The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has issued a new Circular informing Agency Heads of their obligations when engaging new employees for inclusion in the Australian Public Service (APS).
The Commission’s Circular 2022/3 Probation can be used with the new APSC’s Directions 2022 which came into effect this month (1 February), replacing the Directions of 2016.
Releasing the Circular, the APSC said the Directions required that all APS employees are to be engaged on probation.
“Probation enables Agencies to assess whether a person is suited to the APS, the Agency and the job,” the Commission said.
“A period of probation that is effectively managed supports APS capability by delivering a workforce that has the required skills and attributes to undertake their roles now and into the future,” it said.
The APSC said that during the probation period, the employee must be provided with clear expectations of performance and behaviour, while learning about the job and the work environment.
The Commission said it was also a time for the employee to decide on whether the Agency and the APS was where they wanted to work.
“The Agency is provided with an opportunity for a manager to assess whether a person is suited to the job and employment within the Agency and the APS,” it said.
“If an employee’s performance or behaviour is not satisfactory during their probation period, a manager should attempt to address the issues as soon as possible.”
The APSC said if issues were not addressed during the probation period, they would likely continue after employment had been confirmed.
“Managers need to use the probation period effectively to prevent under-performance or behavioural problems becoming an issue for the APS into the future,” it said.
“A decision to end employment during probation is a legitimate action which recognises that not all selection decisions result in an outcome that is right for the employee or the employer,” the Commission said.
The APSC’s two-page Circular can be accessed at this PS News link.
