Secondments, interchanges, higher duties or relieving

Use secondments in government to learn new skills, work in different teams and spend time at different agencies.

A secondment in the Queensland Government is a temporary engagement that moves you from one agency to another or, if an agency has different entities, one entity to another. For example, the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy includes the entities Queensland Shared Services (QSS) and Smart Service Queensland (SSQ). If you temporarily move from QSS to SSQ, this is a secondment.

A secondment is not a temporary engagement within the same entity (for agencies that have multiple entities) or agency (for single entity agencies). See Higher duties and relieving at level.

A secondment can be to a role that’s at a higher or lower classification level, or the same classification level. You can apply for a secondment opportunity (see Talent Now opportunities board and Jobs for government employees).

Your chief executive can only assign you a secondment opportunity at a lower classification level if you consent.

See Section 160 of the Public Sector Act 2022 for more.

Use higher duties or relieving at level opportunities to learn new skills and work in different teams within your agency.

A higher duties or relieving at level arrangement is a temporary engagement within the same entity (for agencies that have multiple entities) or agency (for single entity agencies).

Higher duties is a temporary engagement at a higher classification level than you’re currently employed. Relieving at level is a temporary engagement at the same classification level you’re currently employed.

Higher duties and relieving at level are not opportunities that move you from one agency to another or, if your agency has different entities, one entity to another. For example, Crown Law is an entity within the Department of Justice and Attorney-General (JAG). If you temporarily move from Crown Law into a position within a department directly in JAG, this is a secondment. See Secondments.

See Higher duties directive for more.

Use interchange or work performance arrangements to learn new skills and work at a different level of government (e.g. local government, federal government), or for a non-government organisation.

An interchange arrangement is a temporary engagement outside the Queensland Government. It can also be a temporary engagement within the Queensland Government if you’re currently employed outside the government.

See Section 302 of the Public Sector Act 2022.

A work performance arrangement is a temporary agreement to perform work for another public or private organisation (excluding non-profit organisations).

The chief executive of both organisations must agree to the terms and length of the arrangement. The 'home' organisation still employs you, but your chief executive agrees to you completing work for the other organisation.

See Section 301 of the Public Sector Act 2022.

You or your chief executive may initiate a transfer or redeployment opportunity to another location, job or department. This is often a permanent arrangement and is mostly reserved for situations where your current role has been abolished due to workplace change.

This can be a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills and work with different people.

If you’re redeploying to a lower classification level, your chief executive must get your consent.

If your chief executive initiates the transfer or redeployment, you can refuse if you have reasonable grounds.

See Section 161 and 162 of the Public Sector Act 2022.