Compass Program

• The Compass Program
• What does Compass involve?
• Completing your performance review
• MyCareer Online System and Support
• Helpful links
  
  

The Compass Program [Compass]

UWS recognises the importance of career development and planning for its employees. Compass encompasses the University's Career Development Planning and Review process as outlined in the UWS Staff Enterprise Agreements, as well as the employment benefits and career development opportunities outlined in the Professional Development Policy.

A number of employment benefits and conditions like confirmation of probation; promotion, professional development program leave or conference leave; study leave and educational support; salary increments and recruitment and retention loadings; are linked to your active participation in the Career Development Planning and Review process. All ongoing employees and employees on fixed-term contracts for 12 months or more are required to participate in the University's Career Development Planning and Review process.

Compass aims to provide you with the guidance, direction and support to navigate the various career pathways and development opportunities at UWS, and to help with the planning of your work aligned to the UWS Strategy and goals.

Compass uses the MyCareer Online System to help keep your career development and work plans and activities on track and up to date. Compass is about having ongoing discussions with your colleagues and manager about your portfolio activities in Teaching, Research, Administration, Governance/ Leadership/ Engagement and the support and training needed to help you do your job.

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What does Compass involve?

• Setting your work or performance objectives for the year ahead
• Familiarise yourself with the UWS Making the Difference strategic plan and the UWS Planning and Review process Find out about your work areas plans and priorities
• Discuss your proposed work plan with your supervisor so that there is a balance of activities and it aligns with your work areas plan
• Identify five or six work objectives/ key responsibilities or goals that will support your portfolio in teaching, research, engagement and/or administration
• Identify key performance indicators or measures of success for each of your objectives
• Create your career development and learning plan
• Identify development goals that will support your professional development and career aspirations
• Seek support for undertaking your career and professional development activities
• Review your progress during the year
• Use the MyCareer Online System to track your progress
• Meet with your manager or supervisor to discuss your achievements and to gain guidance and feedback on your performance
• Consider what types of evaluation, documentation or evidence will support your portfolio
• For Academic Staff, consider peer review and mentoring for your teaching and how you will use, for example, student evaluation of teaching to identify areas of strengths and areas for further development
• For Academic Staff, consider your research aspirations, plans and goals in relation to research publications, grants, and your HDR students. Consider the support you might need to reach these goals.
  

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Completing your performance review

All staff required to complete a self-review of performance, whether or not they have entered work and development objectives in MyCareer Online, will receive an email requesting you to complete your review.

You will receive an email requesting you to complete your review and this will need to be completed within a specified time period to enable your supervisor to complete a review of your performance and to schedule a meeting with you.

Instructions on how to update your progress against work and development objectives and how to complete the self-review of performance is available under the Knowledge Bank tab in the MyCareer Online System. Supervisors can also find instructions on how to complete the supervisors review of their staff in the Knowledge Bank.

MyCareer Online System and Support

The MyCareer Online System enables an annual (and continuous) planning and review process for all employees. The first stage involves entering your work or performance objectives and development plan into the MyCareer Online System. The second stage will be to review your objectives on a regular basis with your supervisor.

The first step (usually undertaken at the beginning of the year) involves entering your work or performance objectives and development plan into the MyCareer Online System. We recommend you review your objectives on a regular basis with your supervisor in preparation for the formal second step, the performance review (usually assigned at the end of the year).

Introductory "Getting Started" sessions for teams and 1st time users of the system, are held across UWS to introduce you to the career development planning process and the University's MyCareer Online System.  You can also do the online "Getting Started with MyCareer Online" module, go to the Online Learning Courses site for more information.

All employees should also complete the online module 'An Introduction to Performance Planning and Career Development'. For assistance on how to access and register for this course, go to How to Register.

MyCareer Online is the place to go to enrol in a range of online learning modules and face-to-face courses and workshops at UWS.

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Helpful Links

Contact Organisational Development for 'Getting Started' sessions and for supervisor training in conducting career development and performance reviews.

Contact your HR Business Partner or Advisor for information about the Career Development Planning and Review process.

Go to QuickGuides in the Knowledge Bank in the MyCareer Online System for tips on using MyCareer Online.

Check out the UWS Making the Difference Strategy 2010 – 2015.

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