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Retiring Department of Defence Secretary, Ric Smith, and Australian Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs, at Valedictory lecture, November 2006.

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Performance review : Development programmes : Leadership services
Output 2.2: Programme delivery

Leadership services

The Commission performs an important and significant role in building and sustaining the leadership capability of the APS. Central to this role is a focus on the Senior Executive Service (SES) leadership cadre. Increasingly, however, the Commission is also focusing on meeting the particular needs of the EL group which, as the feeder group to the SES, will provide the basis for renewal of the SES over time.

Table 9: Performance information Output 2.1—Leadership Services
Target	Result
Quantity
1. Increase leadership knowledge, skills and capability of SES and Executive Level (EL) groups across the APS.
a) Number of seminars and forums delivered—estimate 136	Exceeded. 202 seminars and forums were delivered.
b) Number of agencies engaged through at least one scheduled event, activity or network focused on promoting leadership—target is 75%	Exceeded. 100% of APS agencies were engaged through at least one scheduled event, activity or network focused on promoting leadership.
c) Number of Career Development Assessment Centres (CDACs) delivered—estimate 9 CDACs with 106 participants.	Exceeded. 13 CDACs delivered with a total of 156 participants attending.
2. Promote effective implementation of leadership development across the APS.
a) Number of consultations conducted with agencies to support the agency in integrating the Integrated Leadership System into their practices and systems. These consultations involve structured planned interventions to specifically develop the agency’s leadership practices and/or capacity—target is 10 consultations with agencies.	Exceeded. 13 consultations with agencies and international delegations about the Integrated Leadership System.

Quality
Leadership Development Network Percentage of responding participants in the Leadership Development Network who when surveyed give a rating of 5 or 6 on a 6-point scale, for:
relevance—target is 85%	Not achieved. 78% of respondents gave a rating of 5 or 6 on a 6-point scale.
usefulness—target is 85%	Not achieved. 79% of respondents gave a rating of 5 or 6 on a 6-point scale.
administration and coordination—target is 85%	Not achieved. 81% of respondents gave a rating of 5 or 6 on a 6-point scale.
Client service survey 75% of APS agencies in the client service survey agree that in promoting effective leadership the Commission provides: clarity of information accessible means of support timely responses to queries current and useful information, and effective transfer of knowledge to others.	A client service survey was not conducted in 2006–07. Instead an internal review was conducted of the Commission’s Leadership, Learning and Development panel which took account of feedback from agencies and suppliers. Feedback indicates the panel is generally working well.
CDAC Percentage of responding participants who when surveyed give a rating of 3 (beneficial) or above on a 5-point scale for:
gained a better understanding of strengths and development needs—target is 90%	Exceeded. 96 % rated 3 or above on a 5-point scale.
developed a better understanding of leadership capabilities—target is 90%	Exceeded. 96% rated 3 or above on a 5-point scale.
assisted participants to be more effective leaders—target is 90%	Exceeded. 91% rated 3 or above on a 5-point scale.


Estimated price: $4.010 million	Actual: $5.046 million

A national approach to leadership, learning and development

In May 2007 the Commission completed a new national leadership, learning and development strategy that set out an integrated approach to building capability and supporting excellence in the APS.

The strategy aims to support the needs of employees and agencies in responding to the challenges of a contemporary APS in a complex and ever changing environment. The strategy strengthens the Commission’s commitment and ability to better support APS agencies and their employees in realising their potential.

The leadership, learning and development strategy articulates the client-focused principles that guide the Commission’s work and identifies the strategies, objectives and actions that will enable the Commission to work together with agencies towards a smarter, stronger and more sustainable APS.

The strategy will allow the Commission to:

renew its commitment to helping agencies build employee capability
revitalise its relationships with key stakeholders
refresh its suite of products and services.

SES Band 2 and 3 residential programmes

In 2006–07, the Commission delivered four residential leadership programmes for SES Band 3 and Band 2 executives. These highly successful programmes, first developed in 2005–06, are aimed at strengthening the leadership capabilities identified for senior executives in the Integrated Leadership System (ILS) and enhance their knowledge and awareness of contemporary challenges facing the APS—including whole-of-government problems, engaging citizens effectively and appropriate governance and accountability arrangements. The programmes have continued to receive positive feedback during 2006–07 with:

fifteen participants attending the SES Band 3 residential programme Leadership mastery in June 2007
a total of 51 participants attending the SES Band 2 residential programmes, Leading across boundaries, conducted in September and November 2006 and March 2007.

SES Band 3 forums

The SES Band 3 forums offer the opportunity for peers to come together, from very different agency contexts, to explore topical issues. The forums operate as a 'roundtable' with internal and external subject matter experts presenting the facts and trends, followed by facilitated discussions within the group. These factors provide the framework for the selection of forum topics and produce events that are relevant, informative and popular.

