5.5 Learning and development transformation

Contents

The APS Learning and Development Strategy and Action Plan recognises the need for a significant transformation in the way the APS thinks about learning experiences and how to build capabilities throughout the service. In 2022, the APS Academy worked through the APS Learning Board to deliver key projects which support the APS to drive more efficient and effective learning practices.

APS learning quality framework

Consistent, high-quality learning experiences must underpin any APS investment in  L&D. The APS Learning Quality Framework and Design Standards are a best-practice tool for APS agencies and external partners to use, to drive consistency in approach and benchmark the quality of L&D offerings.

The four design standards were developed to guide decision-making and investment (Figure 5.5). Together, they align learning to government and organisational strategy, fuel a culture of learning, enhance user experiences and accessibility, and foster innovative approaches.

  • Purposeful: capability need is diagnosed and informs the solution.
  • User-centric: design is inclusive, relevant and supports continuous learning.
  • Adaptable: design can be shared, scaled up and leverages technology to create efficiencies.
  • Impactful: design incorporates a mix of innovative and engaging learning methods.

Figure 5.5: APS Learning Quality Framework and Design Standards

A diagram showing icons for the APS Learning Quality Framework Standards: purposeful, user-centric, adaptable, and impactful.

Fifteen agencies supported pilot application of the Learning Quality Framework to their own learning objectives in 2022. This led to the identification of quality learning experiences suitable for APS-wide delivery. The Academy is currently working with two agencies to make their learning available through the APS Academy.

Learning marketplace

To drive efficiency, discovery and design, work has begun on implementing an APS-wide approach to procuring L&D goods and services. Insights from work completed to date reinforce findings from the Thodey Review, including:

  • lack of system-wide insights into procurement activity
  • difficulties in determining levels of investment in APS employees
  • informal supplier performance management
  • duplication of procured goods and services of varying quality.

Opportunities to innovate have been identified which will leverage contemporary procurement practices and inform the establishment of an APS Learning Panel. Innovative opportunities, including a Learning Bank and a marketplace platform, are new ideas being scoped. These will leverage technology to promote the coordination and consolidation of solutions and the efficient and effective use of Commonwealth resources.

Evaluation

To support the uplift in L&D practice across the APS, the APS Academy launched the APS Learning and Evaluation Framework and the Learning Evaluation Handbook in June 2022. The framework (Figure 5.6) is underpinned by an evaluation model that encourages practitioners to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, relevance, flexibility and accessibility of L&D offerings across the APS.

Figure 5.6: APS Learning and Evaluation Framework

A circular diagram of the APS Learning and Evaluation Framework process. At the centre of the circle is ‘effectiveness’, surrounded by a doughnut split into three segments. The first segment is ‘evaluation’, the second segment is ‘organisational insights’, and the final segment is ‘monitoring’. There are two arrows in a clockwise direction around the diagram, one reading ‘evaluation practice’ and the other reading ‘evaluation culture’.

Source: APS Academy

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