Key things you need to know as a HR professional in 2024

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2024 Priorities

The year ahead is exciting for APS HR professionals. Late last year, Jacqui Curtis, HR Head of Profession was joined by fellow Chief Operating Officers to reflect on our 2023 achievements and the key focus areas for 2024.

00:00:06:11 - 00:00:39:05
Unknown
Hi, everyone. It's great to be here today with some other APS Chief Operating Officers to celebrate our accomplishments for what has been another very big year. As always, HR has played a significant role in ensuring our workplaces continue to thrive and deliver throughout the changes and challenges that the year has brought. The HR Professional Stream Working Group and senior HR leaders across the service continue to collaborate and connect across the profession.

00:00:39:07 - 00:01:09:14
Unknown
This ensures we play a leading role in supporting and implementing change and advance the HR service offering for the APS. To continue to see you. also connecting with your peers, has been terrific. This year. Our APS HR network has continued to grow with over 4700 professionals across 150 agencies. It's exciting to be in the HR profession in the APS right now.

00:01:09:16 - 00:01:41:18
Unknown
There's been a lot of change and you've shown your strength as a network to be flexible and adaptable. Over the last year, we've seen a focus on public service integrity, industrial relations reform, including changes to the Fair Work Act and APS wide bargaining for a set of common conditions. We've also had some big wins this year, particularly in the HR profession where we supported the establishment of Tiger teams to work on APS recruitment, hiring practices.

00:01:41:20 - 00:02:17:07
Unknown
This informed changes to strengthen and streamline recruitment practices. We've also continued to develop our pipeline of HR talent across two entry level programs with 45 HR graduates in 22 partner agencies and 29 HR school leavers in 13 agencies. We've hosted three networking events connecting over 125 professionals across 19 agencies, and we've delivered eight webinars to over three and a half thousand professionals on a range of topics.

00:02:17:09 - 00:02:31:01
Unknown
We've built capabilities through immersive programs and masterclasses. I am incredibly proud of how you have all worked together to support each other and achieve outcomes in 2023

00:02:31:05 - 00:02:53:24
Unknown
2023 has been a significant year of progress for the APS. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to acknowledge the important role you all play as HR professionals who continue to work tirelessly across the service and to thank you for your continued commitment to building and maintaining our APS workforce. In particular, reform has been a big focus for the APS.

00:02:54:01 - 00:03:10:07
Unknown
The need for a capable, responsive and well-equipped public service, one that is able to respond and deliver on government's policy and program agendas is crucial. We know we are expected to do this in an environment that is arguably more complex and contested than ever before.

00:03:11:01 - 00:03:35:10
Unknown
Hi, I'm Deb Jenkins, and I'm the COO at DEWR. I'm really proud of the work that I've been involved in this year in developing the new SES performance leadership frameworks. The tone is absolutely set from the top and consistent with priority reform 1 of the APS reforms. It's so important that our leaders are held to account not only on what they deliver, but how they deliver that.

00:03:35:12 - 00:03:48:15
Unknown
And so the new framework really holds a light up to the outcomes that our SES are delivering. But the behaviors that they're exhibiting in delivering those outcomes, it's going to be fantastic

00:03:48:15 - 00:04:20:14
Unknown
Yamma. Hello. My names Rachel Jackson, and today I'm calling in from Ngunnawal Country. 2023 has been a big year, and I'm really proud of the way the HR Profession has navigated some significant challenges. We've been focusing on integrity, impartiality and wellbeing is a big focus. I'm particularly conscious of the cultural load that our First Nations staff, particularly those in the HR profession, have been carrying this year

00:04:20:14 - 00:04:40:09
Unknown
and I hope you're looking after yourselves. I'm very proud of the collaboration NIAA has had with the Australian Public Service Commission in getting SES 100 off the ground where we're really having a strong push to increase our First Nations representation at the SES levels.

00:04:41:10 - 00:04:54:06
Unknown
With a continued focus on APS reform,. I know next year will bring with it some new challenges and opportunities for us all. Rebalancing the APS workforce through the Strategic Commissioning Framework.

00:04:54:08 - 00:05:23:00
Unknown
Adding stewardship as a value to the APS values and rolling out the refreshed APS employee value proposition. We will also continue to see a shifting industrial relations landscape. As HR Professionals, we need to think about how we do things differently and support managers in the business with these changes. It's important we continue to work together to harness our collective goodwill and talent.

00:05:23:02 - 00:05:38:00
Unknown
I encourage all of you to stay engaged with the APS HR network. We have an exciting program planned, including networking events, masterclasses and webinars to keep growing all of our capability and connections.

00:05:38:14 - 00:05:46:23
Unknown
The APS reform agenda positions us well to continue to deliver and there are some exciting things in train to look forward to.

00:05:47:00 - 00:06:14:09
Unknown
It is you as our HR practitioners who will play a critical role and will continue to play a critical role in managing and supporting a fit for purpose workforce. As we move to 2024. I challenge you to think about people and workforce management in a way that is curious and creative. To have the courage to test traditional thinking about our recruitment and hiring practices, how we lead and manage our people, and how we can adapt to new ways of thinking about our work and our workforce.

00:06:14:11 - 00:06:27:21
Unknown
I challenge you to be bold and curious in everything you do in your HR roles, and I thank you for your continued dedication in supporting the APS to deliver on its commitments to government and the Australian community. Best wishes for the New Year everyone.

00:06:28:18 - 00:06:49:05
Unknown
In terms of those things that I'm focused on for 2024 there’s four things that I'm really looking forward to delivering. The first one is around our capability. So it's around our recruitment and retention with a particular focus on our workforce strategy and employee value proposition.

