Australian public service commissioner stephen sedgwick

human Capital research activities

The Commission produced over 200 workforce research products in 2012–13, including 139 research notes, six staff research insights, 10 issues of the Human Capital Matters digest, and over 40 sets of Jurisdictional Dot Points—a regular summary of public administration developments in overseas jurisdictions. The findings of human capital research conducted by the Commission and other agencies were presented at two research forums hosted by the Commission. Over 100 participants attended each forum.

human Capital management support activities

The Commission conducted a range of human capital management survey design and evaluation activities in 2012–13 to support the APS. This work included:

• an evaluation of the APS teleworking trial

• development of an entry and exit survey process that has been made available to all APS agencies

• survey design and delivery in support of the trial development of an APS innovation index

• survey design and delivery in support of Commission program evaluations, including individual flexibility arrangements, award modernisation, APS Indigenous workforce participation experience, and the APS Classification Review.

The Commission also commenced a redraft of two previous guidance documents to agencies and managers on absence management: Turned up and tuned in and Fostering an attendance culture. The new draft document, titled Attendance and absence, will be circulated widely within the APS for comment. Publication is planned for late 2013.

merit protection and other services

The Merit Protection Commissioner’s functions are set out in section 50 of the PS Act. The Merit Protection Commissioner and the Public Service Commissioner have a memorandum of understanding for the provision of staff necessary to assist the Merit Protection Commissioner in performing her statutory functions. As a result, the costs of the office of the Merit Protection Commissioner are included in the Public Service Commissioner’s financial statements.

Support for the Merit Protection Commissioner’s review and fee-for-service functions is provided by staff in the Ethics and Client Engagement groups in the Commission’s Sydney office. The Merit Protection Commissioner’s delegates for her review functions are largely based in the Ethics Group in Canberra, which also provides coordination and policy support for the Merit Protection Commissioner.

A report on the performance of these functions is contained in the Merit Protection Commissioner’s annual report which follows the appendices to this report.

program 1.1—Component 1.1.2: investing in aps development and Capability

objectives

APS workforce capability will be critical to improving APS performance in the future. Its leaders shape the culture and values of the APS. Strong and effective leadership skills supported by investment in learning and development are essential components in building a high-performing , innovative and agile APS.

The Commission’s objectives under program component 1.1.2 in 2012–13 were:

• to reinvigorate strategic leadership capability by:

– identifying high-quality, strategically aligned leadership programs that produce the skills agencies and the APS need, deliver value for money and minimise the duplication of leadership development activities

– investing in the talent management of top performers in the APS

• to support, guide and encourage APS agencies to invest as required in the capability development of their people, to raise overall APS capability

• to provide APS agencies with access to thought leadership and guidance on strategies to enhance leadership development and talent management

• to support agencies via access to high-quality providers and a range of core learning and development programs that meet APS needs

• to support leadership, learning and development opportunities that build knowledge, capabilities, skills and behaviours through international programs.

achievements

During 2012–13, the Commission’s achievements included:

• delivering new approaches that support the APS Leadership and Core Skills Strategy 2012–13, including validation of existing leadership development priorities and identification of APS-wide core and management skills to be developed

• implementing new approaches to cross-APS talent development for SES Band 2 and Band 3 officers

• commencing implementation of four pilot programs identified in the APS Leadership and Core Skills Strategy

• expanding its events program (graduate, Executive Level, SES, APS200) to support the one APS agenda

• partnering with the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation to manage the 2013 selection process for Sir Roland Wilson Foundation Scholarships

• implementing refreshed SES leadership and SES orientation programs

• commencing work to develop an APS Asia Capability Strategy to support the development of Asia-relevant skills as required by the Australia in the Asian century white paper

• supporting a community of practice drawing together leadership, learning and development practitioners from across the APS to share tools and practices and progress shared challenges

• updating the Leading Australia’s Future in the Asia–Pacific program to reflect the challenges and opportunities posed by Asia’s growing strategic and economic influence, as identified in the Australia in the Asian century white paper

• partnering with Jawun (a not-for-profit organisation) to coordinate the short-term secondment of 38 high-potential APS employees to Indigenous organisations

• delivering the APS Human Resources Summit 2012; key themes included the need for human resources to deliver exceptional operational services and contribute to business-wide strategy, as well as the critical role of strategic workforce planning to meet economic, technological and demographic change

• signing a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform to establish a strategic partnership to share expertise in support of systemic bureaucratic reforms in Australia and Indonesia.