Forums Category: Learning and development

Good morning/afternoon,

We have created an APS Academy and APS Professions promotional pack for you to share with your agencies and staff to promote the learning offerings available for April.

Kind regards,

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We have created an APS Academy and APS Professions promotional pack for you to share with your agencies and staff to promote the learning offerings available for March.

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Hi SAF members,

The NGA is interested in processes, guidelines or procedures for interns and people undertaking work experience. Particularly if you are a cultural institution or museum, we would love to hear from you!

If you are able to share any recent framework or guideline, my best contact is Angela.Rusanov@nga.gov.au.

Kind Regards,

Angela Rusanov
Senior HR Advisor, Workplace Relations
National Gallery
P +61 2 6120 2970
W nga.gov.au
E  Angela.Rusanov@nga.gov.au

APS Unconscious Bias Training Program

Research indicates that First Nations employees do not enjoy equitable career experiences in the Australian Public Service, in part due to unconscious bias. This bias contributes to the over and under representation of First Nations employees in APS classifications and executive levels respectively. The APS Integrated Unconscious Bias Training Program aims to address this issue by raising awareness and understanding of unconscious bias and its impact on First Nations employees’ workplace experiences.

Supported by the 2024-25 APS Capability Reinvestment Fund, this Program is designed to respond to Closing the Gap Priority Reform Three (PR3), transforming government organisations to eliminate racism and embed meaningful cultural safety. By doing so, the Program seeks to boost First Nations employment, improving retention, well-being, and career progression.

 

A Three-Tiered Approach

In February, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and the Australian Public Service Commission will launch the Program through the APS Academy’s learning platform, APSLearn. The Program aims to influence workplace change throughout the APS by:

• Raising awareness and understanding of unconscious bias
• Providing practical guidance to reduce bias
• Supporting system-wide change to mitigate unconscious bias

The Program includes:

1. Two short, animated videos explaining unconscious bias and its impact on APS First Nations employees.
2. Small group discussions led by 50 trained facilitators across APS, providing a safe environment to address and reflect on unconscious bias.
3. A series of deep-dive workshops for SES leaders to enhance their confidence in stewarding a diverse, bias-free, inclusive workplace.

Information sessions:

 

NIAA will be holding information sessions for agencies on the following dates:

 

Date and time:	Link
Thursday 13 February 2025 – 11:00am-11:30am	Microsoft Teams – Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 434 488 203 199 Passcode: ak7226sf
Thursday 20 February 2025 – 2:00pm-2:30pm	Microsoft Teams – Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 446 540 230 232 Passcode: E4Wt2zh3

 

To attend, please add the session time to your calendar with the link provided.

 

 

Further information on the three components of the program:

 

Unconscious Bias Animations

All APS employees will be able to view the two animated films, which are foundational for employees participating in the facilitated small group discussions. The first animation, “What is Unconscious Bias,” introduces the concept and how it might manifest in the workplace. The second animation, “What Can We Do to Address Unconscious Bias,” identifies different biases that influence decision-making and how to address them in the workplace.

 

Facilitated Small Group Discussions

The objective is to support branches in facilitating exercises to uncover unconscious biases. Encouraging gentle self-reflection, these discussions help APS employees make  more considered decisions, leading to a more inclusive workplace. Trained facilitators will lead the discussions in small groups of approximately 15 people, providing opportunities to reflect and consider actions to mitigate biases and support inclusion and diversity, particularly for First Nations employees.

SES Deep-Dive Workshop Series

The four-part workshop series, consisting of two themes, offers SES leaders a deep dive into unconscious bias for organisational change. Supported by follow-up workshops, SES leaders can share personal reflections and action plans. The two themes are:

1. Addressing unconscious bias through authentic leadership and diversity and inclusion advocacy
2. Changing mindsets to improve the employment experience of First Nations APS employees

Through exercises and self-reflection, participants will explore unconscious bias and cognitive dissonance and their impacts, understand how authentic leadership reduces bias, and create psychologically, psychosocially, and culturally safe workplaces. The aim is to apply an integrated framework to improve the employment experience of First Nations APS employees and lead organisational change for a bias-free APS workplace.

