executive Sponsor for the graduate, manage the induction process, placements and the secondment to the host agency.

• Agency Coordinators educate and support managers about the structure and requirements of the Program.

• Agency Coordinators oversee the Performance and Development Plan process including quality assurance and timely completion.

Networking• The PSC will arrange a suite

of themed networking events, providing an opportunity for graduates to gain exposure to both public and private sector leaders, broaden their understanding of the NSW Government and develop networking skills.

• The PSC will manage an online collaboration and networking platform for the graduates in Microsoft Teams. This platform provides an opportunity for graduates to hold informal discussions, link to e-Learning and Program resources, access the Graduate Performance and Development platform and keep up to date with announcements and events.

• Graduates will also be invited to join the NSW Government Graduate Program LinkedIn group. This alumnus will support incoming graduates by providing advice about moving to Sydney and regional locations and experiences in the Program.


DEVELOPMENT

Formal learning and development

• Manager briefings will be delivered by the PSC at the commencement of the Program and each new rotation. Additional briefings can be arranged at any time.

• Participation in the Diploma or Graduate Diploma, including attendance at workshops, is mandatory. Managers should not approve leave requests on scheduled workshop days unless exceptional circumstances exist.

• Managers will discuss the Diploma/Graduate Diploma workshop modules with the graduate and allocate work that assists the graduate to complete their studies.

• Managers will allocate work that supports the graduate’s development in order to successfully meet all capabilities in the Graduate/Legal Graduate Role Description at the Program end.

• Agencies will pay the cost of the Diploma and contribute the same amount towards the cost of the Graduate Diploma. The remaining amount (approx. $4000) will be paid for by the legal graduate.

• Agencies will be invoiced directly by the relevant service provider.


Primary stream - Diploma of Government• The nationally recognised qualification will be delivered over 12 months.

• Course modules have been contextualised for NSW Government and mapped to the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework.

• Topic areas include: the role of government; projects; leadership in the workplace; research, compliance and policy; communication and negotiation (refer to Diploma of Government Handbook for detailed information including the types of work-based tasks that will be expected to meet learning outcomes).

• Blended learning includes online, workshops, coaching and work-based projects.

• Agencies will receive a refund for Diploma fees for graduates who leave the Program early as per the terms and conditions outlined in the Diploma fee invoice.

• If a graduate leaves the Program prior to the six-month mark, they will not be able to continue with the Diploma course and will receive a statement of attainment for completed units of study. Agencies will be able to seek a refund from the provider (as per point above).

• At the discretion of the home agency, graduates who leave the Program following the 6-month mark and remain in the sector can complete the Diploma online. If this option is taken up by the graduate, agencies will not receive a refund.

Legal stream – Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice• This course will be delivered over 12 months through the College of Law,

commencing in the second rotation with 5 days of face-to-face workshops.

• The Practical Legal Training Program is undertaken in three components:

| Coursework

| Work experience

| Continuing professional education

• Blended learning includes online and workshops.

• Successful completion of the Practical Legal Training leads to the award of the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) and prepares graduates for admission to practice as a solicitor.


Personal development plan• Development plans will be prepared and reviewed

as part of the broader performance management planning and review cycle, i.e. Graduate Performance and Development Plan (PDP).

• The Development report provided at the time of hire will inform personal development plans (report includes strengths and areas for development).


Performance planning and reviews• The Manager will manage the graduate’s performance on a

day-to-day basis, including weekly one-on-one meetings, regular feedback and a mid-point check-in.

• The Manager will develop a Graduate Performance and Development Plan (PDP) in consultation with the Agency Coordinator at the start of the six-month placement.

• The Manager should contact the previous Manager to discuss the graduate’s performance to inform the new PDPs objectives.

• The Manager will assess objectives and capabilities and provide a formal overall performance assessment rating at the end of the six-month placement.

• A dedicated online Graduate Performance and Development platform has been developed for consistency, visibility and accuracy in tracking graduate performance and development over the whole 18-month Program.

Management of unsatisfactory conduct or performance

• The Manager is responsible for raising and managing performance issues first with the graduate and then with human resources within the placement agency.

• The placement agency’s standard policy and procedures will be used for the resolution of any serious issues.

