About Us
Who we are
The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) is an independent, trusted HR and support service driving cultural change in Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (CPW).
The establishment of the PWSS is in response to the Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. It is an independent statutory agency, and the CEO is not subject to direction by any person in relation to the functions of the PWSS.
Our structure: Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Organisation Chart
Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee Charter outlines the functions and reporting requirements of the Audit and Risk Committee.
PWSS Advisory Board
About the PWSS Advisory Board
Established under the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023 the PWSS Advisory Board advises the PWSS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the performance of the functions of the PWSS or CEO. The Advisory Board also considers proposed mandatory policies or procedures, and proposed mandatory education or training programs (and proposed requirements for completing those programs) as they relate to Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces.
Contact the PWSS Advisory Board
| Email: | secretariat@pwss.gov.au |
| Phone: | +61 2 8239 5306 |
What we do
We provide a broad range of human resource advice and assistance to parliamentarians and their staff including:
- employment life-cycle matters such as job design, recruitment, probation, performance management, office structure and termination
- education, training and professional development, and
- work health and safety policy, compliance and incident management.
We also provide a range of trauma-informed support services and complaint resolution for all Commonwealth parliamentary workplace participants, including:
- counselling, early intervention, local resolution and mediation
- referral to specialised services, and
- support to make a police report.
Annual Reports
Following the release of the PWSS Annual Report, it has been widely reported in the media that the PWSS handled 339 cases during the timeframe of 1 October 2023 - 30 June 2024. These are only the matters dealt with by the PWSS Counselling and Support team. Less than 10 of these cases resulted in formal complaints.