The Chief Operating Officer (COO) Committee has endorsed a new definition of retention and guiding principles from a First Nations lens. This important work, led by the Collaboration Circle – a sub-committee of the COO Committee – marks a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive and consistent approach to retention across the Australian Public Service (APS).
The Collaboration Circle, comprising Senior Executive Staff and First Nations employees, has developed the definition and guiding principles as a result of research indicating that there is no single definition in use across the APS.
These resources will be rolled out across the APS in 2026. To ensure successful implementation, we are seeking your input as HR practitioners to understand what support is needed to embed the new definition and principles in your department/agency.
We invite you to complete the HR Practitioner Survey for implementing the retention definition and guiding principles survey to share your insights and help shape the tools and guidance that will accompany the rollout.
Your feedback is essential to ensuring that the APS is equipped to adopt this new approach to retention in a meaningful and sustainable way.