Discipline Policy

Applicable to: All Health Service Provider employees

Description: The Discipline Policy specifies the principles and minimum requirements with which Health Service Providers must comply to ensure a fair, reasonable and consistent approach to the management of matters that may concern a breach of discipline relevant to Part 11 of the Health Services Act 2016 (HS Act).

This Policy does not apply to unsatisfactory and substandard performance or grievance matters, the requirements for which are set out in MP 0041/16 Managing Unsatisfactory and Substandard Performance Policy and MP 0116/19 Grievance Resolution Policy respectively.

For the purpose of this policy a breach of discipline is as defined in section 161 of the HS Act:

        An employee commits a breach of discipline if the employee:

            (a)  disobeys or disregards a lawful order; or
            (b)  contravenes –
                  (i)    any provision of this Act applicable to that employee; or
                  (ii)   any public sector standard or code of ethics; or 
                  (iii) a policy framework;
             or
            (c)   commits an act of misconduct; or
            (d)  is negligent or careless in the performance of the employee’s functions; or 
            (e)  commits an act of victimisation within the meaning of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 section 15.

This Policy is a mandatory requirement under the Integrity Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(l) and section 19(1A) of the HS Act.

This Policy supersedes MP 0040/16 Discipline Policy.

Date of effect: 02 January 2020

Policy Framework

Supporting information