Twenty-four public service officials participated in a one-day Public Sector Orientation (PSO) session delivered by the Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) last month, as part of standard onboarding and recruitment.

Upon their successful completion of the PSO, all public service officials were issued with a certificate of attendance by the OPSC.

Those who participated included from the House of Ariki, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. The participants received an overview of the public service from Public Service Commissioner, Carl Hunter, at the New Hope Church in Rarotonga.

The PSO is designed to introduce new employees to the Cook Islands Public sector, and serves as a refresher for current public service officials who have worked for the Cook Islands Government for several years. 

During the session, participants also observed several presentations from relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Cultural Development (MOCD), to strengthen their knowledge of record keeping and the protocols for archiving and submitting documents to the archivist.

Public Service Commissioner Hunter also presented an overview of his career in both the private and public sectors and further encouraged participants to aim for excellence, and make the most of opportunities to work across different roles in the public sector.

“In recent months, the Cook Islands Government has experienced an influx of new public service officials,” said Hunter.

“The Public Sector Orientation we are delivering should assist those within the Cook Islands Government and bolster capabilities by enhancing and equipping our new and current public service officials with the knowledge how to deliver and develop policies, services, support, and more.”

• Sian Solomon/OPSC