The guiding values within the Charter of Partnerships and Engagement strongly resonated with those who provided feedback. They acknowledged that creating the Charter is moving us forward in the right way, helping the APS work better with individuals and businesses when making policies and providing services
Further suggestions were made on how the Charter can be implemented across the APS, including creating a guidance, considering accessibility, and building capability of the APS workforce as next steps.
People who answered the survey and those who attended the webinars also gave their thoughts on the words we use to describe the six main values.
Be genuinely inclusive:
Ensure everyone has an equal and equitable opportunity to influence the development of policies and services that impact them, by acknowledging and responding to the diverse needs of all people.
- Consider if it's necessary to use the term 'genuine'.The APS needs to be open to hearing a diverse range of views, and not always engage with the same voices
- Asked for clarification around who ‘everyone’ referred to.
- Recognise that 'equal' and 'equitable' mean different things, and aim to give everyone an equitable chance.
- It's essential that principles respect the culture of First Nations people and are accessible to different groups of people.
Be flexible and responsive:
Be open to doing things differently and change approaches if necessary, while being solutions-focused.
- This principle needs to be stated more clearly.
- The government must adjust how it works with people as situations change to make sure needs are met.
- Consider changing ‘solution-focussed’ to ‘outcomes-focussed’
- Commented being responsive means to ‘listen’, and
- Importance of engagements and partnerships being ‘fit for purpose’
Be transparent:
Be open and honest about expectations, roles and responsibilities, limitations, objectives and processes. This includes closing the loop so people and communities know how they have contributed.
- Asked for clarification on using the term, ‘closing the loop’
- This principle spoke to a broader behavioural change needed in the APS
- Be honest about why the APS is engaging or partnering, how the information collected will be used, and what are negotiable and non-negotiable, and
- Make clear distinctions between partnership, consultations/engagements, and communications.
Be accountable:
Instil public trust by acting with integrity, maintaining clear, open and regular communication. This includes sharing appropriate information, and taking responsibility for commitments made.
- Take into account the importance of building trust and integrity in the APS
- Importance of clarifying the difference between the principles ‘transparent’ and ‘accountable’
- Consider adding ‘committed to follow through’ to strengthen this principle, and
- Include being timely about delivering on commitments.
- Set up ways for people to give their opinions on how we work with them.
Be informed:
Ensure decision-making is informed by effective and ethical use of quantitative and qualitative user research and behavioural insights data, and be appropriately informed by history and context.
- Consider simplifying the language of this principle by using plain English and excluding technical research terms
- Importance of the APS to understand its own history and context
- Be open to different types of evidence and avoid emphasising a certain research approach, and
- Value lived experience.
Be collaborative:
Encourage respectful collaboration. Where appropriate, partner with, people, communities, businesses, academia and other sectors to achieve the best outcomes.
- Take into account the distinct arrangements of ‘collaboration’ and ‘partnership’
- External stakeholders also have onus to partner and engage effectively with the government, and
- Consider place-based approaches by exploring how localised decision-making can improve outcomes.
- It's key for the APS to work together internally and break down barriers to meet this principle.