(December 2003)

Conduct in the Department of Education, Tasmania is governed by the State Service Act 2000 which contains a set of State Service Principles that provide an overarching statement as to both the nature and operation of the State Service and expectations of those who work within it. 

All departmental employees and officers must comply with the principles and the Commissioner's Direction Number 2 - State Service Principles which sets out the minimum requirements that must be met in upholding, promoting and ensuring adherence to the principles.

The four general areas covered by the principles are:

• diversity and equity;
• merit and employment;
• ethics and accountability; and
• provision of services.

The State Service Act 2000 also contains a Code of Conduct which complements the State Service Principles and requires employees and officers to act appropriately in the course of their duties and to maintain the confidence of the community in the activities of the State Service.

The Code of Conduct applies to all employees, officers and seconded persons and covers two broad areas:

• behaviour; and
• work and management.

The Code of Conduct may be supplemented by Department-specific standing orders.

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State Service Principles

(December 2003)

• The State Service is apolitical, performing its functions in an impartial, ethical and professional manner.
• The State Service is a public service in which employment decisions are based on merit.
• The State Service provides a workplace that is free from discrimination and recognises and utilises the diversity of the community it serves.
• The State Service is accountable for its actions and performance, within the framework of Ministerial Responsibility to the Government, the Parliament and the community.
• The State Service is responsive to Government in providing honest, comprehensive, accurate and timely advice and in implementing the Government’s policies and programs.
• The State Service delivers services fairly and impartially to the community.
• The State Service develops leadership of the highest quality.
• The State Service establishes workplace practices that encourage communication, consultation, co-operation and input from employees on matters that affect their work and workplace.
• The State Service provides a fair, flexible, safe and rewarding workplace.
• The State Service focuses on managing its performance and achieving results.
• The State Service promotes equity in employment.
• The State Service provides a reasonable opportunity to all eligible members of the community to apply for State Service employment.
• The State Service provides a fair system of review of decisions taken in respect of employees.

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Code of Conduct

(December 2003)

• An employee must behave honestly and with integrity in the course of State Service employment.
• An employee must act with care and diligence in the course of State Service employment.
• An employee, when acting in the course of State Service employment, must treat everyone with respect and without harassment, victimisation or discrimination.
• An employee, when acting in the course of State Service employment, must comply with all applicable Australian law.
• An employee must comply with any standing orders and with any lawful and reasonable direction given by a person having authority to give the direction.
• An employee must maintain appropriate confidentiality about dealings of, and information acquired by, the employee in the course of that employee's State Service employment.
• An employee must disclose, and take reasonable steps to avoid, any conflict of interest in connection with the employee's State Service employment.
• An employee must use Tasmanian Government official resources in a proper manner.
• An employee must not knowingly provide false or misleading information in connection with the employee's State Service employment.
• An employee must not make improper use of -
  • information gained in the course of his or her employment; or
  • the employee's duties, status, power or authority

in order to gain, or seek to gain, a gift, benefit or advantage for the employee or for any other person.

• An employee who receives a gift in the course of his or her employment or in relation to his or her employment must declare that gift as prescribed by the regulations.
• An employee, when acting in the course of State Service employment, must behave in a way that upholds the State Service Principles.
• An employee must at all times behave in a way that does not adversely affect the integrity and good reputation of the State Service.
• An employee must comply with any other conduct requirement that is prescribed by the State Service Regulations 2001.

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Contact Details

For further information or assistance in relation to the above please contact the Manager (Conduct and Investigations) on (03) 6233 7538 or via e-mail: HRM@education.tas.gov.au