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First Nations Unit

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The First Nations Unit at the Australian Public Service Commission aims to improve employment outcomes and uplift cultural capability and cultural safety across the wider APS.

The First Nations Unit was established in 2023 and our work contributes to priority reforms identified in the Closing the Gap and APS reform agendas. This includes Priority Reform 3 of Closing the Gap, which focuses on improving how government organisations work with First Nations people, and Outcome 7 of APS reform, which aims to build an APS that leads in First Nations employment and cultural understanding

Mission statement

We provide comprehensive advice across government to help create workplaces that are inclusive, culturally aware, and culturally safe.

What we do

The First Nations Unit helps the Government reach its goal of having First Nations people make up 5% of the APS workforce by 2030. We create job opportunities and initiatives that address known barriers to engagement, retention and advancement of First Nations peoples within the APS.

We have run a number of initiatives to increase First Nations employment including:

  • SES100 – to ensure First Nations voices, leadership and perspectives are being heard and are leading key decision making
  • Talent development pipelines to better support emerging First Nations talent at the EL2 (Bulabul) and SES Band 1 levels (Yawarra)

We work closely with other organisations, including the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and First Nations community-controlled groups, through the Coalition of Peaks. This helps us design services that meet the needs of the communities we support.

We also help build cultural understanding and cultural safety across the APS by providing expert advice and guidance to agencies. Our work supports Closing the Gap Priority Reform 3 by helping government organisations identify and eliminate racism, and by supporting them to build and maintain culturally safe workplaces.

For more information please contact us via email.

Reconciliation Action Plan artwork represents connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to country. It shows plants including desert flowers, seaweed and gum leaves with reds and blues. It has 3 places, connected by pathways. 2 hands working together represents the aim of a cultural understanding and learning from each other. People surrounding a large circle represents a culturally safe working environment for all. 3 people sitting together represents strong reconciliation principles.

Recruitment and retention

Find resources, guides and information on First Nations recruitment and retention in the Australian Public Service
Image of a First Nations dot painting

Cultural capability

Learn more about how the lifelong learning process that helps people to make culturally informed decisions in their approaches to day-to-day work
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Acknowledgement of Country

The APSC acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.