Annual performance statement

A requirement under the PGPA Act, the statement provides a line of sight between planned non-financial performance outlined in a corporate plan and actual performance over the reporting period.

Appropriation

An amount of public money that parliament authorises for spending on a particular purpose.

APS Employee Census

An online, confidential and voluntary survey that tracks the views of APS employees about leadership, their workplace and conditions of work. The results are a key source of information for the State of the Service report.

AusTender

The Australian Government’s web-based procurement system, which provides centralised access to all publicly available approaches to market, multi-use lists, annual procurement plans and reported contracts.

Australian Public Service (APS) employee

A person engaged under section 22, or a person who is engaged as an APS employee under section 72, of the Public Service Act 1999.

Comcare

An insurer, regulator and scheme manager that supports healthy and safe workplaces, and reduces harm and injury.

Common law contract

An individual contract of employment between an employer and an employee that is not lodged or certified under federal or state legislation but is subject to award requirements and provisions.

Compliance notice

A notification that legally requires a person to do certain things to fix alleged entitlement-based Fair Work Act breaches. Non-compliance with these notices is actionable in a court and can result in penalties.

Compliance partnership

A collaborative relationship between the FWO and businesses that want to publicly demonstrate their commitment to creating compliant and productive workplaces. These are formalised through a Proactive Compliance Deed.

Corporate governance

The process by which agencies are directed and controlled. It is generally understood to encompass authority, accountability, stewardship, leadership, direction and control.

Corporate plan

A primary strategic planning document that sets out objectives, capabilities and intended results over a four-year period, in accordance with stated purposes. The plan should provide a clear line of sight with the relevant annual performance statement, portfolio budget statement and annual report.

Customer Service Charter

A public statement about the services the FWO will provide, what customers can expect and what they should do if unsatisfied.

Early intervention

Tailored assistance that aims to preserve employment relationships by keeping the matter in the hands of the parties. Customers are coached through their options, referred to online resources and supported to have effective workplace conversations.

Enforceable undertakings (EUs)

Legally-binding documents that set out a company’s written commitment to address workplace contraventions and prevent future breaches.

Enterprise agreement

A legally-enforceable agreement made under the Fair Work Act (on or after 1 July 2009) between one or more employers and a group of employees in relation to terms and conditions of employment for those employees.

Fair Work Act 2009

The principal Commonwealth law governing Australia’s workplace relations system.

Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009

The legislation that covers the registration and accountability of federally registered unions and employer associations.

Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Act 2017

This amendment to the Fair Work Act increased penalties for serious contraventions of workplace laws and breaches of record-keeping and pay slip obligations, and changed laws relating to certain franchisors and holding companies. For more information on the changes, visit www.fairwork.gov.au/PVWAct.

Find my award tool

An online tool that helps customers determine their award coverage.

Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)

This legislation gives people the right to request access to government-held information. This includes information they hold about individuals and government policies and decisions.

Grant

Commonwealth financial assistance covered by the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines.

Individual flexibility agreement

A written agreement used by an employer and employee to change the effect of certain clauses in their award or registered agreement – making alternative arrangements that better suit the needs of the employer and employee. Other known term: flexibility term.

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Financial and non-financial measures used to help define and evaluate an organisation’s success. An indicator is usually selected on the basis of relevance as a measure of some aspect of a specific project or operation.

Mediation

A dispute resolution process that focuses on assisting parties to reach a mutual agreement, and to resolve disagreements on their own terms.

Memorandum of understanding

A written agreement between the FWO and another organisation outlining how the collaboration will create and maintain harmonious, productive and cooperative workplaces and promote a level playing field for businesses in specific industries. The formal agreements are publicly available at www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/our-policies.

Migrant Worker Taskforce

A cross-agency Taskforce that aims to identify further proposals for improvements in law, law enforcement and investigation, and other practical measures to more quickly identify and rectify any cases of migrant worker exploitation.

My account

Online self-service gateway where customers set up an account and save tailored information, such as pay rates, access previous searches and submit online enquiries.

National Employment Standards (NES)

Ten minimum standards of employment that apply to national system employees from 1 January 2010. For a list of the NES, visit www.fairwork.gov.au/nes.

Online learning centre

An online hub offering interactive courses for employers and employees to develop their workplace skills.

Outcomes

Desired results, impacts or consequences for the Australian public resulting from the Government’s actions.

Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT)

An online tool that combines a pay, shift, leave and notice and redundancy calculator. It can be accessed on mobile devices and enables calculations to be saved for later reference.

Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS)

A budget-related paper detailing initiatives and budget appropriations in terms of planned government outcomes and programs.

Proactive compliance deed

A written commitment outlining how a business will work cooperatively with the FWO to build compliance capacity.

Program/Programme

Government programmes deliver benefits, services or transfer payments to individuals, industry, business or the community and are the primary vehicles for government agencies to achieve the intended results of their outcome statements.

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (PGPA) Act 2013

The primary piece of Commonwealth resource management legislation, replaced the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 on 1 July 2014.

Public Service Act 1999

The principal Commonwealth law providing for the establishment and management of the APS.

Purchaser–provider arrangements

Arrangements under which the outputs of an agency are purchased by another agency to contribute to outcomes. Purchaser–provider arrangements can occur between Commonwealth agencies or between Commonwealth agencies and state/territory government or private sector bodies.

Purpose

The objectives, functions or role of the entity or company. In relation to performance management, purposes are the reasons or ideal state or outcomes, for which the entity or company undertakes its activities.

Regulator Performance Framework

Commonwealth regulators that administer, monitor or enforce regulation are required to implement the framework from 1 July 2015. It consists of six outcomes-based key performance indicators covering reducing regulatory burden, communications, risk-based and proportionate approaches, efficient and coordinated monitoring, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Record my hours

A application that is designed to assist employees record their hours of work.

Small business

A business that employs fewer than 20 employees.

Taskforce Cadena

Taskforce Cadena is a joint initiative between the FWO and the Australian Border Force (ABF; under the DIBP). Initiated in July 2015, the taskforce shares intelligence and data to reduce visa fraud, and reinforces existing efforts to stamp out illegal and exploitative practices involving migrant workers