1. Policy statement
The performance of all Department employees is managed and developed in accordance with the requirements of governing legislation, intended outcomes of the Department’s strategic directions and the specific role of each employee.
Version:
3.0
Effective date:
17 February 2026
The performance of all Department employees is managed and developed in accordance with the requirements of governing legislation, intended outcomes of the Department’s strategic directions and the specific role of each employee.
Principals, line managers and authorised performance managers will conduct employee performance and development in accordance with the requirements of:
Employees will participate in a performance and development process consistent with the Performance Management Standard and the Employee Performance and Development procedures.
Principals, line managers and authorised performance managers will manage substandard performance in accordance with section 79 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 for staff subject to that section of the Act, the common law for wages employees, and the Substandard Performance procedures.
Principals, line managers and authorised performance managers are responsible for implementation of the policy.
The Executive Director, People Services is responsible for compliance monitoring.
This policy applies to all employees.
A person who has been delegated responsibility for the performance management of a specific employee by that employee’s line manager or by a superordinate.
The position to whom the employee reports.
The formal and informal continuous process of evaluating, developing and supporting an employee’s performance in the workplace.
As defined by the Public Sector Commission:
Outcome: The performance of all employees is fairly assessed to achieve the work- related requirements of the public sector body while paying proper regard to employee interests.
Standard: The minimum standard of merit, equity and probity is met for performance management if:
Australian Professional Standard for Principals
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework
Code of conduct (staff only)
Complaints and notifications framework
Complaints and notifications categorisation schedule (staff only)
School psychologist competency framework (staff only)
Competency framework for education assistants special needs (staff only)
Record keeping plan (staff only)
Finance capability framework for the WA public sector
Grievance framework
Human resources capability framework for the WA public sector
Industrial instruments (Awards and Agreements) applicable to Department of
Education employees (staff only)
Leadership Expectations
Building Leadership Impact
Public Sector Capability Profiles
School corporate services staff competency framework (staff only)
School Psychology Service: Professional practice guidelines (accessible by members of the School Psychology Service only)
Policy manager:
Director, Industrial and Employee Relations
Policy contact officer:
Manager, Employee Relations
Telephone: (08) 9264 4921 (option 2)
| Effective date | Last update date | Policy version no. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2010 | 5 July 2012 | 1.2 | |
| Guidelines in section 4.2 amended to reflect changes to School Education Act Employees’ (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement as per D12/0372966, nomenclature throughout policy updated, definition of performance management updated. | |||
| 28 September 2012 | 1.3 | ||
| Changes to reflect the National Professional Standards for Teachers. Changes endorsed by Corporate Executive at meeting 7 September 2012. | |||
| 28 September 2012 | 11 July 2013 | 1.3 | |
| Amendment of references to National Professional Standards for Teachers to Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. D13/0098087 Amendment to references to documents as per D13/0222254. | |||
| 28 September 2012 | 23 August 2013 | 1.3 | |
| Updated link to Australian Professional Standard for Teachers in Appendix A. D13/0394461 | |||
| 17 December 2013 | 1.4 | ||
| Addition of procedure at section 4.2 and Appendix C. Changes endorsed by Corporate Executive 2 December 2013. | |||
| 17 December 2013 | 19 December 2013 | 1.4 | |
| Addition of point about leave management to Appendix A, Section 3. D13/0666788 | |||
| 17 December 2013 | 27 February 2014 | 1.5 | |
| Minor change to formatting in Appendix C. D14/0061908 | |||
| 28 July 2014 | 1.6 | ||
| Numerous changes throughout policy D14/0259580, D14/0323911 and D14/0369019. | |||
| 28 July 2014 | 1.7 | ||
| Appendix B updated to reflect v1.6 changes prior to policy taking effect. | |||
| 28 July 2014 | 12 September 2014 | 1.8 | |
| Update to guidance re: professional development and career guidance in section 4.2. D14/0434228. | |||
| 28 July 2014 | 1 December 2014 | 1.9 | |
| Minor changes to guidance and appendix C. D14/0527043. | |||
| 15 March 2016 | 2.0 | ||
| Major review undertaken and policy reformatted into policy and procedures. Endorsed by the Director General at Corporate Executive on 12 February 2016. | |||
| 15 March 2016 | 25 May 2020 | 2.1 | |
| Minor changes to update broken links. D20/0260934 | |||
| 17 February 2026 | 3.0 | ||
| Major review to comply with the Department Code of Conduct and the Work Health Safety policy. Clarification of annual performance & development cycle. Performance expectation for all employee groups. Consistent formatting of procedures for each employee group. Approval (1) D25/0574867 Approval (2) new changes D26/0111791 | |||
This policy:
Employee Performance and Development policy v3.0
Supporting procedures:
Employee Performance and Development procedures
Substandard Performance procedures
Policy and all supporting documents:
Employee Performance and Development policy Bundle
17 February 2029