By Kate Fordham at the Department of Finance
Advance your procurement professional development in 2026 with the latest offerings from the Department of Finance. The newly launched procurement courses are designed specifically for Australian Public Service (APS) officials who are keen to strengthen their skills and deepen their understanding of the Commonwealth Procurement Framework. Whether you are just starting out, seeking a refresher, or transitioning into a procurement role, these courses are tailored to meet a wide range of needs.
New courses available
The Department of Finance can announce the launch of several new procurement courses designed for APS officials seeking to strengthen their proficiency and deepen their understanding of the Commonwealth Procurement Framework. Whether you are new to procurement, interested in a refresher, or transitioning into a procurement role, these offerings are tailored to your needs.
The new courses form part of the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite, available at no cost to officials from non-corporate Commonwealth entities and prescribed corporate Commonwealth entities. The training suite now features:
eLearning courses (Self-paced):
- Using Panels: Guidance on panels and standing offers within Australian Government procurement, including key requirements, appropriate circumstances, and procedures for engaging relevant panels.
- Exercising Procurement Delegations: An overview of the procurement framework for non-SES delegates, focusing on roles and responsibilities when making decisions and approving procurement activities.
- Debriefing in Procurement: Insights into the benefits, principles, and best practices of debriefing, as well as common challenges, pitfalls, and strategies for planning, conducting, and documenting debriefings.
Live courses (Onsite and Online):
- Industry Engagement and Market Research: Strategies and techniques for effective market research and industry engagement, ensuring probity across all phases of the procurement lifecycle.
- Commercial Negotiation: Techniques to build commercial confidence, understand negotiation power and preparation, and respond adeptly to vendor tactics in high-stakes contexts.
- Procurement Risk Management: Application of risk management principles to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to achieve desired procurement outcomes.
Who should enrol
This program is suitable for officials from non-corporate Commonwealth entities and prescribed corporate Commonwealth entities that must comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. It accommodates participants from diverse sectors, such as IT and construction, including those new to procurement, seeking a refresher, or transitioning roles. It is ideal for staff engaged in procurement and contract management on an ad hoc or regular basis, including oversight of panel or limited tender procurements.
How to enrol
- Access APSLearn.
- Search for the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite.
- Select your preferred course.
Procurement Capability Week
Finance will host the third Procurement Capability Week (PCW) in February 2026. PCW is a virtual professional development program that consists of 10 live courses from the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite online. The program is designed to help APS officials build practical skills in procurement and contract management.
These are free for APS officials from non-corporate Commonwealth entities and prescribed corporate Commonwealth entities to participate. The program runs for five full days, from Monday 9 February to Friday 13 February 2026. All sessions are delivered online via Microsoft Teams, with each session lasting 2 to 3 hours.
Course schedule (AEDT):
- Monday 9 February
9:00am – 12:00pm Procurement in Practice
1:00pm – 3:30pm Industry Engagement - Tuesday 10 February
9:00am – 12:00pm Value for Money
1:00pm – 3:30pm Broader Economic Benefits - Wednesday 11 February
9:00am – 12:00pm Writing and Evaluating Tender Criteria
1:00pm – 3:00pm Procurement-Connected Policies - Thursday 12 February
9:00am – 12:00pm Procurement Risk
1:00pm – 4:00pm Probity and Integrity in Procurement - Friday 13 February
9:00am – 11:30am CPR Exemptions and Conditions for Limited Tender
1:00pm – 3:30pm Contract Management in Practice
Participant requirements:
- Be available to attend all 10 sessions across the five days.
- Have your supervisor’s approval to attend all sessions.
- Have completed the Procurement and Contract Management Basics onsite course, OR both the Procurement Basics and Contract Management Basics eLearning modules.
- Have an APSLearn login.
To apply:
Email your responses to the above requirements to procurement.training@finance.gov.au by close of business Friday 23 January 2026. You will be notified if you have been selected to attend by Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
Benefits of completing the courses in one week:
- Efficiency: Gain essential knowledge and skills in a focused, short timeframe.
- Consistency: Maintain momentum and reinforce learning by attending all sessions together.
- Convenience: Participate virtually, reducing the need for travel and minimising disruption.
- Networking: Build connections and share experiences with peers across the APS.
- Immediate application: Apply new skills and knowledge directly to your work.
Please note, completion of these courses does not result in certification or qualification and is not part of the Pathway to Procurement program. The courses are delivered virtually to support participants outside Canberra and those unable to attend in person. If applications exceed capacity, a diverse group of participants will be selected. Positions are limited and applications will be considered in the order received.
2026 training sessions now available
New sessions for the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite are scheduled for 2026, supporting officials in building robust procurement skills and a thorough understanding of the Commonwealth Procurement Framework.
All courses remain free to eligible officials. Due to high demand, early booking is recommended.
To register for a session, go to APSLearn, search for the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite, and select the desired courses.
Procurement training suite evaluation
Finance, with the APS Academy, will be undertaking an evaluation of the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite in early 2026. The evaluation will help us understand how well the training suite is supporting officials to build procurement and contract management capability and identify opportunities for improvement.
As part of this process, Finance’s Procurement Training team will contact selected people who have attended courses to seek feedback. This may involve participating in a focus group or an individual interview. These sessions aim to gather detailed insights about your experience, including content relevance, strengths and weaknesses of the suite, and suggestions for improvement.
Your feedback will help us ensure the suite continues to meet the needs of the APS procurement and contract management community. Thank you for supporting the ongoing development of procurement and contract management capability across the APS.
Further information
For enquiries regarding any of the courses, contact the Procurement Training team at the Department of Finance.