How capability, leadership and culture work together to build trust and create a future-ready Australian Public Service.
Strategic thinking
Contents
Latest news
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New Management Edge program equips APS6-EL1 managers with practical skills and networks for leading hybrid teams. Registrations now open.
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Opportunity for suppliers. Request for Information: seeking a suite of learning technologies to construct and connect a One-APS learning technology ecosystem.
Upcoming events
Date
Location
Australia wide (Hybrid)
This course is delivered from 04/08/2026 to 06/11/2026, by face-to-face/face-to-screen (Hybrid), consisting of eight sessions of varying lengths.
Date
Location
Australian Capital Territory
This course is delivered from 12/08/2026 to 13/08/2026, by face-to-face consisting of two 7-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australian Capital Territory
This course is delivered on 16/09/2026, by face-to-face consisting of one 7-hour session.
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 11/11/2026 to 12/11/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of two 3-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
Australia wide (Virtual)
This course is delivered from 22/02/2027 to 23/02/2027, by face-to-screen consisting of two 3-hour sessions.
Date
Location
Australia wide (Virtual)
This course is delivered from 06/04/2027 to 07/04/2027, by face-to-screen consisting of two 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 on 10/06/2027, by face-to-face consisting of one 7-hour session.
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
Develop the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to engage in forecasting, better understand complex systems and build scenarios as key approaches in the broader field of foresight.
The program focuses on developing APS Change Management capability to build the capacity for government to deliver well considered and well-planned change.
Build the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to engage in gender analysis across various public policy fields.
Data for SES Leaders builds data literacy and evidence-based decision-making skills, helping APS leaders use data confidently, manage risks, strengthen governance and foster data-driven cultures.
This course features selected content from the accredited postgraduate Microcredential in Pacific Engagement, developed in partnership with APS expertise, academic excellence and Pasifika voices.
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.
Equip yourself with essential cultural capabilities and a deep understanding of Pacific cultures, societies, and economies.
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.
The program strengthens the leadership capability of experienced senior executives to effectively deliver their key accountabilities.
This course strengthens the leadership capability of senior executives to effectively perform the expected range of high-level responsibilities.
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.
Understand strategy processes and language. Learn methods and models while discussing and sharing professional experiences, thought practices and operating strategically in the APS.
This course is designed to help improve partnerships with ministers by uplifting the capability of APS staff to engage with ministers and their advisors.
Resources
This Week in AI is a weekly APS podcast covering AI developments, policy impacts and emerging trends, helping public servants stay informed, explore implications and engage in AI discussions.
The Learning Quality Framework is a principle-based model for assessing, building, procuring and delivering high quality, effective and innovative learning experiences.
This program includes short tips for smarter work are a series of standalone bite-sized videos delivering key insights from our longer AI-focused Lunch and Learn webinars.
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 ILS provides capability development guidance for individuals and agencies in the form of descriptions and behaviours for all levels in the Australian Public Service.
The strategy establishes the first whole-of-enterprise approach to strategic workforce management, enabling effective delivery for the government and Australian communities.
Learn more about GovAI and the AI tools available to the APS.
Community of Practice for EL1/EL2 counter fraud or risk officials to drive leading edge control testing capability in the Australian Government.
Building APS capability to use futures techniques in policymaking through horizon scanning, visioning and scenario planning.
Questions to test if your advice is clear on intent, well informed, practical to implement and influential.
An issues tree is a structured way to break problems down and plan what needs to be considered in relation to the issue.
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.
Behavioural insights tools assist understanding human behaviour, which can inform policy design.
This Strategy provides a foundation for building an inclusive and diverse Australian Public Service (APS). It includes detailed actions for effective implementation in Commonwealth agencies.
This Strategy talks about what the Australian Public Service (APS) and the Commonwealth public sector will do to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in APS workplaces. It includes actions for effective implementation in Commonwealth agencies.
This Strategy presents a pathway to realise gender equality in our Australian Public Service (APS). It includes action areas for effective implementation in Commonwealth agencies.
This video was recorded in April 2022 at the APS Academy’s Craft Conversations event for the craft of Strategy, Policy and Evaluation.
Comcare’s evidence-based Good Work Design resources can better support health, wellbeing, work participation and productivity, while creating psychologically safe teams.
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.
Nesta's online toolkit provides tools and resources to encourage innovative policy development.
Community of Practice for EL1/EL2 counter fraud or risk officials to learn about fraud and corruption risk management.
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.
Nancy Kline’s ‘The Thinking Environment’ is a process that generates quality independent thinking. Kline highlights how ‘Thinking Environments’ arise when ten specific components are fostered.
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.
Recorded in March 2024, Sam Chard discusses how Integrity and judgement work together, and shares guidance on building the valuable skill of using judgement in decision making.
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 Australian Policy Cycle designed by James Gulliver Hancock provides an easy to follow visual of the key milestones required for best practice government decision making.
The APS Data Professional video library includes the series ‘In Conversation with Dr Gruen’ along with past Data Profession Technical Forums. Hear about the experiences and lessons learned by agencies and data professionals in the Australian Public Service (APS).
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.
Using data and digitisation for oversight and enforcement is increasingly part of the work of most regulators. This recorded panel discussion gives an overview for regulators who are not data specialists. Recorded in May 2022.
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.
The Centre’s purpose is to strengthen counter fraud arrangements across the Australian Government. It provides educational material, leading practice guides, toolkits and training.
For Learning & Development Teams and Practitioners
The APS L&D Community of Practice connects learning and development professionals across agencies to share tools, ideas and good practice, strengthening capability, collaboration and innovation in workforce learning.
Building once and tailoring locally creates reusable APS learning with shared core content and separate agency-specific modules, reducing duplication, improving consistency and supporting a One-APS approach.
The Learning Quality Framework is a principle-based model for assessing, building, procuring and delivering high quality, effective and innovative learning experiences.