SES Performance Leadership Framework
The Senior Executive Service Performance Leadership Framework was launched in August 2023. All APS agencies must implement the required elements of the framework by 2025.
A key feature of the framework is the principle that outcomes and behaviours are both essential to doing a job well. Both must be assessed as part of an SES leader’s performance. A leader’s behaviour sets the tone and creates the psychological safety necessary for professional and frank advice and high performance.
The framework provides an opportunity to build consistency across the Australian Public Service while embedding a culture of transparency and accountability for SES performance.
Elements encompassing SES performance and development are in the framework. This is supported by a maturity model to guide agency implementation while providing a mechanism for reporting and evaluation.
Agencies indicated their maturity level (as at 30 June 2024) for each element of the SES Performance Leadership Framework Maturity Model. Aggregated responses from 91 APS agencies are shown in Table 11.
Table 11: Maturity levels for each element of the SES Performance Leadership Framework Maturity Model
| Elements | Level 1—Initial | Level 2—Defined | Level 3—Optimised |
|---|---|---|---|
| % of agencies | |||
| Outcomes and behavioural expectations | 27 | 47 | 25 |
| Formal and informal conversations | 22 | 43 | 35 |
| Feedback from others | 37 | 47 | 15 |
| Annual performance rating | 36 | 31 | 33 |
| Consistency in assessing performance | 34 | 48 | 18 |
| Development | 33 | 52 | 15 |
| 9 box grid | 73 | 16 | 11 |
| 360-degree feedback | 59 | 30 | 11 |
| Unsatisfactory performance | 43 | 36 | 21 |
Source: APS Agency Survey 2024
Note: Definitions for each level are outlined in Section 3.2 of the SES Performance Leadership Framework.
The framework supports the Australian Government’s APS Reform agenda. It provides an overarching set of requirements all APS agencies must adopt to strengthen behaviour and outcomes-based performance management. It reinforces the standards of behaviour expected of APS leaders, as expressed through the APS Values and the Secretaries Charter of Leadership Behaviours.
See also in this report
APS agency benchmarking – Perceptions of SES leaders
Find out more
Australian Public Service Commission (2024) Senior Executive Service performance, APSC website, accessed 27 August 2024.
Australian Public Service Commission (2022) Secretaries Charter of Leadership Behaviours, APSC website, accessed 21 October 2024.