The Policy Directory is the central repository for all PSC policy documents and those relating to the industrial relations function previously carried out in the former Public Sector Workforce (PSW) division in DPC. Note that the policy documents relating to the industrial relations function will be relocated in due course. The Policy documents include Directives, Guidelines, Bulletins and Publications. The Policy Directory has two libraries with separate search options:

Active Policy Library

Archive Policy Library

The former PSW established the Policy Directory on 11 March 2011 and it brought together all PSW policies that were current at that date. These policies were classified as a Directive, Guideline, Bulletin or Publication (the new policy document types) but existing formats (eg Circular/Memorandum) were retained. These old formats will be phased out as the PSC reviews and updates policies into the new policy document type formats. These policies were given a unique ID code comprising a prefix of D, G, B, or P (to identify the policy document type), a year (to identify the year of publication) and a number (eg D2009_001). Lastly, each policy was connected to a Policy Statement (the authoritive source) that provides the hyperlink to open the policy document.

The former PSW established the Policy Directory to provide agency stakeholders and clients with better access to policy documents, better ways to give feedback on policy documents and more options to search for policy documents.

Directive

The compliance level is mandatory. It specifies actions or changes in behaviour that demand compliance.

Guideline

The compliance level is strongly encouraged. It advises guides or recommends actions and may:

• establish best practice approaches for agencies to note and/or adopt. Departments should have sound reasons for not adopting
• further contextualises directives and/or legislative changes that impact on administrative process and procedure.

Bulletin

The compliance level is for information purposes. It contains information about a matter and generally requires little or no action and is non mandatory.

Publication

The compliance level is for information purposes. It generally contains information intended to inform decision making and is non mandatory. Contains content derived from Directives, Guidelines, and/or Bulletins.

After 11 March 2011, new or updated policies will be issued in the policy directory in the style of a Directive, Guideline, Bulletin or Publication. PSC will communicate the availability of a new or updated policy document by distributing a PSC Circular, Memorandum or other form of communication eg letter.

PSC Circulars will be located on the PSC website while Premier's Memoranda will be will be located on the Memos/Circulars of the Department of Premier and Cabinet website (not in the Policy Directory). The Circular or Memorandum number will be shown on the policy document against the 'Distribution method' heading.

The policy directory has an Active Library (policy documents with an 'active' status) and an Archive Library (policy documents with an 'archive' status). Both libraries have a selection of search options.

Policy documents current as at 11 March 2011

When the Policy Directory was set up policy documents were placed directly into the Archive Library based on the criteria listed below.

• Communication for distribution purposes only – see the subject policy document for detail.
• Communication relevant at a particular point in time only.
• Document contains historical information. Remains available for reference and research.
• Communication about a specific event or emergency that has passed or ended.

Policy documents issued after 11 March 2011

In the future policy documents in the Active Library will be moved to the Archive Library based on the criteria listed below.

• Document made obsolete or rescinded by a new or an updated policy document.
• Document reached its expiry date.
• Document contains historical information. Remains available for reference and research.

All policy documents will include a compliance level (Mandatory, Strongly Encouraged or Information Purposes) and one or more of the following standard statements to identify the part of the public sector to which the policy document applies:

• NSW Public Service Departments.
• NSW Public Service Other Agencies.
• NSW Non-Public Service Divisions and Special Employment Divisions.
• NSW Public Sector Agencies.
• NSW State Owned Corporations.
• NSW Public Sector agencies or groups of employees who are part of an industrial settlement eg MOU.

The feedback link on the Policy Statement opens a feedback form that is sent to the PSC. The PSC will log and review feedback as part of a policy document's scheduled review cycle. The feedback form is only for the purposes of providing feedback. Human resources and industrial relations practitioners in agencies should continue to send requests for policy advice and assistance to enquiries-psc@psc.nsw.gov.au.