Capability review: Australian Public Service Commission
The Australian Public Service Commission welcomes the first Capability Review report under the Australian Government’s re-instated pilot Capability Review program. The Minister for the Public Service Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher announced the program in a speech to the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) on 13 October 2022, with the APSC to be the first agency reviewed.
The APSC Capability Review was led by a Senior Review Team comprising Ms Carmel McGregor PSM, independent reviewer, and Ms Justine Greig PSM, senior APS reviewer and Deputy Secretary, Defence People, Department of Defence.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet supported Ms McGregor and Ms Greig with their review to ensure independence. The Senior Review Team completed the Review of the APSC in June 2023 with the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet endorsing the final report on 29 June 2023.
The Review takes a high-level view of the APSC’s strategic operations. It is an important indicator of the APSC’s current capability and what actions the APSC will need to take over time.
Key findings of the review demonstrated the APSC’s capability in providing direct and practical guidance during the pandemic, the State of the Service Report as an informative and key publication, the employee engagement census as a core data driver for agencies on workforce statistics, implementation of the APS Academy, and the whole-of-APS workforce planning.
The report reflects on the APSC’s position as a central agency and suggests improving key areas of internal capability, while continuing to focus on delivering for the APS.
Areas for opportunity identified in the review include the APSC being clear around its purpose and priorities, developing its own workforce planning, looking to provide proactive assurance of workforce policies across the APS, and actively supporting the Service in implementing reform.
Further opportunities that the APSC is looking to undertake are increasing transparency and use of data, and strengthening integrity across the Australian Government public sector.
The APSC accepts the Senior Reviewers’ assessment and looks forward to improving its processes while investing in stakeholder relationships more thoroughly, and ensuring the APSC is itself a model employer.
The APSC would like to thank everyone involved in the Review for participating and sharing their insights.
Capability review response
The APSC has considered the Review’s findings and prepared a response. This sets out what actions the APSC is taking to address the issues identified in the Review. An accessible version is available for download on this page.