Communication
Effective communication is vital for a positive workplace. It fosters collaboration, networking and diverse thinking while improving outcomes. Effective communication can also prevent and buffer issues in the workplace.
The Australian Public Service Employee Census Communication Index measures communication at individual, group and agency levels. APS Employee Census questions that contribute to the Communication Index are:
- My supervisor communicates effectively.
- My SES manager communicates effectively.
- Internal communication within my agency is effective.
Figures AB 4 to AB 9 and tables AB 4 to AB 9 report on the index scores for agencies, by agency size, for APS respondents.
Note: Only index scores for APS agencies are presented. APS Employee Census results for entities that engage staff under the Public Service Act 1999 but are not APS agencies under the Act are available on the entity’s website.
Figure AB 4: Communication Index, by agency size
Source: APS Employee Census
Table AB 4: Communication Index, by agency size
| Agency size | Communication Index score | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Overall APS | 68 | 69 |
| Extra-large (10,000+ employees) | 67 | 69 |
| Large (1,001 to 10,000 employees) | 70 | 70 |
| Medium (251 to 1,000 employees) | 68 | 69 |
| Small (101 to 250 employees) | 65 | 67 |
| Extra-small (20 to 100 employees) | 68 | 68 |
Source: APS Employee Census
Figure AB 5: Communication Index for extra-large agencies (10,000+ employees)
Source: APS Employee Census
Table AB 5: Communication Index for extra-large agencies (10,000+ employees)
| Agency | Communication Index score | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Extra-large agencies – overall | 67 | 69 |
| Australian Taxation Office | 71 | 72 |
| Services Australia | 67 | 69 |
| Defence | 65 | 66 |
| Home Affairs | 65 | 65 |
Source: APS Employee Census
Figure AB 6: Communication Index for large agencies (1,001 to 10,000 employees)
Source: APS Employee Census
Table AB 6: Communication Index for large agencies (1,001 to 10,000 employees)
| Agency | Communication Index score | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Large agencies – overall | 70 | 70 |
| Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | 75 | 74 |
| Prime Minister and Cabinet | 73 | 73 |
| Treasury | 72 | 73 |
| Australian Bureau of Statistics | 72 | 73 |
| Health and Aged Care | 73 | 73 |
| Finance | 72 | 72 |
| Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts | 70 | 72 |
| Social Services | 72 | 71 |
| Education | 70 | 71 |
| Attorney-General's | 73 | 71 |
| Employment and Workplace Relations | 71 | 70 |
| National Disability Insurance Agency | 71 | 69 |
| Industry, Science and Resources | 68 | 69 |
| Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | 67 | 68 |
| Foreign Affairs and Trade | 67 | 68 |
| Australian Trade and Investment Commission | 70 | 67 |
| Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 68 | 67 |
| Federal Court of Australia | 62 | 66 |
| Veterans' Affairs | 68 | 66 |
| Bureau of Meteorology | 65 | 65 |
| National Indigenous Australians Agency | 67 | 64 |
Source: APS Employee Census
Figure AB 7: Communication Index for medium agencies (251 to 1,000 employees)
Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Australian Submarine Agency was not an APS agency in 2023. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Sport Integrity Australia were small agencies in 2023.
