Introduction
During 2015-16, the ACT Public Service (ACTPS) has focused on building an agile, responsive and innovative public service that continues to enhance its capability to deliver the ACT Government’s priorities and provide effective services to the ACT community.
In the past 12 months work has centred on finalising substantial pieces of legislative policy and reform as well as developing and implementing Service-wide workforce strategies and strengthening the capability of ACTPS leaders through whole of government leadership development.
The Public Sector Management Amendment Bill 2016 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 7 June 2016. The amendments to the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (the PSM Act) deliberately reinforce the ‘One Service’ platform founded on collaboration and cohesion of effort, and embed the ACTPS Values and Signature Behaviours contained in the ACTPS Code of Conduct.
Regular learning and development initiatives for ACTPS Executives have continued throughout 2015‑16 to support capability development, collaboration, understanding of change management and the promotion of positive workplace cultures.
During 2015-16 the Strategic Board endorsed a number of key strategies and initiatives to assist major reform of workforce planning and learning and development across the ACTPS and into the future. The ACTPS Shared Capability Framework (the Capability Framework) was released in late 2015, articulating expected behaviour and skill across all organisational levels and in all workplace contexts.
Further, an ADAPT (Align, Design, Analyse, Program and Transform) Workforce Planning Toolkit is under development to encourage and support strategic workforce planning activities across the ACTPS. The ADAPT Toolkit will assist directorates to align people planning activities with strategic business objectives and build future workforces around key government priorities.
Work on the whole of government Employment Policy Review Project continued during 2015-16 to implement changes to policies brought about by the transition from directorate specific to Servicewide Enterprise Agreements and planned changes to employment legislation. In an effort to foster a collaborative approach to policy development, this work has occurred in partnership with ACTPS directorates and ACT Public Sector entities through a dedicated Implementation Committee.
The ACTPS Employment Portal (the Employment Portal) was launched in February 2016 providing a centralised resource for ACTPS staff, managers and HR practitioners, and houses all of the whole of government employment conditions, rights and obligations. The Employment Portal contains policies, guidance material, toolkits and HR tools and provides clarity and consistency about the obligations and entitlements under the ACTPS Employment Framework.
Implementation of recommendations arising from the review of the ACT Public Service Respect, Equity and Diversity (RED) Framework continued in 2015-16. Final work to update the RED Framework is underway with the aim to better align the RED Framework with the ACTPS Code of Conduct and ensure included information is more easily understood by members of the ACTPS, is applicable to employees’ day to day work, and acts as an overarching guide.
The ACTPS has continued to support Equity and Diversity in the workplace with initiatives to attract, support and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and People with Disability. 2015‑16 saw the commencement of the first ACTPS Indigenous Traineeship Program, and significant preparatory work was undertaken for initiatives to provide People with Disability additional employment pathways into the ACTPS in 2017.
The ACTPS Graduate Program underwent a comprehensive review during 2015, with a final report completed in December 2015. Significant work has occurred during 2015-16 to address the recommendations arising from the review including improvements in the areas of recruitment, attraction and retention, rotations/work placements, training and development and graduate support networks.
The work undertaken in the past 12 months places us in a strong position for 2016-17. It is thanks to this work that the ACTPS continues to position itself as a high performing organisation that is able to deliver efficient and effective services to the ACT community, while meeting Government priorities. In 2016-17 we will be working to further build Service‑wide workforce strategies and programs to embed the ‘One Service’ approach and to support the ACTPS to build an agile, responsive and innovative public service.
Bronwen Overton-Clarke
Public Sector Standards Commissioner
(formerly Commissioner for Public Administration for the 2015-16 reporting period)
