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Office of Fair and Safe Work Queensland
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Home > Corporate Information > Corporate publications > Annual Report 2005-06 > Governance > How the department is managed

How the department is managed

The department uses its corporate governance systems to direct, manage and control the organisation's business and ensure that the department delivers its outputs efficiently, effectively and sustainably. The Department of Industrial Relations is committed to achieving a high level of accountability, transparency and rigour in all its processes.

Governance framework

The Director-General of the Department of Industrial Relations is responsible to the Minister for Employment and Training and Industrial Relations and Sport.

The Executive Business Team (EBT) is effectively the 'board of management', supporting and advising the Director-General in the governance, strategic direction and management of the department. Three supporting governance committees provide advice on organisational capability issues. Committee members are generally the senior managers of the department supported by expert members. The committees are: ICT Business Systems Board; Business Improvement Strategy Steering Committee and Workforce Management Steering Committee. In addition to these whole-of-department governance arrangements, each division has its own strategic management group.

The Director-General is also supported by an Audit Committee and internal audit services.

Organisational chart

Organisational chart

Executive Business Team

The Executive Business Team (EBT) meets weekly to support and advise the Director-General in the governance, strategic direction and management of the department. EBT members are the senior managers of the department.

The team reinforces the Queensland Government priorities, outcomes and initiatives and considers resource management issues including budget decisions and the implications for the department's operations. EBT leads the implementation of the department's strategic planning framework and maintains a strong focus on managing the department's financial and non-financial performance.

EBT acts as the department's risk management committee. The Corporate Risk Register was reviewed and updated to improve risk management. The register is aligned to the department's strategic plan and integrates risk management with departmental business, reporting, organisational capability resources and planning. Each division develops localised risk registers to assist performance and accountability in managing risk effectively.

Planning and reporting framework

The department's Strategic Plan sets out our goals and the strategies the department will use to move the community towards those goals. The department uses an integrated planning and reporting system to monitor and manage its financial and non-financial performance.

Whole-of-department governance committees

The Workforce Management Steering Committee oversees the development and implementation of the department's Workforce Management Plan (WFM). This plan sets the direction and priorities for managing workforce development and is focused on ensuring that staff capabilities meet the department's business needs. The WFM plan is underpinned by four key goals:

The committee also oversees the development and implementation of the department's Diversity and Equity Plan. The Plan outlines goals, targeted strategies and performance indicators to improve diversity in its workforce.

The Business Improvement Strategy Steering Committee provides advice and support to the Director-General on business improvement initiatives and monitors business improvement project activities. The Business Improvement Strategy assisted the department's managers and decision-makers achieve productivity improvements through a combination of improving and/or reengineering specific business processes, increasing revenue generating activities and reducing unnecessary or unplanned expenditure and waste.

The ICT Business Systems Board guides the department's investment in information and communications technology in accordance with the four-year Information and Communications Technology Resources Strategic Plan 2006-10.

Regional Managers' Forum

Chaired by the Director-General, the Regional Managers' Forum comprises the 11 managers responsible for regional and contact centre operations, senior business services officers from each region, general managers and senior divisional officers. The forum meets via teleconference every fortnight and holds a face-to-face meeting each quarter. This forum plays a significant role in sharing and exchanging information about the challenges and opportunities confronting the department and plays a vital role for the department's ongoing strategic and business planning processes and community engagement strategies.

Information access and rights

The department is committed to achieving a high level of accountability, transparency and rigour in its processes.

Freedom of information

Under the Queensland Freedom of Information Act 1992 (PDF, 660 KB), people have the right to access information held by government agencies (unless the information is exempt from release).

The department's Statement of Affairs (see appendix one) provides information about the department's arrangements for community members to access and amend departmental documents. It also provides information about the kind of documents usually held by the agency and subscription services offered by the department.

Privacy

The department respects the privacy of clients, their families, our staff and business partners. Privacy is broader than the traditional concept of confidentiality and includes the collection, use, disclosure, security, quality, access, correction and openness of information. It includes informing individuals when information is collected about them and informing the community about the types of information collected.

The department's Privacy Plan, available on department's website, outlines the department's commitment to the protection of personal information. The department has ensured compliance with Information Standard No. 42 - Information Privacy since its implementation date of 30 September 2003 and has completed the annual review of the Privacy Plan to ensure it is up to date and reflects the department's core business.

Complaints

In conjunction with the office of the Queensland Ombudsman, the department revised its complaint management system. This system is creating a culture in which complaints from members of the community dissatisfied with the department's services, products, actions or decisions are welcomed and used to contribute to service improvement. The complaint management policy aligns with the whole-of-government priority of responsive government and the department's commitment to lead policy development and service delivery that supports safe, fair and productive work environments.

Last updated November 7, 2006