Commission overview

The Australian Public Service Commission is a central agency within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio. The Commission supports two statutory office holders, the Public Service Commissioner—who is also agency head— and the Merit Protection Commissioner. Their functions are set out in subsections 41(1) and 50(1), respectively, of the Public Service Act 1999 (the Act).

For the reporting period, the Commission’s Minister was Senator the Hon. John Faulkner. Senator Faulkner’s Ministerial responsibilities within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary included management of Cabinet business.

The Commission works to support the APS to achieve best practice public administration and to deliver more effective services to the Australian community. We endeavour to ensure that the APS is able to meet the changing needs of society and of the government.

Our mission is to support a high-performing APS. The statutory responsibilities that support that mission are outlined in the Act and include:

• evaluating the extent to which agencies incorporate and uphold the APS Values
• evaluating the adequacy of systems and procedures in agencies for ensuring compliance with the APS Code of Conduct
• promoting the APS Values and Code of Conduct
• developing, promoting, reviewing and evaluating APS employment policies and practices
• facilitating continuous improvement in people management throughout the APS
• coordinating and supporting APS-wide training and career development
• contributing to and fostering leadership in the APS
• providing advice and assistance on public service matters to agencies on request
• providing independent external review of actions by the Merit Protection Commissioner.

In 2008–09, the Commission worked to achieve the outcomes specified by government to support a high-performing APS through three output groups, namely:

• Output Group 1: APS policy and employment services
• Output Group 2: Development programmes
• Output Group 3: Better practice and evaluation.

The Public Service Commissioner provides staff to assist the Merit Protection Commissioner perform her prescribed functions.

From 1 July 2009, all general government sector entities will be required to report on a program basis. In 2008–09 the Commission reviewed its output structure to prepare for the implementation of the new reporting requirements in 2009–10.

Structure

A three-person Executive, consisting of the Public Service Commissioner, the Deputy Public Service Commissioner and the Merit Protection Commissioner, led the Commission in 2008–09 (see Figure 1). Six groups, each led by a Group Manager, support the functions of the Commission and report to the Executive. The Deputy Public Service Commissioner has responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of the Better Practice, Programmes, Evaluation and Policy groups, and the Merit Protection Commissioner has responsibility, in addition to her statutory responsibilities, for the Regional Services and Corporate groups.

On 31 March 2009, the Commission introduced a new organisational structure (see Figure 2). All existing functions were retained and a new group (the Ethics Group) was created in response to the government’s ethics and integrity agenda.

Group functions

The Better Practice Group (now the National Business Centre) provides nationally and centrally coordinated consultancy services across all areas of strategic human resource management; manages whole-of-government recruitment campaigns implementing specific government initiatives; and provides recruitment and employment services more generally. The group includes ‘Area Offices’ (formerly known as Regional Offices) and the Career Transition and Support Centre.

The Policy Group (now the Workforce Policy Group) leads and shapes the debate on the APS workforce and develops and advises on APS employment policy to support the APS of the future. The group actively works with agencies to assist them to manage their workforce and adapt to a changing environment.

The Evaluation Group (now the Research and Evaluation Group) advises the APS on its long-term future directions and leadership through targeted research, evaluation and policy activities that support APS transformation.

The Programmes Group (now the National Leadership and Programmes Centre) provides national leadership, learning and development services to the public sector. The group strategically engages and develops relationships with stakeholders, fosters capability and nurtures talent.

The Corporate Group underpins the operations of the Commission, builds organisational capability and provides assurance on governance.

The newly created Ethics Group advances and advises on ethics and integrity in the APS, encouraging open, transparent and effective agency decision making and supporting the review and inquiry functions of both Commissioners. It includes the Ethics Advisory Service.

References to groups in this report use their former names as shown in Figure 1.

Funding and financial reporting

The Commission’s activities are funded through a combination of budget appropriation and revenue generated through the sale of leadership, learning and development, and other employment-related services. Much of the Commission’s revenue is earned in an open market where agencies choose the source of the services they need.

In 2008–09 the Commission received $22.13 million in appropriation funding, with the balance of its income ($19.40 million) coming from non- appropriated sources.

The existing financial reporting arrangements remained after the introduction of the new structure, with the addition of appropriation funding of $0.50 million from the 2008–09 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements to support the new Ethics Advisory Service. Reporting against the PBS outcomes for the 2008–09 financial year has been undertaken against the Commission’s structure up to April 2009.

Reports and publications

The Commission issues a range of APS leadership, learning and development information in a variety of formats each year. Commission publications and circulars, as well as selected speeches given by the Public Service Commissioner, are available on the Commission’s website.

Locations

The Commission’s head office is in Canberra. It has five Area Offices, located in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Full addresses and contact details are available on the Commission’s website at <www.apsc.gov.au>.

NEXT » Performance review