Launch of the Australian Public Service Academy

Today the Assistant Minister to the Minister for the Public Service, the Hon Ben Morton MP, officially opened the Australian Public Service Academy, a new approach to APS-wide learning and development.

“The launch of the Academy delivers on an important element of the Government’s APS reform agenda to invest in APS capability”, Australian Public Service Commissioner, Mr Peter Woolcott AO said.

“The Academy is a place for all APS employees to learn, develop, discuss and share”.

The Academy’s mission is to foster an APS-wide culture of learning that builds public sector capabilities and drives high performance. It is founded on a networked approach with a focus on the core capabilities of excellence in public service.

“Working in partnership with APS agencies and external industry experts, the Academy will focus on developing ‘APS Craft’ capabilities to equip our workforce with the skills, tools and knowledge to shape and deliver effective outcomes for Government and the Australian community”, Mr Woolcott said.

The Academy will be based in Old Parliament House, Canberra but is much more than a ‘bricks and mortar’ institution. Rather, it is a networked learning hub that will connect the best of public service knowledge, resources and experience to build the capability of the APS workforce. The Academy will provide practitioner-led learning opportunities, leveraging a broad range of contemporary approaches, enabling learning to occur anytime, anywhere.

The learning experience will be guided by a Faculty of current and former APS leaders with depth of experience and expertise in APS Craft.

Mr Woolcott also announced the release of Highly Capable, Future-Ready, the whole-of-service APS Learning and Development Strategy and Action Plan; and the establishment of the inaugural APS Learning Board. 

“The initiatives launched this week are important steps to future-proof the APS”, Mr Woolcott said.

“In our ever-changing operating environment, the public service needs to adapt, develop, and operate as one APS in order to continue to deliver for all Australians”.

More information is available on the APS Academy website.

For further information, contact media@apsc.gov.au.