By Jacqui Curtis, Head of the HR Profession
In the Australian Public Service (APS), leadership is not confined to position or classification. It is something we all demonstrate in how we support our colleagues, how we make decisions and how we contribute to the long-term success of our teams and the broader Australian community. This kind of leadership is essential to the ability of the APS to serve the public interest not only today, but well into the future.
This is why the APS value of stewardship is so important. It reflects a shared responsibility to protect and enhance the capability, integrity and reputation of the public service. Stewardship is about recognising that the decisions made today shape the APS of tomorrow and that every employee has a role to play in building a trusted, capable and forward-looking institution.
Leadership at every level
The demonstration of leadership at all levels is a long-standing strength of our public servants. It is visible in the way people take initiative, support their colleagues and lead through their actions, regardless of their classification or formal authority.
Leadership can be demonstrated by:
- Empowering others by creating space for people to make decisions and supporting them to bring their best selves to work.
- Encouraging continuous learning by supporting development, sharing knowledge, and modelling curiosity.
- Nurturing diversity of thought by welcoming different perspectives and building inclusive teams.
These behaviours help create workplaces where people feel valued, trusted and motivated. They also reflect the enduring commitment of the APS to collaborative, inclusive and values-driven leadership.
Stewardship in practice
Stewardship is about more than good management. It is a forward-looking mindset that prioritises long-term public value, institutional strength and the wellbeing of future generations.
In practice, stewardship means:
- Thinking deeply about the future and considering the long-term impact of decisions.
- Helping others be good stewards by connecting them to purpose, vision and values.
- Expanding networks and looking beyond immediate responsibilities to share knowledge and build capability across immediate teams, agencies and the broader APS.
Stewardship is essential in ensuring the APS remains resilient, trusted and capable of delivering for the Australian community over time. It supports continuity through change, protects institutional knowledge and strengthens the foundations of good government. By embedding stewardship into everyday practice, employees across the APS can make decisions that are not only effective now, but also responsible and sustainable for the future.
A shared responsibility
Leadership and stewardship are deeply connected. Both are grounded in the idea that every APS employee has influence not only over outcomes, but over culture, capability and the future of the service. When individuals lead with purpose and act with a stewardship mindset, they contribute to something greater than their immediate role. They help build a public service that is resilient, values-driven and equipped to meet the evolving needs of government and the Australian people.
The challenges facing the APS, from digital transformation to workforce sustainability, require more than technical solutions. They call for a combination of leadership and stewardship at every level. When these qualities come together, they enable the public service to respond with agility, act with integrity and make decisions that are both effective now and sustainable into the future.
This is not the work of a few - it is a shared responsibility. And it is one that defines the strength and integrity of the public service.
Ultimately, stewardship is not just a value; it is a way of leading that empowers every APS employee to shape a strong, more capable and future-ready APS.
