Information for applicants - Department of Environment, Land, Water

Expressions of Interest for vacancies on the
Scientific Advisory Committee
This information has been prepared for candidates seeking appointment to the Scientific Advisory Committee
(the Committee), and is presented in four parts:
1. contextual information about the Committee’s role
2. information about the role;
3. information about the recruitment process; and
4. information on relevant Victorian Government policies.
1. About the Scientific Advisory Committee
The Committee is established under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) to advise on the
listing of taxa or communities of flora and fauna and potentially threatening processes; on any other flora
and fauna conservation matters and prepare and maintain a set of criteria by which the eligibility of taxa or
communities of flora or fauna or processes for listing can be determined.
The role of the Committee is to make recommendations about the eligibility of taxa or communities of flora
and fauna or processes that have been nominated for listing under the Act and also to advise on any other
nature conservation matters.
The Act requires that all members of the Committee are knowledgeable and experienced in the sciences of
flora or fauna conservation or ecology.
Further information on the Committee can be found at: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-andwildlife/threatened-species-and-communities/flora-and-fauna-guarantee-act-1988/scientific-advisorycommittee.
Role of the Committee
Given the nature of the Committees activities, member participation varies depending on the current work
program. Members are expected to familiarise themselves with any nominations, supporting documents
submissions, draft action statements, management plans and incoming correspondence to the Committee.
Members are also expected to prepare comments on submitted nominations for listing and writing
recommendation reports as appropriate.
Prior to submitting Final Recommendations, the Committee must advertise its Preliminary
Recommendation and the reasons for it in the Government Gazette, a local newspaper in the area most
likely to be affected and in a newspaper circulating generally throughout Victoria. The Committee must
then consider public comments made within 30 days of the advertisement and then may make a Final
Recommendation to the Minister about whether the nominated taxon, community or process should or
should not be listed under the Act.
Vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee
Upon receipt of a recommendation from the Committee and any comments from the Victorian Catchment
Management Council, the Minister must decide within 30 days whether or not to recommend to the
Governor in Council that the taxon or community of flora or fauna or potentially threatening process should
be added to the Threatened List or the Processes List. The Minister must also publish reasons for the
decision to accept or reject the recommendation from the Committee in the Government Gazette, a local
newspaper in the area most likely to be affected and in a newspaper circulating generally throughout
Victoria.
The Committee also comments on late drafts of action statements prior to their finalisation.
2. Information about the role
Skills required for the positions
The Committee consists of seven members, including a Convenor. Each member of the Committee
must have expertise in one or more of the following categories and between them, the members of the
Committee must have expertise in all the following categories:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
vertebrate fauna;
invertebrate fauna;
vascular flora;
non-vascular flora;
communities of flora or fauna;
aquatic taxa or communities of flora or fauna in marine environments;
aquatic taxa or communities of flora or fauna in inland aquatic environments;
taxa or communities of flora or fauna in terrestrial environments;
potentially threatening processes
Applicants are particularly encouraged to apply if they can demonstrate experience and expertise in
vertebrate fauna, invertebrate fauna and aquatic taxa or communities of flora or fauna in inland aquatic
environments.
The Act requires that the Committee comprise:
(a)
(b)
(c)
three senior government scientific officers;
two scientists on the staff of any Victorian education institution; and
two scientists who are not employed by the Government.
Terms of Appointment
Members are appointed in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in sections 7, 8 and 9 of the
FFG Act and in Schedule 2 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987
http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt6.nsf/DDE300B846E
ED9C7CA257616000A3571/50A09E0E4FCB31B5CA257A2900223103/$FILE/87-41aa082%20authorised.pdf.
Successful applicants will be appointed in mid December 2015 for a period of up to 5 years.
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015
Vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee
Membership and Committee meetings
The Committee meets approximately every three months and meetings are planned several months in
advance. Members are expected to attend every meeting. Additional meetings may be called as
circumstances require. Meetings are held in varying locations around Melbourne.
Remuneration
Members may be eligible to receive a sitting fee. Eligibility is determined in accordance with the
Appointment and Remuneration Guidelines for Victorian Government Boards, Statutory Bodies and Advisory
Committees (the Guiidelines). http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/index.php/policies/governance/appointment-andremuneration-guidelines
Public sector employees are eligible for remuneration for Council service in limited circumstances; please refer
to the Department of Premier and Cabinet Appointment and Remuneration Guidelines for further information.
Member duties
As directors of a public entity, all members are bound by section 79 of the Public Administration Act 2004
(PAA) in the exercise of the functions of their office.
Members are public officials under section 4 of the PAA. In performing their role, members are bound by the
public sector values and employment principles (Part 2 of the PAA). Under section 63 of the PAA, members
are bound by the Victorian Public Entity Directors’ Code of Conduct 2006.
Number of vacancies
This recruitment process will address three vacancies including the Convenor position. Current members are
eligible for reappointment.
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015
Vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee
3. Information about the recruitment process
Relevant policy and approvals
Government expectations regarding recruitment are detailed in the Appointment and Remuneration
Guidelines for Victorian Government Boards Statutory Bodies and Advisory Committees (the Guidelines).
Candidates selected for short listing will be required to consent to background and probity checks that meet all
the requirements of the Guidelines.
