The Public Service newbie guide

10 terms to start with

Ten high-value terms selected for a useful first pass through Public Service workplace language.

• FY

  Abbreviation

  Financial Year

  Procurement & projects

  The Government financial year running from 1 April to 31 March of the following calendar year.

  Also heard as: fiscal year, FY2026, FY26

  Source checked for FY (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-25

• Staff

  An officer who supports a principal or forum by analysing an issue, coordinating inputs, preparing recommendations or papers, and following decisions through; also used as a verb for carrying out that work.

  Starting in Public Service

  Also heard as: staffing, staff work, staffing an issue, staffing a paper

  Context: The exact staff process and document format vary by agency.

  Source checked for Staff (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-25

• First cut

  An early working version prepared to establish the basic direction, structure or response before fuller review and refinement.

  Writing a paper

  Example: A first cut may be rough; it may not be a blank page sent at 5.59pm.

  Also heard as: first-cut, first cut draft, first-cut response

  Context: A first cut is meant to give reviewers something concrete to react to; it should not be treated as near-final.

  Source checked for First cut (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-30

• Submission

  An official written paper put up for a superior or forum to note, discuss, clear, endorse, approve or decide.

  Writing a paper

  Example: The submission is ready when the decision sought is clearer than the filename FINAL_v12_reallyfinal.docx.

  Also heard as: paper, staff paper, submission paper, put up a paper, put up a submission

  Context: Paper is the broader working term; not every paper is necessarily a formal submission. State the action or decision sought clearly.

  Source checked for Submission (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-30

• Clearance

  A review confirming that material is suitable to move forward; clearance does not always constitute final authority to implement.

  Writing a paper

  Also heard as: clear, cleared, for clearance, For Clearance, Pls, for clearance pls

  Context: Agency usage varies, so the approving authority and requested action should be stated explicitly.

  Source checked for Clearance (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-25

• Steer

  Directional guidance from a senior officer or forum on how to proceed. A steer may narrow the options or indicate a preferred approach without constituting formal approval.

  Writing a paper

  Example: Seek a steer before lovingly polishing the wrong option.

  Also heard as: seek a steer, get a steer, management steer

  Context: The strength of a steer depends on who gives it and the forum’s authority; do not assume it replaces the required clearance or approval.

  Use may vary

• Working-level

  Discussion or resolution among officers doing the detailed staff work, usually before escalation to principals or a formal forum. Also called staff-level discussion.

  Starting in Public Service

  Also heard as: working level, at working level, staff level, staff-level, at staff level

  Context: Here, ‘staff level’ means the officers staffing the issue, not employees generally.

  Source checked for Working-level (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-25

• No surprises

  A working norm that material issues, risks or disagreements should be surfaced early rather than first appearing at a formal forum.

  Starting in Public Service

  Also heard as: no-surprises principle

  Source checked for No surprises (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-25

• Take offline

  To move a detailed, unresolved or tangential discussion to a separate conversation so the current meeting can proceed.

  Attending a meeting

  Example: Let’s take this offline before the meeting acquires a second agenda.

  Also heard as: discuss offline, offline this, take it offline

  Context: Usually means a separate follow-up, not necessarily an in-person or non-digital discussion. State who will continue it and when, or it can become a polite way to bury the issue.

  Use may vary

• KIV

  Abbreviation

  Keep In View

  Starting in Public Service

  To retain a matter for monitoring or later consideration without taking immediate action.

  Also heard as: KIV first

  Context: KIV should not be used as a substitute for an owner, review date or explicit decision where follow-up is required.

  Source checked for KIV (opens in a new tab) Checked 2026-07-25