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 a variety of user-pays activities such as Dru-Yoga and Zumba.
Workplace diversity
The department recognises that choosing to disclose a disability is a personal decision. To assist in making the decision, candidates are encouraged to access information such as the 'Choosing your path' website provided by the University of Western Sydney. It provides substantial information about options and pathways that people with disabilities can use in disclosing their disabilities in post-secondary education and employment environments.
If you would like to contact a staff member with a disability to talk about what it is like to work in this Department, please email disabilitycontact@dbcde.gov.au.
Employee 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 families.
Smoke-free workplace
The department has a smoke-free workplace policy to ensure that, as an employer, we continue to address our duty of care with regard to active and passive smoking. We provide financial assistance to staff and members of their immediate families who wish to quit smoking. There are designated smoking areas.
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.
The study assistance program gives ongoing employees access to the following options:
- 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's Vacation Childcare Subsidisation Program is available to employees intending to work during the school holiday period.
The program provides reimbursement of $15.45 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.
Carers room
The department provides an equipped room for for staff to use for emergency care of immediate family members, as an alternative to using leave. Conditions of use apply.
Eldercare
The department recognises that its employees have a wide range of obligations. We make available for employees an eldercare information kit which contains information on eldercare issues and how to deal with these issues. The kit is a national resource that has information on all states and territories.
Rewards and recognition
The department provides for a range of awards to formally recognise the contributions of staff.
