Lodge a VPS grievance

Review of action

All government departments have a review process to ensure that concerns of employees are dealt with promptly and fairly.

In accordance with regulation 6 of the Public Administration (Review of Actions) Regulations 2025, the Secretary to the Department of Education (the department) has delegated the Merit Protection Boards to conduct initial reviews of action (personal grievances or selection grievances) of employees of the Victorian Public Service who are employed by the department, including Executive Officers, Senior Executive Service, VPS, Allied Health and Nurses.

When a personal or selection grievance is lodged the Merit Protection Boards’ senior chairperson will refer such an application to a VPS Review of Action Board.

The right to a grievance review

Victorian Public Service employees (Executive Officers, VPS, Allied Health and Nurses) who are employed by the department may lodge an application for Review of Action in accordance with the provisions of the current Department policy.

VPS selection grievance applications need to be lodged within 7 calendar days of notification of the decision.

VPS personal grievance applications need to be lodged within 28 calendar days of notification of the decision.

Applications lodged outside of these periods are considered to be out of time and may not proceed.

Appellants should make every effort to seek written confirmation of the decision which has given rise to the grievance. Where an appellant is provided only with verbal advice of a decision, a grievance can still be lodged. In some circumstances the decision maker may be asked by the registrar to provide written advice of their decision should they fail to provide this to the appellant.

Lodging a grievance out of time

If a personal grievance is lodged outside of the required period, the appellant may request the senior chairperson consider the “special circumstances” which have led to the late application. Where the special circumstances are accepted by the senior chairperson a late application will proceed.
Special circumstances can include:

• medical emergencies
• documentation incorrectly dated by either party
• incorrect legal or representative advice
• written decisions not provided in a timely manner.

If a personal grievance is lodged outside of the 28-day period without a request for special circumstances to be considered, the senior chairperson may offer the appellant the opportunity to do so. This opportunity will only be provided to those applications that the senior chairperson determines fall within the jurisdiction of the Merit Protection Boards to hear and determine. The fact that an appellant does not know about the Merit Protection Boards or their right to lodge a grievance is unlikely to be considered a special circumstance.

Learn more about the VPS grievance process

Lodge a grievance application, continued

To lodge a grievance application click here.