By Emily Stocks, APS Graduate Development team
When I think of innovation, my brain produces images of Thomas Edison and his lightbulb or Rosalind Franklin and her DNA photograph. But in the Australian Public Service (APS), innovation looks a little different. It happens around tables, between agencies, and through conversations that connect diverse perspectives. Innovation in the APS is, at its heart, a team sport.
This year’s ‘Innovation in the APS’ event brought together over 550 graduates from across the service to explore how collaboration drives new ideas and better ways of working. The event formed part of the Whole of APS Graduate Event Series, which creates opportunities for graduates to come together, share insights and learn directly from experienced practitioners. Each event draws on social learning principles to create an environment where graduates learn with and from each other, building capability across roles, agencies and professions
Throughout the day, APS leaders shared stories and practical lessons about how innovation takes shape inside the public service. Jordan Hatch from Services Australia opened the event by busting 5 common myths about innovation, including the idea that it only happens at the top. He reminded graduates that innovation often starts with the people closest to the problem. Damian Tobin, also from Services Australia, took that idea further with an interactive session that turned the theory into practice. Graduates were invited to test new ideas, explore problems from different angles, and see how collaboration across teams can spark better solutions.
Alex Roberts from the Department of Finance shifted the focus to technology. His message was that innovation and artificial intelligence are already reshaping how we think, work and deliver value. What stood out was his emphasis on agency: that as public servants, our role is not to resist change, but to shape it responsibly. It was a reminder that innovation in the APS isn’t just about keeping pace with new tools but about leading with purpose.
The afternoon session built on this theme. Dr Nina Terry brought a systems perspective to collaboration, showing how complex problems demand connection rather than control. Her stories and tools for mapping systems and co-designing with stakeholders resonated with graduates who had spent the day practicing exactly that; working together to make sense of challenging issues.
The presenters, and even more so the graduates themselves, made it clear that innovation isn’t a solo game. In workshops, at tables and over lunch, participants were sharing, debating, reflecting, comparing, and learning from one another.
Events like this highlight what’s possible when we create space for collective learning. The APS Academy’s Graduate Development Program and Events Series are designed with that principle in mind. By bringing graduates together across agencies and disciplines, the program helps them tackle challenges collaboratively and build capabilities that span the whole public service. And just like any good team sport, everyone brings their own strengths, skills and experiences to the field.
Planning is underway for the 2026 Event Series, with both in-person and virtual events that will explore emerging APS themes, cultural capability, futures foresighting, innovation, superannuation and more. If your agency would like to get involved or showcase your work, we’d love to hear from you. Contact the APS Academy Graduate Development team