Boosting First Nations employment in the APS

The First Nations Unit was established in May 2023. This initiative directly supports the Australian Government’s commitment to increase First Nations employment in the Australian Public Service to 5% by 2030.

The unit works across the APS, in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and in collaboration with the First Nations Community Controlled Sector, through the Coalition of Peaks. Actions focus on creating new employment opportunities and tackling known barriers to engagement, retention and advancement for First Nations peoples.

Representation at senior levels is critical to ensure First Nations participation in the decision-making process. Priority is being given to boosting First Nations leadership and increasing First Nations Senior Executive Service employees to 100. Later in 2023, an APS-wide First Nations SES recruitment round will be coordinated by the First Nations Unit and the NIAA. Work will begin to establish a talent development pipeline to support First Nations executive level employees.

To improve the workplace experience of First Nations employees and encourage improved retention rates, the unit will support and strengthen a self-sustaining, culturally-safe employee cohort. Further, the Cultural Capability Hub operating under the APS Academy will strengthen cultural capability and accountability across the APS.

The work of the First Nations Unit supports the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Priority Reform Three – to transform government institutions and organisations, specifically to identify and eliminate racism, and embed and practise meaningful cultural safety.

Boosting First Nations employment in the APS

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