Three forums during 2006–07 attracted 41 participants. By comparison, two forums were held in 2005–06, which were attended by a total of 33 people.

The topics for 2006–07 included:

Strategic agreement making in Australian Government employment with discussion led by Dr Peter Boxall, Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
State of the service report, with discussion led by Ms Lynne Tacy, Deputy Public Service Commissioner
Programme management, with discussion led by Ms Leslie Riggs, Executive Director, Auslink and Mr Bernie Yates, Deputy Secretary, Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

SES Band 1 residential programmes

The Commission delivered new residential leadership programmes for SES Band 1 executives in 2006–07:

the New leadership horizons programme is for SES Band 1 executives with less than 3 years experience at level. The programme focuses the distinctive contribution of SES Band 1s and, in particular, the difference between the roles of an Executive Level employee and the SES Band 1 level.
the Transforming leadership programme for SES Band 1 executives with more than 3 years experience at level. The programme focuses on the contribution of this group within the APS environment and emphasises the individual’s role in building not only their own capability but that of others.

Both programmes take into account the differing complexity at each leadership level and assist participants to define their contribution to the APS, understand their role as part of the SES, develop their capacity to respond to current and emerging issues (including whole-of-government imperatives) and strengthen their ability to manage themselves in a changing, devolved environment.

In 2006–07, three New leadership horizons programmes commenced with the participation of 58 SES Band 1s. In the same period, five Transforming leadership programmes commenced, with 85 SES participants.

Expertise development

Expertise development programmes have been developed to assist senior executives enhance their knowledge and skills across a broad range of key areas (such as programme management, financial management and regulation). These programmes are of significant assistance to members of the SES as they take on new roles, responsibilities and challenges in furthering their careers.

The Commission delivered eight of its highly successful programme Preparing to appear before parliamentary committees. This programme focuses on building confidence, public presentation skills and personal communications by using role play to simulate, for example, appearances at estimates hearings.

Four new expertise development programmes were introduced during the year:

Programme management assists APS leaders achieve excellence in programme design, implementation and delivery. It explores programme management in a broad context, ensuring an understanding of the relationships between all aspects of policy implementation. The first programme was held in August 2006 with three subsequent programmes delivered. A total of 69 senior executives attended.
Mastering your financial environment is aimed at SES who are new to the public service or need to refresh their knowledge in the area of financial compliance. The first programme was held in August 2006 with 24 participants. A total of four programmes were conducted through 2006–07 attended by 77 senior executives.
The first Regulatory environment programme, lead by Professor Allan Fels AO, was held in April 2007 and attended by 27 people. This programme focuses on initiatives to improve regulation design resulting from the Australian Government’s response to the Taskforce on reducing regulatory burdens on business: rethinking regulation report.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy in practice programme was conducted twice in 2006–07 with the first held in November 2006 with 22 participants. The aim of the programme is to improve the development and implementation of government policies, programmes and initiatives that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A second programme was held in March 2007 with 15 participants.

SES breakfast seminar series

The Commission’s regular breakfast seminars for APS senior executives provides participants with a forum to interact with leading speakers on contemporary issues directly relevant to their work. The seminar series also offers an opportunity for senior executives to discuss issues of common interest with colleagues on a regular basis.

Ten SES breakfast seminars were held in 2006–07 with a total of 725 executives attending.

The speakers at the SES breakfast seminars during the year included:

Mr Stephen Merchant, Department of Defence, Building a leadership system and enhancing leadership capability for all levels of the organisation
Mr Michael D'Ascenzo, Australian Taxation Commissioner, Australian Taxation Office, Consultation, collaboration and co-design—the way forward for the Tax Office
Ms Maria Katsonis, Executive Director, Policy Research and Analysis, State Services Authority (Victoria), The future of the public sector in 2025
Professor Andrew MacIntyre, Director, Crawford School of Economics and Government, ANU, Australia's changing interest in Asia and the Pacific: implications across Government
Ms Avril Henry, Executive Director AH Revelations Pty Ltd, How to motivate, attract and retain generation X & Y.

Ms Henry’s presentation provided an overview on how to motivate, attract and retain generations ‘X’ and ‘Y’ and attracted a record number of 178 participants to an SES breakfast seminar.

The number of subscribers to the SES breakfast series increased by 11 to a total of 51 in 2006–07. Despite this, the average attendance at each breakfast decreased by 24 people. In response, the Commission has adjusted its approach to communicating upcoming events (including breakfast events) with the aim of being more informative. The new approach has resulted in an improvement in attendance numbers for programmes held in the latter part of the year.