Information and Forms to be provided by Applicants - how to apply
Expressions of interest open Monday 11 May and close 5pm, Sunday 31st May 2015.
Should you wish to apply for a position on the Committee, please submit a completed Expression of Interest
package, comprising:
 Expression of Interest form;
 Curriculum Vitae; and
 Diversity Information & Privacy Consent form.
Please send these three forms to Dionne Eagleson by email at [email protected]. Additional
enquiries or assistance with completing the Expression of Interest package, can be directed to Lilian Burton on
(03) 9637 8967 or via email at: [email protected].
Curriculum Vitae
Applicants need to provide a full and detailed CV, which should be current, typed and dated with the following
information:
• your current employment and your employment history, including information about what you did
and what you were responsible for in each role, and
• your qualifications and your current memberships of Commonwealth and Victorian government
bodies and non-government bodies (i.e. board memberships, committees, council memberships,
community groups).
Diversity Information & Privacy Consent form
Please complete both Parts A and B of this form, sign, date and witness it, and return the original to DELWP.
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015
Vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee
FOR NOTING: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS SHOULD AN APPLICANT BE SELECTED FOR
SHORT LISTING AND APPOINTMENT
Probity Checks
The Government’s Guidelines require that all applicants undergo the following probity checks to the
satisfaction of the Minister, prior to their appointment to the Committee:
National Police Record Check/Consent Form
To enable DELWP to undertake your national police record check, you will need to:
• complete and submit the online fit2work National Police Checking Service Application/Consent Form
(Police Check Application). DELWP will provide this form to you when appropriate.
• provide certified copies of your personal identification documents (“ID documents”) that amounts to a
minimum of 100 points.
The Police check Application must be signed and dated by you and the person certifying personal identification
documents OR a DELWP Officer can sight your original personal identification documents (“ID documents”)
that amounts to a minimum of 100 points. Photocopies of your uncertified personal identification documents
are still required to be attached to the Police Check Application.
Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) and Australian Financial Security Authority
(AFSA) checks
DELWP uses the personal information you provide to undertake ASIC and AFSA checks. This involves
comparing your name, current address and date of birth against the names of people listed in AFSA’s ‘National
Personal Insolvency Index’ and ASIC’s registers (e.g. ASIC’s ‘Banned & disqualified persons’ register). Due to
the limitations of the information contained in these databases, your check may produce a potential match
with someone listed in those databases. If this is the case, you will be contacted for clarification. DELWP may
request that you complete a statutory declaration confirming that you are not the person listed in those
databases.
Declaration of Private Interests (DoPI)
The main purpose of the DoPI form is to ensure that prior to appointing an applicant to the Committee, the
Minister is aware if the candidate has any pecuniary or other interest that could conflict with the proper
performance of their duties as a Board member, or could reasonably give rise to an expectation of a conflict of
interest. Declaring a conflict of interest may not necessarily make you ineligible for appointment. If you are
appointed you will be required to complete a DoPI form, which will be used by the Convenor to manage
conflicts of interest. You will be required to update this form annually or if your circumstances change.
Remuneration & Public Sector Employees (“PSEs”) - Employer Consent
Appointees that are public sector employees (“PSEs”) are only eligible for remuneration in limited
circumstances. DELWP will determine if you are a PSE and are eligible for remuneration. If you are a PSE,
DELWP may request that you provide written confirmation from your employer that you have their approval
to perform the duties on the Committee, and that those duties will be performed in your own time.
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015
Vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee
4. Information on Victorian Government Policies
Obligations – Board members
Board members of DELWP agencies may have a range of legal obligations. All Board members of Victorian
government agencies are required to comply with:
•
common law directors’ duties; and
•
the public sector values (s.7 Public Administration Act 2004 (“PAA”)) and the public sector
employment principles (s.8 PAA);
•
Board members of a DELWP agency may also be required, or expected, to comply with;
•
specific statutory duties and obligations set out in the agency’s establishing legislation;
•
additional obligations in the PAA that apply to a director of a “public entity”, such as the requirement
to comply with the Director’s Code of Conduct;
•
additional obligations in the PAA that apply to a director of a “public entity” that is subject to Parts II
and III of Division 5 of the PAA, such as the requirement to comply with the duties of directors (s.79
PAA);
•
obligations under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), if the agency is a
“public authority”.
The Government and its representatives cannot advise candidates on their personal liabilities and
responsibilities, which are often complex. Individuals should seek independent legal advice and obtain more
detailed information from other sources. More information can be found on http://vpsc.vic.gov.au/ .
Background Reading
•
DELWP’s On Board website www.delwp.vic.gov.au/onboard contains information on governance
resources, board appointment processes, and links to current expressions of interest for vacancies on
DELWP Boards.
•
DELWP’s Guide to Good Governance – Board Members’: may be downloaded from DELWP’s On Board
website,) or phoning DELWP’s Customer Service Centre on 136186.
•
The Victorian Public Sector Commission’s (VPSC’s) website at http://vpsc.vic.gov.au provides further
governance and policy information for applicants and Board members.
•
The Public Board Appointments Victoria (“PBAV”) database http://www.publicboards.vic.gov.au lists
the current members of most DELWP major agencies.
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015