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Residential programs
The Australian Public Service Commission’s (the Commission) suite of residential programs provide a unique opportunity for APS employees to focus on core capabilities and behaviours and to interact with peers and network with colleagues across the APS, building networks and cultivating productive working relationships.
Executive Level residentials
The APS Professional
An EL1 Masterclass
(EL1 residential)
This engaging and interactive program, offered both as a 3 day residential and non-residential format has been designed for EL1s who wish to fine tune and advance their strategic thinking and policy advising skills in the context of a contemporary APS.
- Finely tune and hone your political nous, strategic thinking and judgement
- Build on your existing expertise and gain new insights in professional public policy
- Develop strategies for building credibility and managing your reputation to become more influential
- Examine your readiness to step up to the next stage in your APS career.
The APS Professional
Practical Leadership - Leading and managing small teams
(EL1 residential)
This innovative program, offered both as an intensive 3 day residential experience and in a 3 day non-residential format, has been designed for EL1s who currently or will soon be managing a small to medium size team. This program has a focus on contemporary thinking around how to manage performance in a public sector environment.
- an innovative diagnostic questionnaire to analyse your team’s and your own performance environment and develop strategies for managing and lifting performance
- a Relationship Awareness Theory tool to improve awareness and understanding of the motivations and values that drive people’s behaviour and how to use this knowledge to develop effective relationships
- build your expertise and capacity as an APS middle manager
- provides a more practical perspective of the APS
- an opportunity to network with other EL1s from across the APS
Executive Leadership Dimensions
(EL2 residential and non-residential)
Using real life situations this residential and non-residential retreat offers a stimulating program focused on the contemporary skills required to be highly effective at the EL2 level.
The program will build your skills in:
- creating strategies and reading your environment
- managing and leading people
- influencing others
- managing conflict situations
- juggling operational demands with strategic leadership and management
- aligning policy implementation efforts with strategic policy direction
Senior Executive Service residential programs
These programs are part of a suite of programs which recognises the increasing demand on senior executive leaders to manage the emerging complexities and issues for the Australian Public Service including whole of government imperatives.
The programs are aligned more specifically to the integrated leadership system (ILS) and take account of the varying complexity at each SES level, providing an opportunity for participants to:
- define their contribution to the Australian Public Service
- understand their role as part of the cadre of the Senior Executive Service
- develop their capacity to respond to emerging issues, including whole of government imperatives
- provide robust advice and be committed to the effective implementation of policy once it has been decided
- strengthen their ability to manage themselves in a changing, devolved environment.
SES Band 3 residential program - Leadership mastery
This program tests current Band 3s in their ability to engage with peers and eminent speakers about key issues facing them as members of the SES and as leaders of their agencies; forge collaborative/effective relationships to achieve results in complex situations; make strategic personal and professional judgements.
SES Band 2 residential program - Leading across boundaries
This program provides a unique leadership experience which examines, through powerful program content, including using a whole-of-government scenario, guest speakers and personal reflection, the complexities of leading in a contemporary APS environment.
SES band 1 residential program - New leadership horizons
This program will assist SES who have been appointed in the past three years to gain confidence in their new roles and leverage their experience to make significant contribution to their organisation and across the APS. The program will centre on a 3 day residential and is supported by self-assessment tools, tutorials, individual coaching sessions and seminars.
SES Band 1 residential program - Transforming leadership
This program is designed for SES Officers with three or more years experience at band 1 level and will enhance your leadership capability by helping you to identify, share, make sense of and leverage your considerable experience in the APS. The program will centre on a three-day residential in Bowral and be supported by self-assessment tools, study tours and seminars.


