By Eva Sharpe-Finlayson, Executive Programs I APS Academy
The Academy’s Executive Programs: Fostering Psychological Safety
With growing attention on psychological and psychosocial safety in the workplace coupled with the complexity of government work, the APS Academy faces an important challenge: how do we help senior executives stretch beyond their comfort zones while ensuring a safe environment?
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the APS is obligated to manage psychosocial safety. The Academy uses vertical learning approaches that build leaders’ capacity to think in more complex, systematic, and independent ways. These approaches are designed to expand an individual’s ability to handle complexity and make sense of ambiguity, critical skills for senior leadership. However, vertical learning is not risk-free. The Work Health and Safety (Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work) Code of Practice (2024) requires employers to identify foreseeable hazards, minimise risks, maintain effective controls, and review mitigation strategies.
To meet these obligations, the APS Academy applies proactive measures to manage psychosocial risk. This includes transparent briefings, on boarding conversations to understand participants’ ‘windows of tolerance,’ and nomination guidance to ensure readiness. Skilled facilitators use the ‘Look, Listen, Link’ approach to adjust in real time, while safeguards such as opt-out options and Duty of Care protocols provide additional support. Program management remains responsive and ready to adapt if risks emerge, ensuring that learning remains challenging but safe.
Psychological safety, as defined by Edmondson (1999) is
“the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes, and the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking.”
This does not mean programs are always comfortable—but it does mean participants can engage without fear. To embed this principle, the Academy draws on Speak Up culture, which encourages four key behaviours—the 4Cs: listen with compassion, show curiosity, speak with candour, and act with courage. Academy program are designed with the goal to create a safe holding environment where participants can practice these behaviours and build trust with peers.
The SES Welcome program kicks off the executive suite, featuring a panel of SES Band 3 leaders and the APSC Commissioner. Through candid Q&A, new SES participants see that it’s safe to speak openly and connect with peers, reminding them they are not alone.
Building on this, SES Orientation cultivates compassion. Facilitators begin with rules of engagement, inviting participants to share their learning goals and boundaries. This practice fosters openness and deep self-awareness, critical for understanding personal impact.
The SES Band 1 program offers a transformative residential experience. Participants start with a learning agreement to prepare for psychological challenges and ensure they have tools to support themselves and others. Risk management strategies, such as transparent briefings and on boarding conversations, help participants navigate these stretches safely.
The SES Band 2 program includes immersive components designed to push participants outside their comfort zones. Through complex scenarios, leaders build resilience under principles of adaptive leadership, citizen centricity, and ethical leadership. Skilled facilitators monitor participants’ tolerance and adjust as needed, supported by opt-out options and Duty of Care protocols.
Finally, the Senior Executive Stewardship Program focuses on trust and accountability. Facilitators embody Speak Up culture, addressing issues early through open conversations and ongoing support.