Dear colleagues
We have passed the mid-point of the year, and COVID-19 continues to make its presence felt – causing significant disruption across the nation, and for many APS employees. Thank you for your ongoing flexibility and hard work during this period of extended uncertainty.
One thing is certain: the APS will continue to play a key role in implementing the Government’s post-COVID recovery plan. And we will need to continue to perform at our best, working together as One APS.
As we continue to deliver on government priorities we are also focussed on our ongoing APS reform priorities, to embed cross-APS settings such as accelerating APS digital and ICT transformation, and lifting our workforce capability and mobility. We can see the changes gaining momentum with the APS Mobility Framework, APS Workforce Strategy and with today’s launch of the APS Academy.
Based in the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra, the Academy is much more than a ‘bricks and mortar’ institution. Rather, it is an ever-evolving resource to build capability across the breadth of the APS. We encourage you to visit the Academy website to explore the resources that are already available, with more to come.
The Academy is very much a One APS initiative. Its focus is on building the capabilities that are core to our work as public servants. It draws on expertise from across the APS, driven by a Faculty of experienced practitioners. It supports the excellent work already taking place in the HR, Digital and Data professions. In due course, it will form a network with existing APS centres of excellence.
The Academy offers high quality learning and development options, and a customised learning journey, for all APS employees. Ultimately, it seeks to equip the APS workforce with the skills, tools and knowledge to shape and deliver excellent outcomes for Government and the Australian community. After all, as public servants, this is our core business.
Best regards
Philip Gaetjens
Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Peter Woolcott AO
Australian Public
Service Commissioner