| Development programmes | |
Commonwealth Association for Public Administration Management (CAPAM) 2006 Biennial Conference The overall theme of the CAPAM conference was Rising to the challenge: enhancing public sector capability. Under this theme, conference delegates discussed the broad topics of advancing good governance, fashions and fads in public sector reform, and delivering better services to citizens. The tremendous success of the conference would not have been possible without the close working relationship between a small team in Commission’s Programmes Group and the New South Wales Premier’s Department in the planning and running of the conference. The Commission took a lead role in the conference development work conducted by the steering committee, and organised the inaugural Young Professionals Debate, which featured debaters from Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Australia. Visit http://www.capam.org/biennial_conferences/australia_2006.html for further details.
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Performance review : Development programmes : Leadership services : Programme delivery : National and international programmes
Output 3: Better practice and evaluation
National and international programmes
The Commission’s role in providing or assisting with the provision of national and international programmes continued to be of a strategic nature during 2006–07. Domestically, the Commission continued to be involved in the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, the Public Sector Management programme and the Public Sector Training Package. On the international stage: the Commission again delivered two outstanding Leading Australia’s Future in Asia (LAFIA) programmes; worked cooperatively with other jurisdictions in ensuring that a highly successful Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) biennial conference and an associated meeting of public service ministers, took place in Sydney; and delivered two Pacific Public Sector Leadership programmes.
| Target | Result |
|---|---|
| Quantity | |
| Number of Leading Australia’s Future in Asia (LAFIA) programmes delivered—target is 1 per annum. | Exceeded. Two LAFIA programmes delivered. LAFIA brings together senior executives from the Commonwealth, State and Territory public to increase their understanding of significant change drivers in the region. The first LAFIA programme for 2006–07 involved a study tour to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji during the period 3–17 September 2007. The second LAFIA programme involved a study tour to Vietnam and Japan during the period 3–24 June 2007. |
| Number of Australia and New Zealand School of Government Board meetings which the Commission attends and at which the Commission provides the Commonwealth perspective—target is 75% of meetings held. | The Commissioner stepped down from the ANZSOG Board in December 2005. Since January 2006 the Commonwealth perspective has been provided to Board meetings by Dr Peter Shergold (Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet), who is the current Chair of the Board. The target will be amended in the relevant chapter of the next Portfolio Budget Statement. |
| Number of Public Sector Management Programmes Board meetings for which the Commission provides secretariat services—target is 100% of meetings held. | Achieved. The Commission provided secretariat services to 100% of Public Sector Management Programme Board meetings. |
| Number of Government Industry Skills Council meetings at which the Commission contributes the Commonwealth perspective—target is 75% of meetings held. | Exceeded. The Commission contributed the Commonwealth perspective at 100% of Public Sector Industry Skills Council meetings. |
| Number of Australian-based 2006–07 Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management conferences—target is 1 | Exceeded. The Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management 2006 Biennial Conference, Rising to the challenge: enhancing public sector capability, was held in Sydney in October 2006. The Commission performed a lead role in organisation and management of the conference. In addition, the Commission performed a leading role in organising the inaugural Commonwealth Ministers Forum on Public Service Development. Both events received excellent participant feedback. |
| Quality | |
Percentage of responding LAFIA participants who when surveyed indicate a high level of satisfaction with the programme and give a rating of 5 or 6 on a 6-point scale for:
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Achieved. While a specific percentage result is unable to be identified, direct feedback provided by clients indicates a high level of satisfaction by participants with the LAFIA programme. |
| Estimated price: $1.670 million | Actual price: $2.467 million |
Leading Australia’s future in Asia
LAFIA brings together senior executives from the Australian, state and territory public services to increase their understanding of significant change drivers in the region. The study programmes include meetings with government officials, business and community leaders.
LAFIA aims to:
- provide background and context for the international dimension of senior executive responsibilities
- enable senior executives to respond strategically to changes in the Asia–Pacific region
- develop networks and contacts amongst Australian participants and with their overseas equivalents.
Over 190 senior executives, from the Australian, state and territory governments, as well as from New Zealand, have participated in LAFIA since it commenced in 1994.
In 2006–07 the Commission led the following two programmes:
- LAFIA (Pacific) 2006, with 19 senior leaders undertook a two-week study of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji.
- LAFIA (Asia) 2007, with 12 senior executives undertook a three-week study of Vietnam and Japan.
