Key activities
Given its central role, the Commission is in a strong position to collaborate across government, business, academia, and other sectors to share expertise, solve challenges and harness opportunities to deliver outcomes consistent with our purpose and key activities. This includes supporting the Australian Public Service Commissioner and the Merit Protection Commissioner to undertake statutory functions under the Public Service Act 1999, including functions to strengthen the professionalisation of the APS, continually improve workforce management, promote high standards of integrity and conduct, foster leadership, high quality learning and capability development, and to inquire into and review matters consistent with s41 of the Public Service Act 1999.
Purpose
We are stewards of the Australian Public Service as custodians of public service integrity, workforce management and capability.
As stewards of the APS, we are future focused and outwardly engaged. We deliver APS integrity, workforce management and capability outcomes for the government and citizens over the long term.
As custodians, we have expertise, authority and responsibility to foster APS capability, integrity, and workforce management in accordance with the Public Service Act 1999. We embrace innovation and risk, and deliver evidence-informed advice to support agencies to deliver.
In doing so, we ensure that we have a trusted, professional, and enduring public service now and into the future.
Vision
A trusted and contemporary Australian Public Service that delivers for Government and for Australia.
A trusted APS models transparency and continuous improvement, puts people, community and business at the centre of policy design and delivery, and promotes professionalism, diversity, respect and integrity.
A contemporary APS has the capabilities it needs now and into the future, underpinned by competitive working conditions that attract and retain diverse talent. It has a shared sense of purpose, empowers staff, is forward leaning, and predicts and adapts to challenges while delivering with empathy and authority.
An APS that delivers for Government and for Australia makes a difference on matters of national importance, including during times of uncertainty and risk.
Key Activities
We achieve our Purpose through our Key Activities:
Key Activity 1: Promote and uphold the high standards of integrity and conduct within the APS.
Promote, with agency partners, a pro-integrity culture across the APS.
Evaluate the extent to which agencies incorporate and uphold APS Values, Code of Conduct, and Employment Principles.
Uphold the APS Values and Code of Conduct by inquiring into breaches and reviewing matters.
Provide contemporary and authoritative policy and implementation advice to agencies on the APS Values, Code of Conduct, and Employment Principles.
Key Activity 2: Lead and support the development of quality APS workforce management policy.
Shape workforce management policies, including through advice to Government on, and implementation of, policies that deliver remuneration and conditions that are modern, fit for purpose and which attract and retain great talent to the public service.
Contribute to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Australian community through inclusive and respectful workplace cultures and genuine opportunities to participate in the public service.
Use our expertise to provide clear, authoritative workforce management guidance and implementation advice to agencies in line with the Public Service Act 1999 and other enabling legislation.
Key Activity 3: Build APS capability and leadership for the future.
Bring capability and expertise into the APS by partnering with APS agencies to develop best practice workforce attraction, selection and retention solutions, including clear entry pathways for prospective employees.
Build capability within the APS by identifying emerging capability requirements (e.g. APS Craft, cultural competency and literacy) and by supporting the development of APS staff through a networked model.
Nurture and promote collective and inclusive leadership approaches that builds strong and diverse APS leaders, capable of harnessing the capability that exists throughout the APS.
Key Activity 4: Foster an APS that engages and partners with people, communities and business.
Ensure the APS is forward looking and future fit by building a culture of ongoing review, evaluation, and improvement.
Influence policy design and decisions through the collection and sharing of data, insights (e.g. trust) and trends regarding the APS workforce and the public, to tackle the most complex problems faced by the Parliament, Government and the public.
Play a key role in building the ability of the APS to partner and engage those we work with.
Support the APS to deliver on priority reforms under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Contribute to building stronger public service institutions by exchanging experiences and supporting capability uplift across the Pacific region, South East Asia, and through engagement with Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development member countries.