00:06:49:07 - 00:07:23:20
Unknown
The second thing is around helping our SES leadership to grow and to exhibit those behaviors that we want them to do for APS reform. The third one is around wellbeing with a real focus on psychosocial safety, and the fourth one is about our culture. So there's two things I'm really focused on at DEWR. That is around the integrity work that we're doing and making sure it's at the heart of everything we do and also making sure that a really healthy approach to our risk appetite and really creating a healthy risk culture.

00:07:23:22 - 00:07:32:24
Unknown
Those are going to make a really big difference to DEWR and the team here in 2024, but not only at DEWR right across the APS.

00:07:33:20 - 00:07:57:04
Unknown
I'm looking forward to 2024 where we will continue our focus on priority reform three out of the Closing the Gap initiative in transforming government organizations, and that means the HR profession really supporting our workforces to build cultural competency and increase our First Nations representation at all levels.

00:07:57:06 - 00:08:10:05
Unknown
So thank you for all that you've contributed this year. I hope you get to rest and refresh at Christmas time and I look forward to working with you all again in 2024 Yarra.

00:08:10:17 - 00:08:24:20
Unknown
Thank you all for the hard work that you've put in this year. No matter your agency or role you have all contributed to strengthening the HR profession. I hope you have a lovely break and enjoy some well-earned rest with family and friends.

00:08:24:22 - 00:08:30:01
Unknown
Thank you for a wonderful 2023 and I'll see you all in the New Year.

HR professionals will have a key role to play implementing our priorities.

Supporting APS Reform priorities

  • The Annual Progress Report 2023 details the agenda, impact on the APS, status, and future plan of this important body of work.
  • Phase two of the APS Reform will build on the strong foundations created in Phase One through a focussed set of initiatives. This phase will run from November 2023 – June 2025.
  • The first priority area will be to bolster the integrity of the APS through initiatives that cover three primary themes:
    • Merit-based appointments, performance framework and greater integrity functions
    • Extension of APS Values
    • Building greater accountability and transparency
  • As we did in phase one of the APS Reform, HR Professionals will continue to play a key role in supporting, implementing, and embedding initiatives in their agencies.

Adding Stewardship as an APS value

  • Outcome two of the APS Reform seeks to strengthen the role and purpose of what it means to be an Australian public servant.
  • The Government seeks to add Stewardship as an APS Value under the Public Service Act 1999, through the Public Service Amendment Bill 2023. This Bill is currently before the Parliament.
  • Stewardship is defined as “The APS builds its capability and institutional knowledge and supports the public interest now and into the future, by understanding the long-term impacts of what it does.”
  • Once enshrined in the Act, HR Professionals will need to ensure information in their agency is updated to reflect the new value.

Rolling out the refreshed APS employee value proposition (EVP)

  • Under Phase One of the Reform, several initiatives and operational changes will improve working conditions.
  • Four initiatives are centred around policy change to make the APS a more attractive place to work and lay the foundation of the APS EVP, including New Workplace Relations Policy, Maternity Leave Act review, principles of flexible work in the APS, and APS Net Zero 2030_._
  • As HR Professionals, it is important to explore the refreshed APS employee value proposition and consider how your agency’s EVP aligns. It’s important to consider how you promote your EVP throughout the employee lifecycle to attract, recruit, and retain talent for your agency.

Rebalancing the APS workforce through the Strategic Commissioning Framework

  • All agencies must move away from outsourcing work that is the core role of the APS or the agency.
  • The Strategic Commissioning Framework sets a clear expectation that most roles and functions will be delivered by APS employees, outlines limited circumstances in which external workforces could be appropriate, and ensures the APS maximises the benefit of any external arrangements.
  • One action of note for HR professionals will be to set agency-specific targets to reduce outsourcing as appropriate, informed by the list of core work. These targets must be in place by June 2024 and specify how many roles will be affected and the anticipated reduction in outsourced expenditure.

Implementation of the Integrity Taskforce Recommendations

Continuing the implementation of the SES Performance Framework

  • HR teams responsible for maintaining agency policies and procedures, implementing best practice, and reporting on agency performance are the key user of the SES Performance Framework.
  • The Framework incorporates a staged approach to implementation. The Secretaries Board has agreed that all APS-agencies will:
    • commence implementation at the earliest opportunity
    • complete a self-assessment of their current maturity state against the maturity model outlined in the Framework, prior to the 2024 Agency Survey
    • report on their maturity state and aggregate ratings in the 2024 Agency Survey, and
    • completely implement the SES framework by 2025.
  • Review and evaluation of the Framework will be undertaken in late 2024.
  • With the increased focus across the APS on ethics, integrity, and stewardship this needs to be a key focus area for HR Professionals.

Professional development

To set yourself up for success in 2024, we recommend you consider the following:

  • Take a look at the Pathways to Professionalisation Framework to identify your current expertise and next steps.
  • Consider investing in a AHRI membership and join thousands of HR professionals who have taken steps to elevate their careers. Gaining access to specialist research, insights and practical HR tools and advice.
  • Keep an eye on our events calendar as we facilitate important updates and priorities from Jacqui Curtis and recognised HR experts throughout the year.
  • Upskill and expand your professional toolkit by looking into an APS Academy course and subscribe to their newsletter.
  • Join relevant communities of practice to stay informed, including Learning and Development CoP, Recruitment CoP, and Workforce Planning CoP.

Recruitment

Have a question or want to share an achievement? Join the discussion in our HR Knowledge Exchange.

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