Table 10: Attendance at SES breakfast seminar series 2002–07
Financial Year	Number of subscribers	Number of events	Total attendance	Number of individuals	Average attendance per event
2002–03	37	11	714	404	65
2003–04	39 (-5%)	8	582 (–18%)	395	73
2004–05	48 (+23%)	10	659 (+13%)	405	66
2005–06	40 (-16%)	10	974 (+48%)	699	97
2006–07	51 (+27.5%)	10	725 (–26%)	508	73

Note: Bracket represents percentage change on previous year.

SES updates

SES updates ensure that senior executives are well briefed on the public sector environment, with particular reference to developments in government policy, expectations and legislation.
The Deputy Public Service Commissioner, Ms Lynne Tacy, leads discussions on some of the current and emerging trends, demographically, politically and globally affecting the public service. Participants can explore the information presented and how it relates to them and their organisation. These updates focus on the Shapes strategic thinking capability of the Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework.

Two SES updates were conducted during 2006–07, with a total of 37 people attending. This represented a slight decline on 2005–06 figures, when two updates were held with 60 people attending. Topics for the updates included:

State of the service report 2005–06
APS-wide issues of interest to the SES, such as meeting APS workforce challenges, trends at the SES and EL levels, Management Advisory Committee reports and managing in the period leading to an election.

SES snapshots

SES snapshots are aimed at providing members of the SES with the opportunity to attend short, highly focused workshops on current issues. In 2006–07 the sessions focused on strategic communication and parliamentary committees. The six SES snapshot sessions which were conducted during the year were attended by 72 senior executives. This result represents a significant increase on the figures for 2005–06, when five snapshots were held during that year and attended by 56 people.

Regional offices of the Commission also have a role to support the development of the SES cadre. Many SES officers attended the executive briefings and updates coordinated by the regional offices. In addition, the Victoria/Tasmania office provided a successful SES snapshot: appearing before parliamentary committees to 38 senior staff from 16 agencies on 30 October 2006.

Ministerial conversations series

The Ministerial conversations series provides agency heads and senior executives with the opportunity to hear directly from Ministers on their current policy perspectives and their expectations of the public service in implementing Government policy in a whole-of-government context.

The Commission facilitated three Ministerial conversations in 2006–07:

Senator the Hon. Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, presenting on the topic of What the taxpayer wants: a Minister’s view of what the public wants and expects
the Hon. Mark Vaile MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, presenting on the topic of Selling Australia: trade negotiations and the public service
the Hon. Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues, presenting on the topic of Educating a smarter workforce.

The Hon. Mark Vaile, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, addressing a Ministerial Conversations event.

In addition to the Ministerial Conversation series, senior APS managers in Sydney were invited to an executive luncheon seminar with the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, who presented his views on the key leadership skills sought from public servants. This provided an important opportunity for senior APS managers outside of Canberra to listen to the Minister.

Events outside Canberra

The Commission’s regional offices continue to maintain a strong co-ordination and facilitation role in promoting effective leadership with regional heads through various groups and activities. To provide learning and development opportunities for senior executives based in the states, territories and regions, the Commission arranged three of its SES residential programmes in Melbourne and one in Sydney. Should they continue to be successful and well-subscribed, the Commission will offer additional regional programmes throughout 2008.
Annual conferences of regional heads are held in most regions and Commission staff perform an important role in assisting with the planning and support of such events. Themes in 2006–07 included:

Making it happen
APS 2026: ready or not?
Global influences and engagement
Leadership excellence
Courage to act, commitment to deliver: connecting with the community.

The conferences featured speakers from all tiers of government and the private sector including: Dr Keith Suter; Dr Peter Ellyard; Mr Ray Martin; Mr Kerry O’Brien; Mr Mick Palmer; Professor Louise Rolland; Reverend Tim Costello; Dr Peter Shergold; the Commissioner; and a number of other APS agency heads. Senior employees from state government sectors and academia were also well represented.

With the aim of fostering strong relationships at all levels and recognising the valuable contribution of the regional heads networks, the Commission organised a national meeting of the chairs of the networks in June 2007. Discussions were held on membership, structures, network events, activities and the support provided by the Commission.

The Commissioner continued her practice of meeting with senior regional staff to discuss matters arising out of the State of the service report and key issues around APS challenges and reform. Events were held in all capital cities and Townsville.

Executive briefings were also held in Hobart where Dr Peter Shergold, Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet spoke on Different perspectives on leadership and in Melbourne where Ms Barbara Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of Comcare spoke on The role of leaders in safe workplaces. The Deputy Commissioner also spoke at an Executive briefing in Melbourne providing an update on APS-wide issues of interest.

Valedictory lectures

The Commission’s valedictory lecture events provide selected retiring Secretaries with the opportunity to reflect and share insights and experiences with their Secretary, agency head and senior executive colleagues.