 

Upcoming training dates:

SES Deep Dive Workshop series:

Cohort	Workshop 1	Workshop 2	Workshop 3	Workshop 4
Cohort 1	20/02/2025	11/03/2025	14/04/2025	12/05/2025
Cohort 2	21/02/2025	25/03/2025	24/04/2025	23/05/2025

 

We look forward to seeing you at one of the information sessions.

APS Academy
Academy Operations and Engagement Team

apsacademy@apsc.gov.au| w.apsacademy.gov.au
p. (02) 6202 3933

The APS Centre of Excellence for Workforce Planning recently launched its Advisory Service to support agencies to build workforce planning capability via hands-on, customised support for short and long term requirements. The Advisory Services aims to support small to medium sized agencies to build workforce planning capability via hands-on, customised support. At present, these offerings are only available to non-corporate Commonwealth entities.

The team can support a variety of workforce planning activities, including:

• Job Family Framework mapping
• In-house workshops (establishment management, succession planning, generating workforce insights)
• 3-month sprint projects focused on agency specific workforce planning capability needs

If you are interested in finding out more about any of our services, please reach out to apswfp@apsc.gov.au. To submit a request for Advisory Services, please use this form.

Ready to take your career to the next level?

The APS Academy has partnered with highly esteemed universities, to develop four post-graduate microcredentials. Designed by experienced APS practitioners and leading academics, these programs provide high-quality learning tailored to the demands of our APS workforce. All microcredentials are now open to Commonwealth, State and Territory public servants.

Secure your spot in these high-value microcredentials now.

Pacific engagement, Flinders University: apply here

Foresight techniques, University of New South Wales: apply here

Gender impact in policy design, University of New South Wales: apply here

Register your interest in Evaluating regulatory systems, University of Melbourne: enquire here

We have created an APS Academy and APS Professions promotional pack for you to share with your agencies and staff to promote the learning offerings available for February.

View Document-1

Good morning/afternoon,

We have created an APS Academy and APS Professions promotional pack for you to share with your agencies and staff to promote the learning offerings available for January.

Kind regards,

View Document-1

We have created an APS Academy and APS Professions promotional pack for you to share with your agencies and staff to promote the learning offerings available for December.

Welcome Session for recently promoted Commonwealth senior executives 

22 November, 2:00-4:30pm, Canberra

The Australian Public Service Commission is hosting the inaugural SES Welcome Session at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra on 22 November 2024. The sessions have been launched in response to Recommendation 5 of APS Integrity Taskforce’s Louder than Words report to support all newly promoted SES and ensure they are aware of the broader obligations of their role.

It will feature opening remarks from APS Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer and a panel discussion with senior APS leaders sharing their experience of transitioning into SES roles and key lessons for success and a networking opportunity over afternoon tea. A high-level agenda is below.

Nominations

The Session is open to all newly promoted or externally recruited senior executive staff (SES) and long-term acting Executive Level 2 officers. They will be held monthly beginning in 2025 with a virtual option available to support those based outside Canberra.

The Commission is seeking nominations of any suitable individuals you would like to put forward to participate in the session on 22 November. There is no cap on numbers per agency and this session will be free of charge.

Please return a list of participant names and their email addresses to TalentManagement@apsc.gov.au by COB 15 November. We will then send participants an official invitation with further details.

Please reach out to Talent Management with any questions you may have.

—————————————————————————–

SES Welcome Session – Agenda

Time	Agenda Item
2:00pm	Event open and Welcome to Country
2:15pm	Remarks from APS Commissioner
2:25pm	APS senior leaders panel discussion and Q&A
3:20pm	Personal and small group reflection
3:50pm	Wrap up
4:00pm	Networking and refreshments
4:30pm	Event close