Annual Report 2011 - Legal Services Commissioner

People Matter
Survey 2010
The LSC participated in the Victorian
Public Service People Matter Survey
in August 2010. The survey measures
the perceptions of employees on the
application of values and employment
principles in the workplace. The
LSC recorded a staff participation
rate of 73%. The LSC is currently
implementing a number of processes
in response to the survey results.
Performance, Planning
and Development
(PDP) Plans
This year, staff completed their
PDP plans via the new online PDP
system that was developed in the
previous reporting year. The online
system helped reduce the time
taken to complete the 2010-11 PDP
cycle. Managers and staff were also
able to track and edit PDP plans
throughout the year.
Online module on
workplace bullying
A new online module on bullying
in the workplace is currently being
developed for the LSC. This module
will enable staff to complete an online
training program on workplace
bullying with an assessment outcome
upon completion. This module will
be a mandatory component as part
of the learning and development
standard in the PDP system.
Occupational
Health and Safety
The LSC is committed to occupational
health and safety compliance, as well
as the general health and wellbeing
of staff occupying the premises.
Issues relating to the maintenance
of a safe workplace and practices are
reported and considered through an
active Occupational Health and Safety
(OH&S) Committee in accordance
with the legislative requirements
and internal procedures.
The Committee is comprised of
representatives from each work area
who actively communicate with staff
and management to identify potential
issues relating to work processes and
facilities, and respond to any safety
concerns raised. The Committee met
six times during 2010-11. The initiatives
of the Committee include ergonomic
assessments, lighting assessments,
and improvements to the office and
work areas. During the year, the
OH&S Committee recommended
an air quality inspection and
temperature testing. The Committee
organised OH&S week in October
2010, which coincided with OH&S
week across Victoria.
The Committee organised a range
of activities as part of OH&S week,
including health checks, a guest
speaker from the VPS Open Minds
initiative speaking about mental
health issues, a healthy breakfast
and various exercises. There were
no reported OH&S related incidents
in the reporting year.
Fitness and Wellbeing
Committee
During the year, the LSC formed a
Fitness and Wellbeing Committee
that is responsible for organising
events and activities that promote
the benefits of good health and
fitness. The Committee seeks to
support staff who currently maintain
a healthy lifestyle and engage those
who may be disengaged from health
and fitness activities. The impact
within the organisation has been
very positive with over 80% of staff
participating in at least one activity
during the reporting year. Some of
the activities that were organised
during the year included:
• group fitness sessions
• a lawn bowls competition
• entering teams in running, netball
and soccer competitions, and
• yoga.
Merit, equity and
diversity principles
for recruitment and
conduct
The LSC is committed to applying
merit and equity principles to ensure
that applicants for employment
are assessed and evaluated
fairly and equitably on the basis
of the key selection criteria and
other accountabilities without
discrimination. The LSC recruited
for a number of roles during the year
applying the principles of merit and
equity, ensuring that we attract and
retain the best people and strive to
be an employer of choice. During 2010-
11, 24 positions were advertised in
which selection was made on applying
merit and equity principles in line with
the standards of the State Services
Authority. No selection grievances
were lodged this year.
The LSC is focused on promoting
workplace diversity. During the year,
LSC staff attended training convened
by Open Minds, which is a VPS initiative
that supports VPS employees with
a mental illness or those caring
for someone with a mental illness.
Staff also attended International
Women’s Day activities including a
function organised by the Institute
of Public Administration.
Public administration
values and employment
principles
The Public Administration Act 2004
abolished the Office of Commissioner
for Public Employment and established
the State Services Authority.
The LSC continues to implement
the previous directions of the
Commissioner for Public Employment
with respect to upholding public
sector conduct, managing and
valuing diversity, managing
underperformance, reviewing
personal grievances and selecting on
merit. The LSC’s compliance with the
Public Sector Values and employment
principles was demonstrated by active
participation in the People Matter
Survey and follow up action including
refresher information sessions for
all staff on Human Rights, Sexual
Harassment and Discrimination.
Ongoing commitment to the Values is
also demonstrated through a range
of awareness programs and updates.
Staff are required to consider these
values when developing and finalising
their PDPs.
32 Legal Services COMMISSIONER Annual Report 2011