LAFIA exposes participants to a range of high-level business, government and academic leaders, both in Australia and overseas. The Commission works closely with Australian diplomatic representatives, supporting participants to gain a better understanding of how the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade whole-of-government engagement works. The Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University (ANU) provide the academic content for the programme.
The Commission will lead the next LAFIA (Pacific) in September 2007, which will focus on regional neighbours where the Australian Government is working in partnership to support governance and public safety outcomes. The programme participants will visit Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Samoa.Australia and New Zealand School of Government
The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) is a first-tier professional school established collaboratively by a consortium of Australian and New Zealand governments, universities and business schools in 2002.
Governance
The Australian Government is a foundation member of ANZSOG and is represented by Dr Peter Shergold, Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who is also Chair of the ANZSOG Board.
An academic board is responsible for encouraging and maintaining the highest possible standards in curriculum and teaching in ANZSOG’s programmes.
Teaching
The Commission, in consultation with other agencies, has been actively involved in assisting ANZSOG to ensure it meets the needs of the APS by providing high quality, high profile programmes which represent value for money. The Australian Government has a commitment until 2008 to fund 20 and 30 places respectively, on the School’s two annual flagship teaching programmes
The programmes are:
- Executive Fellows Programme (EFP), a three-week residential programme targeted at SES Band 2 and 3. The 2006 EFP had a total of 80 participants from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, including 46 per cent from the APS
- Executive Masters of Public Administration (EMPA), a two-year part-time master’s programme targeted at high-performing Executive Level 2s and equivalents. Over 130 new students commenced the 2007 programme, including 20 per cent from the APS. The EMPA programme core subjects are taught in 5 day residential blocks in various locations in Australia and New Zealand.
Research
The ANZSOG Research Committee coordinates the school’s research priorities. Dr Ken Henry, Secretary to the Department of the Treasury, is the Australian Government representative and chair, of the research committee. The committee contributes to continued public sector reform by supporting the development and transmission of good practice in both policy and management. It also informs debate on key issues in public administration and maintains the quality and relevance of ANZSOG’s teaching programme.
In 2006–07, the Australian Government is providing financial support to ANZSOG research activities through two mechanisms:
- a $10 million grant made to the ANZSOG Foundation in May 2005, which is governed by a deed of agreement. Interest generated from the grant is used to support the Sir John Bunting chair of Public Administration at the ANU and other academic appointments to develop research activities. The Commission assumed responsibility for management of the grant from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in April 2006, following Dr Shergold’s acceptance of a position on the ANZSOG board. Effective financial and qualitative reporting requirements have been developed with ANZSOG consistent with the deed of agreement. ANZSOG will provide a full account of how the interest has been spent early in 2007–08.
- The Australian Government committed to provide $200,000 per year for three years between 2003 and 2006 to support ANZSOG's research capacity. The ANU matched this funding. In 2006–07, the MAC Committee is providing funding for ANZSOG’s research programme through a $200,000 grant with the cost to be shared equally among MAC agencies. Two research proposals were approved by MAC—the first project relates to the role of central agencies in government strategy formulation across ANZSOG jurisdictions. The second focuses on factors relating to attraction, recruitment and retention in the APS, including succession planning.
On 28–29 June 2007, ANZSOG held its annual conference on collaborative relationships: Governing through collaboration: managing better through others. The key themes of the conference were: collaboration in the implementation of public policy; national and international collaboration; collaboration with targeted clients and collaboration with the community, including non-government organisations.
In its role of building leadership in public management and policy, ANZSOG invited keynote speakers from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. In June 2007, ANZSOG released a publication, A passion for policy—essays in public sector reform, edited by Professor John Wanna who currently holds the Sir John Bunting Chair of Public Administration. The publication takes its title from and includes, a speech given by the Commissioner, A passion for policy, on 29 June 2005.
Public sector management programme
Commencing in 1992, the Public Sector Management programme targets motivated middle to senior managers—at the APS 6, EL1, EL2 and equivalent levels providing them with broader skills for use at their present level as well as skills needed for more senior positions. The Commission coordinates Commonwealth, State and Territory participation by providing secretariat services to a board of management that oversees the programme. Mr Jeff Whalan, Chief Executive Officer of Centrelink, is the current chair of the board.
An evaluation of the programme in 2006–07 from the Commonwealth perspective indicated that enrolment and completion rates had declined over recent years. As a result of the findings in the report, the Commission has committed to raising the awareness of the programme throughout the APS and agreed to provide a greater level of support from the secretariat to include leadership of national projects.
