Performance measure 4
Key activity 4
Foster an APS that engages and partners with people, communities and business
The Commission plays a key role in enabling and supporting the APS to continuously improve so that it can effectively deliver for the Parliament, Government and the Australian people now and into the future. As stewards of the APS, we recognise the increasing complexity within our broader operating environment and will contribute to building stronger public service institutions, domestically and internationally. We will foster an APS that is outward looking and which deploys strong relationship capability to solve complex systems problems in partnership with people, communities and business.
To achieve this objective, our priorities are to:
- 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 and trends regarding the APS workforce, trust 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
- leverage our data, system-wide insights and partnership capability investments to support the APS in tackling the most complex problems faced by the Parliament, Government and the public
- 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 OECD countries
Performance Measure 4.1
APS is better enabled to engage and partner with people, communities and business
| Year | Planned Performance Results |
|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 1.1.1 Number of APS agencies that report they are supported to engage and partner 1.1.2 <15% APS employees identify a collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills or capability gap 1.1.3 Percentage of APS employees that agree that their work group considers the people and businesses affected by what they do |
| 2025–26 | 4.1.1 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 4.1.2 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 4.1.3 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 |
| 2026–27 | 4.1.1 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 4.1.2 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 4.1.3 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 |
| 2027–28 | 4.1.1 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 4.1.2 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 4.1.3 Planned Performance Results will be set following receipt of Baseline data in 2024-25 |
Why do we measure this?
As stewards of the Australian Public Service, we are responsible for fostering an APS that can support the public interest now and into the future. An APS that engages and partners with people, communities and business is best placed to understand and deliver on the needs of Australia. Reporting against this performance measure demonstrates the impact of our activities and actions which enable the APS to engage and partner with people, communities and business.
Data source
4.1.1 Annual APS Agency survey
4.1.2 Annual APS Employee Census
4.1.3 Annual APS Employee Census
Methodology
4.1.1 The APS Agency Survey is a census of all APS agencies with at least 20 employees employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Agencies must complete the survey to fulfil their duties under the Act. The results for this measure are determined based on the responses provided to the survey question: 'Does your agency require greater partnership and engagement skills and/or capabilities to develop more fit for purpose polices and services?'. Response options are 'yes' or 'no'. The result for this performance measure is determined by counting the total number of agencies that respond 'yes'.
4.1.2 The APS Employee Census is a survey of all eligible personnel who are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. However, participation is voluntary.The results for this measure are determined based on a survey question that asks participants to reflect on the developing capability (2024 Employee Census question 30 and 31(10); however, numbering is subject to change). Participants are asked 'Are there currently skills or capability gaps within your immediate work group'. Response options are 'yes' or 'no'. Where a participant responds with 'yes' they are then asked to select the skills or capabilities that are missing via multiple choice where one option is 'Collaboration and stakeholder engagement'. The results for this performance measure is determined by counting the total number of responses that:
- respond with 'yes' to identify a skill or capability gap; and
- select 'Collaboration and stakeholder engagement' as the skill or capability gap.
This count is then used to determine the percentage based on the total number of responses to the APS Employee Census for the given year.
4.1.3 The APS Employee Census is a survey of all eligible personnel who are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. However, participation is voluntary. The results for this measure are determined based on a survey question that asks participants to reflect on the attributes of their immediate work group (2024 Employee Census question 18(f)). Participants are asked to rate their agreement in response to the following statement : 'My work group considers the people and businesses affected by what we do'. Response options are 'strongly agree', 'agree', 'neither agree nor disagree', 'disagree' or 'strongly disagree'. The result for this performance measure is determined by counting the total number of responses that 'strongly agree' or 'agree', and then determining the percentage based on the total number of responses to the APS Employee Census for the given year.
The basis for assessing the performance measure result as ‘achieved’, ‘substantially achieved’, ‘partially achieved’ or ‘not achieved’ has been captured in a detailed Performance Audit Trail.
Type
4.1.1 Quantitative/Output as a proxy for effectiveness
4.1.2 Quantitative, Qualitative/Output as a proxy for effectiveness
4.1.3 Quantitative, Qualitative/Output as a proxy for effectiveness
Changes since previous year
Not Applicable - new Planned Performance Results for 2024-25.