Values-based management in the APS

"…the Australian Public Service Commission has now given birth to a small collection of publications which are aimed at the practical application of both [the APS Values and Code of Conduct] and which are probably quite ground-breaking compared with anything put out by any other Westernstyle (not to mention Westminster-style) government.

In fact, they might even come to be considered seminal publications, drawing together all the things which public servants need to consider in their work". (Canberra Times, 31 August 2003)

Following the initial launch in Canberra in August 2003, the APS Commission promoted widely across Australia two new key publications to assist agencies to fully integrate the APS Values and Code of Conduct into their systems and procedures, namely:

  • APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice: a guide to official conduct for APS employees and Agency Heads (conduct guidelines)–an updated document to replace the Guidelines on Official Conduct of Commonwealth Public Servants, last issued in 1995, and
  • Embedding the APS Values–a management guide for senior staff about embedding the APS Values in their organisations.

Each launch was followed up with distribution of the publications to senior staff throughout the APS. The Commission assisted agencies to publicise them widely within their organisations and arranged for their staff to have access to electronic versions.

APS agencies were encouraged also to distribute widely the new conduct guidelines and/or the accompanying user-friendly, quick reference summary in particular. Many agencies ordered additional supplies of the publications and accepted the Commission’s offer to give presentations to their senior leadership groups.

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