Public sector training package
The Public Sector Training Package provides the basic building blocks for the vocational education and training system to respond to the training needs of the public sector. It provides individuals with clear skills and career pathways through recognised national qualifications and gives Commonwealth agencies access to the National Training Framework. The training package is maintained by Government Skills Australia (GSA), the industry skills council for government and community safety. The Commission represents the Commonwealth on the Public Sector Industry Advisory Committee which is the authoritative and representative voice in advising GSA and through it, the Government, on public sector vocational and educational training needs.
The Commission actively promotes the training package to APS agencies as an important learning and development option. During 2006–07 the Commission made a commitment to gain accreditation as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) so that it can provide nationally accredited training programmes and skills recognition across government agencies. Funding for this initiative was confirmed in May 2007 and the project to establish RTO status will begin early in 2007–08. The Commission will use qualifications and competencies from the Public Sector Training Package in designing assessment pathways and accreditation tools.
Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management 2006 biennial conference
The Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) biennial conference is an important event on the global public sector calendar which brings together delegates from 53 Commonwealth countries.
The Australian Government agreed to host the 2006 biennial conference in Sydney. The conference was a great success for the public sector across the Commonwealth and demonstrated that by working together Commonwealth countries can be successful in supporting democratic governance, implementing developments in policy, public sector reform and improving service delivery. The conference was also a strong demonstration of successful cross-government cooperation between the Australian, New South Wales and New Zealand governments, who successfully worked together with the CAPAM Board.
The conference featured high quality speakers across the Commonwealth and interesting ‘learning journeys’ to Australian and NSW government agencies. The Commissioner made a joint presentation, with the then Secretary of the Department of Human Services, Ms Patricia Scott, on the subject of: Fads and fashions in public sector reform. Some of the key messages to emerge from the conference were:
- act local and draw from a global menu
- have a line of sight with outcomes
- working in partnerships and cross government collaboration to deliver better services to citizens.
As with the introduction of the learning journeys in 2004, the Australian Steering Committee recognised the importance of offering new and interesting elements to the conference programme. A particular focus of the 2006 conference was encouraging young people from the Commonwealth as potential future public sector leaders to participate in the conference and consider how they can contribute to enhancing public sector capability. The steering committee introduced the Young Professionals debate to the conference programme, which featured debaters from Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Australia. The Steering Committee believed these young people showed real talent as debaters, engaging the delegates on the role the public sector plays in any democracy. The Steering Committee encourages future host countries to consider ways in which to involve and engage young people in future CAPAM events, in the belief that, around the world, public services need young people with skills and experience to work together to make our countries better places for all.
The next biennial conference will be held in Barbados in 2008, but in the meantime Australia will continue to promote the good work CAPAM performs in bringing people together and exchanging good practice in public sector reform.
Visit http://www.capam.org/biennial_conferences/australia_2006.html for further detailsCommonwealth Ministers’ Forum on Public Sector Development
The inaugural Commonwealth Ministers’ Forum on Public Sector Development was held on 26–27 October 2006 to coincide with the CAPAM biennial conference in Sydney.
The aim of the forum was to advance public sector reform and development across the Commonwealth and maximise ministerial interaction to share ideas on critical issues facing governments. The issues of public sector transformations have been on the Commonwealth agenda for more than a decade but there has been no forum for Ministers responsible for the public service to periodically address common issues. This lack of collective action was considered by the Commonwealth Secretariat as hampering ongoing communications across the Commonwealth. The outcomes of the forum were to set a forward policy agenda to sustain momentum between gatherings and publish a State of Commonwealth report at the conclusion of the event.
The forum achieved considerable progress towards advancing public sector development in the Commonwealth. It demonstrated that Commonwealth countries can come together to discuss and develop concrete measures to support and modernise democratic governance, leadership capability and improvements in access to government services. The forum provided a ‘low key’ environment for Ministers and senior officials to engage in frank and open discussion. Twenty-nine Commonwealth Ministers, five Commonwealth and regional stakeholder organisations and sixty-five senior officials and High Commissioners were represented at the forum.
Ministers acknowledged the need to hold future forums and agreed on priorities for action relative to the three themes of the forum. The Commonwealth Secretariat agreed to report on progress against the forward agenda.
The Australian Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and his New Zealand counterpart acted as alternate hosts and champions and senior officials from Australia and New Zealand facilitated discussions. This arrangement worked particularly well.
The Commonwealth Secretariat, located in London, managed the forum with some assistance from the Australian Government through the Commission.
