Ethics and Conduct

Public service staff must conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times. The NSW Government has developed appropriate policies, guidelines and legislation in order to ensure that employees, departments and agencies comply with the highest standards of performance, conduct and ethical accountability.

Performance and conduct

The objectives of the Public Service Disciplinary scheme in the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 as outlined in Part 2.7 are:

• To maintain appropriate standards of conduct and work-related performance in the public service;
• To protect and enhance the integrity and reputation of the public service; and
• To ensure that the public interest is protected.

Details of the process of managing conduct and performance for officers in the public sector are available in the Commentary and Guidelines on Conduct and Performance Provisions 

Some agencies may have their own legislation covering performance and conduct. You should check with the Human Resources area of your agency to see if other arrangements apply. For information on performance and conduct for:

• Department of Education and Training - Teachers
• NSW Police - Police
• NSW Health - Health workers

For further information on performance and conduct:

• Performance Management Policy and Guidelines 1998
• Personnel Handbook - Chapter 9
• Use of Electronic Communications etc 1999
• Alcohol and other Drugs - Policies and Guidelines
• Guidelines on Suspension of Employees 1994
• Managing and Supporting Attendance at Work 2000

Ethics

Public employment carries with it an obligation to the public interest. It requires standards of professional behaviour from employees in order to promote and maintain public confidence and trust.

Employees are to comply with their department or agency's Code of Conduct which is based on the following principles: public confidence; responsibility to the Government of the Day; and the rights of staff.

The values embodied in a Code are honesty, integrity, loyalty to the public interest, fairness, conscientiousness and compassion.

SES and CES officers are bound by a code of conduct which forms part of their contract of employment.

Further information on Codes of Conduct is available from:

• Model Code of Conduct for NSW Public Agencies (Personnel Handbook Ch 8 - PDF)
• Code of Conduct and Ethics for Public Sector Executives

For more information about ethics and accountability visit the Independent Commission Against Corruption's website.