Table AB 7: Communication Index for medium agencies (251 to 1,000 employees)
| Agency | Communication Index score | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Medium agencies – overall | 68 | 69 |
| Comcare | 73 | 76 |
| Australian Institute of Health and Welfare | 77 | 75 |
| Fair Work Ombudsman | 73 | 75 |
| Future Fund Management Agency | 76 | 75 |
| Clean Energy Regulator | 74 | 73 |
| Australian Public Service Commission | 72 | 73 |
| Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre | 69 | 73 |
| Australian National Audit Office | 75 | 73 |
| Murray-Darling Basin Authority | 72 | 70 |
| Digital Transformation Agency | 70 | 70 |
| Australian Communications and Media Authority | 71 | 69 |
| National Archives of Australia | 61 | 69 |
| Fair Work Commission | 71 | 69 |
| Australian Electoral Commission | 66 | 68 |
| National Library of Australia | 68 | 68 |
| Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission | 66 | 67 |
| Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions | 69 | 67 |
| Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman | 67 | 67 |
| Aboriginal Hostels Limited | 67 | 67 |
| Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission | 63 | 67 |
| Australian Digital Health Agency | 68 | 66 |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority | 64 | 66 |
| Administrative Appeals Tribunal | 66 | 65 |
| National Emergency Management Agency | 62 | 64 |
| National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission | 58 | 64 |
| Australian War Memorial | 64 | 63 |
| Australian Submarine Agency | 63 | |
| Defence Housing Australia | 64 | 62 |
| Australian Financial Security Authority | 68 | 61 |
| Sport Integrity Australia | 61 | 59 |
Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Australian Submarine Agency was not an APS agency in 2023. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Sport Integrity Australia were small agencies in 2023.
Figure AB 8: Communication Index for small agencies (101 to 250 employees)
Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The National Anti-Corruption Commission was not an APS agency in 2023. The Australian Institute of Family Studies was an extra-small agency in 2023.
Table AB 8: Communication Index for small agencies (101 to 250 employees)
| Agency | Communication Index score | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Small agencies – overall | 65 | 67 |
| Office of Parliamentary Counsel | 77 | 76 |
| Safe Work Australia | 78 | 76 |
| Office of the Special Investigator | 77 | 74 |
| Food Standards Australia New Zealand | 67 | 72 |
| Australian Institute of Family Studies | 61 | 72 |
| Productivity Commission | 72 | 71 |
| Australian Transport Safety Bureau | 67 | 71 |
| Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority | 66 | 71 |
| National Film and Sound Archive of Australia | 64 | 70 |
| National Health and Medical Research Council | 68 | 69 |
| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner | 70 | 69 |
| Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency | 68 | 69 |
| National Anti-Corruption Commission | 68 | |
| Australian Research Council | 67 | 68 |
| Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency | 62 | 68 |
| Australian Fisheries Management Authority | 69 | 68 |
| National Museum of Australia | 59 | 64 |
| Australian Human Rights Commission | 65 | 63 |
| Australian Skills Quality Authority | 54 | 62 |
| Australian Institute of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Studies | 65 | 62 |
| National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority | 60 | 61 |
| Australian National Maritime Museum | 55 | 61 |
| Torres Strait Regional Authority | 62 | 59 |
Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The National Anti-Corruption Commission was not an APS agency in 2023. The Australian Institute of Family Studies was an extra-small agency in 2023.
Figure AB 9: Communication Index for extra-small agencies (20 to 100 employees)
Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care and the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service were not APS agencies in 2023. The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency did not have reportable results in 2023.
Table AB 9: Communication Index for extra-small agencies
| Agency | Communication Index score | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Extra-small agencies – overall | 68 | 68 |
| National Health Funding Body | 80 | 82 |
| Organ and Tissue Authority | 81 | 80 |
| Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care | 78 | |
| Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security | 66 | 77 |
| Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority | 75 | 76 |
| Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman | 66 | 72 |
| National Blood Authority | 63 | 70 |
| Workplace Gender Equality Agency | 73 | 69 |
| Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency | 69 | |
| Professional Services Review | 67 | 68 |
| National Capital Authority | 72 | 67 |
| Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House | 73 | 67 |
| National Mental Health Commission | 44 | 67 |
| Parliamentary Workplace Support Service | 66 | |
| Climate Change Authority | 75 | 65 |
| Cancer Australia | 61 | 64 |
| Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care | 69 | 64 |
| Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research | 63 | 62 |
| National Portrait Gallery | 65 | 57 |
Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care and the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service were not APS agencies in 2023. The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency did not have reportable results in 2023.