• The PSC Program Coordinator and the home agency’s Agency Coordinator must be kept informed about any instances of unsatisfactory conduct or performance.

Success criteria• The success criteria for conversion of the graduate’s

employment from temporary to ongoing at the end of the 18-month Program have been developed – see Tab A.

• Graduate attributes at time of hire and those expected at the end of the Program have been developed – see Tab B.

PERFORMANCE


PROGRAM EVALUATIONRecruitment

• Candidate survey following the recruitment process.

Mentoring• Graduate survey following the initial workshop

• Mentor survey following the initial workshop

Diploma and Graduate Diploma course• Evaluation reports from the Diploma and Graduate Diploma

providers to inform improvements for future intakes

Overall• Graduate survey at the end of each placement

• Manager survey at the end of each placement

• Mentor survey at the end of the first placement and end of the Program

• Performance is reported through the Graduate Performance and Development Plan

• Graduate exit survey

• Retention of graduates in the NSW public sector

• Longitudinal study of graduates


Component Criteria As assessed by

Development • Completes the Diploma of Government with a rating of ‘competent’

• Service Provider: formal assessments as part of the Diploma of Government

• Assessment of learning outcomes on work-based projects mapped to the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework and ‘Program End Graduate Profile’, as assessed by the service provider

Performance • Meets all capabilities at Program-end

• Overall, performance is at the ‘Achieving’ level

• Placement performance reviews

• Home agency reviews the overall progress and performance of the graduate

• Exceptions will be managed by the home agency

TAB A: SUCCESS CRITERIA Primary stream

Legal stream

Component Criteria As assessed by

Development • Completes all components of the Practical Legal Training

• Eligible to be admitted as a solicitor in the NSW Supreme Court

• The College of Law: formal assessments as part of the Graduate Diploma of Legal Training

• Practical Legal Training sign-off by the supervising solicitor

Performance • Meets all capabilities at Program-end

• Overall, performance is at the Achieving level

• Placement performance reviews

• Home agency reviews the overall progress and performance of the graduate

• Exceptions will be managed by the home agency


TAB B: GRADUATE PROFILE

Profile at time of hire Profile at program end

Qualifications • Undergraduate degree • Completed a Diploma of Government or Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice

Capabilities • Meets all focus capabilities:

• Manage self (intermediate)

• Communicate effectively (intermediate)

• Work collaboratively (foundational)

• Think and solve problems

• (intermediate)

• Project management (intermediate)

• Act with integrity (foundational)

• Meets all 16 capabilities at the Clerk Grade 3/4 or Legal Officer Grade 1

Experience • No work experience – may have some part-time and/or community work experience

• No prior government role requirement

• Practical work experience in two or more agencies

• Experience in policy, program initiatives and project work that covers multiple disciplines, or for the legal stream experience in litigation, policy or advice.

• Experience in writing for government

• Developed professional relationships and networks


Profile at time of hire Profile at program end

Other attributes

• Listens and communicates

• information clearly

• Acts in an honest, ethical and professional way

• Is curious about how government works

• Works well in a team and is willing to share information

• Is results focused and shows effective planning, research and analysis skills

• Shows positive attitude, energy and commitment to achieving goals

• Maintains motivation when tasks become difficult and is eager to learn

• Able to write for government, e.g. briefs, policy documents

• Operates in alignment with public sector ethics and values

• Knows how government works including: structure, procurement, budget processes, policy development as well as the Westminster system of government

• Builds professional relationships and supports others

• Applies project management skills within a government context, e.g. agency project management and change management frameworks

• Able to give and receive feedback and apply new skills

• Is adaptable and resilient in new situations

TAB B: GRADUATE PROFILE (CONTINUED)


RESOURCESOnline resourcesAbout the Program: psc.nsw.gov.au/graduates

Resources for graduate support network: psc.nsw.gov.au/graduatesupportresources

General contactsProgram general email: [email protected]

• PSC Program Lead Anita Hawtin [email protected] 02 9272 6028

• PSC Program Coordinator Donna Bristow [email protected] 02 9272 6029

http://psc.nsw.gov.au/graduates

http://psc.nsw.gov.au/graduatesupportresources

mailto:nswgraduateprogram%40psc.nsw.gov.au?subject=

mailto:anita.hawtin%40psc.nsw.gov.au?subject=

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