In November 2006, the Commission co-ordinated a valedictory lecture for the retiring Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Ric Smith, attended by 167 APS agency heads and senior executives, who listened to Mr Smith speak about his public sector experiences, achievements and perspectives.

Another lecture was co-ordinated in April 2007, for the retiring Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Ms Joanna Hewitt, attended by 160 agency heads and senior executives.

Retiring Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Secretary, Joanna Hewitt, delivering her Valedictory lecture, April 2007.

Launch of Implementation of Programme and Policy Initiatives

In October 2006, the Commission lent its SES event management expertise to the Australian National Audit Office and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Cabinet Implementation Unit), to assist in the launch of a joint better practice guide Implementation of programme and policy initiatives: making implementation matter. The guide was officially launched at Old Parliament House by the Auditor-General, Mr Ian McPhee and the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Peter Shergold. The Commissioner also addressed the audience, which numbered almost 200.

Executive Leadership Dimensions—EL2 residential

The Commission launched a new Executive Level (EL) 2 residential programme Executive leadership dimensions in January 2007. The programme is a key component of the Commission’s renewed emphasis on building the capability of the SES feeder group, which has been identified in recent State of the Service reports as a priority for all agencies across the APS with the impending retirement of many SES over future years.

This programme focuses on practical aspects of leadership in the APS and provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on their professional role and engage in a challenging and collegiate learning environment. It focuses on contemporary behaviours required to be highly effective at the EL2 level.

Two residential programmes have been held in 2006–07, attracting 44 participants. The residential programmes have received excellent feedback with previous participants advising that the course provided them with invaluable insight into the skills required of an EL2. Participants felt that the programmes also managed to provide them with relevant and practical tools including strategies for performance management, influencing and people management.

Integrated Leadership System

The Integrated Leadership System (ILS), released in 2004, continues to form the basis of many SES and EL development programmes. The original ILS handbook describes the leadership capabilities and behaviours from EL 1 to SES Band 3. Increasingly, however, the ILS is being integrated into learning and development programmes throughout the APS. During 2006–07 the Commission released an ILS handbook for APS levels which describes the leadership capabilities and behaviours for APS 1–6 levels. The ILS is supported by a range of tools to assist agencies and individuals implement the ILS in their workplaces.

During 2006–07, 22 ILS programmes tailored for agencies, with 239 agency employees participating and eight public ILS programmes for 126 participants were conducted outside Canberra.

Further information on the suite of ILS products can be found at: http://www.apsc.gov.au/ils/

Leadership development network

The Commission coordinates a Canberra-based Leadership Development Network (LDN) that aims to build better practice in leadership development by sharing ideas on the diversity of leadership approaches across the public sector. The LDN runs a series of breakfast seminars and an annual forum to explore current issues and trends in leadership and leadership development.

The Commission chairs and supports the network steering group, which includes members from a range of agencies, which oversees decisions on topics, speakers and the overall direction of the LDN.

There has been an average of 117 registrations per LDN event over the last 12 months, an increase of 31 per cent on the previous year. There has also been a significant growth in subscriptions as can be seen in Table 11 below.

Table 11: Attendance at leadership development network events 2003–07
Financial year	Total subscribers	Total network contacts	Total events	Average attendance per event
2003–04	38 (-24%)	245 (+12%)	4	61
2004–05	51 (+34%)	459 (+87%)	6	89
2005–06	78 (+53%)	534 (+16%)	6	91
2006–07	86 (+10%)	586 (+10%)	5	100

Note: Figures in brackets represent percentage change on previous year.

During 2006–07 presentations to the LDN have included:

Centrelink’s organisational change survey
recruiting and retaining staff in a high pressure environment
leadership, culture and change
leadership in crises and disasters
powering up leadership through mentoring.

Visit http://www.apsc.gov.au/leadership/network.htm for further details.

Career Development Assessment Centre

The Career Development Assessment Centre (CDAC) continues to offer excellent leadership development opportunities to high-performing EL2 staff from across the APS. The ongoing success of the centres provides a benchmark for the Commission’s wider renewed focus on strengthening the leadership capability of the SES feeder group.

Thirteen CDACs were delivered during 2006–07, more than the forecast nine - with a total of 156 participants. Staff from the Australian Tax Office and the Department of Finance and Administration participated extensively in the Centres during 2006–07, with 18 and 11 participants, respectively.

Feedback from CDAC participants continues to be positive, with all three performance measures exceeding the target of 90 per cent.

The success of CDAC depends on the support provided by agencies, including the provision of observers. Observers play a crucial role bringing their experienced perspectives and contributing to the rigorous assessment process. During 2006–07 the Commission successfully conducted observer training, with a total of 15 new SES Band 2s and three APS officers trained.

Further information on CDAC can be found at: http://www.apsc.gov.au/leadership/cdac.htm