Employment benefits
Wellbeing Program
The Department is committed to building a culture that places emphasis on the health and wellbeing of employees and encourages a balance between work and personal commitments.
The Department’s Wellbeing Program supports this through varied health promotion initiatives and activities which focus on the social, mental and physical health of employees. The program includes free influenza vaccinations, a carer’s room, health seminars, quit smoking assistance, annual health checks, cooking demonstrations and physical activities such as lunchtime walking groups. The Department also facilitates user-pays activities such as boxfit, yoga and meditation.
Workplace diversity
The diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths. As an organisation, we promote an environment that values and uses the contributions of people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. This approach gives us a broader range of ideas and insights to draw on in decision-making and policy development.
We have an active Workplace Diversity Plan and an Indigenous Employment Plan.
For Indigenous people seeking APS careers, the Australian Public Service Commission provides a number of resources at its Public Calling web page:
www.apsc.gov.au/indigenousEmployee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a short-term confidential, professional counselling service available throughout Australia as a face–to-face service during work hours (by appointment) and by telephone during or outside of work hours. It is a free service offered to all departmental employees and their immediate family.
Smoke-free workplace
The Department has a smoke-free workplace policyto ensure that, as an employer, we continue to address our duty of care responsibilities with regard to active and passive smoking. With the exception of official meal breaks (that is, lunch or dinner breaks), employees are prohibited from smoking while performing their official employment duties. Flex time is not to be used for a smoking break. We provide financial assistance to staff and members of their immediate family who wish to quit smoking.
Salary packaging
The Department contracts an external company, SmartSalary,to manage the administration of salary packaging for all employees of the Department. You can salary package items such as superannuation and vehicles through our salary packaging arrangements.
For further information on the Department’s salary packaging arrangements, please see the SmartSalary website and email the HR team at hrservices@dbcde.gov.au
Please note that you should inform the Department if you have an existing novated vehicle lease at the time of acceptance of a position at the Department as there is a process to transfer the vehicle arrangements over from your previous employer.
Learning and development
The Department provides a range of programs to support staff in learning and development, including:
- an induction program for new staff
- a core training program which comprises a menu of short courses that address essential business skills and knowledge
- capability development programs which build management and leadership skills
- an internal rotation program to help staff broaden their skills and knowledge about the Department..
Study assistance
The Department offers an attractive assistance program, Studybank, to help with future study goals where relevant to the Department’s needs.
There are three components to the Studybank scheme:
- approval as a student
- up to 75 hours paid leave per semester for study
- financial assistance of up to $5000 per calendar year as per the Enterprise Agreement.
Vacation care
The Department has a Vacation Childcare Subsidisation Program that staff intending to work during the school holiday period may access.
The program provides reimbursement of $15 per day (the maximum per family) for children aged between five and 12 years who are enrolled in and attend a registered child care service or certified vacation care facility during school holidays.
Rewards and recognitions
The Department’s rewards and recognition program aims to foster a productive and enjoyable workplace which values the contribution of staff to the achievement of business outcomes.
In implementing a rewards and recognition program the Department is seeking to
- recognise good performance
- provide incentives for future effort
- attract and retain staff
- recognise the achievement of key events or milestones
- encourage continual improvement through positive reinforcement
- recognise organisational and team performance.
Contacts
The Recruitment Manager
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: 02 6271 7122
recruitment@dbcde.gov.au
