To build Australian Public Service organisational capability, $25 million over 2 years was allocated for projects under an APS Capability Reinvestment Fund from 2023–24. The Australian Government allocated the funds in the October 2022 Budget.
From December 2022 to February 2023, Round 1 applications were open to APS agencies to submit project proposals under the fund. Ten projects involving 14 agencies were identified, with funding allocated to agencies during the 2023–24 Budget process and made available 1 July 2023. These projects are being implemented in 2023–24, with project milestones to be reported to the Secretaries Board.
The APS Capability Reinvestment Fund aims to further build the capability of the APS to address service- wide challenges. It supports scalable and impactful activities that strengthen the APS to deliver for the Australian community now and into the future.
Guidelines for Round 1 identified the highest priority capability areas as:
embedding evaluation across the service
improving gender impact analysis in policy
uplifting APS-wide First Nations cultural competency
promoting culturally and linguistically diverse capability in the APS
developing APS capability in foresight, scenario and futures analysis and
developing deeper knowledge and networks in Asia and the Pacific.
Guidelines for Round 2 of the fund are being settled, drawing on the outcomes of the Audit of Employment, the Audit of Wasteful Spending and the pilot Capability Review program.
