Performance measure 4
Key activity 4
Foster an APS that engages and partners with people, communities and business
We measure our performance against this key activity using the following performance measures:
4.1 The APS is better enabled to engage and partner with people, communities and business.
Performance measure 4.1
The APS is better enabled to engage and partner with people, communities and business
Targets and measurement
| 2025–26 Target | 2026–27 | 2027–28 | 2028–29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1.1 ≥ 65% of APS agencies report they are supported to engage and partner. | Target to be determined | Target to be determined | Target to be determined |
| 4.1.2 ≤ 15% of APS employees identify skills/capability gaps in their workgroup reference collaboration and stakeholder engagement as a gap. | Target to be determined | Target to be determined | Target to be determined |
| 4.1.3 ≥ 85% of APS employees agree that their workgroup considers the people and businesses affected by what they do. | Target to be determined | Target to be determined | Target to be determined |
The overall results of this performance measure 4.1 will be determined based on the following:
- Achieved – All 3 sub-measures are ‘achieved’.
- Partially achieved – 1 or 2 sub-measures are ‘achieved’.
- Not achieved – 0 sub-measures are ‘achieved’.
Rationale
As stewards of the Australian Public Service the Australian Public Service Commission is responsible for fostering an APS that can support the public interest now and into the future. An APS that engages and partners with people, communities and business is best placed to understand and deliver on the needs of Australians. Reporting against this performance measure will demonstrate the impact of the Commission’s activities and actions that enable the APS to engage and partner with people, communities and business.
Type of measure
Proxy for effectiveness
Methodology
4.1.1 – The APS Agency Survey is a census of all APS agencies with at least 20 employees employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Agencies must complete the survey to fulfil their duties under the Act.
The results for this measure are determined based on the responses provided to the survey question ‘Does your agency require greater partnership and engagement skills and/or capabilities to develop more fit for purpose polices and services?’ Response options are ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The result for this performance measure is determined by the percentage of agencies that respond ‘yes’.
The assessment scale for this target is:
- Achieved – Target is met or exceeded.
- Not achieved – Target is not met.
4.1.2 – The APS Employee Census is a survey of all eligible personnel who are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. However, participation is voluntary.
The results for this measure are determined based on a survey question that asks participants to reflect on the developing capability (2024 Employee Census questions 30 and 31 however numbering is subject to change). Participants are asked ‘Are there currently skills or capability gaps within your immediate workgroup’. Response options are ‘yes’ or ‘no’. When a participant responds ‘yes’ they are then asked to select the skills or capabilities that are missing via multiple choice where one option is ‘Collaboration and stakeholder engagement’.
The results for this performance measure are determined by counting the total number of responses that:
- Respond with ‘yes’ to identify a skill or capability gap; and
- Select ‘Collaboration and stakeholder engagement’ as the skill or capability gap.
This count is then used to determine the percentage based on the total number of responses to the APS Employee Census for the given year.
The assessment scale for this target is:
- Achieved – Target is met or exceeded.
- Not achieved – Target is not met.
4.1.3 – The APS Employee Census is a survey of all eligible personnel who are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. However, participation is voluntary.
The results for this measure are determined based on a survey question that asks participants to reflect on the attributes of their immediate work group (2024 Employee Census question 18(f)). Participants are asked to rate their agreement in response to the following statement: ‘My workgroup considers the people and businesses affected by what we do’. Response options are ‘strongly agree’, ‘agree’, ‘neither agree nor disagree’, ‘disagree’ or ‘strongly disagree’.
The results for this performance measure are determined by counting the total number of responses that ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’, and then determining the percentage based on the total number of responses to the APS Employee Census for the given year.
The assessment scale for this target is:
- Achieved – Target is met or exceeded.
- Not achieved – Target is not met.
Data sources
4.1.1 – Raw data obtained from the annual APS Agency survey. The APS Agency survey is designed and tested by the APSC Workforce Research and Analysis team and reflects best practice survey design. An external party provides survey hosting services and the raw data to the Commission for interpretation. Data is collected and reported on once per year between June and July. Data is prepared and made available in August.
4.1.2 & 4.1.3 – Raw data obtained from the annual APS Employee Census. The APS Employee Census is conducted by the People Insights Branch with assistance from an external service provider. The Commission and external service provider report de-identified and aggregated Census results which are made available to the Commission, other agencies and other parties. The reliability and verifiability of the data can be reviewed via the Qualtrics survey platform which is used to administer the Census. Detailed information regarding data handling can be found in the participant information sheet. Data is collected and reported on once a year between June and July. Data is prepared and made available in August.
Caveats and disclosures
The data for these targets is released annually in August. The baseline targets for this measure were established in 2024–25. Future targets will be established once data trends become available. Targets may evolve to reflect government priorities. As a relatively new measure, the 2025–26 targets provide a basis for assessing how the Commission is performing against key activity 4.
Owner
Strategy and Transformation Branch.
Changes from previous year
Since the 2024–25 Corporate Plan, baseline targets have been established for 2025–26 measures. Description of sub-measures 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 have been amended to more accurately reflect the data source.