Our people shaping solutions
Developing our people
Building leadership skills
Building and developing leadership skills in our staff continues to be a focus for Treasury. This year 20 employees completed the highly successful Professional Excellence Program. Since it was established in 2001, 145 staff have completed the program. The program provides participants with knowledge and skills in contemporary leadership and management to ensure that as future leaders of Treasury, they are well positioned to move forward with the organisation.
This year, David Ford, Executive Director of Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation participated in the Senior Executive Service (SES) mobility and rotation program. David was seconded for six months as Deputy Director General of the Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development. SES rotations provide opportunities for senior managers to gain and share knowledge about public sector management practices across different State Government departments.
Developing careers and building a flexible workforce
Secondment opportunities and internal transfers help our staff to develop their career and skills. It is also part of our flexible workforce practices to ensure our department can manage change and organise itself to meet future business needs. In 2004-05 we approved secondment and internal transfer guidelines for several Treasury portfolio offices. These new guidelines are designed to ensure there's maximum awareness of secondment and internal transfer opportunities, as well as to promote a fair and mutually beneficial management of such opportunities.
Sharing knowledge and experience
We introduced an innovative mentoring and networking program to encourage the professional and personal development of participants and greater knowledge sharing across Treasury. This program was very popular with 170 people participating in the program. It has also helped create an opportunity for 'learning networks', composed of professional and personal contacts, to develop across Treasury.
Graduate professional development program
Treasury's graduate program is an integral part of our recruitment strategy. It's an effective way of shaping our workforce to help take Treasury into the future. Treasury's program is tailored to meet the needs of our graduates and gives them a solid foundation for a future career in Treasury, the public sector or the business community. In 2005, 19 people took part in the graduate program. We expect to offer 21 places in our graduate program to recent university graduates in 2006.
Advancing careers through education
One of the ways we help our people get ahead in their career is through investing in their further education and training. In 2004-05 we invested over $1.6 million in improving our employees skills.
The Study and Research Assistance Scheme (SARAS) supports employees who are undertaking formal tertiary study or research projects through providing financial assistance and leave arrangements. During 2004-05 we supported 86 staff through SARAS. Areas of study included commerce, accounting, economics, human resource management and information technology. These areas of study provide direct benefit to Treasury's goals and help to improve our capacity to meet future business needs.