Changes impact upon on promotional position recruitment processes
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128, 25 August 2023, page no.21
The release of the Public Sector Act 2022 and the Recruitment and Selection Directive (07/23) have resulted in a number of significant changes to promotional position recruitment processes.
The Public Service Commission’s Recruitment and Selection Summary Guide outlines the changes as follows. “The primary object of recruitment and selection remains the same – to find the right person for the job – but with a shift from merit-based recruiting to recruiting the eligible person best suited for the position.
“Under the directive, organisations can consider a broader range of attributes when assessing applicant suitability for the role. The promotion panel must consider the functions it fulfils and how the role and successful applicant can contribute to the organisation and its culture. The directive also supports the application of equity, diversity, respect, and inclusion, which are defined in Chapter 2 of the Public Sector Act 2022.
“Instead of the relying on merit alone, recruitment processes must holistically assess an applicants’ suitability for a role to select the eligible person best suited to the position. The directive includes some attributes that a panel may consider, and best practice is for these to be considered in every process.”
Implications for recruitment and selection in schools
The Department of Education has indicated that administrative changes will be made to relevant departmental policy and procedures by the end of August. The department will continue to work with the QTU on the more significant changes to the relevant policy, procedure, guidelines, and resources that will enact the intent of the legislation and the directive, with the aim to have these completed by the end of the year.
The QTU will meet monthly with the department to discuss changes to policy and procedure, as well as implementation.
As the relevant documents and resources will not be completely updated until the end of the year, the QTU has decided to postpone all promotion panel training until next year. We do not believe it is in the best interests of our members to take them out of schools if we do not have the latest information.
The QTU will publish a schedule of promotion panel training early in Term 1, 2024.