These procedures must be read in conjunction with the Policy Development and Approval Policy.
2. Scope
These procedures apply to all employees.
3. Procedures
3.1 Policy Development
Department policies and procedures must be submitted to the Corporate Executive Policy Subcommittee (Policy Subcommittee) and Corporate Executive in the templates approved by the Policy Subcommittee.
The development and review of Department policies must follow the policy development processes and approval pathways approved by the Policy Subcommittee
Guidance
Forms, templates and policy approval pathways and processes can be accessed at S:\DET-IS_Forms\Governance Unit.
3.2 Development of new policies
Before commencing the development of new policies and procedures, policy contact officers will submit the required forms to Policy and Program Governance to obtain approval to proceed from the Corporate Executive Policy Subcommittee (the Policy Subcommittee).
Guidance
Refer to Appendix A - Guidelines on Planning and Drafting Policies.
3.3 Revision of existing policies
Department policies and procedures are reviewed within three years from their creation and undergo a major review every three years thereafter.
Before commencing major reviews of existing policies and procedures, policy contact officers will submit the required forms to Policy and Program Governance to obtain approval to proceed from the Policy Subcommittee.
Guidance
Refer to Appendix A - Guidelines on Planning and Drafting Policies.
Forms, templates and policy approval pathways and processes can be accessed at S:\DET-IS_Forms\Governance Unit.
3.4 Policy approval
Policy contact officers will submit draft policies in the policy template, and submit the required forms to Policy and Program Governance to obtain policy approval from the Policy Subcommittee.
Guidance
Forms, templates and policy approval pathways and processes can be accessed at S:\DET-IS_Forms\Governance Unit.
Policies are not deemed approved for publication until all outstanding actions have been completed and they have been formally endorsed by the Director General.
Exceptions to the requirements stipulated in this policy are managed on a case-by-case basis, but would normally be limited to CEO Instructions or policies directly approved by the Director General.
Policy and Program Governance publishes policies once they have been endorsed by the Director General. Policies are initially published in PDF format with an effective date one week after an Ed-e-mail has been circulated that notifies employees of the new policy or changes to an existing policy.
All Department policies and CEO instructions are published on the Policies website. They should not be reproduced in any way or form on other Department internet or intranet sites. When policy information on a Department website is required, a link should be provided to the relevant policy on the Policies website.
3.5 Policy removal
Policy contact officers will submit the required forms and briefings to Policy and Program Governance to obtain approval from the Policy Subcommittee and Corporate Executive to remove a policy from the Department’s policy framework.
4. Definitions
Mandatory instructions released by the Director General which are usually of finite duration. An instruction should be replaced by policy or procedures within one year, or may cease when no longer needed.
Guidelines guidance statements are non-mandatory supporting information that assist in the implementation of policy. They may contain or refer to external compliance requirements that exist outside the scope of the policy, for example, state or federal legislative requirements
Guidelines detail the Department’s expectations for the implementation of policy and reflect the Department's current standards of good and safe practice.
Refers to system level policies that direct decision-making and are applied across the whole Department or across multiple business areas rather than individual work sites such as schools.
Employee in the business area responsible for the content of a particular policy.
Senior officer, usually director level or above, in the business area responsible for the management of a particular policy.
The key mandatory elements of a policy.
A concise, clearly worded statement that sets out the purpose of the policy.
Specify the methods to be employed in implementing a policy. Procedures are consistent with and support policies.
5. Related documents
Communication Style Guide (staff only)
6. Contact information
Policy manager:
Director, Executive and Communication Services
Policy contact officer:
Manager, Policy and Program Governance
T: (08) 9264 4001
7. History of changes
| Effective date | Last update date | Procedure version no. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 November 2012 | 2.0 | ||
| This policy and supporting procedures replace the Policy Development, Approval, Publication and Implementation policy. Endorsed by Corporate Executive 18 October 2012. D12/0714450 | |||
| 16 November 2012 | 10 March 2015 | 2.1 | |
| Contact information updated to reflect change in position from Director, Office of the Director General to Executive Director, Organisational Governance. D15/0085666 | |||
| 16 November 2012 | 29 June 2015 | 2.2 | |
| Updated contact details D15/0198137 | |||
| 16 November 2012 | 31 August 2018 | 2.3 | |
| Minor updates to reflect organisational changes D18/0388428 | |||
8. Appendices
Appendix A: Guidelines on planning and drafting policies (PDF file - 23.7kB)
9. More information
Appendices
Appendix A: Guidelines on planning and drafting policies
This procedure:
Policy Development and Approval Procedures v2.3
Please ensure you also download the policy supported by this procedure.
Supported policy:
Policy Development and Approval Policy
Procedure review date
16 November 2015
Procedure last updated
31 August 2018