SMART work design is an essential tool for APS leaders to create healthier teams and better work.
Service design
Contents
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Upcoming events
Date
Location
Australian Capital Territory
This course is delivered from 21/09/2026 to 22/09/2026, by face-to-face consisting of two 7-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australia wide (Virtual)
This course is delivered from 19/10/2026 to 27/10/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of four 3-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australian Capital Territory
This course is delivered from 10/11/2026 to 11/11/2026, by face-to-face consisting of two 7-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australia wide (Virtual)
This course is delivered from 01/12/2026 to 09/12/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of four 3-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australia wide (Virtual)
This course is delivered from 17/02/2027 to 25/02/2027, by face-to-screen consisting of four 3-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australian Capital Territory
This course is delivered from 28/04/2027 to 29/04/2027, by face-to-face consisting of two 7-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australia wide (Virtual)
This course is delivered from 18/05/2027 to 26/05/2027, by face-to-screen consisting of four 3-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australian Capital Territory
This course is delivered from 23/06/2027 to 24/06/2027, by face-to-face consisting of two 7-hour sessions.
Courses
APS Leadership Edge is a cohort-based social learning program which will enable EL 2's to develop their leadership and management skills through a range of learning sprints and activities.
APS Leadership Edge Community is a social learning program which will enable EL 2's to develop their leadership and management skills through a range of resources, communities and activities.
This program introduces the principles, tools and techniques of Human Centred Design and how to apply them to service/policy design and implementation.
This course explores the importance of reflecting on the resilience of our organisations and learning from our response to the COVID-19 pandemic early on while the experience is fresh.
This course provides key elements for risk managers to learn key elements of risk management processes to focus on and implement in a crisis and to navigate the uncertainties of the future.
These foundational AI resources are available to help support you in your AI journey regardless of what level of AI use you are currently at.
Take an in-depth look at shaping strategy with a sense of purpose and direction, using information and opportunities, showing judgement and common sense. Use environmental scanning and best practice models and tools to help anticipate the consequences and trade-offs of actions.
Resources
The Learning Quality Framework is a principle-based model for assessing, building, procuring and delivering high quality, effective and innovative learning experiences.
A checklist for designing, producing and procuring content that supports accessible quality learning and development in the APS. Included are links to information and free online tools that allow you to check content is compliant with the WCAG standards.
The Digital Professional Stream Strategy is a structured way to build and uplift the core digital expertise of leadership and the workforce. It outlines the 6 broad themes and signature initiatives that will bring the strategy to life and create momentum.
The Framework is a guide for agencies, employees and managers as they build data capabilities, manage workforce requirements and develop careers.
A short video developed by the Government of South Australia on how (and why) the Online Accessibility Toolkit was created.
The APS Learning Design Manual pulls together some practical principles, examples, useful links, and tools & templates to support designers throughout the learning design process.
The accessible colour palette builder is a tool to help you design accessible digital content in colour combinations that are suitable for people with visual impairments or colour vision deficiencies.
This APS Academy factsheet presents some helpful tips on improving the accessibility of your publications, for both print and reading online.
The Policy Project is an initiative of the New Zealand Government to support individual who provide advice to decision makers, access relevant tools, advice and information.
Digital Profession quick guides help you with basic concepts and ideas to integrate modern ways of working in your organisation.
The case study examines the approach taken for the 2021 Census and a number of ‘firsts’ achieved in its successful delivery.
This Australian Government resource is designed to build evaluation into everyday practice across the APS.
Behavioural insights tools assist understanding human behaviour, which can inform policy design.
Developed by the Digital Transformation Agency, this guide provides direction on how you can design and build a service taking an agile and user-centred approach.
User research helps you learn about your users and create services to meet their needs. The Digital Transformation Agency provides a useful guidance on user research.
The Observatory of Public Sector Innovation at the OECD has curated a wide range of toolkits on service design for you to explore.
The Digital Transformation Agency provides guidance on the Service design and delivery process to support agencies to meet the Digital Service Standard criteria.
The Office for Women supports the government’s gender equality priorities and steward gender responsive budgeting by supporting the APS to build gender analysis capability.
Services Australia’s Program Practice Frameworks can be used as standalone resources, or as suite of connected products to support staff when managing programs and projects, engaging with stakeholders and conducting analysis. The Frameworks feature focus areas which include a set of guidelines, applied tools, resources and links to other relevant and appropriate materials.
A ‘how to’ guide to service mapping for system stewards, policy makers and service providers working to improve human services.
