Australian Government Directory

Contents

The Australian Government Directory is a guide to the structure, organisations and key personnel of the Australian Government. It includes information on departments, agencies, boards and portfolios, as well as current government appointments and key Senior Executive Service (SES) contacts across Commonwealth entities.

The Australian Government Organisations Register, managed by the Department of Finance and available through Directory.gov.au, provides information on the functions, composition, origins and other details of Australian Government entities and bodies. A searchable online version of this information is available through the Australian Government Directory.

Why is it important?

The Australian Government Directory combines three sources of information relating to organisational information under a single location.

The information is sourced from:

Organisation and Appointments Register (OAR)
Australian Government Organisation Register (AGOR)
government appointments meeting the requirements for Senate Order.

APS learning programs often assume that participants understand how government is structured. This is not always the case, particularly for new starters, staff moving from other sectors, graduates, contractors or employees moving into cross-agency roles. The Australian Government Directory helps provide a common reference point for understanding agencies, portfolios and government bodies.

In the Design & Development stage, the directory can be used to make learning more accurate and contextual. For example, it can support scenario design, stakeholder mapping, induction content and examples that explain how agencies interact. It also helps L&D teams avoid using outdated agency names, unclear references or assumptions about government structure.

There is also a downloadable AGOR list, including definitions for each type of government body and a guide to the AGOR data fields that can be used to help agencies setup their users within the systems that they use.

What are the benefits?

Accurate identification of responsible entities: Using the Government entity register helps ensure the correct entity, policy owner, or accountable area is identified, supporting accurate consultation and decision‑making.
Improved confidence and compliance: Access to an authoritative, up‑to‑date register reduces the risk of misdirection or outdated information, giving teams confidence that engagement and approvals align with current government arrangements.
Helps learners understand the structure of government.
Supports better context for cross-agency work.
Helps staff identify relevant agencies, portfolios and responsibilities.
Improves confidence when working with unfamiliar entities.
Supports induction, APS craft, policy, stakeholder engagement and governance training.
Reduces confusion about agency names, roles and portfolio relationships.

Suitable for

All staff. Particularly those who need to understand Australian Government portfolios, entities, governance arrangements and cross-agency relationships. It is valuable for new staff, policy and program professionals, managers, project teams and learning and development practitioners.

General Practices

Good Practice
Use the directory when designing examples, case studies or stakeholder maps. Check current agency and portfolio names before publishing learning content. Explain the directory’s purpose in induction or programs. Use it to support whole-of-government learning activities. Link to the directory rather than copying information that may change. Include a short activity where participants find an agency and identify its portfolio or function.

Good Practice

Use the directory when designing examples, case studies or stakeholder maps.
Check current agency and portfolio names before publishing learning content.
Explain the directory’s purpose in induction or programs.
Use it to support whole-of-government learning activities.
Link to the directory rather than copying information that may change.
Include a short activity where participants find an agency and identify its portfolio or function.

Practices to avoid
Assuming learners already understand government structures. Using outdated agency names or portfolio arrangements. Copying directory content into learning materials without review. Designing scenarios that misrepresent agency roles. Overloading learners with organisational detail that is not relevant to the learning outcome. Treating the directory as an administrative link rather than a learning support tool.</p>

Practices to avoid

Assuming learners already understand government structures.
Using outdated agency names or portfolio arrangements.
Copying directory content into learning materials without review.
Designing scenarios that misrepresent agency roles.
Overloading learners with organisational detail that is not relevant to the learning outcome.
Treating the directory as an administrative link rather than a learning support tool.</p>

Hypothetical examples

Example - Designing a new learning experience
A learning and development practitioner is designing an APS induction program and wants participants to understand how Australian Government entities are structured and how agencies work together. They use information from the Australian Government Directory to develop activities and examples that reflect current portfolios, agencies and organisational arrangements. Potential issue A new cross-agency learning program refers to an entity using an older name and places it under the wrong portfolio. Participants notice the error, which reduces confidence in the content and creates confusion about stakeholder responsibilities. Better approach An induction program includes a short, guided activity using the Australian Government Directory. Participants search for their own agency, identify its portfolio, compare it with a partner agency and discuss how the agencies work together. This builds practical understanding of APS structures and supports better stakeholder awareness.

Example - Designing a new learning experience

A learning and development practitioner is designing an APS induction program and wants participants to understand how Australian Government entities are structured and how agencies work together. They use information from the Australian Government Directory to develop activities and examples that reflect current portfolios, agencies and organisational arrangements.

Potential issue

A new cross-agency learning program refers to an entity using an older name and places it under the wrong portfolio. Participants notice the error, which reduces confidence in the content and creates confusion about stakeholder responsibilities.

Better approach

An induction program includes a short, guided activity using the Australian Government Directory. Participants search for their own agency, identify its portfolio, compare it with a partner agency and discuss how the agencies work together. This builds practical understanding of APS structures and supports better stakeholder awareness.

Example - Stakeholder engagement after a MOG
A project team working on a whole-of-government initiative needs to identify the correct agencies, portfolio responsibilities and key contacts to support consultation and collaboration across the APS. Potential issue The team relies on outdated organisational charts and informal contact lists. As a result, they engage the wrong agency and miss key stakeholders, causing delays, duplicated effort and confusion about responsibilities. Better approach The project team uses the Australian Government Directory to confirm current agency structures, portfolio arrangements and key SES contacts before commencing stakeholder engagement. This ensures the right stakeholders are involved early, improves coordination across agencies and supports more effective project delivery.

Example - Stakeholder engagement after a MOG

A project team working on a whole-of-government initiative needs to identify the correct agencies, portfolio responsibilities and key contacts to support consultation and collaboration across the APS.

Potential issue

The team relies on outdated organisational charts and informal contact lists. As a result, they engage the wrong agency and miss key stakeholders, causing delays, duplicated effort and confusion about responsibilities.

Better approach

The project team uses the Australian Government Directory to confirm current agency structures, portfolio arrangements and key SES contacts before commencing stakeholder engagement. This ensures the right stakeholders are involved early, improves coordination across agencies and supports more effective project delivery.

Topics

Induction