Case studies | NSW Public Service Commission

Case studies intro

Through the highs and lows of 2021, the NSW public sector continued to drive collaboration, productivity and customer service.

Here are some stories of great work across the sector and how we are building a world class public service.

These stories are featured in the State of the NSW Public Sector Report 2021.

Road in regional NSW that goes past lake

NSW Government's regionalisation strategy

In 2021 NSW Government launched a principles-based regionalisation policy to increase the number of public sector roles outside metropolitan areas. The strategy was developed following growing evidence in support of locating government services in regional areas to coincide with strong population growth over the next 20 years.

WHS and D&I staff supporting a workplace adjustment

Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's employee workplace adjustments portal

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) is committed to creating a workplace where the health and wellbeing of its people are at the forefront. As part of their Connected Workplaces program, DPIE revamped their process for requesting workplace adjustments, to ensure employees with disability were able to easily have their needs met.

Aboriginal child smiling with hands on head

Dedicated staff at Wirrimbirra transform the lives of Aboriginal families and children in Western NSW

Wirrimbirra is part of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. It provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who are experiencing challenges in their lives, so families can stay together and their children can grow up safely with kin and on Country.

Two women from Transport for NSW working

Increasing diversity in the Transport cluster

Transport for NSW’s Aboriginal Career Development and Mentoring Program and the apprenticeship program run by Sydney Trains, a division of Transport for NSW, are two of many initiatives that promote diversity in the Transport cluster.

Baby lying down with arm out gripping dad's finger

Creating a more inclusive paid parental leave scheme for sector employees

A PSC review of parental leave arrangements in the public sector paid the groundwork for an enhanced paid parental leave scheme, introduced on 1 July 2021. The scheme is now gender neutral and provides up to 14 weeks of leave entitlement to parents when they take primary responsibility for the care of their child.

An aerial view of Brewarrina correctional facility

Government agencies seek community input on the best ways to reuse Brewarrina Correctional Centre

The plan for the reuse of the Brewarrina Correctional Centre (the Centre) shows what can be achieved when government agencies listen to and focus on the needs of the community.

Woman and man wearing high visibility clothing and hard hats on a construction site

A new infrastructure traineeship program boosts job opportunities for NSW youth

A two-year traineeship program in the infrastructure sector provides paid training opportunities for NSW school leavers.
Designed by School infrastructure NSW (ISNSW), in collaboration with Government infrastructure agencies, the Infrastructure Traineeship program provides trainees with valuable industry exposure and a greater understanding of the important role each stakeholder plays in the successful delivery of public infrastructure.

A man writes on a whiteboard under the heading Talent Pools

Department of Customer Service's recruitment accelerator delivers world-class recruitment journey

The NSW Department of Customer Service set up a recruitment accelerator to redesign the hiring process for staff and applicants. The accelerator is part of the department’s effort to develop a world-class, customer-centric government.

NSW Government COVID-19 documents translated into different languages

Multicultural NSW supports the community during NSW’s pandemic lockdowns

Multicultural NSW has traditionally focused on supporting the multicultural community of NSW through community engagement and the provision of interpreting and translation services. These services were vital during the first COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, and again in the face of the Delta outbreak and lockdown this year.

A woman in a face mask receives a vaccine from a female health worker

Health’s mass vaccination centres increase capacity to vaccinate our employees and the people of NSW

NSW Health had an extraordinary year of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope arrived with an exciting milestone that protects the sector’s frontline workers and the wider community: the rollout of the NSW Health vaccination program.

Two female vaccine centre workers walking together wearing blue vests

Emergency Services Portfolio Project Team provides rapid support during emergencies

The people of NSW have experienced a range of life-disrupting emergencies over the past two years, from bushfires and floods to a global pandemic. To support the immediate needs of both our employees and the citizens of NSW, Service NSW supported the creation of several specific project teams to deliver services quicky to the people most affected.

Read the 2021 State of the NSW Public Sector Report
A summary of the NSW public sector's performance, achievements, challenges and priorities.