The APS Academy has through Cathy Fussell created a series of, ‘How to…’ articles to provide guidance on what information and avenues are available.
The Open Policy Making Toolkit is a product of the UK Government's Open Policy Lab. Access a range of tools and techniques to assist the policy development process.
Multiple different Impact Analysis processes are now required during new policy development. Five key Agencies have combined to share key resources you need to know when developing any new policy
The APS Change Framework is for anyone managing change across the Australian Public Service.
The Promise of Co-design for Public Policy by Emma Blomkamp explores co-design in public policy. It was published in the Australian Journal of Public Administration.
The FLOE Inclusive Learning Design Handbook is designed to assist in creating adaptable and personalised resources that can accommodate a diversity of learning preferences and individual needs. It offers guidance whether you are creating simple text-based resources, animations, applets, simulations or full production videos.
The APS Learning Quality Framework GovTEAMS site is for sharing case studies, examples, tools, templates and research to support inclusive design.
Data.gov.au is the central source of Australian open government data. Anyone can access the anonymised public datasets, publicly-funded research data and datasets from private institutions that are in the public interest.
This Community is for Digital Profession members interested in human centred design, user experience, user research and service design. It is a safe and inclusive space to share best practice, connect with peers, share experiences, and solve shared problems.
Nesta's online toolkit provides tools and resources to encourage innovative policy development.
The toolkit guides on accessible policies, digital platforms, and inclusive design, developed by the South Australian Government for accessibility in government.
The Style Manual is for everyone who writes, edits or approves Australian Government content. Use it to create clear and consistent content that meets the needs of users.
The Government writing handbook is a companion to the Australian Government Style Manual with greater focus on the craft of writing.
For designers of digital services, the Australian Government Digital Service Standard sets out the best-practice principles that are simple, clear and fast.
Find information on why accessibility is in the Digital Service Standard and how you can meet the Standard through applying accessibility principles in the Discovery, Alpha and Beta stages of design.
The 2030 vision from the Australian Government is to deliver simple, secure and connected public services, for all people and business, through world class data and digital capabilities.
The colour contrast checker is a tool to test the contrast suitability of background colour and foreground text, to ensure your design colours meet the WCAG contrast ratio formula test.
For Learning & Development Teams and Practitioners
Gamification uses game-like elements such as challenges, feedback and progress tracking to make learning more engaging, helping APS employees practise skills, build confidence and apply learning in real work contexts.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) validates learning solutions with real users before release, ensuring usability, accessibility, functionality and business requirements are met while reducing risks and rework.
The APS Learning Quality Framework Resources Hub provides practical tools, templates, case studies and research to help APS staff design high-quality, accessible and inclusive learning while sharing good practice across agencies.
The Government writing handbook is a companion to the Australian Government Style Manual with greater focus on the craft of writing.
The Style Manual is for everyone who writes, edits or approves Australian Government content. Use it to create clear and consistent content that meets the needs of users.
The Learning Quality Framework is a principle-based model for assessing, building, procuring and delivering high quality, effective and innovative learning experiences.
The APS Learning Design Manual pulls together some practical principles, examples, useful links, and tools & templates to support designers throughout the learning design process.
A checklist for designing, producing and procuring content that supports accessible quality learning and development in the APS. Included are links to information and free online tools that allow you to check content is compliant with the WCAG standards.
A short video developed by the Government of South Australia on how (and why) the Online Accessibility Toolkit was created.
Find information on why accessibility is in the Digital Service Standard and how you can meet the Standard through applying accessibility principles in the Discovery, Alpha and Beta stages of design.
The accessible colour palette builder is a tool to help you design accessible digital content in colour combinations that are suitable for people with visual impairments or colour vision deficiencies.
This APS Academy factsheet presents some helpful tips on improving the accessibility of your publications, for both print and reading online.
The colour contrast checker is a tool to test the contrast suitability of background colour and foreground text, to ensure your design colours meet the WCAG contrast ratio formula test.
The APS Learning Quality Framework GovTEAMS site is for sharing case studies, examples, tools, templates and research to support inclusive design.
The 2030 vision from the Australian Government is to deliver simple, secure and connected public services, for all people and business, through world class data and digital capabilities.
Developed by the Digital Transformation Agency, this guide provides direction on how you can design and build a service taking an agile and user-centred approach.
The Digital Transformation Agency provides guidance on the Service design and delivery process to support agencies to meet the Digital Service Standard criteria.
For designers of digital services, the Australian Government Digital Service Standard sets out the best-practice principles that are simple, clear and fast.