Performance measure 3
Key activity 3
Build APS capability and leadership for the future
We measure our performance against this key activity using the following performance measures:
3.1 Support APS leadership to develop their leadership capability.
3.2 Contribute to an uplift in APS capability in the domains of APS Craft.
Performance measure 3.1
Support APS leadership to develop their leadership capability.
Targets and measurement
| 2026–27 Target | 2027–28 | 2028–29 | 2029–30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1.1 80% of learners in leadership and talent programs report a moderate or significant expected impact on their performance against the course learning outcomes. | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 |
| 3.1.2 In courses that include practitioners, at least 85% of learners report that practitioner contributions enhanced their learning. | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 |
| 3.1.3 ≥ 440 SES participated in APS Academy leadership programs and events. | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 |
Targets are equally weighted
Type of measure
Quantitative and effectiveness.
Rationale
Under section 41 of the Public Service Act, the Commissioner is responsible for fostering, and contributing to, leadership, high quality learning and development and career management in the APS.
This measure reflects the Commission’s contribution, through the APS Academy, to that role by supporting uplift in the foundational capabilities of the Australian Public Service. The APS Craft domains, including leadership and management, represent a core area of expertise that underpins effective performance in all roles and functions.
To deliver on these commitments and build APS capability and leadership for the future, the Commission provides high quality, one-APS senior executive leadership development and talent programs. Programs including SES Welcome events, SES Orientation, SES Band 1 leadership, SES Band 2 leadership, Senior Executive Stewardship Program, and talent assessment and development programs for SES Band 3s and high potential SES Band 1 and Band 2s.
Methodology
3.1.1 - Participants respond to the survey question “To what extent do you expect this course will have a positive impact on your performance in the following areas” using a four-point scale (no impact, slight impact, moderate impact, significant impact). The “following areas” are a list of the course learning outcomes. The result is calculated as the proportion of respondents who selected “moderate impact” or “significant impact” against one or more learning outcome. Survey responses are aggregated across all deliveries of the same course in the reporting period.
The assessment scale for this target is:
| Achieved | ≥80% of respondents who responded to the evaluation survey selected “moderate” or “significant” when asked about the expected impact on their performance. |
|---|---|
| Partially achieved | 60–79% of respondents who responded to the evaluation survey selected “moderate” or “significant” when asked about the expected impact on their performance. |
| Not achieved | < 60% of respondents who responded to the evaluation survey selected “moderate” or “significant” when asked about the expected impact on their performance. |
3.1.2 - In courses that include an APS practitioner/s (described to learners in the survey as ‘guest speakers or presenters’), learners respond to the survey question “How did the contributions of the guest speakers or presenters enhance your learning?” Learners are provided with five positive response options. One mutually exclusive negative response is included (“did not enhance my learning”). The measure reports the percentage of respondents selecting at least one positive option.
The assessment scale for this target is:
| Achieved | ≥85% or more of respondents in applicable courses selected one or more positive responses indicating practitioner contributions enhanced learning. |
|---|---|
| Partially achieved | 70–84% of learners in applicable courses selected one or more positive responses indicating practitioner contributions enhanced learning. |
| Not achieved | Fewer than 70% of learners in applicable courses selected one or more positive responses indicating practitioner contributions enhanced learning. |
3.1.3 - The result for this sub-measure is calculated using enrolment data during the reporting period for each program. APS Learn collects data for each program cohort, relying on enrolment data at the commencement of each program.
The assessment scale for this target is:
| Achieved | 10% increase of SES who participate in APS Academy leadership and Commission talent programs from the 2023–24 baseline (440). |
|---|---|
| Partially achieved | 2% to 9.9% increase of SES who participate in APS Academy leadership and Commission talent programs from the 2023–24 baseline. |
| Not achieved | 0 to 1.9% increase of SES who participate in APS Academy leadership and Commission talent programs from the 2023–24 baseline . |
Data sources
3.1.1 & 3.1.2 - For leadership programs, data is collected through the Qualtrics survey design tool. For SES talent programs, MS Forms is used and the data stored within limited access SharePoint site.
3.1.3 - APSLearn attendance and enrolment data is captured through APSLearn. Talent enrolment data is manually entered.
Caveats and disclosures
3.1.1 - Due to the relatively small number of programs, all responses are included and response volumes will be accessible for audit purposes to ensure transparency.
Changes since previous Corporate Plan
3.1.3 - The assessment scale for ‘Not achieved’ has been changed from 0 to 2% to 0 to 1.9% to avoid overlap with the start of the range for ‘Partially effective’.
