Explore glossary

Workplace language

Language for papers, meetings and everyday public-service work.

30 curated results

Submission

Cross-government

SubmissionAn official written paper put up for a superior or forum to note, discuss, clear, endorse, approve or decide.

Clearance

Cross-government

ClearanceA review confirming that material is suitable to move forward; clearance does not always constitute final authority to implement.

Take offline

Cross-government

Take offlineTo move a detailed, unresolved or tangential discussion to a separate conversation so the current meeting can proceed.

Steer

Cross-government

SteerDirectional guidance from a senior officer or forum on how to proceed. A steer may narrow the options or indicate a preferred approach without constituting formal approval.

First cut

Cross-government

First cutAn early working version prepared to establish the basic direction, structure or response before fuller review and refinement.

Staff

Cross-government

StaffAn officer who supports a principal or forum by analysing an issue, coordinating inputs, preparing recommendations or papers, and following decisions through; also used as a verb for carrying out that work.

Working-level

Cross-government

Working-levelDiscussion or resolution among officers doing the detailed staff work, usually before escalation to principals or a formal forum. Also called staff-level discussion.

No surprises

Cross-government

No surprisesA working norm that material issues, risks or disagreements should be surfaced early rather than first appearing at a formal forum.

Instruction Manual

Cross-government

Instruction ManualA set of central government instructions covering administrative areas such as HR, finance, procurement, office administration, security or ICT.

Pre-read

Cross-government

Pre-readA paper, deck or other material sent in advance so participants can review it before the discussion or decision.

Reporting officer

Cross-government

Reporting officerThe manager responsible for supervising an officer’s work and providing performance feedback and assessment under the agency’s appraisal arrangements.

Statutory board

Cross-government

Statutory boardA body established by legislation to perform public functions. It is part of government but is a separate legal entity, generally with its own governing board and operational flexibility.

Whole-of-Government

Cross-government

Whole-of-GovernmentWorking across ministry and agency boundaries towards the Government’s collective interests and outcomes, rather than optimising only for one organisation.

Permanent Secretary

Cross-government

Permanent SecretaryThe administrative head of a ministry and a senior career public officer responsible to the Minister.

Posting

Cross-government

PostingAn officer’s placement into a job, which may be within the same agency or part of a structured move across agencies or sectors.

Action item

Cross-government

Action itemA specific follow-up task with an owner and, ideally, a due date arising from a discussion, decision or direction.

Chief Executive

Cross-government

Chief ExecutiveThe senior executive who heads a statutory board’s administration and management and works with its board, parent ministry and the wider Public Service.

Pls see

Cross-government

Pls seeA short email or note instruction directing the recipient to read an attached, linked or quoted item.

Pls follow up

Cross-government

Pls follow upA short instruction asking the recipient to handle the next step and report back when needed.

Political office-holder

Cross-government

Political office-holderA political leader holding government office, such as a Minister, Senior Minister of State, Minister of State or Parliamentary Secretary, as distinct from a career public officer.

Approval

Cross-government

ApprovalA decision by the person or body holding the relevant authority to agree to a plan, request, commitment or expenditure.

Socialise

Cross-government

SocialiseTo discuss an emerging proposal informally with relevant stakeholders so concerns can be understood and surprises reduced before formal staffing.

3P partnership

Cross-government

3P partnershipA partnership among the public sector, private sector and people or community sector to address an issue or deliver an outcome together.

Amount

General

AmountA measure of how much of an uncountable thing there is.

Assessment year

Cross-government

Assessment yearA named annual performance-assessment or appraisal cycle in organisations that use this label.

Bandwidth

Cross-government

BandwidthA person’s or team’s available time, attention and capacity to take on or complete work.

Basis period

Finance and Economy

Basis periodThe period of income and expenses used to determine taxable income for a particular Year of Assessment.

Bimonthly

General

BimonthlyAn ambiguous frequency that can mean every two months or twice a month.

Biweekly

General

BiweeklyAn ambiguous frequency that can mean every two weeks or twice a week.

Calendar year

General

Calendar yearThe period from 1 January to 31 December, both dates inclusive.