APSC Census results 2019-20

The 2020 Australian Public Service Employee Census results for the Australian Public Service Commission are now available. The Commission achieved a strong response rate this year of 96 per cent, and has maintained a positive results in the engagement and wellbeing indices.

Over the past 12 months, the Commission adapted to a lot of change; supporting the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing new government priorities to ensure the Commission and the APS is positioned for the future. The census results reflect the Commission’s focus over the year, both in the feedback on our strengths and areas for improvement.

• In comparison to 2019, our people believed the Commission did much better of communicating and promoting health and wellbeing to employees this past year.
• Our people believe strongly in the purpose and objectives of the APS and over 80 per cent agree they receive the respect they deserve from colleagues.
• In terms of communication, leadership and culture, employees believe the Commission has a culture that promotes and fosters and diverse and inclusive workplace.
• It is important to recognise however, that the largest overall decline in positive results related to managing changing priorities and time pressures.
• Although employees believe they have the tools and resources to perform well, the Commission needs to focus on how it adapts to rapidly changing priorities, while driving strategic change across the APS.

The Commission has already taken steps to address areas for improvement. The Commission launched its internally focused APSC Workforce Strategy in July 2020 to address findings of the Capability Review and outcomes of various leadership forums. The Strategy identifies a number of priorities, including: building stronger connections both internally and externally, enhancing our workforce planning capabilities and developing our leadership pipeline under an enhanced performance framework.

The Commission values the perspectives of its employees, the census and is committed to building an inclusive, capable and strengths based performance culture to position the APS for the future.