Targets have now been set for future years based on the baseline targets from 2023–24.
Performance measure 3.2
Contribute to an uplift in APS capability in the domains of APS Craft
Targets and measurement
| 2026–27 Target | 2027–28 | 2028–29 | 2029–30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2.1 ≥ 80% of respondents report a moderate or significant expected impact on their performance against the course learning outcomes. | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 |
| 3.2.2 In courses that include practitioners, at least 85% of respondents report that practitioner contributions enhanced their learning. | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 | As per 2026–27 |
| 3.2.3 ≥ 85% of actions from APS Learning and Development Strategy Adapt Action Plan are completed within their endorsed timeframes. | Strategy ends in 2026–27. | N/A. | N/A. |
The lowest target outcome will be the overall result for this measure.
Type of measure
Quantitative and effectiveness.
Rationale
Under section 41 of the Public Service Act, the Commissioner is responsible for fostering, and contributing to, leadership, high quality learning and development and career management in the APS. This measure reflects the Commission’s contribution, through the APS Academy, to that role by supporting uplift in the foundational capabilities of the Australian Public Service. The APS Craft domains represent core areas of expertise across the service and underpin effective performance in all roles and functions. The sub-measures focus on delivering quality learning courses, embedding practitioner insights to ensure learning is relevant reflecting the APS context, and supporting implementation of strategic actions that enhance a one-APS approach to capability development.
Methodology
3.2.1 - Participants respond to the survey question “To what extent do you expect this course will have a positive impact on your performance in the following areas” using a four-point scale (no impact, slight impact, moderate impact, significant impact). The “following areas” are a list of the course learning outcomes. The result is calculated as the proportion of respondents who selected “moderate impact” or “significant impact” against one or more learning outcome.
The assessment scale for this target is:
| Achieved | ≥ 80% of respondents who responded to the evaluation survey selected “moderate” or “significant” when asked about the expected impact on their performance. |
|---|---|
| Partially achieved | 60–79% of respondents who responded to the evaluation survey selected “moderate” or “significant” when asked about the expected impact on their performance. |
| Not achieved | < 60% of respondents who responded to the evaluation survey selected “moderate” or “significant” when asked about the expected impact on their performance. |
3.2.2 - Applicable courses are Academy courses in which an APS practitioner/s contributes to the delivery of the course in addition to a course facilitator. In courses that include practitioners (described to learners in the survey as ‘guest speakers or presenters’), learners respond to the survey question “How did the contributions of the guest speakers or presenters enhance your learning?” Learners are provided with five positive response options. One mutually exclusive negative response is included “did not enhance my learning”. The measure reports the percentage of respondents selecting at least one positive option.
The assessment scale for this target is:
| Achieved | ≥ 85% or more of respondents in applicable courses selected one or more positive responses indicating practitioner contributions enhanced learning. |
|---|---|
| Partially achieved | 70% to 84% of learners in applicable courses selected one or more positive responses indicating practitioner contributions enhanced learning. |
| Not achieved | < 70% of learners in applicable courses selected one or more positive responses indicating practitioner contributions enhanced learning. |
3.2.3 - Data is drawn from the internal implementation register that tracks progress of all endorsed actions. The result is calculated as the percentage of all actions completed within their endorsed timeframes (baseline or revised with governance approval from Academy Management Committee).
The assessment scale for this target is:
| Achieved | ≥ 85% of actions were completed on time, as recorded in the endorsed tracking framework. |
|---|---|
| Partially achieved | 50% to 84% of actions completed within endorsed timeframe. |
| Not achieved | < 50% of actions completed within endorsed timeframe. |
Data sources
3.2.1 & 3.2.2 - Data is collected through the Qualtrics survey design tool.
3.2.3 - Data is sourced from Action Item Project Overview, Project Progress Reports, Close out reports, Implementation Tracking Register, and Adapt Action Plan on a Page. Progress Reports are sourced from project leads once projects have been initiated.
Caveats and disclosures
3.2.1 & 3.2.2 - Courses are only included if there are at least 20 responses in a reporting period to avoid small sample bias.
Changes since previous Corporate Plan
3.2.1 & 3.2.2 - Targets have now been set for future years based on the baseline targets from 2023–24.
3.2.3 – The APS Learning and Development Strategy Adapt Action Plan concludes in 2026–27 therefore targets have not been set beyond the 2026–27 reporting period.
Since the Commission’s previous Corporate Plan, target 3.2.3 “At least 80% of APS agencies engage with the APS Academy through employee participation in courses or events” has been removed. This target was removed as it did not meaningfully reflect the Academy's performance in delivering capability uplift.