Australian Public Service Commission Census Results 2020-21

The 2021 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 93 per cent, and has maintained a positive results in the engagement index. 

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.

• The Commission’s positive engagement scores indicated we have a highly professional workforce who are passionate and believe strongly in the objectives of the Australian Public Service (APS).
• Our results also indicated that the Commission has an inclusive workplace culture of innovation and flexibility. 
• In comparison to the broader APS, our people believed the Commission offers more opportunities for mobility, collaboration, flexible work practices, and fewer layers of decision making.
• The most notable positive increases from our 2019 results, related to perceptions of SES working as a team and internal communication.
• This year there was a decline in positive results in our wellbeing index, this was specifically due to a decrease in scores related to how we promote health and wellbeing, and communicate service offerings.
• We also noted that 1 in 3 of our people are considering a move from their current position in the next 12 months, equally 1 in 3 are planning to stay working in their position for the next 1 to 2 years. 

The Commission has already taken steps to address areas for improvement by developing action plans to better understand areas of strength and opportunities for development. 

Feedback from Group action plans will be used to inform the overall Commission’s response to our 2021 Census results with a notable focus on actively managing succession planning and retention, as well as better understanding and promoting

available health and wellbeing support. In addition, the Commission will undertake a pulse survey to inform workforce strategies to address our 2021 Census results. 

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.