Integrity

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Integrity in the APS

Integrity in the Australian Public Service (APS) is:

"The pursuit of high standards of professionalism, which in turn means doing the right thing at the right time to deliver the best outcomes for Australia sought by the government of the day."

- Stephen Sedgwick AO, Report into consultations regarding APS approaches to ensure institutional integrity

Integrity in the APS is a multi-layered concept that is shaped by frameworks and policies, assurance mechanisms, its employees and broader organisational culture. For further information see Fact sheet: Defining Integrity.

Integrity Landscape

While all APS agencies have a role within the integrity landscape, there are several agencies that have specific functions related to integrity matters in the Commonwealth. For further information see Fact sheet: Integrity Agencies.

Frameworks and policies

Frameworks and Policies

APS frameworks and policies set the standards and obligations for conduct, performance and behaviour of APS employees, agencies and the APS as a whole. This includes the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles that support us to identify and manage risks, make ethical decisions, and work with integrity, which in turn helps to maintain public trust in APS agencies and their employees.

Some other examples of frameworks and policies supporting a strong integrity culture:

Legislation
  • Public Service Act 1999
  • APS Commissioner’s Directions
  • Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013
  • Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (PGPA) Act 2013.

Agency frameworks and policies
  • performance management frameworks
  • corporate and HR policies
  • delegation instruments
  • agency risk management frameworks.

Risk and fraud controls

Conflict of interest and gift and benefit procedures

Assurance and governance

 

Assurance and governance

There are a number of assurance and governance mechanisms in place to ensure that integrity standards are being met, which in turn strengthens the public’s trust in the APS. Some examples include:

  • Agency reporting (e.g. Annual Report, internal and external audit, State of the Service report)
  • Code of Conduct
  • Anti-corruption and anti-fraud measures
  • Investigations and enforcement
  • Parliamentary oversight

In addition to mechanisms implemented within individual agencies, there are a range of Commonwealth agencies that play a role in upholding integrity, ensuring accountability, and preventing and investigating fraud and corruption. For further information see Fact Sheet: Integrity Agencies.

People and Culture

 

People and culture

Embedding integrity into an agency’s culture ensures integrity is a core consideration in all it does—from the conduct of its individual employees, to its systems and practices.

All APS employees and their agencies must have a genuine commitment to upholding and championing integrity. This is driven by the APS Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct which set the expectation that APS employees are accountable for their decisions and act consistently in the public interest.

The Commission, and APS agencies and employees more broadly, can promote a culture of integrity, through:

  • Leadership and role-modelling
  • Capability development
  • Awareness-raising
  • Communication

Integrity fact sheets

 

Integrity fact sheets

Summaries of essential aspects of integrity:

Defining integrity Pro-integrity culture Integrity agencies Upholding integrity
Integrity in the APS is the pursuit of high standards of professionalism - both in what we do and in how we do it. It is the foundation of trust on which public service effectiveness is built.

Read the fact sheet

Pro-integrity involves the embedding of integrity into an agency’s culture, where it is a core consideration of all it does - from the conduct of its individual employees, to its systems and practices.

Read the fact sheet

 

While all APS agencies have a role within the integrity landscape, there are several agencies that have specific functions related to integrity matters in the Commonwealth.

Read the fact sheet

As APS employees, we all have an obligation to understand and uphold the APS Values and Employment Principles and act in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Read the fact sheet

Ethics advisory service

 

Ethics Advisory Service

The Ethics Advisory Service (EAS) is available to all APS employees, including agency heads and SES staff, who wish to discuss and seek advice on ethical issues that occur in the workplace and make sound decisions around these issues.
Integrity Agencies Group

Integrity Agencies Group

The Integrity Agencies Group (IAG) works to ensure that integrity is at the centre of the work of the public sector, and that the APS approach to integrity is integrated, capable, agile and transparent. The IAG leads coordination, enhancement and promotion of institutional integrity across the Commonwealth.

Integrity resources

 

Integrity resources

A complete list of available resources can be found on the Integrity resources page.

Integrity Metrics Resource

This resource is designed to support agencies to understand their current integrity measurement capability and make informed decisions on where to focus future effort to lift integrity measurement, monitoring and reporting.

APS Values and Code of Conduct in practice

This guide is structured around the three professional relationships that are a central part of work in the public service: relationships with the Government and the Parliament; with the public; and with public service colleagues.

Integrity Learning and Development

Links to integrity-related courses and resources to improve integrity capability and awareness, including: APSC/IPAA podcast, Integrity in the APS e-Learning Module, and soon-to-be released SES Integrity Masterclass Series.
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