Over the summer of 2019–20, Australians experienced a stream of crises. The bushfires, COVID-19 and floods put great pressure on government services.
Service delivery staff were in high demand. They acted to support the front line, taking calls from people in need and deliver payments. The Australian Public Service Commission mobilised the greatest number of Australian Public Service (APS) staff, ever.
The APS Surge Reserve saw an extraordinary sign up and it is now a permanent feature of the APS. More than 4,500 people from APS agencies and the states and territories have undertaken urgent work since it began.
Alexandra Pelvin from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was one of the many APS staff members who joined the COVID-19 surge response.
‘When I heard the APS Surge Reserve needed staff to help with the COVID-19 Aged Care response in Victoria I jumped at the chance,’ said Alexandra.
Alexandra joined the Department of Health COVID Case Management Team for 8 weeks to backfill staff needing a break. Alexandra saw many of her colleagues in the Surge Reserve hit the ground running. Most could easily transfer their skills, experience and expertise from day-to-day APS work.
‘We were the first point of contact for our assigned aged care facilities,’ said Alexandra.
‘We had to quickly build relationships with facility staff, who were under enormous pressure managing COVID-19 cases among residents and staff. Day-to-day we made sure urgent personal protective equipment and staffing needs were met.
‘Working with colleagues in state government, and specialist clinical providers, we supported the pathology testing regime and triaging of our facilities when new cases emerged.
‘I was able to transfer my skills and expertise from the ATO into a stressful environment, and gain a new perspective on the great contributions the public service can make in times of crisis.’
Join the APS Surge Reserve
If you’re an APS employee, learn more about how to join the APS Surge Reserve.