The Public Service Commissioner is an independent statutory officer appointed under the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (NSW).

The Public Service Commission supports the Public Service Commissioner in the exercise of their functions. We are a separate Public Service agency but are included in the Premier and Cabinet cluster.

Our purpose is to be a trusted partner and advisor to the NSW public sector in shaping a world class workforce.

Our ambition is a contemporary, diverse, inclusive and highly capable public sector that delivers the best outcomes for the people of NSW.

The Commissioner’s principal objectives and principal functions are set out in the Government Sector Employment Act. 

The NSW Public Service Commission’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 was released in July 2021. The plan provides a snapshot of our services and the outcomes we’re working towards in partnership with the NSW public sector.   

All the work we do aligns with our 3 focus areas and initiatives: 

• Smarter ways of working: A mobile and flexible workforce where talent is responsive to areas of need and focused on the delivery of customer-centric services
• Capability for high performance: Public sector workforce focuses on evolving capabilities for high performance.
• Inclusive, ethical public sector:  Workplace cultures that foster diversity, belonging and respect, enabled by the government sector ethical framework and core values.

Our focus areas are enabled by our ability to provide important data and insights, shown through the ‘Measuring up to world class’ foundation on our plan:

• Measuring up to world class: Provide decision makers with quality data and insights, across all strategic focus areas, to address sector wide challenges and priorities.

The Public Service Commissioner reports to the NSW Premier in connection with carrying out the Public Service Commissioner’s functions under the Government Sector Employment (GSE) Act 2013. As an independent statutory office holder in the NSW public sector, the Commissioner is not directed by the NSW Premier in how these functions are performed. 

The Commissioner has and may exercise such other functions as are conferred or imposed on the Commissioner by or under the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 or any other Act. For example, the Commissioner has the power to conduct inquiries into any matter relating to the administration or management of a government sector agency. See Guideline: Inquiries into the administration and management of government sector agencies. 

The Commissioner is to exercise functions in accordance with general policies and strategic directions determined by the Public Service Commission Advisory Board. 

The NSW public sector delivers a range of services and regulatory functions to the community, such as education, health services, roads, public transport, law enforcement and environmental protection. 

Most of the services are delivered by agencies or services referred to in the Government Sector Employment Act 2013.  They are part of the government sector and include the: 

• Public Service  
• NSW Health 
• Teaching Service 
• NSW Police Force 
• Transport Service of NSW 
• other persons or bodies including State owned corporations (which may be part of the government sector for specified purposes) 
• other crown services (includes the TAFE Commission, School Administrative and Support Staff, and Sydney Trains) 

The government sector forms part of the broader public sector. Some agencies and people are part of the public sector but are not part of the government sector as the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 generally does not apply to them. They include: 

• the Independent Commission Against Corruption 
• staff of the parliamentary departments 
• staff of members of parliament 
• State owned corporations 
• the Judicial Commission 
• judicial officers 
• the Audit Office