Introduction

The ACT Public Service (ACTPS) draws on our strength as a small public service covering two levels of government, to be one dynamic team – agile, responsive and innovative in delivering the ACT Government’s priorities and in delivering excellent services to the ACT community on behalf of our Ministers.

Directors-General have continued to drive the ‘One Service’ model including through the ACTPS Strategic Board. Mobility, particularly at senior levels, both temporary and long-term has reinforced this whole of service approach.

2016-17 saw the restructure of key agencies to support the Chief Minister to deliver the ACT Government’s priorities. On 1 July 2016 the amalgamation of the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate with the Capital Metro Agency created the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate. The new directorate takes advantage of the opportunity to co-design the light rail and bus service networks to complement road infrastructure, walking and cycling opportunities. This strategic consolidation of transport services will support the delivery of a fully integrated public transport network when light rail commences operation in 2018.

Legislative and policy reform during 2016-17 culminated in establishment of the City Renewal Authority and the Suburban Land Agency (taking effect on 1 July 2017). The creation of these two bodies supports the Government’s economic growth and diversification agenda by allowing a focus on the renewal of the city centre, whilst also ensuring a separate body is focussed on our new and existing suburbs. The City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act 2017 established a framework for the new agencies including: clear roles and responsibilities; robust governance arrangements; engagement, consultation and collaboration with stakeholders; social inclusion; and affordable housing.

This large scale restructuring of the delivery of frontline services has been supported and shaped by workforce engagement and legislative reform. Major changes to the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (PSM Act) gave effect to the most comprehensive public sector legislative reform in over 20 years. These reforms reinforce the ‘One Service’ model, promoting a whole of government focus, cooperation, collegiality and mobility across the ACTPS and embedding the ACTPS Values and Signature Behaviours into legislation.

Strengthening the capability of the workforce was also a key focus during 2016-17. New tools were made available to directorates through the ACTPS Employment Portal to encourage and support strategic workforce planning across the ACTPS. The ADAPT (Align, Design, Analyse, Program and Transform) Strategic Workforce Planning Toolkit (ADAPT Toolkit) was piloted in a number of work areas. The ADAPT Toolkit assists directorates to align people planning activities with strategic business objectives, supporting work areas to deliver effective outcomes while responding dynamically to increasingly changing working environments.

During 2016-17 the ACTPS promoted flexible work practices and trialled innovative workspaces through the introduction of Activity Based Working for staff in Nara House in Civic and Access Canberra staff at the Cosmopolitan Building in Woden. Each trial is being used as an opportunity to tailor and improve how we organise our working environments using mobile technologies and business process improvements to be as ‘paper light’ as possible, as well as to deliver services and respond to community expectations in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Importantly, in 2016-17 the ACTPS strengthened its commitment to support Equity and Diversity in the workforce, with initiatives to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, People with Disability and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) staff. The ACT Government has made a commitment to Canberra being the most welcoming city in Australia for LGBTIQ people. In support of this commitment, the ACTPS has promoted LGBTIQ workplace inclusion training and has actively participated in Pride in Diversity, a not-for-profit employer support program.

In order for the ACTPS to deliver effective services to the ACT community, it is important that the ACTPS workforce is reflective of the community we serve. To attract, support and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and People with Disability, several programs, projects and initiatives were implemented during 2016-17. In February 2017 the second ACTPS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traineeship Program commenced, and the ACTPS Inclusion Traineeship Program (Inclusion Traineeship) was introduced for People with Disability. Significant preparatory work has been undertaken to implement an ACTPS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee network, Disability internships through the Australian Network on Disability and Australia School based Apprenticeships all of which will be piloted in 2017-18.

As a testament to the positive reputation of our small but dynamic service, the ACTPS Graduate Program continues to attract record numbers of applicants. After a review in 2015, the ACTPS Graduate Program recruitment has been streamlined and training and development and graduate support networks strengthened. In 2017 we implemented a new learning and development program focused on building practical skills to support graduates’ development and transition into the ACTPS.

Our growth and maturity as a progressive and innovative public service was reflected in the 2017 Institute of Public Administration Australia Awards. Several ACTPS employees were nominated across multiple categories. The Energy Markets and Renewables team in the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate won the ‘Innovative Solutions’ award for delivering Australia’s first renewable energy reverse auctions. The team demonstrated what is possible when an agile, committed group of people think innovatively to find ways to address issues and deliver government priorities.

Our commitment to innovation and transformation continues to be recognised as cutting edge with regular requests for ACTPS participation in and delivery of keynote addresses at national forums. Internationally, one of our colleagues from the Education Directorate was invited to speak at the United Nations 55th session of the Commission for Social Development in New York in February 2017.

With these achievements, the ACTPS is in a strong position moving into 2017-18 and beyond. We strive to continue to demonstrate our ability to act as ‘One Service’ by working collaboratively across directorates and with the people of Canberra to achieve the Government’s priorities and deliver excellent standards of service to the ACT community.

Kathy Leigh
Head of Service