Human Resources

Advertisement of Vacancies

Public Service

Vacancies will be advertised as widely as needed to attract a reasonable field of suitable applicants and to enhance the diversity of the workforce. Vacancies are advertised as ongoing wherever possible, or fixed term where they meet the Department's criteria. Minimum advertising requirements for Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victorian Public Service (VPS) and Allied Health vacancies are as follows:

Managers can request supplementary advertising elsewhere such as in the press or professional journals. The closing date for applications will generally be ten working days from the date of advertisement of the vacancy.

Fixed term vacancies should be advertised for the maximum period to attract the best field of applicants. Where a continuation of a fixed term position is proposed, the vacancy must be advertised for a new term of employment with clearly specified commencement and cessation dates. Employment in a position on a fixed term basis shall be limited to a maximum of three years. It should be noted that the three year limitation does not apply in cases of filling a vacancy due to the absence of an employee on parental leave.

The process for filling vacancies of six months or less is a matter for individual managers to determine. In doing so, managers should have regard to the professional development and workforce planning opportunities such vacancies present. One option is to advertise within the work area. Alternatively, a staffing arrangement might be considered that enhances workforce diversity. It is important that employees in the work area are informed of the staffing arrangements that will apply for the vacancy.

Managers should note that where a vacancy of less than six months extends beyond six months, the vacancy must be advertised.

A second appointment may be made from the same field of applicants for an advertised vacancy provided that the manager is satisfied that further advertisement would not attract a better field of applicants. Where this is the view, an appointment may be made provided that it is within a period of approximately three months of the original advertisement and the positions are substantively similar.

Exemption from Advertisement

It is Department policy that vacancies should be advertised. A vacancy may only be exempted from advertisement by the Secretary, or delegate as indicated, where:

  • the incumbent is in an occupational category where he/she has an entitlement to progression based on successful completion of training and work experience;
  • the employee has competed on merit in the Graduate Recruitment Selection and Assessment Process and is formally assessed as meeting all the requirements of a position at the VPSG 3 level;
  • there is targeted recruitment of disadvantaged equal employment opportunity groups (ie. people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, people with a disability and young people aged between 16 and 20 years who have successfully completed a youth traineeship);
  • a Deputy Secretary directs that an employee be re-assigned at level (ie. administrative transfer or redeployment);
  • the Secretary otherwise certifies there is no breach of merit and equity.

All employees will be notified of exemptions from advertisement via DEECD Mail prior to the employee being confirmed in the job.

Eligibility

Any person is eligible to apply for an advertised VPS vacancy provided that they have not accepted a Voluntary Departure Package from a Victorian state government agency within the previous three years.

Unplaced employees

Unplaced employees from within this Department or other Government departments may be referred to an advertised vacancy. The unplaced employee will be considered in isolation from, and not in competition with, other applicants.

 

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