The Working in the LC Program

The Working in the Legislative Council program, a Professional Development initiative is a 12-week program offered to departmental officers who want to gain first-hand experience of the operations of Parliament, including Legislative Council committees and the annual budget estimates process. The program runs from July to October each year.

The program, which began in 2004, allows participants to gain experience working in the Legislative Council, and facilitates an exchange of ideas and experiences between participants, sponsorship agencies and the Council. The program is open to high performing NSW public service officers at the Clerk Grade 7/8, 9/10 or equivalent. The successful applicant's agency is required to meet their officer's salary costs during the placement. Participants are not eligible to apply for a position in the Council during the placement or for six months following the end of the placement.

Here is what former participants had to say about their experience:
"The Program provides a unique opportunity to step out of your current role into the dynamic environment of the LC Committee Secretariat. I was fortunate to experience the various functions of the Secretariat which included: coordinating the administration of the Budget Estimates Inquiry 2012 – 2013, observing parliamentary procedures within the LC Chamber, conducting research for inquiry reports and responding to enquiries. With the many responsibilities given, I gained an invaluable insight into the work of the Secretariat, which I have brought back to my agency.

Working in the Legislative Council has been a highlight of my career. There are very few opportunities for public servants working in agencies to observe the mechanism of parliamentary governance from such a privileged position, and to gain insight into how the Parliament as a whole functions. Being involved in Budget Estimates 2012 was incredibly rewarding, and I found at its conclusion that I had developed a highly specialised set of skills that may not have been fully realised in another setting.

As part of my secondment I was also lucky enough to work on a Law and Justice Committee Inquiry. The experience was invaluable and I have been able to incorporate new skills into my current work and studies. The week that I spent with the procedure office was great and I had the opportunity to learn about the Legislative process and gain a better insight into the everyday running of parliament."

Applications for this year's program have closed.